November, 1911]. 245 



V. Specios lar^o (exceeding 2 mm. in length), very convex, imicolorons 

 (except in var. thapsi of L. tabidus), testaceoiis or brown, or with 

 sutural line faintly rufescent ; piinctnation fine. 

 VIa. Species small (under 2 mm. in length) , testaceous with sntnral line rufes- 

 cent, narrow, sometimes almost obsolete ; punctuation strong and 

 somewhat seriate. 

 B. As in A, biit with punctuation fine or very fine. 



Sect. I. — Species unicolorous, black, or nearly black ; punctuation distinct, 

 variable in strength. 



I. Antennoe and legs more or less testaceous. 



1. Head, thorax, and elytra entirely black. 



A. — Elytra coarsely punctured. 



a. Size as a rule smaller ; antennae shorter and more 



slender L. obliteratus, Rosenh. 



h. Size larger ; antenna) longer and stouter... 



L. anchusas, Payk. 

 B. — Elyti'a finely piuictured L. parvulus, Payk. 



2. Thorax usually, and elytra occasionally, reddish, or with obscure 



indications of reddish markings L. absinthii, Kuts. 



II. Antennae and legs unicolorous black L. nigerrimus, Gyll. 



L. OBLITERATUS, Eosenli. [Beitrage zur Ins. Ftuiu. Europse, p. 61 

 (1847)]. 



Schrank's name " pidex " has been applied to this species by Foudras, 

 Eossi, Marsham, Stephens, and Fowler, but Schrank's description,* in the 

 absence of his type, seems insufficient to justify its retention, and we think it 

 better to conform to general European usage by distinguishing the species as 

 L. obliteratus. 



Syn. consociatus, Forst. 

 pusillus, Coll. Kirby. 



Oblong ovate, sometimes subparallel (completely apterous form), shining, 

 black. Antennae slender, not very long, first foiu- or five joints testaceous, 

 remainder fuscous. Thorax : punctuation variable, biit usually less coarse than 

 that of elytra, often somewhat confiuent. Elytra convex, not acuminate, apical 

 angles slightly rounded, punctuation coarse and subseriate at base. Legs 

 testaceous, with tarsi darker and posterior femora pitchy to black. Underside 

 black. Completely or semi-apterous. Length, 1|-1^ mm. 



This is the most abimdant species of the black Long! tarsi. It 

 call only be confused with the black form of luridus, Scop., from 

 which it may be distinguished by its smaller size, and the weaker, less 

 confluent, and more seriate character of the elytral punctuation. 



* '■' Chriisomela pvJex, C. saliatoria, atra, nilena, nntennix iibiisqtie rufi.i. Long. J, Lat. J L. 

 Ohlonga, tota nigra, nilens, thorace eljjtrisque subtilissime at irregulariter punctatit." Schrank, 

 Enuinoratio Ins. Aus. Iiidig. p. 8") (17S1). 



V 



