FAMILY MELOLONTHID/E. 71 



Trox capillaris. (Plate xxiv, fig. 1.) 



Brown, dull : elytra traversed by several rows of pointed or sharpened tubercles, standing 

 between the fine parallel lines. LengtJi two-fifths of an inch. 



Dynastidac. 



This family embraces the most gigantic beetles known : the genera are also numerous. 

 The antenna? are .ten-jointed : the first is robust, conic and hairy ; the second, sub- 

 globose ; the next five are short, and the head is composed of three lamina? in contact. 

 The clypeus is frequently horned, as well as the thorax : head subtrigonal ; elytia 

 truncate, leaving the end of the abdomen bare. The body is large and thick, the legs 

 strong ; tibia? broad and dentate. 

 This singular family have some of the habits of the Geotrupid;e : that of subsisting 



npon and in the excrement of animals, and decaying refuse matter from the vegetable 



kingdom. 



Melolonthidac. 



Genus SERICA ( Macleay). Scarabjeus (Linn.). 



• Form ovate. Antenna? ten-jointed : basal joint the largest ; the second the next, and the 

 ' claws bifid : last joint of the palpi subacute' ( Westwood). 



Serica vespertina. ( Plate xxiv, fig. 9.) 



Color light chestnut-brown, uniform : body small ; wider behind. 



Triciiinus ( Trichiis) viridans. ( Plate xxiv, fig. 5.) 



Color of the head and thorax green : elytra obscurely striped ; margins marked with dark 

 spots ; disk ferruginous, truncate, exposing the abdomen, punctured and marked by 

 longitudinal lines ; abdomen hairy. 



Trichinus assimilis. 

 Color black, hairy and glossy. Elytra marked near their bases with a light brownish patch r 

 from each outer angle of which proceed two white oblique lines that nearly reach the 

 margins ; and from the inner angles, two other white lines arise, which run parallel 

 with the suture, and do not quite reach the truncated extremity : there is also an 

 obscure line parallel with the last, and about half as long, which may not be constant, 

 i'l isterior segment of the abdomen clothed with a dense coat of yellowish white hairs :. 

 abdomen below shining, and less hairy than the breast. Length rather more than 

 one fourth of an inch. 

 Found in Western Massachusetts . 



