1974] 
W erner — Primitive Meloidae 
149 
in female, segment X 1/2 as wide as long. Clypeus separated from 
frons by a depression only, with a narrow, thin, shiny shelf over base 
of labrum; labrum flat, not emarginate at apex. Mandibles half as 
long as head from top of vertex to anterior mandibular articulation; 
shallowly indented on mesal margin just basad of middle; prostheca 
moderately long, reaching beyond middle of mesal margin ; molar lobe 
small but distinct; mesal margin without teeth but apex bluntly 
double-pointed, chisel-like, the mesal face flat for a small zone before 
apex; lateral margin almost evenly curved from base, with moderately 
dense setae. Maxillary palpi (Fig. 6) four-segmented, basal segment 
small, second and third subequal, last long, narrowly securiform. 
Galea simple, of but one segment. Labium (Fig. 7) with ligula 
apparently entire, blunt; mentum not strongly produced laterad. 
Pronotum 1/5 longer than wide, ca. 9/10 as wide as vertex, feebly 
subhexagonal in outline; disk feebly convex except for impressed 
midline. Front coxal cavities open externally, closed internally. 
Mesosternum obtusely angulate at anterior apex. Mesepisterna in 
contact medianly; anterior marginal area with a complete curved 
ridge from dorsal edge to near midline, subparallel to main ridge but 
converging toward it near midline. Apex of elytra simple in both 
sexes. Hind wings (Fig. 13) fully developed in both sexes; apical 
region 1/3 wing length; stem of media (M) short but distinct; 
crossvein r present and radial cell closed; base of 2A 2 strongly de- 
veloped, forming a closed cell (iA 3 ) with a crossvein from iA; 3A1 
not combined with 2A3, apparently present as a short branch which 
with a crossvein from 2A3 forms a closed cell . Male fore tibiae with 
two unmodified spurs (Fig. 10). Hind tibial spurs slender, essen- 
tially equal. All spurs with fine microspines (Fig. 10). Tarsal 
formula 5-5-4. Penultimate tarsal segment (Fig. 11) forming a flat, 
truncate lobe, the last segment arising from near middle of its dorsal 
surface. All tarsal claws with a very blunt basal tooth ; those of fore 
and middle tarsi with a longer pointed tooth in addition (Figs. 8, 9, 
12). There is no vestige of a ventrolateral lobe or blade. Abdominal 
sternum III excavated for hind coxae, the excavation bordered by a 
fine ridge. Male abdominal tergum VII weakly sclerotized, its apex 
slightly curved, at least this tergum with a micropubsecent area that 
is not divided on midline. All terga before VII weakly sclerotized; 
at least part seem to have the same kind of micropubescence. Male 
sternum VII truncate across apex, simple on disk; tergum VIII 
evenly sclerotized from very near base, bluntly ogival; sternum VIII 
sharply angular posterolaterally, its disk simple and its apex just 
