148 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xxviii. 



has the evenly and finely punctured stri^ of the typical specimens 

 from the southwest. Therefore we prefer to consider these all as 

 aberrant forms of gracilis. In a very few individual cases there are 

 no traces of the fascia but these we regard as having been rubbed off 

 naturally or as a result of handling. Punctate foveae replace the 

 pubescence in these examples. 



From the description it would appear as if Kerremans had before 

 him one of these extreme forms when he erected the name tcxanus 

 and as the type is not obtainable, we believe that it is best placed as a 

 synonym of gracilis. However at the end of the text, there will be 

 found a translation of his original description, for those not satisfied 

 with this admittedly rather uncertain placing of his species. 



Gracilis is our most abundant and widely distributed species. It is 

 common around New York City and taken while sweeping meadows 

 usually in moist places where the vegetation is rank. 



Taphrocerus albonotatus Blatchley, 19-29. Plate VI (Fig. F). 



(Original description.) 



" Elongate, slender, strongly tapering behind. Black, shining, very sparsely 

 and finely pubesicent ; the elytra with eight isolated white pubescent spots, 

 arranged in three cross rows, two each in the first and third, and four in the 

 second or middle row ; the spots of the third row crescent-shaped, the others 

 rounded or oblong, the first row at middle, the others equally spaced behind it. 

 Head as broad as front of thorax, finely alutaceous, not punctate, the occiput 

 with a wide, shallow, median impression. Thorax twice as wide as lon^, base 

 slightly wider than apex, disk uneven, but less so than in gracilis ; surface 

 minutely alutaceous and with large, shallow, scattered ocellate punctures. 

 Elytra at base slightly narrower than base of thorax, sides broadly sinuate in 

 front of middle, straight and strongly converging from apical third to the 

 obtusely rounded tips ; disk with regular rows of large shallow punctures, these 

 becoming obsolete towards apex. Abdomen with large very shallow punctures, 

 each enclosing a small oblong white scale. Length, 3.5-4.5 mm." 



Localities. — Jacksonville (Leng collection). Lakeland, Ft. Myers, 

 La Belle, Dunedin, October 20 to April 10 (Blatchley), Florida; 

 Billy's Island, Okefenokee Swamp, June (Leng), Georgia. 



This is a southern species taken by Mr. Blatchley on huckleberry 

 and other low shrubs in late fall and early spring. The pubescence is 

 rather an uncertain character to depend upon unless the specimens 



