44 
Head flattened; cl.vpeus with a rather sharp black tooth at 
middle, and a shorter tooth each side. Exterior to these the 
front margin bears a brush of long, golden yellow hair. Four 
sulci extend back from the front margin, the outer pair ending 
m a setigerous puncture The posterior clypeal prolongation 
widens slightly behind the constriction and usually tapers a 
little posteriorly, but does not become narrower than at 
the constriction. Labruin invisible. Mandibles black, toothed 
internally. Maxi Ike and labium as usual in wire worms, the 
pa;pi short and stout. Antennae short, the penultimate joint 
obtusely toothed beneath, the last joint hemispherical, whitish. 
h ii st thoiacic segment about as long as the other two com¬ 
bined. Abdominal segments about two thirds as long as the 
prothoracic, except the first, which is shorter, and the last, which 
is neai ly tv ice as long as the one preceding. Each segment bears 
an elevated border in front, limited by a sharp darker ed°’e 
postei lorly, v kich is obsolete at the middle on the thoracic and 
first abdominal segments. This edge curves suddenlv backward 
m front of the spiracles. These are oblong ovate, not far from 
the anterior margins of the segments, one on each abdominal 
segment except the last, and the thoracic pair on the mesotho- 
rax below the lateral margin. Above the spiracles, close to the 
elevated border, is a transverse longitudinally striated oval mus- 
culai impiession, and between them and the spiracles originates 
an impressed line which extends backwards partially across the 
segment. The striae of the muscular impressions are light colored 
and they are separated by dark brown flat intervals. On the 
middle segments of the body there are usually five stria? in each 
impression, sometimes fewer, and in one specimen none. On the 
terminal segments the number may reach ten or twelve; and on 
the prothorax there are usually more than five. The legs are 
stout, and armed with brown spines. The last segment is charac¬ 
teristic of the species. Anteriorly it is quite convex, and marked 
with four longitudinal nearly parallel impressed lines, the inner 
pair diverging anteriorly; posteriorlv ft is flattened a little, 
especially at the tip. 
The surface is covered, as usual in Melanotus, with small tu- 
bei cles, more numerous near the tip, and is also rather coarsely 
punctate o^ er the posterior two thirds, more closely near the 
tip. In M. communis the punctures are finer, sparser, and much 
less conspicuous. At the tip of the segment is a short, feebly 
elevated margin, ending on either side in an angle or blunt 
tooth, and bearing a third angle or tooth at middle; the out¬ 
line between the teeth often scarcely concave. The sides of the 
segment are rounded, not evidently margined or angulate. 
Imago. (Plate VII., Fig. 1).—Length 9-11 mm. Pubescent; 
color brownish fuscous, lighter than in communis , and tapering 
less posteriorly. The front is not concave or margined. The 
thorax above coarsely and rather densely punctate, shining; 
sides nearly straight in male, rounded in female; posterior an¬ 
gles unicarinate. Claws pectinate as usual in Melanotus. 
