1892.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 253 



Rancora strigata n. gen. et sp. ; first row, ist figure.— An ally of Cu- 

 ciilHa, differing from it in the heavier thorax, shorter body, improminent 

 hood to collar, serrate antennje of male and broader, less lanceolate wings. 

 The color is ashen gray, the transverse markings are obsolete and the 

 longitudinal dashes are obvious outwardly. Expands 1.75 inches; 44 mm. 



Hab. — Victoria, B. C. , one 9 ; Mr. Neumoegen. 



It is possible that Ciicidlia sei'raticorjiis may be congeric, but 

 this species is larger, more robust, the wings broader, less lan- 

 ceolate. 



Notes on Bruchus aiboscutellatus, Miarus hispidulus, Coeliodes 

 acephalus, and a new Thiobius. 



By John Hamilton, M. D., Allegheny, Pa. 



Bruchus aiboscutellatus Horn, breeds abundantly in the seed 

 capsules of seed-box. Bastard Loosestrife, Ludtvigia alternifolia, 

 a perennial plant of the Onagracese family, which grows in wet 

 places. The ripe capsule is coriaceous, with four-winged angles,, 

 perforated at the top, divided internally into four cells each con- 

 taining a hundred or more seeds, and is about the size of a pea. 

 Each cell usually contains a Bruchus in some stage, and if the 

 larva eats the seeds the diminution in their number is not very 

 great. As the dead plant stands rigid and its capsules indehis- 

 cent till Summer, and not eaten by birds or animals, it is quite 

 probable the beetles remain in them all Winter, or even till the 

 time the pla'nt is in bloom. At this time, October 20th, the cap- 

 sules contain larvae, pupae and beetles in about equal numbers. 



This is a wide departure from the food-habits of any of the 

 North American species of Bruchus on record, — rufimanus, pi- 

 sorum, chinensis, ^-7naculatus , desertoricm, obsciirus, obsoletus, 

 SchrankicB and au?-eolus, are known to inhabit the seeds of legu- 

 minous plants. Pruninus occurs on the Ironwood of Arizona 

 (family unknown to me), but whether it breeds in the fruit is not 

 stated. It is quite likely other species of Bruchus may inhabit 

 the seed vessels or succulent parts of other plants, especially of 

 such as have persistent capsules or pods. 



The dents on the hind femur of this species are usually three, 

 a large basal, small median and moderate apical, well separated; 

 sometimes the apical is absent, occasionally the apical and me- 

 dian; and sometimes the femur on one side will have the normal 



