THE FAMILY LYCTID^. 123 



Lyctus brunneus (Stephens). 



Lyctus parasiticus Stephens, 1829, p. 94. 



Xylotrogus brunneus Stephens, 1830, p. 116, pi. 18, fig. 4; Seidlitz, 1875, p. 160. 



Lyctus glycyrrhizse Chevrolat, 1829-1838, .pp. 191-192, pi. 41, fig. 3. 



Lyctus rugulosus Montrouzier, 1861, p. 266. 



Lyctus brunneus (Stephens) Wollaston, 1854, p. 152; Erichson, 1877, p. 17; Reitter, 



1885, p. 100; Reitter, 1906, p. 423. 

 Lyctus carolinas Casey, 1891, pp. 13-14. 



This species, while allied to L. politus n. sp., is readily distinguished 

 by its larger size and coarser structure throughout and more acute 

 anterior angles of prothorax; the epistoma also is more depressed, its 

 posterior angles as in planicoUis Le Conte. The series of specimens 

 is very constant, except that there is the usual variation in size 

 and color. A single specimen from Philadelphia, Pa., is more slen- 

 der, the prothorax narrower and more constricted behind, with the 

 sides straight, and the anterior margin more strongly arcuate. It is 

 probably best placed here for the present. A series of 3 specimens 

 from Mr. Reitter shows considerable variations, more especially in the 

 shape of the prothorax, and one individual has the pronotum much 

 more coarsely punctured. 



Matenal examined. — A series of 14 specimens. The species is 

 widely distributed throughout the world. 



Lyctus pubescens Panzer. 



Lyctus pubescens Panzer, 1793, fasc. 4, fig. 17; Erichson, 1877, p. 16; Reitter, 1878, 



p. 196; Reitter, 1885, p. 99. 

 Lyctus bicolor ComoUi, 1837, p. 41; Seidlitz, 1875, p. 160. 



Lyctus caucasicus Tournier, 1874, p. 412; Reitter, 1878, p. 196; Reitter, 1885, p. 99. 

 Lyctus pubescens v. caucasicus (Tournier) Reitter, 1906, p. 423. 



The species is very distinct. It is perhaps more closely allied to 

 hrunneus Stephens than any other, both in elytral and prothoracic 

 structure, though very distinct from it. It is remarkable in having 

 the prothorax very much darker than the elytra, a character seldom 

 met with in this family. 



Material examined. — Two specimens from Mr. Reitter are labeled 

 "Silesia, on Willow." One of them has the prothorax strongly nar- 

 rowed posteriorly, the other much less, although distinctly so. The 

 species occurs in Europe, but up to the present time it has not been 

 recorded from the United States. 



Lyctus opaculus Le Conte. 

 Lyctus opaculus Le Conte, 1866, p. 103; Casey, 1890, p. 324; Casey, 1891, p. 13. 



This species is remarkably distinct and easily separated by the 

 narrow, convex prothorax, the anterior angles being very broadly 

 rounded, the side margins strongly convergent posteriorly, the sur- 

 face opaque and very densely subrugosely punctured, the median 



