298 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vou. 113 
ovaries. The eggs were then deposited singly (one per ovary) in the 
ovaries. After a week to 10 days, the larvae hatched from the eggs 
and began feeding on the cotyledons of the embryos. By the second 
week in July, the larvae began to mature. Measurements of the 
head-capsules and mandibles of 61 larvae indicated 4 larval instars. 
After maturing, the larvae emerged through openings chewed in the 
bases of the seeds and buried themselves in the upper 2 inches (rarely 
deeper) of soil. The emergence of the larvae continued from mid- 
July until about mid-August. Pupation did not take place until 
about the end of the following May. Descriptions of the immature 
stages were given but are not included here. 
Discussron: A discussion of the differences between S. utilis and 
S. commiztus Dietz is given in the discussion of the latter species on 
page 295. Buchanan (1941) gave a thorough discussion of the differ- 
ences between those two species, along with his description of S. utilis 
and illustrated his discussion with drawings of parts of both species. 
DisrripuTion: The records taken from the material examined and 
from the work of Rempel and Shevkenek (1941) indicate that S.utzis 
has a widespread distribution in the Great Plains and central low- 
lands portions of Saskatchewan. The following specimens were 
examined: 
SASKATCHEWAN: Regina, June 20 (topotypes, USNM); June 20 (topotypes, 
CNC); June 15 (paratypes, USNM). 
Total specimens examined: 23. 
SMICRONYX OBTECTUS GROUP 
Description: Body elongate ovate. Rostrum only slightly curved; 
deeply and coarsely punctate behind the antennal insertions. 
Prothorax moderately rounded at sides, suddenly narrowed and 
slightly constricted toward apex; punctures of disk rounded, evenly 
spaced. Elytra not very convex, humeri distinct, but not prominent, 
declivities indistinct. Third tarsal segment only slightly broader 
than first two segments. 
Discussion: The species of this group and those of the S. 
corniculatus group are similar in respect to general body form and 
proportions and shape of the male genitalia, but the two groups may 
be distinguished by several minor differences. In the S. corniculatus 
group, the rostrum is not deeply and coarsely punctate behind the 
antennal insertions, the declivities of the elytra are distinct, and the 
third tarsal segment is distinctly broader than the first two segments. 
None of the last statements is true of the S. obtectus group. In addi- 
tion, in most of the species of the S. corniculatus group the disk of the 
prothorax is covered with channels or rugae, but neither condition is 
found in the S. obtectus group. 
Map 11 gives the distribution of this group. 
