CONIONTIS SANTAROSAE 209 



Bakersfield specimens ; in the former they are stouter than in the latter, 

 where they are quite slender. In both the Bakersfield and Los Angeles 

 specimens the antennae are slender and the last three joints form a club ; 

 in those from Kings River Canyon the antennae are stouter and gradually 

 incrassate and the under surface of the body is more coarsely and densely 

 punctate. For this large phase I propose the name gigantea, new sub- 

 species. Among the specimens referred to these three series there are the 

 usual individual variations observed in other species, and, when these are 

 arranged in a block system, the gradations are complete. These forms 

 are the result of geographical position and environment which produce 

 such modifications and reveal the plasticity and adaptability of the 

 organisms. 



Coniontis santarosae, new species. Form oblong-oval, about twice 

 as long as wide, rather more than moderately convex. Color black, tibiae 

 and tarsi piceous, surface smooth and shining; pubescence microscopical 

 above, longer and more abundant beneath. 



Head very finely and sparsely punctate, punctures stronger and more 

 numerous on the epistoma ; frontal suture distinct ; epistomal sinuation 

 moderate and arcuately reentrant. Antennae shorter than the length of 

 the pronotum, three terminal joints subequal in size and moderately com- 

 pressed, scarcely wider than the preceding joints. 



Pronotum almost twice as wide as long, evenly arcuate from side to 

 side, more strongly arcuate and declivous at the apical angles ; sides not 

 strongly convergent anteriorly, feebly arcuate, more strongly so in apical 

 one-half; marginal bead fine; apex arcuate in circular arc, almost trun- 

 cate when viewed from above, finely beaded, but less so at middle ; base 

 almost truncate, very feebly sinuate laterally, angles scarcely more promi- 

 nent posteriorly than the broad and very feebly arcuate median lobe ; basal 

 angles subrectangular ; apical angles obtusely and narrowly rounded ; disk 

 with sparse and extremely fine punctules, each with a microscopical hair. 



Elytra oblong, about a third longer than wide, evenly arcuate trans- 

 versely, more gradually so on the apical declivity; surface smooth and 

 polished, sometimes very finely wrinkled, feeble grooves and costae some- 

 times noticeable ; each puncture with a microscopical hair. 



Prosternum feebly and sparsely punctured, with numerous pseudo- 

 punctules scattered throughout ; process finely margined on apex or not. 



Abdomen very sparsely and finely punctulate. 



Male. Somewhat narrower. Pronotum relatively broader. Ab- 

 domen less convex. 



Female. Broader. Pronotum relatively narrower. Abdomen more 

 convex. 



