154 Journal New York Entomological Society, t^^o'- ^>^^- 



NEW SPECIES OF SERICA (SCARABAEIDiE). V. 



By R. W. Dawson, 

 Lincoln, Nebraska. 



In order to somewhat facilitate the recognition of the new species 

 here described it seems desirable to characterize and figure six of 

 the closely allied, described species, scricca, tristis, parallcla, clonga- 

 tiila, mixta and curvata. 



Serica sericea Illiger. 



Melolonllia sericea Illiger, Olivier's Entomologie, ii, part 5, p. 75, footnote 

 A (1802). 



J'. Length, 9 mm. ; width, 5.25 mm. Color deep chestnut, surface velvety 

 and opaque but in shifting lights showing a very brilliant metallic sheen of 

 rainbow colors. 



The length may vary from 7.5-10.5 mm., the color from light chestnut 

 to nearly black and the iridescence from a scarcely discernible amount to 

 a sheen of much brilliance, the color and iridescence apparently depending 

 upon the maturity and condition of the specimen. 



Clypeus evenly but very feebly tumid, most evidently so just below the 

 center ; anterior reflexed margin clearly defined at the base by a transverse 

 line, but feebly elevated, reaching only the height of the slight tumidity above 

 it and forming an angle of about 120 degrees with its anterior face upon 

 which are borne a few erect, brown setae ; viewed perpendicularly the anterior 

 margin feebly, to moderately, curved at the center and very broadly and 

 evenly rounded to the sides where it joins the lateral margins, viewed at an 

 angle from above nearly straight, or but slightly more prominent at the 

 center ; lateral margins feebly elevated and almost continuous with the 

 anterior margin, their union marked by a nearly obsolete angulation ; upper 

 half to two thirds of clypeus bare ; punctures of only moderate size, rather 

 evenly placed, and separated by scarcely half their own diameters ; clypeal 

 suture obtusely angled at the middle, fine, and not very distinct, but with a 

 row of eight erect setae, four on each side, immediately above it on the 

 anterior margin of the front. Front with punctures separated by one to 

 two diameters, and occipital area impunctate. Antennal club well developed, 

 apparently exceeding the combined length of the preceding segments. Meas- 

 urements of head: diameter of head through eyes, 23.5;! distance between 

 inner eye margins, 15; length of head on median line, 17; extreme width 

 of clypeus in front of incisure, 12; antennal club, 11.5; dorso-ventral diam- 

 eter of eye, 8. 



Pronotum only slightly convex, posterior angles distinct, nearly rec- 

 tangular, sides only moderately curved, a little more arcuate and convergent 



1 Measurements in tenths of a millimeter. 



