NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 17 very short, not longer than the third joint of tlie maxillary, first joint very robnst, second more slender, sub-cylindrical, third thin and subulate, fourth very minute and obscure, subulate. Grular sutures very strong. Eyes extremelylong, regularly oval. Labrum broadly and very feebly emarginate. First joint of antennae longest, second shorter and less robust, third longer than the second, joints four to ten short, very broad, increasing in width, last joint nearly as long as the two preceding together, constricted slightly before the middle, obtusely ovular at tip. Middle coxae distant. Mesosternal process parabolic, extending to mid-coxal section, where it is met by a broadly truncated extension of the metasternum, truncation slightly emarginate.
This genus is founded on Dr. LeConte's Aleochara valida, one of" the largest members of the group Aleocharini ; it is found in Arizona. In many of its characters it resembles Aleochara, but in the structui-e of the mesosternum between the coxae it differs entirely from it, there being not even a trace of the prominent medial ridge so cliaracteristic of that genus.
For purposes of comparison I have given on plate I, fig. 8, a representation of the arrangement of the processes between the middle coxfe in Aleochara, taken from A. bimacalata.
There does not appear, at the present time, to have been more than one species discovered, viz: — T. Talida (Lee). — Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1858, ser. 2. vol. iv. p.16.
The eight outer joints of the antennae are covered very densely with a closely recumbent, excessively short pubescence, and there is besides this a system of very long, sparse, coarse, erect setae, totally distinct from the first.
EMPLEIVOTA n. gen.
Mesosternal process very narrow, extending nearly the entire distance between the coxae, where it becomes very acute and meets a somewhat acutely triangular projection of the metasternum. Maxillary palpi short, five-jointed, fourth joint very narrow, elongated, subulate, fifth joint excessively minute, as broad as long. First three joints of antennae decreasing uniformly in length, fourth globular, remaining joints incrassate, joints five to ten broader than long, last joint large, conoidal, as long as the two precedingtogether. Hind coxae very narrowly separated, spurs of middle tibiae strong and slightly unequal in length.
E. maritinia n. sp. — Form moderately slender, sides parallel. Pubescenceofheadandabdomenmuchlonger,moreerect,andmuchsparserthan that of prothorax and elytra, which is very dense, recumbent, and growing outward from the median line, pale piceo-cinereous. Color deep piceousblack, apices of the abdominal segments paler. Head strongly deflexed. Published August, 1884. 2
18 THOS. L. CASEY.
slightly longer than broad, ovulate, wider behind the eyes ; surface very feebly, coarsely and sparsely punctate, except along a broad median space, also uniformly and minutely granulate ; eyes very flat, on the sides of the head, much more than their own length in advance of the posterior angles, covered sparsely with erect setae ; labrum short, broad, feebly emarginate ; antennae very finely pubescent, scarcely longer than the head. Prothorax anteriorly equal in width to the head, arcuately widening to a point slightly in advance of the middle, where it is distinctly broader than long ; sides thence nioderat(!ly convergent and arcuate posteriorly ; basal angles so obtuse as to be almost imperceptible ; posterior margin broadly, evenly, and very strongly arcuate, anterior margin almost transverse ; surface very feebly and evenly punctate, minutely and strongly granulate. Elytra at base as wide as the prothorax ; sides nearly parallel, distinctly shorter than width at base and moderately arcuate ; each elytron nearly squarely truncate behind, with the angles rounded, truncation very feebly arcuate ; surface depressed, sculptured like the prothorax, granulation finer and more indistinct.Abdominal segments of equal width ; border strong, erect, and very deep ; surface very obscurely granulate, granulation stronger on the fifth segment, which is also sparsely and very feebly punctulate ; posterior margins transverse. Legs short ; femora and tibiae deep piceous-brown, tarsi piceo-testaceous. Under surface of abdomen covered sparsely with rather short, fine, recumbent setae.
Mnle. — Sixth ventral segment produced at apex ; sides sinuous ; tip obtusely rounded.
Female. — Sixth segment broadly and acutely angulate at tip ; sides straight. Length 3.0-4.0 mm.
Atlantic Cit}!, New Jersey; Fortress Monroe, Va.
Tliis is a common species, found under debris cast up by the waves on tlic sea-const; it bears a certain resemblance to botli Aleocliara und llomalota.
Eu.^STIlETIXI.
Of the three genera which compose this tribe — Eucesthetus, Edaplius, and Stictocranius — the first is the only one, the representatives of which seem to be in any degree numerous ; but nothing positive can be stated in regard to numbers, owing to the excessive minuteness of the insects and the consequent ditUculty of collecting them. T.'pon a careful and long-continued study of the Stenini, as well as a somewhat thorough review of the Pa^derini, it appears evident to me that the three genera in question can belong to neither of these tribes, altliough most closely allied to the former, by the almost cxattly similar structure of the antennae, oral organs, and thorax, in addition to the like position of the antennae upon the front ; it differs very greatly in the character of the eyes, sculpture, structure of the mentuni, color and density of tlie integuments, and more especially
NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 19 in the structure of the tarsi, which are all four-jointed. With the PjBclerini tliey seem to possess very few characters in common, differing from them even to a more marked degree in the tarsal and antennal structures.
On the other hand, they possess many characters not found in either of the tribes under consideration ; as, for example, the minute denticulation of the labrum in Eua^sthetus and the four-jointed tarsi, as well as the small, very convex, coarsely granulated eyes, situated very near the posterior angles of the head.
From these considerations, therefore, it has been deemed best to constitute of these three genera, a tribe equal in value to either the Stenini or the Pfederini, and to be placed between them, with the remark that the affinities which it exhibits are greater toward the former than toward the latter.
As the genus Stictocranius contains but one known species, which has been sufficiently described by Dr. LeConte, it is proposed here to limit the discussion to the genera Eua3sthetus and Edaphus, of which the following tables and descriptions will serve approximately to identify the species discovered thus far. The material at hand forms a part of what is probably the most extensive American collection of these genera yet bi'ought together ; the Euajstheti were all taken by Messrs. E. A. Schwarz and H. G. Hubbard, to whom I am indebted for many acts of courtesy.
EU^STHETUS ErAv.
The species of this genus are very difficult to discriminate, and especially so to satisfactorily tabulate, owing to a very remarkable lack of salient characters. Those forms which appear to me worthy of specific recognition may be classified as follows : — Elytral suture distinctly shorter than the pronotum. Elytra strongly punctate ; disk polished throughout. Prothorax much broader than long ; sides of elytra strongly divergent posteriorly 1. tircvipeiiiiis.
Prothorax but slightly wider than long ; sides of elytra feebly divergent. Large species 1.6 mm.; blackish-castaneous 2. piinctatlis. Very small species 1.0-1.2 mm.; very slender ; much paler, rufous or rufo-testaceous 3. florid ae.
Elytra feebly punctate ; disk having a large area, about the inner apical angles excessively minutely granulated and not polished. Sides of elytra strongly divergent posteriorly ; border of fourth and fifth ventral segments strong 4. giniilis.
Sides of elytra very feebly divergent posteriorly ; border of fourtli and fifth ventral segments very feeble, nearly obsolete... 5. nilllldulus.
20 TIIOS. L. CASEY.
Elytral suture in length equal to or longer than the pronotum. Elytra more or less punctulate.
Species robust ; sides of elytra rather strongly divergent posteriorly ; color pale rufo-testaceous. Mass ti. robustllliis.
Species more slender ; sides of elytra very feebly divergent posteriorly ; color dark piceo-rufous or blackish-castaneous.
Disk of elytra iridescent ; short canaliculations of pronotum very deep and distinct 7. iripeiinis.
Disk of elytra not iridescent ; canaliculations of prothorax either entirely absent, or reduced to very indistinct, shallow erosions, and situated much nearer the base.
Prothorax much %vider than the head S. texailUS.
Head and prothorax ecjual in width or extremely nearly so. 9. ainericaiiiis.
Elytra entirely inipunctate : very small robust species ; elytra much longer than the pronotum ; blackish-castaneous, elytra usually more or less clouded with rufous 10. atoniUS.
1. E. brevipeilliis n. sp. — Form rather slender. Pubescence rather long, line, semi-erect, evenly distributed, pale piceous. General color dark reddish-testaceous, head and abdomen paler, antennae and legs still paler. Head rather large, very slightly broader than long ; eyes very small ; interocular surface very broad, evenly convex, strongly and sub-variolately punctate, punctures round, slightly irregularly distributed, close ; between the antennae and in the middle there is a small, inipunctate area; antennal tuberculations very small and distinct ; teeth of labruni rather widely separated ; antennae moderate, joints three and four equal, five, six, and seven sub-equal in length, the last distinctly thicker, oval, eighth joint smaller, globular, ninth transversely oval, as long as the eighth, tenth one-half wider than the ninth, eleventh equal in width, distinctly longer than the ninth and tenth together, linely acuminate. Prothorax one-third wider than long ; sides parallel, evenly and rather strongly arcuate for three-fojirths the length from the apex, then abruptly, strongly convergent behind, and very feebly sinuate ; posterior angles well marked, though rounded ; anterior margin much longer than the posterior, equally arcuate ; surface rather finely, strongly, and evenly punctulate, punctures roundly impressed, not deep, well marked, separated by slightly more than their own widths ; between the centre of the disk and each basal angle there is a short, longitudinal erosion. Elytra at base as wide as the prothorax ; sides strongly divergent posteriorly, much shorter than the width at base, evenly and rather feebly arcuate ; together broadly, roundly, and rather strongly emarginate behind ; .suture slightly more than two-thirds as long as the pronotum ; surface finely, rather feebly, evenly, and distinctly punctulate, punctures round, impressed, and separated by much more than their own widths ; sutural striae very strong. First two abdominal segments as wide as the contiguous elytra ; border very strong, evident on all the segments. Prosternum .strongly punctate, except toward the coxae. Legs moderate ; first joint of the posterior tarsi sliglitly shorter than the fourth, fourth equal in length to the second and third together.
NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 21 Male.—Unkiiown.
Female. — Sixth ventral segment rather acutely rounded behind. Length 1.3 mm.
Detroit, Michigan ; two specimens.
2. E. pillictatus n. sp. — Form elongated, sides nearly parallel. Pubescencerather long, somewhat dense, semi-erect, piceo-cinereous and prominent. Head large, slightly wider than long ; interocular surface strongly and evenly convex, rather finely, very closely, and evenly punctate, jjunctures variolate, round, and sometimes coalescent ; supra-antennal tuberculations round and prominent ; teeth of labrum longer than breadth of intervals ; antennae very slightly longer than the prothorax, joints four to seven equal, third slightly longer, eighth much shorter, globular, last joint much the most robust, as long as the ninth and tenth together, finely and obliquely acuminate ; maxillary palpi moderate, third joint robust, very slender at base, as long as the two preceding together ; terminal joint of labial palpi setiform and distinct ; gula having a rounded, feebly impressed puncture near the posterior limits of the buccal fissure. Prothorax widest at one-third the length posteriorly, where it is just perceptibly wider than the head and slightly broader than long ; sides thence rather strongly convergent posteriorly,feebly sinuate near the base ; anterior margin distinctly longer than the posterior, equally arcuate ; basal angles distinct, apical slightly rounded ; surface strongly convex, densely, rather finely, nearly evenly punctate, punctures round ; toward the base, on each side of the middle, there is a very feebly impressed, longitudinal line. Elytra at base very slightly wider than the prothorax ; sides moderately divergent posteriorly, rather strongly and evenly arcuate ; together broadly, roundly, and rather strongly emarginate behind ; suture shorter than the pronotum, one-half shorter than the width at base, sutural sti-iae strong, punctures round, rather small, very evenly distributed and close, somewhat feebly impressed, interspaces convex, nearly twice as wide as the punctures, and highly polished. Abdominal segments strongly margined ; sides arcuate, first slightly wider than the contiguous elytra ; surface feebly convex, impunctate, very minutely reticulated, feebly shining. First joint of posterior tarsi one-half longer than the second, very slightly shorter than the last, second joint very slightly longer than the third. Prosternum rather distantly punctate, punctures impressed, rather small and distinct. Length 1.6 mm.
Crescent City, Florida; one specimen, 9.
The color of this very distinct species is of a rather dark fuscous ; antennae, oral organs, and tarsi paler and testaceous.
3. E. floi'idae n. sp. — Form slender. Pubescence of elytra short, recumbent, rather sjjarse, fine, and inconspicuous, that of head and prothorax longer, more erect, and prominent, that of abdomen still longer, piceo-cinereous throughout. Color throughout dark reddish-testaceous. Head moderate, slightly wider than long; eyes rather large, evenly convex; interocular surface moderately and evenly convex, rather coarsely punctate, punctures
22 TH05. L. CASEY.
round, ratlier shallow, evenly distributed, interspaces as wide as the punctures, highly polished ; labrum very broadly arcuate, teeth robust, longer than their distances asunder ; supra-antennal tuberculation small ; antennae robust, slightly longer than the width of head, second joint longer and more robust than the first, joints three to six uniformly and gradually decreasing in length, seventh more robust, slightly elongated, oval, eighth smaller than the seventh, globular, ninth transversely oval, no longer than the eighth, tenth wider than long, nearly twice as wide as the ninth, eleventh as long as the ninth and tenth together, as broad as the latter ; nientum much broader than long, concave in the middle, very feebly emarginate anteriorly ; maxillary palpi moderate. Prothorax widest slightly behind the middle, where it is slightly broader than long, and very slightly broader than the head ; sides thence very feebly convergent and nearly straight to the anterior angles, which are suddenly rounded, and strongly convergent and nearly straight posteriorly ; anterior margin longer than the posterior, equally arcuate ; disk highly polished, evenly convex, punctate as on the head ; just behind the centre and on each side of the axis there is a shallow longitudinal erosion. Elytra at base equal in width to the prothorax ; sides moderately divergent posteriorly and feebly arcuate ; together broadly and feebly emarginate beliind ; suture much shorter than the pronotum ; surface punctured as on the liead, though rather more distantly and feebly ; sutural striae strong. Abdominalsegmentsstronglymarginedtowardthebase,veryfeeblysoposteriorly; surface impunctate. First joint of posterior tarsi as long as the next two together, slightly shorter than the fourth.
Mule. — Fifth ventral segment very minutely emarginate behind, emargination abruptly terminated, scarcely one-sixteenth as wide as the apex, evenly rounded, and about five tiiisw?s as wide as deep ; sixth segment very deeply and narrowly incised at apex, incisure two and one-half times deeper than wide.
FemiiJe. — .Sixth ventral segment rather acutely angulate behind. Length 1.0-1.2 mm.
Florida (Tampa, Enterprise) ; two specimens.
The presternum is coarsely and rather distinctly punctate in its nnt(M-ior half, posterior half impunctate. Metasternum very large, higlily [)olislied, ghibrous, ami imi)unctate ; darker in color. 4. E. siinilis n. sp. — Form rather slender. Pubescence as in hrevipennis, though rather more sparse. Color dark reddish-testaceous, antennae, legs, and palpi distinctly paler. Head moderate, slightly broader than long ; interocular surface strongly convex, strongly and closely punctate, punctures round, very shallow, and very distinctly defined, variolate, separated by nearly their own widths ; in the middle and between the antennae there is an impunctate area ; antenual tuberculations very strong and prominent ; teeth of labrum long and slender ; antennae moderate in length, third and fourth joints sub-equal, joints five to seven sub-equal, distinctly shorter than th.' fourth, eighth globular, nintli transversely oval, as long as the eighth, tenth as long as wide, one-half wider than the ninth, eleventh as wide as the
NORTH AMERICAN* COLEOPTERA. 23 tenth, rather finely acuminate at the tip. Protliorax just perceptibly wider than the head ; sides nearly parallel and rather strongly arcuate to a point slightly behind the middle, then strongly convergent posteriorly and nearly straight ; anterior angles broadly rounded, posterior very obtuse, though distinct and but slightly rounded ; width two-fifths greater than the length ; apex much longer than the base, equally arcuate ; disk evenly convex, strongly punctate, punctures round, small, impressed, generally separated by more than twice their own widths, interspaces convex and very highly polished ; toward the basal angles there are several large, deep punctures irregularly disposed. Elytra at base as wide as the prothorax ; sides strongly divergent posteriorly, shorter than the width at base, strongly and evenly arcuate ; together broadly, roundly, and strongly emarginate behind ; suture very slightly more than three-fourths as long as the pronotum ; surface feebly punctate, punctures round, generally separated by more than twice their own widths, becoming much more feeble, almost obsolete, posteriorly. First three abdominal segments as wide or wider than the contiguous elytra ; sides parallel and rather strongly arcuate ; border strong ; surface minutely granulose or reticulated, feebly shining. Legs moderate ; first joint of posterior tarsi slightly shorter than the fourth, fourth equal in length to the second and third together. Prosternum feebly and coarsely punctate in its anterior third. Metasternum impunctate, not darker than the remainder of the under surface, distinctly carinate anteriorly in the middle.
Male.—Unknown.
Female. — Sixth ventral segment broadly angulate at apex. Length 1.3 mm.
Tallahassee, Florida; two specimens.
This species greatly resembles brevipennis, but differs in many minor characters. In the latter the prothorax is I'elatively much longer, is widest behind the middle, and is very closely punctate ; in similis the prothorax is much shorter and broader, is widest before the middle, and is more deeply and sparsely punctate ; the elytral suture is relatively longer in similis, and the elytral punctures are much more distant, slightly coarser and more feeble than in brevi- 2)ennis.
5. E. iniindllllis n. sp. — Form slender. Pubescence sparse, rather fine and long, semi-erect, piceous. Color dark castaneous, antennae and legs paler. Head moderate, very slightly wider than long ; interocular surface coarsely, strongly, and nearly evenly punctate, punctures round, shallow, very distinctly defined, generally separated by their own widths ; antennal tuberculations very distant, small, and very prominent ; teeth of labrum twice as long as their distances asunder ; antennae moderate in length, joints three to five decreasing nearly uniformly and just perceptibly in length, sixth and seventh shorter, sub-equal in length, the latter much thicker, oval, eighth small, globular, ninth strongly transverse, oval, slightly longer than the eighth, tenth two-fifths wider than the ninth, as broad as long, cylindrical, eleventh as long as the two preceding together, sides nearly
24 THOS. L. CASEV.
parallel, then suddenly acuminate at tip. Protliorax widest slightly before the middle, where it is very slightly wider than the head ; sides parallel and Hvenly arcuate for two-thirds tlie length posteriorly, then rapidly convergent and feebly sinuate ; anterior margin slightly longer than the posterior, equally arcuate ; disk evenly convex, slightly more than one-third wider than long, punctures coarse, deeply impressed, round, evenly distributed, interspaces slightly wider than the punctures, slightly convex and highly polished ; near the base, and equidistant from the middle and each basal angle, there are two longitudinal erosions or aggregations of deep coalescent punctures. Elytra at base just perceptibly wider than the pronotum ; sides rather feebly divergent posteriorly, slightly shorter than the width at base, evenly and somewhat strongly arcuate ; together broadly, somewhat angularlyand moderately emarginate behind ; suture about four-fifths as long as the pronotum ; surface narrowly and rather strongly impressed along the suture, feebly and sparsely punctulate ; minutely granulose area near the inner apical angles impunctate as in similix and robustuhis; sutural striae deep. First two abdominal segments slightly broader than the contiguous elytra ; surface minutely reticulated and feebly lustrous ; border strong, except on the fourth and fifth segments, where it is almost obsolete. Legs moderate.
Mule.—Unknown.
Female. — Sixth ventral segment angularly rounded behind. Length 1.3 nmi.
Cambridge, Mass.; one specimen.
Greatly resembles siinilis, but differs in the narrower thorax, less divergent elytra, longer elytral suture, and more feeble emaigination of the elytra behind. The principal distinction, however, is in the lateral border of the fourth and fifth ventral segments, it being almost obsolete and reduced to the simple line of juncture of the dorsal and ventral surfaces in niimdulns, while in similis tlie border is very wide and strong on the fourth segment, and narrower, though still very distinct, on the fifth.
The minutely granulose portion of the elytra is always of a paler tint tiiaii the remainder of the disk ; this may be a simple o|)tical phenomenon, arising from the dispersion of the rays of light ; the satne difference is seen in the color of a rough stone and the same when polished, it being then much darker.
G. E. roblistiiliis n. sp.— Form robust. Pubescence rather short and abundant, evenly distributed, fine, semi-erect, pale piceous. Color of head, l)i<.tli(.rax, and abdi>mon rather dark reddish-testaceous, base of elytra dark castaneous, remainder of elytra rufous. Head large, very slightly wider than long; interocular surface strongly and irregularly punctured, puncturescrowded near the sides, much more loosely scattered along the middle, round, sub-variolate; antennal tuberculations small and very prominent; antennae moderate, third joint one-third longer than the fourth, fourth and