338 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 37. 



THECESTERNUS ALBIDUS, new species. 



Described from a series of four specimens in the U. S. National 

 Museum, collected by H. Soltau at Albuquerque, New Mexico, 

 February 20. 



Length 9-11 mm. Black, densely clothed above and below with 

 yellowish white scales, which are so dense that they give a spongy 

 appearance; two black lines at middle of sides unite to form a tri- 

 angle; thorax and elytra with occasional clusters of closely placed 

 erect black scales; sparsely clothed with erect white squamiform 

 bristles. 



Large, robust, without continuous outline on thorax and elytra, 

 generally elliptic, apex broadly rounded. Head spongily clothed 

 with broad white and ochreous scales mixed with white bristles; 

 front deeply sulcate. Prothorax large, slightly wider than long, 

 widest at anterior third, not as wide as elytra at humeri; strongly 

 narrowed in front with prpminent arcuate ridge just behind apex; 

 a deep impression passes downward on sides between the widest 

 portion and the lateral ends of the arcuate ridge and describes a 

 downward and backward arc, ending just below the humeral pro- 

 jections; two depressions also occur on the thoracic disk at the basal 

 third; punctuation moderate, deep and course, but not nearly as 

 large as in foveolatus; scaly vestiture spongy throughout, with a 

 mass of black scales on each side of the median line at the base and 

 two smaller masses more widely separated at middle of disk. Elytra 

 with humeri prominent, more or less closely embracing prothorax, 

 prolonged only one-sixth of the length of the prothorax; two and 

 one-half times the length of the prothorax, sides impressed behind 

 humeri; striate with alternate intervals elevated, but not as wide as 

 striae; even intervals very narrow or obsolete, giving the striae the 

 appearance of a double row of large punctures; scutellar angles promi- 

 nently tuberculate, disk otherwise not tuberculate; scaly vestiture 

 dense, spongy, white or ochreous, intermixed with scaly bristles 

 and with raised spots of black erect scales on the alternate intervals. 

 Under surface of abdomen deeply, moderately and rather sparsely 

 punctured, with squamiform setae arising from each puncture; scaly 

 vestiture dense. Metathoracic side-pieces anteriorly prolonged ob- 

 liquely upward and forward, causing a deep emargination of the 

 elytra. 



The markings of this species are distinct. The black Y formed 

 by the two spots on the thorax and the scutellar spot, and the black 

 triangles on the sides of the elytra are generally distinct. 

 Type.— Cat. No. 12593, U.S.N.M. 



