1894] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 293 



count: " Good structural characters divide Scymnus into groups; these 

 characters are found on the underside of the body. The first character 

 of value is the form of the metacoxal plate; this is either entire, that is, 

 united by a nearly semi-circular line, or the plate is incomplete, not form- 

 ing a semi-circle. There is a similar line, but less useful for classification 

 behind the middle coxae. Our species of Scymnus may be divided into 

 two genera — Scynmus, with five ventral segments, and a possible new 

 genus with six segments. Color character must not be too strictly used, 

 as in this respect the legs, especially, are very variable, while the style of 

 color is quite constant." Continuing, he stated that 800 species of Cole- 

 optera were now known from the peninsula of California, which show that 

 the west coast as far as explored, is a continuation of the San Diego fauna. 

 A small collection from the northern central region, at a moderate eleva- 

 tion, are more nearly related to the region near Los Angeles and Santa 

 Barbara. The gulf coast of the peninsula is related in its fauna to Arizona 

 and to some extent to Texas, while the extreme end of the peninsula, 

 east of a line from La Paz to San Jose del Cabo is decidedly tropical and 

 has a few Mexican species in it. Mr. Albert Hoyer reported the capture 

 of a specimen of C/ila-nius angtistus at Templeville, Md. A general dis- 

 cussion among the members followed, after which the meeting adjourned 

 to a collation at 10.30 p. M. Theo. H. Schmitz, Secretary. 



The following papers were read and accepted by the Committee for 

 publication in Entomological News : 



NEW SPECIES OF MUTILLID/E. 



By T. D. A. CocKERELL and Jessie E. Casad, N. M. Ag. Coll. 



Sphaerophthalma heterochroa n. sp. — ? 8.5 mm. long; dark brown, with 

 the pubescence variously scarlet, black and yellowish white, — thus quad" 

 ricolored. Head subquadrate, about as wide as thorax; face, below level 

 of eyes, cheeks and scape of antennae, clothed with sparse, appressed, 

 yellowish white hairs; crown of head densely covered with appressed 

 scarlet hairs, among which are scattered erect, long, black hairs. An- 

 tennae brown, basal joint shining reddish. Thorax pyriform seen from 

 above, quadrate seen from side, abruptly truncate behind. Dorsum of 

 pro- and meso-thorax clothed similarly to crown of head with scarlet pu- 

 bescence interspersed with black hairs; sides with scattered, yellowish 

 -white hairs. Metathorax reticulate, with sparse, erect, black hairs. Ab- 

 domen elongate-pyriform; first segment sessile with second, but with the 

 suture impressed; black hairs spring from its dorsal surface; its basal por- 

 tion is toothed at sides. Large second segment dorsally clothed with 

 scarlet appressed hairs, interspersed with black, erect hairs as on head 

 thorax, except a broad, black, basal blotch, which is obscurely trilobed. 

 The same segment clothed on sides and beneath with sparse yellowish 



