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aciculate, separated from the extremely short and broadly, very obtusely subangulate metasternum by a rather long sunken interval, which is rather sharply ridged; hind tarsi with the basal joint shorter than the second. Length 2.0 mm.; width 0.43 mm. Rhode Island (Boston Neck). |
The rather depressed form, very fine sculpture and swollen tempora, which however are not at all as in Amischa, will render the identification of this species comparatively easy. The abdomen differs from anything in the preceding subgenus in being evenly though not densely asperulato-punctulate throughout, and the sixth ventral segment is much narrower.
Micrearota n. subgen.
Body very small in size, the eyes less developed than in more typical forms of Atheta, the middle coxæ well separated, the long ridge between the mesosternum and short angulate metasternum scarcely at all depressed and broadly convex, the mesosternal process short, with its apex very broad and truncate, nearly as in Stethusa. Additional characters of subgeneric import are mentioned in the course of the following descriptions. The species are rather numerous and appear to associate with ants but probably as mere casual guests:
| Atheta (Micrearota) loricula n. sp.—Moderately stout, feebly convex, not very shining, the micro-reticulation unusually coarse and strong, very coarse but feeble on the abdomen, the punctures fine, not dense and not rough; color piceous, the head and abdomen posteriorly slightly blackish, the elytra but little paler, the legs pale; pubescence not dense, rather coarse; head about as long as wide, the eyes small, anterior, the long tempora feebly swollen basally, the carinæ wholly wanting; antennæ moderately short and stout, distinctly incrassate, blackish throughout, the outer joints distinctly transverse, the last not quite so long as the two preceding, the second and third moderately elongate, obconic, the latter slightly the shorter; prothorax transverse, nearly as wide as the elytra, much wider than the head, widest before the middle, the sides broadly arcuate, the basal impression very feeble; elytra short and transverse, the suture feebly impressed throughout, but little longer than the prothorax, the apices not sinuate externally, the sides diverging; abdomen wide, only slightly narrower than the elytra, parallel, the fourth and fifth tergites equal, longer than the others, the first unusually short; hind tarsi rather long, slender, the first four joints uniformly though very slowly decreasing. Length 1.65 mm.; width 0.38 mm. Iowa (Iowa City). |
Prof. Wickham, who sent me my only example of this distinct species, has labeled it “Nest 3,” but without further note.
