June, 1920.] XlCOLAY AND WkISS: TiIE GrOUP TraCHES. 147 



southwest, have the stride evenly, finely and densely punctate. More- 

 over specimens are often met with which luive a deep, longitudinal 

 sulcus on each elytron. There is a deep depression at the base and 

 usually a distinct fovea just before the apex. Thorax widest and 

 deeply depressed at base. Head and thorax rather smooth, sparsely 

 hairy. Ventral surface black. Metasternum strongly punctate. Ab- 

 domen finely punctate, slightly to densely hairy, hairs not arranged 

 however in transverse rows. Length, 2.6-4.5 "^"^• 



Ranges from Canada to Florida and westward as far as Iowa, 

 Texas and Arizona. Around New York City specimens have been 

 found from May 17 to September 8. Found beating in swampy places 

 (Smith. Ins. N. J., p. 295). On flowers and leaves of button bush, 

 Ccphalanthus occidcntalis and on herbs in low wet places (Blatchley, 

 Col. Ind.. p. 805). 



Few species possess such a great individual variation as this one 

 and it is remarkable that more names have not been erected. The 

 forms from Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado upon superficial ex- 

 amination appeared so distinct in having well defined, finely punctate 

 striae and smooth elytra with cCneous lustre that we at first considered 

 them as a valid species and distinct from the more unevenly sculp- 

 tured blackish insects taken in the east. However after examining 

 over one hundred individuals, we could discover no real specific dif- 

 ference and upon receiving several from Brownsville, Texas, possess- 

 ing the uneven shape, coarsely punctured striae of the eastern form, 

 yet retaining the brilliant aeneous color of the western insects, we felt 

 that it would be best to regard it as one variable species as Kerremans 

 and our other predecessors did, rather than name the extreme forms, 

 which are not geographically limited and if consistently followed out 

 would mean the erection of at least six new species. 



The Leng collection contains a very peculiar indixidual from 

 Florida, which has the elytra broadly and deeply sulcated. the sulci 

 running parallel to and half way between the suture and sides until 

 just before the apex, where they converge toward the suture, each 

 ending in a deep fovea. A specimen from Anglesea, N. J., collected 

 by us has the entire surface marked with irregular pits and cavities. 

 From Georgia, are specimens almost smooth and impunctate with a 

 virescent shine. Mr. Schaeffer took one at Pine Island. X. Y., which 



