266 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 



This species must by the simple claws be placed in 

 Epimechus, but in every other respect it is closely allied 

 to the members of the subgenus Cnemocyllus. The 

 ungual teeth in Anthonomus vary greatly in develop- 

 ment, and it is to be doubted whether the genus Epi- 

 mechus, which is apparently founded on this character 

 alone, will prove tenable. A similar condition of affairs 

 obtains in Apion, which it has not been thought proper 

 to divide although there is more to warrant a separa- 

 tion than in the present instance. 



E. arenicolor by its comparatively dense scaly vesti- 

 ture must be associated with E. nevadicus and E. cemulus 

 (see following description); it is, however, less densely 

 clothed than either of these, and of quite a different 

 color; in the extreme length of the last ventral of the 

 male (females have not been seen) it differs conspicu- 

 ously from all allied forms; this segment in other spe- 

 cies of Epimechus, in fact, being scarcely at all longer 

 than the fourth. The claws in E. nevadicus, E. areni- 

 color, and E. cemulus are distinctly smaller than in the 

 non-squamose species of the genus E. adspersus, E. mim- 

 icus, etc. 



87. Epimechus aemulus, sp. nov. 



Elongate-oval, densely clothed with whitish and grayish brown scales, 

 giving the species an appearance closely resembling E. nevadicus, with 

 which it agrees in most points of structure. The white scales are, how- 

 ever, more conspicuous on the elytra, and are chiefly confined to the 

 alternate intervals, beginning with the second. There is a transverse 

 fascia of the darker scales in the usual position behind the middle, begin- 

 ning on the third interval and extending to the sides of the elytra; this 

 darker fascia is bordered both before and behind by a conspicuous spot of 

 white scales on alternate intervals, and on the fourth and sixth these 

 white scales extend to the base of the elytra. The lateral pale vittas of the 

 thorax are nearly lacking in the type. The funicle of the antennae is 

 seven-jointed, the second joint much longer than the third, the latter equal 

 to the fourth. Last ventral equal to the preceding. 



Length, 3.1 mm. 



