NO. 2171. SYNOPSIS OF THE COCCINELLID LARVAE— BOVINO. 631 



Group n (Genus MICROWEISEA). 

 Plates 120 and 121, figs. 22 a, b. 



The group contains only the one genus Microweisea. Three species 

 are present in the collections of United States National Museum, viz: 

 Microweisa misella LeConte (N. Amer.), Microweisea coccidivora 

 Ashmead (N. Amer.) and Microweisea ovalis LeConte (=felschei 

 Weise) (Florida). 



The body is depressed, fusiform, greatest width on metathorax; 

 pro thorax oblong-oval, about twice as broad as long; meso thorax and 

 metathorax also oblong-oval, only sHghtly broader and longer than 

 prothorax; the abdominal segments subrectangular, laterally rounded, 

 relatively broader and shorter than the thoracic segments; the ninth 

 abdominal segment conical, much narrower than the eighth, half as 

 broad as long. The folds and areas of mesothorax and metathorax 

 and of the abdomen are similar to those found in the Hyperaspini, 

 with which group Microweisea also agrees in shape and nature of the 

 spiracle-bearing areas of mesothorax and metathorax and in the 

 transverse-oval dorsal outUne of these segments as well as in the shape 

 and position of the thoracic pleural areas below a well defined, hori- 

 zontal tergopleural suture. A pair of longitudinal dark chitinizations 

 is found on the tergum of the prothorax and is indicated on the tergum 

 of mesothorax and metathorax; a ring-shaped dark cliitinization sur- 

 rounds the eighth, and a similar chitinization the ninth abdominal 

 segment; the rest of the body is soft skinned, without setae-bearing 

 tubercles or sclerites. The head (fig. 22 a, pi. 121 ) is quite different from 

 that of any other Coccinelhd larva. It is elongate with a compara- 

 tively narrow spear-like f rons, which on its inner side has a long, thin, 

 dark chitinized rod-like thickening along the median line. The hypo- 

 pharyngeal bridge and the mandibles (fig. 17, pi. 120) have the same 

 general shape as in the preceding group, and the apex of the mandible 

 is single-pointed as in this group, but the retinaculum is absent in all 

 three species examined, a condition which the writer has not observed 

 in any other Coccinellid larva. The claws are unusually slender, 

 rather straight, pointed and about four times longer than the width 

 of the base. Microweisea is undoubtedly close to the Hyperasinni 

 and also shows affinity to the Scymnini, but it constitutes a sharply 

 defined, distinct type. 



Group III (SCYMNINI). 

 Plates 120 and 121, figs. 23, 24, 25 a, b, and 26. 



The following genera and species, included in this group, have been 

 studied: Stethorus punctum LeConte (N. Amer.), Stethorus utilis Horn 

 (Florida), Scymnus cervicalis Mulsant (Texas), Scymnus coniferarum 

 Crotch (Arizona), Cephaloscymnus (?), sp. (Arizona) and Cryptolaemus 

 montrouzieri Mulsant (California). 



