65 
16 (5, 15). Lateral vittse without branch, becoming indistinct 
or obsolete in front of middle of thorax, median distinct^ 
elytral intervals subequal, punctulate; size small (6.5 mm.). 
Penn., Ga., Ill., Oregon.. sayi. 
17 (4). Median vitta forked in front, branches curving outward 
and often joining tip of laterals, lateral branch feeble or 
wanting; elytral intervals alternating, the broader and more 
convex biseriately, the others uniseriately punctate; size small 
to medium (6-10 mm.). 17 . S. placiclus . 
18 (3). Lateral vittse entirely absent. 
19 (20). Thorax broadest in front of middle, with very coarse 
variolate punctures sparsely and irregularly placed, sometimes 
a short, narrow tubercle near middle, occasion ally extending 
posteriorly as an obsolete raised line; elytral surface uneven, 
stride with very coarse variolate punctures forming irregular- 
transverse rows, intervals flat, uneven, especially the 6th and 
7th, uniseriately and finely punctulate; entire surface usually 
with uniform coating; size small (5-6 mm.). Urbana and 
Springfield, Ill. minimus .* 
20 (19). Thorax broadest behind the middle, regularly rounded, 
uniformly, densely, and moderately coarsely punctate, sometimes 
a fine smooth median line; elytra evenly rounded, striae with 
coarse punctures, intervals fiat, with a single row of less coarse 
punctures; surface with argillaceous coating, the narrow spaces 
between the thoracic punctures usually denuded; size small 
(6-7 mm.). Penn., Ga., Fla., Ind., Ill., Mo., Kan ...parvulus. 
IMMATURE STAGES. 
The only species hitherto sufficiently described in its immature 
stages is robustus ,— a species so infrequent in Illinois that Piley’s- 
elaborate description (46-141) need not be here repeated. 
*Sphenophorug ?ninimus, n. sp. Surface opaque black, covered with uniform pale ochreous or 
cinereous coating, except the rostrum in front of the insertion of the antennae, the anterior surface 
of the fore femora at base, the knees, the tips of the tibiae, some of the sternal sutures, a spot at the 
middle of the abdomen on the second, or first and second, ventral segments, and the antennal club, 
which are shining black, the latter spongy pubescent at tip as usual; and the tarsi andfunicle of an¬ 
tennae, which are shining brown. 
- Rostrum two thirds as long as thorax, moderately stout, slightly compressed, curved, tip not 
dilated, base punctulate, broadly canaliculate, sub-carinate each side of the sulcus, suddenly and 
strongly dilated over the scrobes. 
Thorax longer than wide, nearly as wide as the elytra, broadest in front of middle, widening back 
of the apical constriction, at first very rapidly, then more slowly, to a point in front of middle; from 
this to base slightly narrowing, sides nearly straight, base oblique each side of middle; surface 
sparsely, coarsely, and irregularly foveate-punctate, a very small oblong tubercle, usually de¬ 
nuded and shining, in front of middle, from which an obsolete smooth narrow median line some¬ 
times extends posteriorly, but does not reach the base. Scutellum oblong, fiat, usually coated. 
Elytra broadest behind the base, narrowing strongly to apex; striae fine, with coarse foveate 
punctures depressing the surrounding space and forming irregular transverse rows, making the 
surface very uneven, especially on the sixth and seventh intervals; intervals flat, subequal, finely 
uniseriately punctulate, the third, in some specimens, slightly elevated; subapical callus elevated 
into a distinct tubercle with the posterior outline nearly vertical. Pygidium punctate, with a mi¬ 
nute ferruginous tuft of hair at each po-terior angle. Beneath uniformly, not very densely, coarsely 
punctate, less coarsely on prosternnm; femora and tibiae strongly punctate. Length 5-6 mm. De¬ 
scribed from six males and five females, from floating driftwood, and logs near water, at Urbana and 
Springfield, Ill. The elytral surface of this species recalls cartosus. It is the smallest in our fauna.. 
