OZDEMERID^E OF BOREAL AMERICA. 39I 



likely disappear with the examination of other species. 

 One species is, however, introduced from Europe, and 

 now found almost everywhere in our fauna, threatening 

 to be cosmopolitan in its distribution. 



Nacerdes melanura Linn. Faun. Suecc, p. 205. 



Nacerdes apicalis Say (Edemera, ed. Lee, ii, p. 660. 



Form slender, parallel, above yellow, elytra tipped with 

 black, beneath and legs (in great part) piceous. Length 

 .28-. 48 inch.; 7-12 mm. 



In the male the antenna is twelve-jointed and the fifth 

 ventral deeply triangularly emarginate. 



This insect is so well known and widely distributed 

 that any further description seems unnecessary. With a 

 probable origin in Europe this insect is being gradually 

 spread by commerce over the world. I have seen it from 

 nearly every portion of our continent except the extreme 

 north. It prefers the coast regions and is rather rare 

 inland. 



Xanthochroa Schmidt. 



Form slender. Penultimate joint of tarsi bilobed and 

 alone spongy-pubescent beneath. Anterior tibiae with a 

 single spur in both sexes. Tarsal claws not toothed. 

 Mandibles bifid at tip. Last joint of maxillary palpi 

 elongate-triangular. Antennae eleven-jointed ? , twelve- 

 jointed 5 , the twelfth joint much shorter than the eleventh. 



It is very doubtful whether the reference of our species 

 to this genus is correct. Lacordaire states that the head 

 is prolonged in a long muzzle and that all the tarsal joints, 

 except the terminal, are tomentose ; neither character 

 is present in our species. The difference between the 

 species here called Xanthochroa and Nacerdes consists 

 in the more strongly emarginate eyes of the former, 

 a character seemingly of feeble value and likely to be- 



