214 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, 



THE LACHNOSTERNA OF KANSAS. 



By Warren Knaus. 



Probably no genus of the larger Coleoptera of Kansas has been 

 so hard to handle, or has been left in such an unsatisfactory con- 

 dition in the principal collections of the State, than the Lach- 

 nosterna — the common June Bugs and May Beetles. They are 

 abundant, almost every year, in April, May, June and July, and 

 in favorite localities during the twilight and early evening, can 

 be taken by the hundreds. From the fact, however, that so 

 many of them looked so much alike in size, color and form, it 

 was practically impossible for one collector to separate them into 

 their proper species. This was true with regard to almost every 

 collection in the country ten years ago, and M'as especially true 

 with the Kansas collections up to within a very recent date. 

 However, within the past decade, two very thorough revisions 

 of this genus — the first by Dr. Geo. H. Horn, in vol, xiv of the 

 "Transactions" of the American Entomological Society, and 

 the second by John B. Smith, in vol. ii, of the " Proceedings of 

 the National Museum," has made it possible for the collector to 

 work out specific differences, get the "June Bug" section of 

 his cabinet in presentable shape and make the study of this genus 

 one of the most fascinating of all the Coleoptera. 



This list of Kansas Lachnosterna will, therefore, be arranged 

 in conformity with the lists of Dr. Horn and Prof. Smith referred 

 to above, while giving the number attached to the specific names 

 in Henshaw's Check List of North American Coleoptera, with 

 the Third supplement thereto. 



The species of this list taken in Kansas are based on those in 

 my private collection made since 1880, those in the collection in 

 the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, embracing the col- 

 lection of the Entomologist, Prof. E. A. Popenoe; those in the 

 collection of the State University at Lawrence, containing Prof. 

 Snow's collections; those mentioned in Prof. J. B. Smith's notes, 

 and a recent species described by M. L. Linell, of the National 

 Museum. 



The writer is indebted to John B. Smith, of New Brunswick, 

 N. J., and M. L. Linell, of the National Museum, for the deter- 

 mination of the majority of species in my own collection; to F. 

 A. Marlatt, Assistant Entomologist for the list of Kansas species 



