189S.] 129 



Mordellistena the second joint of the maxillary palpi is often more or 

 less dilated, and the anterior femora ciliate. Schilsky apparently 

 treats the maxillary palpi as 3- instead of 4-jointed, hence his first 

 joint (the first visible from above when the palpi are extended) is 

 really the second, and his second the third. 



TOMOXIA BIGUTTATA, Gyll. 



<J. Anterior femora, the base of the anterior tibiae, and the second and third 

 joints of the maxillary palpi, ciliate within ; anterior tibiae strongly curved. 

 9 . Antennae slightly shorter than in the S ; anterior tibi» feebly curved. 



In both sexes the apical joint of the maxillary palpi is strongly 

 securiform, and the pygidium is truncate at the apex and rather short. 

 The hairs on the anterior femora in the male are long and conspicuous. 



MOEDELLA FASCIATA, Linn. 



$ . Apical joint of the maxillary palpi broad and triangular ; anterior femora 

 and the second and third joints of the maxillary palpi ciliate within. 



$ . Apical joint of the maxillary palpi subcultriform, with the inner apical 

 angle rounded ; antennae a little shorter than in the male. 



In both sexes the anterior tibise are feebly curved. 



MOEBELLA ACULEATA, Linn. 



(J . Apical joint of the maxillary palpi broad and triangular, the second joint 

 dilated; anterior femora and the second and third joints of the maxillary palpi 

 ciliate ; anterior tibiae curved ; pygidium elongate. 



? . Apical joint of the maxillary palpi subtriangular ; pygidium shorter. 



Like M.fasciata, this is a very variable species on the continent. 



MoEDELLiSTENA (Mordellocheoa) abdominalis, Fabr. 



$ . Narrow ; thorax black, or black with the hind angles rufescent ; antennae 

 with the third joint much shorter than the fourth or following joints ; maxillary 

 palpi black, the apical joint long and boat-shaped (cylindriform according to 

 Schilsky), testaceous at the tip, the second and third joints stout and ciliate ; abdo- 

 men fulvous, blackish in the middle. 



$ . Broader ; thorax and abdomen fulvous ; antennae with the third and fourth 

 joints subequal ; maxillary palpi testaceous or black, the apical joint oblong-ovate 

 and truncate at the tip (gourd-shaped according to Schilsky), the second and third 

 joints narrow. 



The sexual differences in the form of the palpi have already been 

 described and figured by me (c/! Ent. Mo. Mag., xxvii, p. 287). The 

 male of this species appears to be very much rarer than the female. 



