NIAY 4 1903 



REVISION OF THE TENEBRIONIDH OF AMERICA, 



NOllTH OF MEXICO. 

 By GEO. IT. HORN, M. D. 



The object of the following pages is two-fold — first, to afford a proper means of making 

 known to science the results of four years field work in California, and adjacent regions; 

 and secondly, to bring before the student of our fauna, as nearly a, correct list with syno- 

 nymy of all our species as possible, with short descriptions and synoptic tables, whereby 

 all our known species can be readily recognised, rendering it necessary to refer only 

 doubtful or new ones to those having typical collections for proper comparison. 



large series of coleopterous insects, of which the he- 



Thc Tenebrionidse 



commence a large 



teromerous tarsi constitute the most important as well as the most constant character ; 

 and although occupying such an important position in this Section of the great Order 

 Coleoptera, it is neither peculiar, nor without exception. 



In the family Trictenotomidee, as well as in Silphidse Staphylinidae and Colydiida?, 

 we have instances of hctcromcrous tarsi, although in some instances the character is re- 

 versed, that is, the anterior tarsi are four jointed instead of the bind tarsi. Two species 

 of llcteromera are said to have pentamerous tarsi (Tanyrhinns singularis Mann., and Se- 

 pidinrn pradieri Gucrin.) and one genus, Heterotarsus, has the number of joints reduced 

 by one in each tarsus, so that the anterior and middle tarsi are tetramerous, while the 

 hind tarsi arc trimerons. 



The following characters are those which define all the genera and species known to 

 me of the family Tenebrionidse. 



Prosternum attaining the hind margin of the thorax, epimera never contiguous on the 

 media?), line. Anterior coxal cavities closed behind. Tarsi heterornerous, penultimate joint 

 never spongy beneath. Tarsal claws simple. First three joints of the abdomen, connate. 

 Elytra with distinct epipleurai. 



Any heterornerous Coleopteron not possessing all of the above characters, must be re- 

 ferred to some other family. Cossyphns has the epimera of the prostermim contiguous 

 along the median line, and the prostermim not attaining the bind margin of the prothorax, 

 and must constitute a family apart and be placed at the head of that large primary division 

 of the Order in which this peculiar formation of prostermim is always found, called by Dr. 

 Lccontc the lihynchophora. 



Even to the present time, many European entomologists persist in retaining Boros and 



AMEKI. I'lIII.OSO. SOC. — VOL. XIV. — G4 



