3T0 COLEUPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Antennae slender ; prosternum arcuate at tip. Ologlyptus. 



Antennae sliorter, joints transverse ; prosternum prominent at tip. 



Astrotus. 

 Mentum and mandibles distant, allowing the palpi free motion ; interme- 

 diate trochantin very distinct. Asida. 



As above defined, Asida includes those species also, formerly 

 placed in Peleci/phorus, Philolithus, and Eunclddes. It thus 

 becomes polymorpiiic not only in external form but also in struc- 

 ture. ■ In some species the mentum fills completely the emargina- 

 tion of the under side of the head, so that all trace of a peduncle 

 is lost; in others, however, there is a distinct separation of the 

 sides of the gala from the base of the mentum, and a short pedun- 

 cle is produced. 



Asida is widely distributed over the entire region west of the 

 Mississippi River; Microschatia extends from New Mexico to 

 the Peninsuhi of California; Astrotus and Ologlyptus occur in 

 Texas and Colorado. 



Tribe v.— BRAIVCHIIVI. 



Body oval, moderately convex, apterous ; head flat, received 

 in tlie thorax as far as the eyes, which are transverse and mode- 

 rately coarsely granulated ; epistoina emarginate in the middle, 

 feebly trilobed (as in Asida), covering the base of mandibles; 

 frontal suture indistinct; labruiu prominent, emarginate; antennae 

 slender, 11-jointed, outer joints broader; mentum moderate, tra- 

 peziform, emarginate in front, inserted upon a gular peduncle 

 which is distinctly fissured at the middle owing to the coalescence 

 of the gular sutures; maxillae exposed, palpi very slightly dilated; 

 ligula moderately prominent, emarginate. Prothorax bisinuate 

 at base, hind angles slightly prolonged, embracing the humeri; 

 elytra embracing vvidely the flanks of the abdomen; epipleurte 

 narrow, suddenly dilated at the base; anterior coxas subtrans- 

 verse, middle coxre with distinct trochantin, side ])ieces attaining 

 tiie coxal cavities; metasternum short, episterna wide, epimera 

 distinct; hind coxre separated, intercoxal process of abdomen 

 truncate; tibial spurs distinct, tarsi setose beneath. 



This tribe seems to combine characters belonging to the South 

 American tribes Nycteliini and Praocini. With the former it 

 possesses the medial gular fissure, with the latter the prominent 



