30 GENUS ABIA. 



thickened towards the apex ; the last two are the 

 longest, and are of nearly equal length. The apical 

 three joints are thinner than the basal three. The 

 labium is formed of three nearly equal lobes. The 

 first and second joints of labial palpi are nearly equal 

 in length, but the second is thicker than the first, the 

 third is longer and thicker than any of the others, the 

 fourth is a little shorter than the third. 



The legs are of moderate size and thickness ; the 

 spurs are thick, three-fourths of the length of meta- 

 tarsus ; the patellas are large, thick, and curved at the 

 apex. Claws bifid, rarely simple. The abdominal 

 segments are convex, of nearly equal length ; on the 

 centre of the basal two is a more or less clearly defined 

 keel. The saw is of the same structure and shape as 

 in the Cimbicides. 



In the c? the eyes are larger and nearly joined at 

 the top They are further distinguished by having on 

 the back of the abdomen a quadrate spot which is de- 

 pressed and slightly pilose in A. sericea and raised and 

 velvety in texture in nigricornis. 



Synopsis of Species. 



1 (2) The club 3-jointed, thick, the joints distinctly separated ; the 



fourth joint not much more than half the length of the third, 

 distinctly thicker than it, and shorter than the fifth; antennce 

 yellowish. The basal two abdominal segments keeled (the 

 abdominal segments uniformly punctured) = Alia, sensu str. 



Sericea. 



2 (1) The club 2- or indistinctly 3-jointed, elongate; the fourth joint 



more than twice the length of the third ; first thicker than 

 it, and longer than the fifth. The second abdominal segment 

 not, or but indistinctly, keeled. 



3 (4) The antennae yellowish in the middle; the claws bifid. The 



abdominal segments punctured and opaque only at the base, 

 the apex impunctate and shining. Candens. 



4 (3) The antennae entirely black, the claws simple. 



5 (4) Fourth joint of antennae dilated in <$ . Carina on base of abdomen 



distinct ; base of abdomen black in $ . Fascia in wings 

 irregular, not extending across. Nigricornis. 



6 (5) Fourth joint of antennae not dilated. Carina on base of abdo- 



men indistinct ; base of abdomen white in $ . The fascia in 

 wings broad, extending right across. Fasciata. 



