DESCRIPTIONS OP NEW SPECIES. 89 



One male from Texas, in Mr. Tike's collection. The sculpture 

 of the thorax is peculiar ;* it is distinctly and tolerably densely 

 punctured at the sides and before the middle, with a very finely 

 punctulate broad transverse space extending from the middle to 

 the base, and from the dorsal carina to the depressed sides. 



The genus Pleotomus was established by me upon this insect, 

 (Class. Col. N. America, 184,) without giving a specific description. 

 It is easily distinguished from other genera of Lampyrini by the 

 antenna? being 14-jointed, about two-thirds the length of the thorax, 

 with the 1st joint short, obconical ; the 2d scarcely visible ; the 3d 

 to the 13th prolonged externally and internally, so that the an- 

 tennse become bipectinate ; the 14th longer than the processes 

 of the preceding joint. The maxillary palpi are dilated, with 

 the last joint securiform ; the labial with the last joint elongated, 

 oval, somewhat pointed. The eyes are very large, and very 

 nearly approximated on the under surface of the head, behind the 

 mouth. The 7th ventral segment is broadly truncate, or sub- 

 emarginate, permitting the small conical 8th joint to become 

 visible. The luminous segments (if any) are not distinguishable, 

 owing perhaps to the general pale color of the insect. The 

 pygidium is semicircular. The last joint of the tarsi is longer 

 than the preceding. 



This genus seems allied to Lamprocera Lap., but differs by 

 the greater number of the joints of the antennae, and the greater 

 length of the last joint of the tarsi. 



MICROPHOTUS LEC. 



Antennae short and stout, scarcely longer than the head, 2d joint nearly 

 equal to the 1st, about as long as wide ; 3d joint very little longer, nar- 

 rower at the base ; 4th-9th gradually diminishing in length ; 10th oval, 

 not longer than the preceding; llth very small, cylindrical, truncate and 

 subulate, as in Phausis. Eyes immensely large, almost contiguous ; max- 

 illary palpi with the joints broader than long, last one triangular, nearly 

 acute. Prothorax semicircular, convex at the middle, widely flattened 

 and impressed each side ; finely scabrous, without hyaline spots. Elytra 

 suddenly widened behind the base, rounded at the sides and concave 

 beneath the humeral elevation, gradually narrowed from the middle, tips 

 rounded and slightly dehiscent. Abdomen with the last ventral segment 

 prolonged at the middle and rounded at the tip in all the specimens I have 

 seen ; last dorsal segment subtruncate. Wings perfect. Feet feeble, com- 

 pressed ; first and second joints of tarsi somewhat longer ; 4th joint short, 

 scarcely lobed; 5th joint slender, as long as the two preceding united. 



