30 
while in the previous species it is very distinctly punctured. Length 
varies from three to four-tenths of an inch. 
Melanotus fissilis —Say. 
This species has had the misfortune to receive a number of names, 
-as Cratonychus brevicollis , Herbst; Melanotus cinereus , Weber; M sphe- 
noidalis , Melsh, etc. Of a uniform reddish-brown color, covered with 
short, pale yellowish hairs, which give it a dark ashen hue when liv¬ 
ing. Head convex, rounded on the front edge; antennae pale-red, 
short, serrate. Thorax convex, not contracted near the posterior 
spines; spines obtuse; a distinct cleft or fissure just inside of each 
spine at the base. Elytra striate, and regularly punctured. The 
tarsi hairy and claws pectinate. Length about three-fifths of an 
inch. 
Common throughout the state, especially where there are groves, 
and in the timbered sections. 
The specimens marked wfith this name in Mr. Walsh’s collection 
I am satisfied do not belong to this species. 
Melanotus communis —Schon. 
Closely resembles the last, and is not easily distinguished from it 
except by the size, which is not always a safe guide in this group. It 
is rather a lighter brown than fissilis and the thorax has a longitudi¬ 
nal indentation in the middle, deepest in the anterior half. Length 
about half an inch. 
Common, but does not appear to be so abundant in the southern 
portion of the State as fissilis. 
Limonius griseus —Beauv. 
Very similar in form, color and general appearance to M. fissilis, but 
the claws are simple, not being furnished with the minute, comb-like 
teeth seen in that species. Length about half an inch; width scarce¬ 
ly more than one-fifth the length; thorax scarcely as broad as the 
front of the elytra; elytra striate, grooves punctured, interspaces 
convex, tapering but slightly until near the blunt apex. Dark 
brown; head very hairy; hairs of the thorax parting in the middle 
and bending toward the sides. 
As will be seen by these descriptions, as a general rule, the species 
are not easily distinguished from each other, being very similar in 
size, color and other respects. When to this difficulty is added the 
fact that they remain for several }^ears—three at least—in the larva 
state, we cannot wonder that so few species have had their history 
traced. I think most of our injurious species are those of com¬ 
paratively small size. But knowledge of the history of our species, so 
far as it relates to connecting the worms with their respective beetles, 
although important in some respects, will probably aid us but little 
in devising remedies; our attacks must be directed against the 
worms. 
As the notes here given on these insects are intended only as sup- 
