12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol.76 



GROUP III 



Of this group, onl}^ four specimens, apparently representing three 

 species, have been seen. The scape extends % way across eye, the 

 latter moderately to strongly prominent. Elytral setae long, fine, 

 acute at tip. Dorsal scales distinctly striate. The scales of under 

 surface are all more or less plumose, those on abdomen being strongly 

 so. Plumose scales are present also on the elytral flanks, a condition 

 not found in either of the preceding groups. The punctures of the 

 entire abdominal surface are small and dense, the species differing in 

 this respect from all the others, except plumosus. The tibiae are 

 obsoletely denticulate. 



KET TO GROUP III 



1. Elytral scales contiguous to overlapping half their length; form narrow, sub- 



cylindrical (prothoracic to elytral width, 24 to 34); elytral setae rather 



long and conspicuous hispidus, new species. 



la. Elytral scales, at most, only narrowly overlapping; form stouter 2. 



2. Eyes moderately prominent; pronotum with fine, dense, subrugose puncta- 



tion; elytral setae shorter (prothoracic to elytral width, 26 to 40). 



strigisquamosus, new species. 

 2a. Eyes very prominent, forming a hemisphere; pronotum with punctate gran- 

 ules; elytral setae longer (prothoracic to elytral width, 20.5-34). 



ocularis, new species. 



MESAGROICUS HISPIDUS, new species 



Two females. Length, 4.9-5.1 mm.; width, 1.8-2 mm. Length to 

 width of pronotum, 3 to 4. Body subcylindrical, a little narrower 

 behind; color pale brown, irregularly mottled with white on elytra. 

 Rostrum with a distinct sulcus from between eyes to antennal inser- 

 tion, surface either side finely, densely, subconfluently punctured; 

 punctures on head still finer and denser. Eyes moderately prominent. 

 Scape rather thick, distinctly biarcuate, the swollen apical portion 

 setose but not squamose; first funicular segment thicker and longer 

 than second (the two more nearly equal than in next two species), 

 seventh distinctly transverse. Prothorax with sides rather strongly 

 rounded, not constricted apically; pronotum with fine, dense and 

 somewhat irregular punctation. Elytral scales contiguous to over- 

 lapping half their length, conspicuously striate, nearly concealing the 

 rows of punctures ; each interval with an irregular row of long brown 

 and white setae. Impression on fifth ventral shallow. Plumose scales 

 not so deeply split as in the next two species. 



Type.— A female (Cat. No. 41752, U.S.N. M.), 4.9 mm. long, and 

 1 paratype. 



Type locality. — Oxnard, Calif. (Feeding on sugar beet. G. E. 

 Bensel, collector.) 



