181 



middle; the size is large, fades robust; punctuation not coarse; the 

 males with a more or less curved ventral ridge on the penultimate ab- 

 dominal segment, and without a cupulitbrm depression on the last seg- 

 ment. 



With these positive characters, there is an infinite variation in size, 

 shade of color, form, punctuation, and vestiture. Several species here- 

 tofore created on these characters have been properly united by Br. 

 Horn, for all of them are evanescent, and not to be relied upon for the 

 distinction of species; a positive character, however, is found in the 

 form of the ventral ridge of the penultimate abdominal segment; based 

 on this character, the species into which I would divide fmca are recog- 

 nizable as follows: 

 Kidge straight ; posteriorly not overhanging, but nearly as gradnal as the 



anterior decli vity grandis 



Ridge longer, slightly cnrved. the ends overhanging posteriorly ; centrally 



the ridge is declivous but not overhanging behind 



Ridge shorter, decidedly arcuate, overhanging posteriorly for its full 

 length, the ends at some distance from the posterior margin of the 



penultimate segment 



Ridge still shorter, still more arcuate, still more overhanging, the ends 

 at the extreme margin of the penultimate segment, and somewhat over- 

 hanging the terminal segment arcuaia 



By this table the males may be distinguished without much trouble. 

 The females are not so 



easily separated, yet may y^" "^ //^^^ ^ 

 in most cases be associ- QC '^^-^j f / E (/A 



ated with the males. 



fusca 



dubia 



<4b 



L. GRANDIS sp. uov. 



This species is, as a 

 whole, rather larger than 

 either of the others, and 

 rather more robust. The 

 sides of the thorax are 

 very perceptibly suban- 

 gulate before the middle, 

 giving the species a dis- 

 tinctive appearance easily 

 recognized in both sexes. 



In the female, the last 

 segment is emarginate, 

 and the middle of the ab- 

 domen, especially toward 

 base, is distinctly and 

 somewhat aciculate punc- 

 tate. The male character has been sufficiently given in the table 

 last segment is granulate-punctate. 



Fig. 40. Lachnosterna GRANDIS : 1, clasper of male from front 

 and above; 2, clasper of male (right) from side; 3, clasper 

 of male (left) from side ; 4, ventral chai'actera of male ; 5, 

 genital structure of female ; 5a, pubic proce.ss ; 5b, superior 

 plates; 5c, inferior plates — enlarged (original). 



The 



