22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 121 



Melanotus paradoxus Melsheimer, 1846, p. 152. 



Cratonychus paradoxus. — LeConte, 1853, p. 480. 



Cratonychus inaequalis LeConte, 1853, p. 476. 



Melanosis inaequalis. — Lang, 1920, p. 174. — Thomas, 1941, p. 258. 



Cratonychus scrobicoUis LeConte, 1853, p. 476. 



Melanotus scrobicoUis. — Leng, 1920, p. 174. — Thomas, 1941, p. 258. — Fattig, 



1951, p. 19. 

 Melanotus texanus Candfeze, 1860, p. 351. 



Male. — Large species, body color reddish to dark reddish brown, 

 covered with yellowish hairs evenly distributed over body. 



Head: Front coarsely punctate, most punctures hexagonal shaped, 

 distance between punctures less than half puncture diameter, surface 

 often with shallow depression on disc, margin not protuberant, ex- 

 tending little beyond level of clypeus, rounded, weakened in center 

 and when viewed from directly in front appears obliterated; paran- 

 tennal fovea very shallow. Mandible without pit; palpi yellowish 

 brown. Antenna exceeds tip of hind angle by about 3 segments, seg- 

 ments 2 and 3 small, much smaller than 4, ratio of 2:3:4 = 5:7:17. 



Pronotum wider than long, punctiu-es about same size as those of 

 front, little deeper than in similis, at center separated by distance 

 equal to puncture diameter or less, little more dense on sides and front, 

 oval in shape except those on anterior angles hexagonal shaped as on 

 front; hind angles divergent, with single, strong, black carina; sides 

 markedly divergent beyond center, appear thinner than usual. 



Genitalia as figured; paramere with large apical blade, side nearly 

 straight basad of blade. 



Elytron: 11.2±0.7 mm (9.9-12.6). 50 spec. 



Female. — Similar to male, but larger. Antennal segments 2 and 3 

 not as small, ratio of 2:3:4=7:9:17. Pronotum is fuller and does 

 not have thin appearance toward margin. GenitaHa as figured; bursa 

 with numerous, long spines on basal % arranged so densely to give 

 bursa sclerotized, striated appearance, apical % membranous except 

 small patch of spines; accessory gland distinctly clavate. 



Elytron: 12.7±0.7 mm (10.8-14.1). 50 spec. 



Types. — Types of castanipes: 3 males, 2 females; 1 labelled with 

 red and green tags and "213/61," others only with green tag (Riks- 

 museum, Stockholm). These are presumed to be Paykull's types, but 

 no lectotype has been selected because we feel that the vaUdity of 

 these types may be questioned. 



Lectotype of paradoxus: Male, no collection data (MCZ). Only 

 specimen in type series. 



Lectotype of inaequalis: Female, labelled with pale blue circle 

 "Lake Superior" (MCZ). First specimen in type series selected as 

 lectotype by authors, 1962. 



