428 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. m 



Season: May, June, and November. 



Remarks: This species is another in the difficult group closely 

 related to interruptus Say (see remarks following that species). 



Psammodius interruptus Say 



Psammodius interruptus Say, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., vol. 1, p. 178, 1835. — 



Horn, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, vol. 14, p. 95, 1887. 

 Psammobius interruptus Schmidt, Coleoptera, Aphodiinae. Das Tierreich 



(Deutsche Zool. Ges.), pt. 45, p. 482, 1922. 



Oblong oval, slightly broader behind, moderately shining, rufopic- 

 eous. Antennae rufotestaceous. Head convex, closely, moderately 

 verrucose; occiput very finely punctate each side of an interrupted 

 band of fine to moderate punctures that varies from a few punctures 

 above each eye to an almost complete band two or three deep from 

 side to side. Clypeus quite deeply, triangularly emarginate, the 

 limiting angles rounded each side, sides weakly arcuate, finely reflexed ; 

 genae fimbriate, small and broadly rounded. Pronotum, width 1.3 

 mm., length 0.95 mm., slightly narrower in front, anterior angles 

 rounded, approximately right-angled, posterior angles very broadly 

 rounded, sides and base margined, crenate, fimbriate with moderate, 

 obtuse setae; surface roughly sculptured throughout but usually with 

 four, more or less distinct, transverse furrows, punctures close, 

 coarse, confused in the furrows, the intervening ridges with similar 

 fine to moderate, confused punctures, median line shallowly impressed 

 over basal half and similarly punctate, laterally the punctures become 

 elongate and over the convexity beyond the lateral fovea they appear 

 as short, arcuate lines, basaUy they run together, causing the interven- 

 ing surface to appear tuberculate. Elytra as wide at base as prono- 

 tum, width 1.5 mm., length 2.1 mm., base margined, humeri dentate, 

 sides weakly arcuate, not fimbriate; striae moderately deep, strial 

 punctures moderate, deep ; intervals somewhat carinately convex, the 

 convexity broken by a median row of indistinct punctures, crenate 

 each side, the crenations of the inner margin deeper and apparently 

 caused by punctures independent of those in the striae, alutaceous 

 sculpture variable, from distinct and completely covered to indistinct 

 and very little at edges. Metasternum shining at middle, midline 

 very distinct, deeper at each end and extending well forward between 

 the middle coxae, anterior postcoxal line deep, extending outward to 

 scabrous area at extreme sides, posterior line in front of posterior coxal 

 plate distinct. Abdominal segments finely crenate in front and finely 

 margined along posterior edge, very finely alutaceous but shining, 

 each with a medianly interrupted, transverse row of coarse, shallow, 

 setigerous punctures, the setae fine and moderately long, terminal 

 segment more widely and deeply crenate anteriorly. Pygidium eroded 

 basally, apically smooth and fringed with fine, moderately long setae. 



