376 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. no 



Apion {Trichapion) nigrum Herbst 



Figure 17,d-g 



Apion nigrum Herbst, Natursystem aller bekanntenin- und auslandischer Insecten, 

 vol. 7, p. 112; pi. 103, fig. 11, 1797.— Germar, Mag. Ent., vol. 2, p. 239, 1817.— 

 Gyllenhal, in Schoenherr, Genera et species curculionidum, vol. 1, pt. 1, 

 p. 254, 1833.— Smith, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, vol. 11, p. 64, 1884.— Fall. 

 Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, vol. 25, p. 152, 1898.— Cotton, Ohio Nurs. Orch. 

 Insp. Bull, vol. 7, p. 23, 1906.— Pierce, U. S. Dep. Agr. Bur. Ent. Bull. 

 100, p. 75, 1912. — Blatchley and Leng, Rhynchophora or weevils of north- 

 eastern America, p. 82. 



Desceiption: Length, 2.0 to 2.4 mm. 



Moderately robust. Black; pubescence scant, fine, white, coarser 

 and more conspicuous laterally. Male beak one-fourth longer than 

 prothorax, slightly curved, moderately expanded laterally at antennal 

 insertion, attenuate to apical third which is nearly cylindrical; basal 

 two-thu-ds dull, punctured, with scant pubescence, apical third 

 smoother, moderately shining. Female beak about as long as head 

 and prothorax, slightly curved, attenuate beyond basal third to 

 middle, nearly cylindrical to apex; glabrous, dull, moderately punc- 

 tured to apex. Antennae inserted at distance from eye two-fifths 

 greater than width of frons at basal two-fifths of male, of female at 

 distance from eje one-half greater than width of frons slightly distad 

 of basal third; first segment of male equal to next thi-ee, of female 

 equal to next four; second segment shorter than next two; club 

 0.16 by 0.08 to 0.18 by 0.10 mm. Eyes prominent; frons moderately 

 wide, with median smooth area flanked by two lateral rows of punc- 

 tures. Prothorax at base about one-fifth wider than long, middle 

 distinctly wider than base, apex two-thirds to tlu-ee-fourths as wide 

 as base; sides moderately expanded laterally at base, roundly expanded 

 to widest point at middle, rounding to constricted apex; some females 

 with sides more broadly rounded and basal constriction greatly 

 reduced; in profile dorsal surface slightly arcuate, depressed basally 

 and apically; punctures moderately deep, 0.03 to 0.04 mm. in diameter, 

 interspaces nearly flat, less than diameter of punctures, alutaceous; 

 basal fovea deep, linear, extending about one-third length of prothorax. 

 Elytra at humeri one-fourth to one-thh-d (especially of female) wider 

 than prothorax at base, 2.75 times as long as prothorax, length to 

 width as 7 : 5; intervals twice as wide as striae, moderately convex, 

 with one or two rows of punctures bearing fine scales; striae deep. 

 Scutellum triangular, slightly longer than Vvdde, with median furrow. 

 Front femora 3.75 times as long as wide. Claws with acute basal 

 tooth. 



