IisConte.] 



RHYNCHITID^. 9 



10. R. seratus Say, Cure. 5 ; ed. Lee. i, 363. Gyll., Sell. Cure, i, 216. 



Middle and Western States. Closely related to the preeeding, but the 

 color is coppery, and the head is finely granulated, and less deeply punc- 

 tured ; the beak is also longer and more slender. I have one specimen of 

 a dark blue color, resembling B. cyanellus, but with the head faintly 

 punctured. 



Sub-family II. PTEROCOLID.^. 



A single species constitutes this sub-family. On account of the anomal- 

 ous characters its place in the series of Rhynehophora has been changed from 

 time to time, without very satisfactory results. The latest authoritj^, Lacor- 

 daire, deceived by the broad form of body, and ascending side pieces of the 

 mesothorax placed it in the neighborhood of Ceutorhynehus. A study of 

 the mouth organs, as well as the antennae, shows that it is allied to Auletes 

 and Rhynchites, while the other differences require it to be received as a 

 very peculiar and distinct type. 



It differs from the genuine Rhynchitidse by the antenna? inserted much 

 nearer the eyes, which are suddenly but not deeply emarginate in front. 

 The side margin of the prothorax is acute and well defined, and the under 

 surface, with the anterior part of the mesothorax, is excavated, forming a 

 large cavity for the reception of the front and middle legs. The elytra are 

 sculptured with wide shallow grooves, which are confusedly punctured ; 

 the epipleurse are distinct ; the tips are widely dehiscent and separately 

 rounded, exposing parts of three dorsal segments, all corneous and densely 

 punctui'ed. Front and middle coxae small, rovinded, widely separated, not 

 prominent ; posterior coxae separated, transverse, intercoxal process broad. 

 Tibiae with two distinct apical spurs, tarsi dilated, claws appendiculate. 

 Ventral segments short ; pygidium less convex in the (^, and strongly in- 

 flexed. Side pieces of mesosternum transverse, solid, ascending between 

 the prothorax and elj^tra. Side pieces of metasternum wide. 



PTEROCOLUS Sch. 



1. P. ovatus Gyll., Sch. Cure, i, 240 ; Labram & Imhoff, Cure. 70 ; 

 Attelabus ovatus Fabr., Syst. El. ii, 426 ; Oliv. Ent. 81, 11, tab. 1, f. 13 ; 

 Apototnus ovatus Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. iv, 203. 



Michigan and Massachusetts to Florida. Easily known by its robust 

 form and beautiful blue color. 



Family III. ATTELABID^. 



Mentum very transverse, short, trilobed, supported on a very large quad- 

 I'ate gular peduncle ; ligula and palpi small. 



Maxillae exposed, lobes small, palpi rigid, 4-joiuted. 



Mandibles flat, pincer-shaped, rather stout, toothed on the inner side. 



Antennae inserted rather on the upper surface tlian at the sides, straight, 

 11-jointed ; first and second joints stouter, 9 — 11 larger forming a loose 

 elongate club covered with sensitive surface. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XV. 96. B 



