THE LEAD-CABLE BORER IN CALIFORNIA. 55 



equal in lengtli. Color dark brown to black, mostly black ; antennae, nioutli- 

 parts (except mandibles), femora, and tarsi light amber; tibia', posterior lateral 

 area of protborax, and tumid area on the anterior lateral portion of elytra 

 dark amber. 



DETAILED DESCRIPTION. 



Head: Rugose, globular, deeply evaginated into prothorax, tapering caudad 

 and cephalad from its center. Eyes convex, prominent, elevated from head 

 caudad, possibly for reception of prothoracic margin when head is strongly re- 

 flexed. Antennae inserted in front of eyes, 9-jointed, with a 3-jointed club, last 

 joint oblong, appearing slightly longer than joints 7 or 8, joint 7 broadest and 

 prominently flanged, intermediate joints 3, 4, 5, and 6 shorter than joints 1 and 

 2 combined. Gula distinctly outlined. Clypeus indistinct. Labrum wedge- 

 shaped, broader than long, distal margin covered with heavy tuft of light brown 

 hairs. Mentum and submentum divided by distinct suture, of same width at 

 suture, the former longer than broad, tapering toward ligula ; latter broader 

 than long, tapering toward gula ; submentum heavily chitinized. Maxillary 

 palpi 4-jointed, basal shortest, distal longest. Galea and lacinia prominent, 

 hairy. Labial palpi 3-jointed ; basal short, confluent ; distal elongate, tapering 

 from its base. Mandibles simple, moderately pointed, gradually widening 

 dorsally and bearing on the inner margin toward the base a small molar tooth. 

 Beginning at the base of each mandible a semicircle of dark brown hairs ex- 

 tending very prominently over the front. 



Prothorax: Pronotum as broad as long, cephalic margin smooth and trun- 

 cate, caudal slightly flanged and circular, anteiior lateral area bearing a num- 

 ber of strong rasplike tubercules, these diminishing in size dorso-posteriorly ; 

 posterior lateral area smooth, shiny, and testaceous. Presternum occupied 

 mostly by coxal cavities ; much broader than long, giving the prothorax a hood- 

 like shape. No marginal lines. 



Mesotliorax : On tiie mesonotum the prescutura is a triangular sclerite with 

 the scutellum plainly exposed. Mesosternum also triangular, but reversed from 

 prescutum ; the poststernellar piece separates the coxse while the cephalic as- 

 pect of the sternum nearly reaches tlie prosternal margin but is prevented by 

 the episternal sclerites joining at this point ; these large sclerites bear numer- 

 ous indistinct, irregular punctures. The episternum and prescutum are sepa- 

 rated by the subcostal head. 



Elytra; Entire, strise irregular, punctures larger dorso-posteriorly ; two 

 rather inconspicuous costse on each elytron anteriorly, the dorsal costa gradu- 

 ally joining the sutural margin which forms an acute tooth near the apex of 

 the obliquely truncate declivity. Sutural -strife deeply impressed posteriorly 

 but not entering the declivity. Declivity smooth and shiny between the promi- 

 nent sutures, bearing A'ery small light brown hairs. Lateral margin gradually 

 undate near the middle, a tumid area on each elytral shoulder, coior dark am- 

 ber ; balance of elytra piceous. 



Metathorax: Metatergal groove distinct, arrow-shaped; scutellum prominent; 

 postscutellum with a median emargination partially covered by the first ab- 

 dominal tergite. Metasternum longer than either the presternum or meso- 

 sternum, no distinct median line; sternal and episternal sutures clearly out- 

 lined, episternum elongate. The sternellar piece is divided for the reception of 

 the intercoxal process. (The sternellar area and third abdominal sternite are 

 grooved for the reception of the hind femur. ) 



The metathoracic wings are rather interesting in their length, venation, and 

 the method by which their apex is folded when at rest. The subcosta soon paral- 

 lels the costa, making a wide dark chitinized. outer margin, while the radius 

 dips well into the center and one branch joins the costa and subcosta at about 

 two-thirds the length of the wing (this being nearly the length of the elytra), 

 the veins showing a heavy elevated chitinization at their junction and forming 

 a large closed cell that corresponds with the ventral aspect of the elytron, the 

 other two branches of the radius joining the anal angle to strengthen the wing ; 

 the area toward the apex bears two veinless chitinizat'ons which seem to act 

 as weights that assist in properly folding the wings when not in flight. 



Legs: Coxse of anterior and middle pair globular; posterior coxa with a long, 

 tapering, transverse sclerite terminafng near the episternal suture ; anterior 

 pair contiguous, middle pair separated by the sternellum, and posterior pair 

 by the intercoxal process. Trochanters small, without trochantins. Femora 

 slightly swollen, pale testaceous, grooved at the distal inner margin for the re- 

 ception of the tibia. Tibife slender, about same length as femora, dark amber, 



