288 Natural History Bulletin. 



ity, where it is distinctly punctured; sutural lines convergent 

 from behind the middle to a spinous sharp point on each 

 elytron; discal lines strictly parallel and but slightly converg- 

 ent near the tip; basal fovea small and near the base. Abdo- 

 men not punctured, first segment not longer than one-fourth 

 its width, striae very short, one-sixth of the length of the 

 segment, very divergent, and not further apart than the elytral 

 sutural Hues; last ventral punctured. ^ last ventral inside of 

 a nearly circular space, rather flattened, but not impressed. 

 Length, 1.4 mm. 



There are varieties in color and the strength of the punc- 

 tuation of the prothorax and elytra. 



This seems to be the most common species in Iowa. It 

 differs from congener and ruhiciindd by the punctation of the 

 prothorax, the two latter species bemg impunctate, and in the 

 abdominal striae, which are farther apart in those two species. 

 Congener is much smaller, leather-colored, and does not occur 

 in the West. 



B. DivERGENS, Lcc. Impunctatc, piceous, antennae, palpi 

 and legs yellowish-red, pubescence short, sparse. Length, 

 1.3 mm. 



Head, including the prominent eyes, nearly as wide as the 

 prothorax, the fovese of equal size and aUke in form. Anten- 

 ncB with the first and second joints larger, the first as thick as 

 the tenth; second as wide as the ninth and as long as the 

 third; third to sixth cylindrical, half as wide as the first, 

 seventh and eighth gradually shorter, eighth as long as wide; 

 eighth, ninth and tenth regularly increasing in length and 

 width, each one as long as wide, the eleventh twice as much 

 so, ovoid-acuminate. Prothorax transversely convex, a little 

 wider than long, the lateral foveae circular, not in full- view 

 from above; median puncture oblong. Elytra moderately 

 convex, very minutely and confusedly punctured, disk near 

 the tip more than half as wide again as at the humeri, shoul- 

 ders tumefied but not laterally prominent, the lines sharp, not 

 deep, the discal ones arcuate, approaching the suture and 



