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The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

VOLUME 9, 1955

Published by THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin is published by the Department of Biology, Saint
John Fisher College, Rochester, New York, and edited by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.
Head, Department of Biology, and Associate Professor of Biology, Saint John

Fisher College. It is issued six times a

Subscriptions: The subscription price
for each annual volume of six numbers
is $4.00 payable in advance. All sub¬
scriptions begin with the first issue of
the year and those subscribing later in
the year will receive the back issues of
that volume.

Back volumes: A stock of back volumes
is maintained and may be purchased as

year beginning with February.

follows: Volumes 1-9, send for price list,
sets only available; volume 5, $4.50; vol¬
ume 6, $2.50 ; volume 7, $5.00 ; volume 8,
$5.00 ; volume 9, $5.00 ; single numbers,
$1.00 each ; all prices postpaid.

Missing numbers: Issues lost in the mail
will be supplied free of charge if no¬
tified within three months after mail¬
ing.

NOTICE TO AUTHORS

Manuscripts submitted for publication
should be typewritten, double spaced, and
on one side of the paper only. Notations
after the author’s name, such as address,
project numbers, etc., should be treated
as footnotes, and in general, acknowledge¬
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preferred that other footnotes be avoided.
Illustrations should be sent unmounted,
but numbered. The manuscript should be
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figures or the position of full page plates.
A bibliography should be compiled at the
end and references in the text referred to
this bibliography. All geographical names
in periodical abbreviations should be
spelled out, and the full title of each
article cited should be given.

Manuscripts will be acknowledged upon
receipt. As soon as possible thereafter
the author will be notified as to accept¬
ance. If the manuscript is accepted, a
tentative date of publication will be set.
In general, all papers will be published

in their order of receipt, but the editor
reserves the right to use articles out of
order in the interest of a balanced maga¬
zine.

The editor will make no text changes
without advanced notice to the author.
Galley proof will be sent for correction.
These galleys are sent out well in advance
and do NOT indicate the date or order
of publication.

Separates of articles torn from the is¬
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number of copies to each author will vary
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Reprints MUST be ordered on the form
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‘The approximate cost of reprints will be
supplied Avith this form.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Any article, note,_ or neAvs items likely
to be of interest to readers of the
Bulletin will be considered. Articles
with illustrations are particularly desired,
and in most cases, descriptions of neAV
species must be illustrated. Descriptions

of neAV species or genera must contain
keys or be correlated with existing keys.
Photographs, with or Avithout text, suit¬
able for printing on the front cover of
each issue are desired.

Ar /

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Volume 9, 1955

Arnett, R. H. Jr., Organization of the Bulletin. _ 28

Benton, A. H. and Wilcox, J., On the habits of beetles of the genus

Catops. _ 29

Carne, P. B., Notes on Australian Coleopterists. _ 87

Cazier, M. A., The Southwestern research station of the American

Museum of Natural History. _ 64

Collecting Notes. _ 16

Current Literature. _ 30, 61, 77, 91

Current Literature Section. _ 20

Downes, J. A., Tenth International Congress of Entomology. _ 90

Edwards, J. G., Cerambycid on Box-Elder twig. _ 33

Gentry, J. W., Beetle pest conditions. _ 25

Hatch, M. H., Bradycellus harpalinus Serv. in North America. _ 10

Hicks, S. D., Abundance of several species of Coleoptera in British

Columbia. _ 1 1

Hicks, S. D., A dermestid in poison ivy. _ 9

Hicks, S. D., Two forms of Blepharida rhoise (Forst). _ 21

King, E. W., The phylogenetic position of Atractocerus Palis. _ 65

Kissinger, D. G., New distribution and habitat records of N. A.

Coleoptera. _ 13

Klapperich, H., Catching beetles with the aid of a bicycle with notes

on the Leiodidae of the Rheinland. _ 85

Leech, H. B., Crepuscular habit of Anaplocephalus cribrifrons

(Scarabaeidae : Dynastinae). _ 6

Leech, H. B., Orr’s records of beetles eaten by the pallid bat. _ 52

Leech, H. B. and Green, J. W., Plant association data for a few
Arizona and New Mexico Coleoptera (Cleridae, Meloidae,

Chrysomelidae, Cerambyeidae) . - 27

Marshall, M. Y., Studies in Malachiidae — VI. - 35

McDermott, F. A., A note on the genus Diphotus Barber 1941

(Coleoptera, Lampyridae). _ 49

Monros, F., On some new genera of Nearctic Chrysomelinae

(Chrj^somelidae) . _ 53

News. _ _ _ 5, 19, 64, 74

Notices. _ 32

Perry, J. P. Jr., Notes on Dendroctonus beckeri Thatcher in Central

Mexico. _ 1

Projects. _ 16, 90

Reviews. _ 30, 34, 63, 75, 89

Selander, R. B., The proper name for the tribe Calospastini and a

correction of generic synonymy (Meloidae). _ 17-

Spangler, P. J., Habitat notes and description of the larva of Cicin-

dela circumpicta johnsoni Fitch (Cicindelidae). _ 81

Tilden, J. W., Collecting Acmaeodera in Santa Clara county, Cali¬
fornia. _ 23

Tilden, J. W., Interspecific cannibalism in Brennus Mots. (Cara-

bidae). _ 10

Williams, R. E., Ocypus olens (Muller) in the United States (Sta-

phylinidae). _ 77

Wood, G. C., Coding biological taxons. _ 28

Young, F. N., Request for information. _ 10

Young, F. N., The type locality and habitat of Hydroporus dixianus

Fall (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). _ 7

Young, F. N., Unusual abundance of Sandalus in southern Indiana 74

LIST OF NEW TAXA DESCRIBED IN VOLUME 9

Acalligrapha Monros, new genus (Chrysomelidae). _ 55

APLICALAE King, new suborder (Coleoptera). _ 73

Attains mcclayi Marshall, new species (Malachiidae) . _ 44

Attains scapnlaris Marshall, new species (Malachiidae). _ 42

Attalusinus mexicanus Marshall, new species (Malachiidae). _ 38

Bidensomela, Monros, new genus (Chrysomelidae). _ 54

Bidensomela bidenticola meridionalis Monros, new subspecies

(Chrysomelidae). _ 54

Calligramma Monros, new genus (Chrysomelidae). _ 50

Collops bipunctatus australis Marshall, new subspecies

(Malachiidae). _ 35

Coreopsomela Monros, new genus (Chrysomelidae). _ 55

Graphicallo Monros, new genus (Chrysomelidae). _ 57

Pseudatialus texensis Marshall, new species (Malachiidae). _ 45

Tanaops lobulatns Marshall, new species (Malachiidae). _ 40

DATES OF PUBLICATION
Volume 9, 1955

No. 1 (pp. 1-16), June 20, 1955
No. 2 (pp. 17-32), June 20, 1955
No. 3 (pp. 33-48), October 19, 1955
No. 4 (pp. 49-64), January 16, 1956
No. 5 (pp. 65-80), March 1, 1956
No. 6 (pp. 81-96), April 25, 1956

' A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists^Bulktin

Volume IX

February, 1955

n

6

ICi

No. 1

—

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New YhrB." ’T-ernas of subscription: $4.00 per
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Bach- Ruinbers ' are- available.

The general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined 'oh- the. recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of BfotogV, St. John
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Gordon
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.

NOTES ON DENDROCTONUS BECKERI THATCHER IN

CENTRAL MEXICO1

By J. P. Perry, Jr,2

In February, 1954, the author was investigating an extensive beetle-
kill in a mixed stand of Finns rudis Endl. and Finns leiophylla Sch. &

Figure I. Beetle-killed pines in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mexico City.

1 Journal Series Paper No. 22 of the Mexican Agricultural Program of The Rock-
feller Foundation.

Administrative Assistant, Mexican Agricultural Program of The Rockefeller
Foundation.

Mali

ttffllj

2

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IXT No. I

Chem. near the Sierra Nevada range of mountains not far from Mexico
City. It was suspected that the bark beetle, Dendroctonus mexicanus
Hopk., was the insect responsible for the damage, and examination of a
few dead trees proved this to be the case. The infestation apparently died
out as the fringes of the pine stand were reached, leaving a few* scattered,
living tres (Figure 1). Among these trees two were found which had
been recently attacked (Figure 2). Both belonged to the species P. rudis,
the species constituting the major part of the stand killed (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Pinus rudis attacked by
bark beetles.

Some years ago, the author found this same type of infestation pattern
in P. leiophylla, i.e. the primary attack by D. mexicanus on the upper
stem, with a subsequent attack by Dendroctonus valens LeC. at the
ground line.3

While collecting specimens of D. valens, the author discovered a num¬
ber of large black beetles having a superficial resemblance to D. valens.
Further investigation revealed that the pattern of gallery construction in
these beetles was entirely distinct from that of D. valens.

The author was fortunate in being able to show this infestation to Mr.

3Perry, J. P., Jr., 1951. Bark Beetles of Central Mexico. Unasylva Y (4) : 159-165.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

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1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

5

R. L. Furniss, who collected a few specimens for identification. Mr.
Furniss4 recently advised the author that the specimens had been identi¬
fied as Dendroctonus beckeri Thatcher, a new species recently reported
from Guatemala.5

Since no information is available at present for this species regarding
range, host, biology and associated insects, the following should be of
interest :

Specimens were collected during February and March, 1954, from
Finns rudis at an elevation of 2600 meters in the Sierra Nevada range of
mountains near the boundary between the states of Mexico and Tlaxcala.
The insect excavates large, winding, and sometimes branched, egg gal¬
leries through the inner bark (Figures 4, 5 & 6). Although no larvae
were found, it is believed that they mine the inner layers of bark and
transform to pupae in separate cells in outer bark. In the two trees
examined, D. beckeri was found only in a two and one half (2.5) meter
section of stem from the ground line upward. It was found in association
with D. mexicanus, D. parallelocolis Hopk. and D. valens.

Specimens have been deposited in the collections of the Ofieina de
Estudios Especiales, S.A.G. in Chapingo, Mexico and in the collection of
Mr. Furniss.

4Personal correspondence with Mr. B. L. Furniss, Div. of Forest Insect Investiga¬
tions, U.S.D.A., Portland, Ore.

5Thateher, T. O., 1954 — The Coleopterists’ Bulletin VIII (l) : 3-6.

News

O. L. Cartwright, United States Na¬
tional Museum, and Dr. Henry F. How-
den, Department of Zoology and Ento¬
mology, University of Tennessee, are re¬
vising the North American species in the
genus Ontliopliagus (Scarabaeidae) .

Knox Walker, entomologist with the
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
at College Station, is completing the lab¬
oratory aspects of a life history study of
the red-cross beetle, Collops balteatus, to
determine its importance in controlling
cotton insects. In brief, his findings to
date may be summarized as follows:

Eggs are deposited among soil debris
but always concealed, particularly in hol¬
low grass straws and usually in groups
of 15 to 30. These hatch in 6-8 days into

larvae which are agile sufficiently to catch
almost any close-by insect. As a rule these
larvae are associated with soft-bodied
insects, especially Collembola, and, in the
laboratory, also fed upon any dead insect
or insect larva; they dwell strictly upon
the floor of the earth. On the average,
65 days, with 5 moults, are required to
reach the imaginal stage, including a
15-day pupal period. After emerging
from the pupa, the insects require 30-40
days to attain sexual maturity, as indi¬
cated by oviposit.ion. Each female de¬
posits an average of 300 eggs. There are
three generations per year; hibernation
occurs in all stadia but predominantly in
the larval form. The adults act more as
scavengers than as predators, preferring
dead coccineillids to live aphids, but they
will feed upon the aphids both in the lab¬
oratory and the field. — L. S. Dillon.

6

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. I

CREPUSCULAR HABIT OF ANOPLOCEPHALUS CRIBRIFRONS

(SCARAB AEIDAE :DYNASTINAE)

On August 1, 1952, Mr. J. W. Green and I were camped at the end of the
road up Madera Canyon, at 6,000 feet in the Santa Rita Mountains, central
northern Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Just at dusk one of us (H.B.L.) was
seated in a glade a quarter of a mile above the camp, staring hopefully at a
juniper tree outlined against the sky, in case a Plusiotis gloriosa was about.

Suddenly there was a hurried scratching amongst dead leaves at the foot
of a nearby ash, the whirr of a heavy beetle flying, and a light thud as it landed
on the tree about eight feet above the ground. The flashlight beam picked out a
dark brown scarabaeid running quickly up and down the trunk. Soon it was
joined by others, some of which seemed to come from the litter at the base of
the tree. The beetles were constantly active, taking flight and returning. They
stayed out of reach, yet readily tumbled into a net held over or just below them.
Considering their rather heavy and typical scarabaeid form, the interesting thing
was the speed at which they ran up and down and around on the vertical tree
trunk. No doubt their remarkably long slender tarsi are very suitable for this
activity. Of the 14 taken on this tree in a period of 20 minutes, only one was a
female ; the entire flight and activity lasted but half an hour. Although a Coleman
lantern was set upon a white sheet immediately afterwards, not one of them was
attracted to it. They were identified as Anoplocephalus cribrifrons.

Anoplocephalus cribrifrons was described as a new genus and species by
Schaeffer (1906. Trans. American Ent. Soc., 32:259-260), with the locality
“Huachuca Mts., Arizona.” The California Academy of Sciences collection con¬
tains 4 males labeled Huachuca Mts., Ariz., C. R . Biederman ; 4 males, Huachuca
Mts., Ariz., July 5 to 19, 1912, J. R. Slevin; 1 female, Ramsey Cn., Huachuca
Mts., Ariz., July 20, 1912, J. R. Slevin; 1 male, Miller Can., Huachuca Mt., Ariz.,
July 1910, H. A. Wenzel. Biederman lived for some 40 years, starting in the
1880’s, in Carr Canyon (his land and old house are now owned by Major Haley).
In 1912 Mr. Slevin was camped in nearby Ramsey Canyon, just to the north;
he tells me he often walked over to visit Biederman, and collected with him.

In addition the Academy has 5 males, 1 female, from the Chiricahua Mountains,
[Cochise County], collected on various dates during July and early August,
1908 and 1916, by Y. W. Owen; and 1 male labeled Phoenix, [Maricopa County],
R. E. Kunze. In series the specimens from the three isolated mountain ranges
differ in facies, and males can be separated by minor characters of the genitalia.
Material from other mountains in southern Arizona, and presumably from ad¬
jacent Mexico and New Mexico, may show that definable subspecies are involved.
It is peculiar that of the 31 examples recorded above only three are females.
The fact that one was taken with the males on the ash tree at Madera Canyon
shows that both sexes have the same habit; perhaps females are more numerous
a little later in the season.

Hugh B. Leech, California Academy of Sciences

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

7

THE TYPE LOCALITY AND HABITAT OF HYDROPORUS DIXIANUS FALL

(COLEOPTERA: DYTISCIDAE)1

By Frank N. Young

Hydroporus dixianus was described by H. C. Fall (1917) from a series
of six specimens collected by Dr. J. Chester Bradley in Spring Creek,
Decatur County, Georgia, in August 1913. This distinctive little species
has remained very rare in collections, and practically nothing is known
about its biology or distribution. The only additional published record
since the original description seems to be that for Torreya State Park,
Liberty County, Florida (Young, 1954).

In reply to a query as to the exact place at which the types of Hy¬
dro porus dixianus were collected, Dr. Bradley replied as follows : 1 ‘ In
August 1913 we spent some days in camp on the banks of Spring Creek
at a place that must have been where, or approximately where Georgia
State Highway No. 253 crosses Spring Creek. The environs have been so
changed that I cannot be exactly sure. ... We camped at the crossing
of a piney- woods road by means of a cable-ferry across the creek; there
were no houses there, but a small frame shelter had been erected for
hunting purposes at the spot, and we camped in it. The name Reynolds-
ville, shown on current Rand McNally Road map sounds familiar, and
was I think the name of a turpentine still located perhaps a mile west of
the ferry by which we camped. ’ ’

The above leaves little doubt that Spring Creek below the Georgia
Power and Light Company dam at Georgia Highway 253 is the only
remnant of the possible type locality of dixianus. Above this point the
water is deep and unsuitable for beetles of lotic habitat preferences;
farther downstream the empoundment of the Jim Woodruff Dam has
already flooded into the marginal swamps where they have not been
cleared,

It was decided in 1953 that Spring Creek near Georgia Highway 253
should be studied intensively as a distinctive type of major habitat in
the area to be flooded when the Jim Woodruff Dam is completed. Funds
were made available for a study of the aquatic beetles through the Florida
State Museum as part of a general survey of the area supported by the
U. S. National Park Service.

Spring Creek at this point is a large, deep stream with steep banks.
It is largely fed by overflow from the present dam, but receives some wa¬
ter from small seepage springs. The water is clear, and the pH is prob-

1Contribution No. 599 from the Zoological Laboratories of Indiana University,
aided by a grant from the Florida State Museum.

8

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. I

ably high (over 7.0 as tested with Nitrazine Paper). The banks are com¬
posed of a marly limestone and sand, over which small seepage springs
trickle into the main channel at several points. The edges are thinly lined
with cypress trees which were not included under the contracts for clear¬
ing the basin.

Mr. Sylvester N. Brown and the writer spent the evenings of June 7
and 8 and the morning of June 9 collecting aquatic insects in this area.
An attempt was made to explore every recognizably distinct minor
habitat represented. The following minor habitats, each with a distinc¬
tive assemblage of aquatic beetles, were tentatively recognized along the
margin of the stream :

A. Marginal situations exposed to current of stream

1. “Hard” sand beach without vegetation

2. Silty-sand beach with some emergent vegetation and algae

3. Limestone exposed at margin with no vegetation except algae

4. Marl with some vegetation at margin where seepage springs
enter main channel

5. Roots mats around exposed bases of cypress trees

B. Marginal situations partly protected from current of stream

1. Silt in backwaters behind dense aquatic vegetation {Ludwigia sp.)

2. Silt or silty-sand at outer edge of backwaters, partly protected
by emergent vegetation ( Ludwigia sp.)

3. Silt or silty-sand areas without vegetation between bases of
cypress trees

4. Mats of roots with algae at water level between bases of cypress
trees — mostly along steeper banks

It was obvious that the nature of the bottom, the amount of vegetation,
and the degree of exposure to the current of the stream affected the num¬
ber and kind of aquatic beetles in each of these situations. Hydroporus
dixianus occurred sparingly in A-2, A-3, A-4, B-2, and B-3 ; it reached
maximum abundance in B-4 which seems to be one of the most natural
minor habitat along the stream. Hydroporus vittatipennis G. and II. was
present in greatest abundance in B-2, but was more abundant than
dixianus in other situations as well. It was least abundant in A-l, and
neither species was taken in B-l nor in the marginal seepage areas, small
temporary pools along the shore, nor in the main stream channel. In
A-2, vittatipennis outnumbered dixianus about 100 to 1 ; in B-2 about
5 to 1. In B-4, a semi-quantitative sample contained 495 vittatipennis
and 107 dixianus.

In B-4, the floating root mat between the bases of cypress trees, both
vittatipennis and dixianus could be seen coming to the surface and diving

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

9

among the tangled roots and algae. Both species seemed to be commonest
along the inner edge of the mats where sand, marl, or silty sand made a
small “ beach” beneath the roots. Both could be driven out into the open
water only with difficulty, and immediately swam back toward the shore.
It was noticed that in nearly all places along the shore small fish were
common and would dart inshore toward any insect which was displaced
into the deeper water. This suggests that the amount and kind of vegeta¬
tion affects the abundance of the water beetles only indirectly.

Other beetles associated with the floating root mats were : Hydropores
elypealis Sharp, H. lobatus Sharp, Bidessus lacustris (Say), Coptotomus
interrogates obscures Sharp, Helochares maculicollis Mulsant, Enochrus
ochraceus (Melsh.), and adults and larvae of Dubiraphai quadrinotata
(Say).

It seems probable that situations similar to B-4 are the characteristic
minor habitat of Hydropores dixianes in streams where predators are
abundant. It was later found in much the same situation in Spring Creek
at U. S. Highway 84 (Decatur County, Georgia). No similar mats could
be found along the Apalachicola Biver at U. S. Highway 90, but several
specimens of dixianes and vittatipennis were found beneath a few roots
of willows dangling in the water. Dixianes was not found in the Chatta¬
hoochee River at Butler’s Landing nor at Florida Highway 2 (Ga. 91).
Intensive collecting in smaller streams in the area often produced vittati¬
pennis but not dixianes. Vittatipennis was taken in large numbers in the
sandy and silty margins of springs (now submerged) along the Flint
River in 1953, but no mats similar to those in Spring Creek were noted.

Literature Cited

Fall, H. C. 1917. New Dytiscidae. Jour. New York Ent. Soc., Vol. 25, pp. 173-174.
Young, F. N. 1954. The water beetles of Florida. Univ. of Florida Studies, Biological
Science Series, Vol. 5. p. 85.

A DERMESTID IN POISON IVY

Apsectus hispidus (Melsh.) is an addi¬
tional record to the lists published in this
Bulletin by authors interested in insects
feeding on poison ivy and its allies,
Toxicodendron — section of the genus
Rhus. LeConte and Horn (1883, Smithson.
Misc. Coll. 507, p. 143, probably quoting
Jayne) state: “Apsectus has but one

species, found in the Atlantic States;
one specimen in my possession was
hatched from a tumor on a stem of Rhus
radicans.’ ’ I can find no other record in
the literature that might help to clarify
this observation. — S. D. Hicks, Sys¬
tematic Entomology Unit, Entomology
Division, Canada Department of Agricul¬
ture, Ottawa.

10

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. I

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Dr. Henry Dietrich, of the Department
of Entomology, Cornell University, in¬
forms me that the types of Hydroporus
dixicmus Fall and Hydroporus gaudens
Fall are missing from the Cornell collec¬
tion. Since they are not in the Fall col¬
lection at the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, they may have been loaned by
Dr. Fall to some fellow entomologist.

The type of Cymhiodyta vindicata Fall
and those of several other species of
Hydrophilidae are also missing from the
Fall collection at the M.C.Z. Since there
are several undescribed species in the
vindicata- fimbriata group, it is important
that the type of vindicata be located.

Any information concerning the pres¬
ent location of these types would be
greatly appreciated. — Frank N. Young,
Indiana University, Bloomington, In¬
diana.

INTERSPECIFIC CANNIBALISM IN
BRENNUS MOTS. (CARABIDAE)

On the evening of July 2, 1948, while
I was collecting moths with a coleman
lantern on the floor of Bixby Canyon,
Monterey County, California, I noted a
specimen of Brennus running rapidly
across the sandy ground lighted by the
lantern. It was carrying a large object
in its mandibles. Curious, I picked it up
and placed it in a cpiart glass jar. It
was then seen that the object it carried
was the body of another Brennus, dead
and partly eaten. The victor finished its
repast in the jar. The following morn¬
ing, it was umned with the elytra of the
victim pinn ' 1 below on the same pin. It
will be remembered that these beetles
have the elytra sutured together along
the median line, as are those of Eleodes.
Examination of the survivor shows it to
be Brennus striatopunctatus (Chd.). The

elytra of the victim seem to belong to a
specimen of Brennus cristatus (Harr.).
The latter is a trifle the smaller, to judge
from the relative sizes of the elytra.
Members of Brennus are widely reputed
to eat snails and slugs, but apparently
are not averse to other prey, even con¬
geners, if convenient. — J. W. Tilden,
San Jose State College, Calif.

BRADYCELLUS HARPALINUS SERV. IN
NORTH AMERICA

A male and female of the Palaearctic
Brady cellus (s. str.) harpalinus Serv.
from Vancouver, B. C., has been submit¬
ted to me by Mr. G. Stace Smith, adding
another to the notable list of introduced
Carabidae in North America and in the
Pacific Northwest. In the literature liar-
palinus is recorded from Ireland, Scot¬
land, Shetland Islands, southern Nor¬
way, southern Sweden, and Saarema
Island (Estonia) to Portugal, Spain, Al¬
geria, Tunis, Sicily, Greece, Ukraine, and
Caucasus, also Madeira Islands. It is
about the size and general appearance of
B. fenderi Hatch (Bull. Brooklyn Ent.
Soc. XLVI, 1951, p. 120, Beetles of the
Pacific Northwest I, 1953, p. 180), from
Depoe Bay, Ore., but is distinguished
from that species by the presence of
hind wings, which are absent in fenderi,
and the shape of the aedeagus, which is
simply acute at the apex in harpalvnus,
more elongate and distinctly sinuate to¬
wards the apex in side view in fenderi.
Fenderi appears to belong in the sub¬
genus Bradycellus s. str. along with
harpalinus, rather than in the subgenus
Stenocellus as originally described. Bra¬
dycellus s. str. is distinguished from our
species of Stenocellus by its rounded pos¬
terior pronotal angles. — Melville1 H.
Hatch, University of Washington, Se¬
attle, Wash.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

1 1

ABUNDANCE OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF
COLEOPTERA IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

By S. D. Hicks1

During June and July, 1953, I collected beetles at Mission City and
other localities in the lower Fraser Valley. This section of British Colum¬
bia was having the wettest season in 50 years, especially in the first two
weeks of June. June and July of 1952 had been extremely dry. These
facts may have some bearing on the striking abundance of several species
of beetles.

The first twTo weeks of June at Mission City were so extremely wet that
collecting was limited almost entirely to water beetles and beetles under
cover of bark and debris. The European ground beetle Pterostichus
( Omaseus ) melanarius (Ill.) is well established along the lower Fraser
Valley. It has been known in the west since 1927 and has been reported
from northwestern Oregon, eastern and western "Washington, and the
Victoria and Vancouver districts of British Columbia (Brown, 1950).
It is evidently spreading in that province, at it has recently in the east.
It is said to be abundant and very widely distributed in Europe and
Siberia (e.g., Jeannel, 1942, pp. 784-785).

In early June, a snout beetle, Rhynchites bicolor wickhami Ckll.,
occurred in thousands on the tender crown leaves of the thimbleberry,
Rubus pariflorus Nutt., which is very abundant in the lower Fraser
Valley. The feeding holes of the adult were very noticeable in the un¬
folding tops of this broad-leafed species of Rub us. The western form has
a black head and beak. The common eastern form, ‘‘the rose curculio of
the Transition Zone” (Leonard, 1928), has a red head and a black beak.
From 1937 to 1941, I noticed it as a pest of rose bushes in gardens
throughout the Niagara Peninsula, but during 1942 I was unable to find
it (Hicks, 1942, p. 244).

Possibly the most abundant beetle of the lower Fraser Valley is the
alder flea beetle, Haltica ambiens ambiens Lee. The alder tree, Alnus
rubra Bong., attains considerable size, and there are numerous seedlings
everywhere. The feeding of the larvae was strikingly evident by the
holes in the leaves. Another species of flea beetle, Haltica tombacina tom-
bacina Mann., occurred commonly everywhere on fireweed, Epilobium
angustifolium L. Near Harrison Mills an estimated population of two
hundred beetles was observed on one plant.

At a large peat bog near Pitt Meadows in the lower Fraser Valley,
a remarkable number of coccinellids was observed. There were few
species, those represented in abundance being Coccinella trifasciata

Systematic Entomology Unit, Entomology Division, Canada Department of Agri¬
culture, Ottawa.

12

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. I

subv ersa Lee., Coccinella calif ornica Mann., and Cycloneda munda (Say)
The vegetation in the rows of the bog where the peat is nnent is a dense
mat of many kinds of plants with a species of fern predominating ; there
were thousands of adult and pupal coccinellids on the plant leaves. There
was also a small click beetle, Megapenthes caprella caprella Lee., which
could be seen anywhere on plant foliage, and by sweeping with a net one
could easily have obtained hundreds in a short time. However, this species
was not nearly so abundant as it was along Diamond Head Trail, which
leads into Garibaldi Park from Squamish. From 2200 ft. to 3300 ft. on
the sides of the trail it was possible to collect thousands of specimens with
little effort from the flower heads of pearly everlasting, Anaphalis
margaritacea (L.) C. B. Clarke, and the occasional shrub of ocean spray,
Holodiscus discolor (Pursh) Maxim.

Perhaps most impressive was the abundance of Cantharis fulva Scop.
This European species had been known in America only from Abbots¬
ford, B. C., seven miles south of Mission City, where it was found abun¬
dantly in 1948 (Brown, 1950). The beetles were observed at Miller's
Slough, a short distance from MacGillivray Creek, the nearest post
office being Chilliwack. As the name suggests, the area is low-lying and
marshy, with large sandy areas, and there is a noticeable predominence
of thistles, giant poplar trees and their seedlings, willows, and alders.
Thousands of these beetles were scattered everywhere on this vegetation,
resting on the leaves, mating, and flying. At one particular spot there was
a large group of willows, and dozens of beetles were flying in and out of
the branches at a height of 15 feet. Tiger beetles were common on all
the sandy areas, but not as abundant as on a large, sandy, marshy area
a few hundred yards to the east. I have never seen so many beetles run¬
ning over a ground at one time. The species represented were Cicindela
oregona Lee. and Cicindela repanda Dej.

The total number of species collected during the summer was dis¬
appointingly small. Having collected in other Canadian regions, I would
have expected a much more diversiled coleopterous fauna in view of the
varied flora of the Fraser Valley.

Literature Cited

Brown, W. J. 1950. The extralimital distribution of some species of Coleoptera.
Canadian Ent., vol. 82, pp. 197-205.

Hatch, M. H. 1949. Studies on the fauna of Pacific north-west greenhouses (Isopoda,
Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Gastropoda). Jour. New York Ent. Soc., vol.

57, pp. 141-165.

Hicks, S. D. 1942. In The Canadian Insect Pest Review, vol. 20, p. 244. Canada,
Dept. Agr., Ottawa, (processed)

Jeannee, R. 1942. Coleopteres Carabiques. Dieuxieme partie. Faune de France 40.
Leonard, M. D. 1928. A list of the insects of New York. With a list of the spiders
and certain other allied groups. Cornell Univ. Agr. Expt, Sta. Mem. 101.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

13

NEW DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT RECORDS OF N.A. COLEOPTERA

By D. G. Kissinger1

The following are notes on the distribution and general habits of some
rather interesting N.A. beetles. The names are used and arranged as in
the Leng Catalogue and its supplements.

BUPRESTIDAE

Taphrocerus agriloides Cr. was found in moderate numbers at Knott
Is. and Bell Is. along the Northeastern coast of North Carolina. During
May 8 to 10 the series was swept from fine swamp grass. Previously
recorded from Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.

Mastogenius subcyaneus (Lee.) occurs sparingly on dogwood leaves
near Reading, Penna, My specimens were found during late June and
early July.

COLYDIIDAE

Mychocerus depressus (Lee.) is represented in my collection by a single
specimen from Takoma Park, Md., XII-16-50, found under oak bark and
one from I Mi. N.W. Bristol, Md., III-30-52, under maple bark. Mr. G. H.
Nelson and I collected at the latter locality during the middle of July.
He found another under the bark of the same tree, and although we
nearly denuded the tree we failed to find another.

Euxestus (—Hypodacne Lee.) punctata (Lee.) I have three examples
from Takoma Park, Md., XII-2-50 that were found in a recess under the
bark of a damp oak stump. Recorded in Leng from “Ind.”

ABLE CULID AE

Lobopoda oculatifrons Csy. was taken sparingly at light at Brunswick,
Ga., VI-5-1952. Recorded in Leng from “Tex,”

TENEBRIONIDAE

Phellopsis obcordata (Kby.) A single specimen was found near Sperry-
ville, Rappahannock Co., Va., during November, under bark. Recorded
in Leng from “Pa., N.H., and Nfld.”

Araeoschizus fimbriatus Csy. Four examples determined as such by
Dr. Ross Arnett, Jr. were found under a small stone with numerous,
small red ants near mouth of Pecos River, Tex., 1-13-1953. Listed in Leng
from “Cal. and Ariz. ”

department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

14

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. f

SCARABAEIDAE

Dialytellus humeralis (Lee.) Four examples in deer dung from Jerrys
Run, Augusta Co., Ya., III-3'1-51. The elevation here is between two and
three thousand feet. In Leng listed as “Mich, and Md.”

Acanthocerus aeneus MaeL. A single specimen was found at Bruns¬
wick, Ga., VI-5-1952 by beating a dead limb, thus definitely recording
this fine species from that state.

CERAMBY CID AE

Curius dentatus Newn. Represented in my collection by two specimens.
One from Deep Creek, Ya., VII-19-1952, by beating a dead maple branch,
and the other from Knott Is., N. C., VII-18-1952, by beating dead wax
myrtle ( Myrica cerifera L.). Recorded only from Florida by Leng.

ANTHRIBIDAE

Gonotropis gibbosus Lee. A series of nearly thirty examples of this
otherwise rare species was found near Reading, Penna., during the latter
part of August, by beating the dead limbs of fallen hemlock trees. These
trees are of large size, no doubt hundreds of years old. Probably the
only reason they escaped destruction by man is because they are on an
irregular sloping hill side. Now they are too big and too old to success¬
fully withstand the ravages of the weather. The savage ice and wind
storms of recent years have caused many of this small group of trees to
fall, thus furnishing abundant food for an otherwise rare beetle. Recorded
previously from Colo., Mich., H.B.T., Me., and Mass.

CURCULIONIDAE

T achy g onus lecontei Gyll. Two specimens were found on hickory leaves
at Takoma Park, Md., X-8 and IX-23-51. Recorded previously only on
oak.

T achy g onus gracilipes Csy. A limited number of examples from near
Reading, Penna, during June, taken from elm leaves, some mating.
Recorded before from “Ind., 0., and D. C.”

Paragraphus setosus Blateh. A single example of this unusual weevil
from Collier City, Fla., V-30-1952, was found under low growing plants
near the beach.

N otaris bimacidatus Fab. One specimen of this was taken by Dr.
N. M. Downie at Dunes State Park, near Chicago, Ill. He states in a
letter that it was walking on the sand, and since the prevailing wind
there is from the Northwest it is possible it was blown in from Wisconsin,

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

15

the easternmost point mentioned by Buchanan in his review of the genus
(Bull. Brook. Ent. Soc., 22: 38).

Smicronyx profusus Csy. A small number of specimens were taken at
about 50 mi. N. Saltillo, Coah, MEX., 1-16-53 under the loose outer bark
of a yucca tree. Specimens were compared with Casey’s types from
Arizona.

Pseudanthonomus hamamelidis Pierce was locally in moderate abun¬
dance at Takoma Park, Md., IV-30 to VI-1-51 on witch hazel ( Hamamelis
virginiana L.) feeding and mating. The dates are of interest because
Pierce in his description (Proc. Nat. Mus., 34:180) mentions only the
latter part of August.

Pseudanthonomus rufulus Dietz occurred in moderate numbers near
Reading, Penna., VI-24 to VII-51, on the leaves of Betula lenta L.

Desmoglyptus crenatus (Lee.) A single example from wild grape near
Reading, Penna., VI-27-53, extends the northern range of this singular
insect.

Ampeloglypter longipennis Csy. was found in small numbers on Vir¬
ginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia L.) at New Market, Va., dur¬
ing May.

Cryptorhynchus apiculatus Gy 11. Four examples were found at Knott
IS., N. C., VII-18-52, by beating dead wax myrtle ( Myrica cerifera L.)
Listed in Leng from ‘ ‘ Fla. ’ ’

Allomimus dubius Horn occurs sparingly in the bark of the tulip tree
(. Liriodendron tulipifera L.) at Takoma Park, Md. Most of my specimens
were dead when I found them. Attempts to rear larvae found in the bark
have so far failed.

Mesites rufipennis Lee. 2 females and a male were found under a board
along the beach at Cape May Point, VIII-24-50, in New Jersey. Leng
records it from “Ga. and Fla.”

Tomolips quercicola (Boh.) Nearly a hundred examples were taken
from the soft wood surrounding a flying squirrel nest in a felled tulip
tree at Takoma Park, Md., XII-16-50. In the same spot about thirty
specimens of Stenoscelis andersoni Buch. were found.

16

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. I

Projects Collecting Notes

Mr. E. J. F. Marx is engaged in writ¬
ing a review of the clirysomelid genus
Donacia, conducting part of his studies
at the American Museum of Natural
History.

(M. Cazier)

Mr. J. C. Pallister, the American
Museum of Natural History, has just
completed a paper on the Tenebrionidae
collected on the David Rockefeller Mexi¬
can Expedition in 1947.

(M. Cazier)

Dr. Robert R. Dreisbach of 301 Helen
Street, Midland, Michigan, is working
up all the insects of Michigan, and hopes
to publish the beetles of Michigan with
keys similar to Blatcliley’s Coleoptera of
Indiana.

Dr. M. Y. Marshall, Veterans Hos¬
pital, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been
helping Middle Tennessee State College
to build up a collection of Coleoptera.

Dr. Melville H. Hatch, University of
Washington, expects to complete Part 2
of his work on Staphyliniformia by the
end of next summer.

(P. O. Pitcher)

Mr. Benard Benesh, Burrville, Ten¬
nessee, is working on a monograph of
the lucanid genus Pycnosiphorus and in
addition is describing several new species
of Lucanidae from the Philippine Islands.

Dr. W. J. Chamberlin, Department of
Entomology, Oregon State College, is
working on an annotated list of the
Scolytidae of Oregon with special ref¬
erence to the type of galleries. He plans
to include keys to the species by means of
morphological characters, hosts, and gal¬
lery types. (P. 0. Pitcher)

Mr. Dennis Boddy, working under Dr.
Melville Hatch at the University of
Washington, is completing a study of
northwestern Tenebrionidae. He would
appreciate seeing any material from that

(P. O. Ritcher)

Dr. W. J. Chamberlin, Department of
Entomology, Oregon State College, noted
that the ambrosia beetle, Monartlirum
scutellare (Lee.) appeared for the first
time at Corvallis and Dallas, Oregon, in
the summer of 1953. Another new Ore¬
gon record is Agrilus fulminans Fisher
taken for the first time in Josephine
county in southern Oregon.

(P. O. Ritcher)

Dr. Louis Gentner, Oregon State Col¬
lege, has collected several specimens of
Polycaon siouti (Lee.) in the vicinity of
Medford, Oregon. This bostricliid is fre¬
quently reported in furniture imported
from California. It appears that the spe¬
cies is now established in Oregon.

(P. O. Ritcher)

A supposedly rar* species of Pleocoma,
PJeocoma minor Linsley, has been found
in large numbers in the Hood River Val¬
ley of Oregon by Dr. P. O. Ritcher and
Vernon Olney of Oregon State College.
Larvae of the insect are injuring the
roots of apple trees. The male flight
period extended from mid-November
through December in 1953.

Mr. N. L. Rumpp, .China Lake, Cali¬
fornia, has taken over twenty specimens
of the very rare AmblycTieila schwarzi
W. H. in the Argus Mountains. This
more than doubles the number of known
specimens. (M. Cazier)

Drs. A. C. Cole and IT. F. Howden,
University of Tennessee, have discovered
a colony of the flightless Geotrupes vXkei
Blanch, in the Chilhowee Mts., 30 miles
east of Knoxville. Previously this species
has been taken only in Virginia and Ala¬
bama. There is also a questionable North
Carolina record. Another interesting bee¬
tle, Clielonarium lecontei Thom., has been
taken in June in Shelby Forest State
Park, Shelby Co., Tenn.

(H. F. Howden)

area.

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists7 Bulletin

Volume IX April, 1955 No. 2

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

The general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. John
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Gordon
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. G'ferberg,, Insect- Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore. Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr. #1 „

/fsta

THE PROPER NAME FOR THE TRIBE CALOSPASTINI AND
A CORRECTION OF GENERIC SYNONYMY (Meloidae)

By Richard B. Selander1

■

‘ w wo

In connection with the publication at this time of a correction of
erroneous synonymy in the tribe Calospastini, it is desirable to take up
the problem of the proper name for the tribe.

In 1862, LeConte (p. 274) proposed the name Eupomphae for a
“Group” in the subtribe Lyttini (genuini) containing only the genus
Eupompha. Another group, Phodagae, was proposed on the same page
for the genus Phodaga, Eupomphae having ine priority. Wellman (1910,
p. 221) introduced four additional names for “groups” of genera now
included in the Calospastini : Cordylospastides, Calospastides, Gynae-
comelodides, and Cysteodemides. These groups were originally proposed
in the order listed here.

Van Dyke (1928, p. 400) brought together the genera Calospasta,
Tegrodera, Eupompha, Phodaga, Pleuropasta, Cordylospasta, Brachy-
spasta, Gynaecomeloe, Cysteodemus, Megetra, and N eg alius under the
tribal name Calospastini. In 1952, Dillon (p. 373) erected the tribe
Tegroderini for Tegrodera, Phodaga, Eupompha, Pleuropasta, and
N eg alius.

Selander (1954, pp. 11-12) reaffirmed Van Dyke’s definition of the
tribe Calospastini and sank Eupompha as a junior synonym of Calospasta.
Dr. Lawrence S. Dillon (in litt.) has called my attention to the fact that
Eupompha has priority over Calospasta. Consequently, the synonymy
must be reversed. The CORRECTED SYNONYMY is as follows:

Eupompha LeConte, 1858, p. 21
=Calospasta LeConte, 1862, p. 273

lUniversity of Illinois, Urbana.

18

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

Provisions 43 to 58 of the ‘ ‘ Copenhagen Decisions on Zoological Nom¬
enclature, ’ ’ adopted by the Fourteenth International Congress of Zoology
(1953, pp. 32-37), deal with the names of categories between the generic
and ordinal levels, i.e., family-group names. According to Provision 46
(p. 33), family-group names are coordinate for purposes of priority, re¬
gardless of the category in which they .were originally proposed. Pro¬
vision 53 (1) (p. 36) states that a family-group name dates from its first
fisage, regardless of the; termination emploj^ed, “ provided that it is clear
that the term concerned was used to denote a suprageneric category and
was not employed merely as a plural noun or adjective.” Provision 54
(1) (a) (p. 36) states that a family-group name is not to be changed
when the type genus is found to be a junior synonym.

The problem of the correct name for the tribe centers first on the
question of whether Eupomphae and Phodagae of LeConte are available
under Provision 53 (1). If they are, it would seem appropriate to select
Eupomphini, rather than Phodagini, as the tribal name. In the event
that they are not considered available, the status of the group names of
Wellman must be considered. If these are available, the name Calospas-
tini could be retained, dating from Wellman rather than Van Dyke.
Under Provision 54 (1) (a), the name Calospastini need not be changed
because of the synonymy proposed above. If Wellman’s group names
lack availability, the name Calospastini, dating from Van Dyke, it is to
retained.

In the opinion of Mr. C. W. Sabrosky, whose advice was solicited in
this problem, and myself, the “Group” names of LeConte (1862) are
available as family-group names. As Mr. Sabrosky has pointed out (in
lift.), the formal organization of the publication and the fact that some
of the groups proposed in the same work contain more than one genus
make it evident the names were introduced as formal group names
and not merely as plural nouns. Also, the groups Phodagae, Eupomphae,
and two others were referred to as “natural groups” (op. cit., p. 272).
Similarly, there can be little doubt that the group names of Wellman
(1910) are also available. In view of the above discussion, the following
synonymy is proposed :

EUPOMPHINI (LeConte, 1862)

^Phodagae LeConte, 1862
= Cordylospastides Wellman, 1910
=:Calospastides Wellman, 1910
r=Gynaecomelodides Wellman, 1910
= Cysteodemides Wellman, 1910

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

19

:=Colospastini [sic] Van Dyke, 1928
=Tegroderini Dillon, 1952
= Calospastini, auct.

Provision 45 (p. 33) of the “Copenhagen Decisions” outlines a pro¬
cedure whereby current usage of a famly-group name may be maintained
if in conflict with the strict application of priority, but I do not believe
it is necessary to invoke this procedure in the present case.

I want to thank Dr. Dillon for informing me of my error concerning
the generic synonymy and allowing me to publish the correction. I am
grateful to Mr. Sabrosky for his generous assistance with the problem of
tribal nomenclature.

Literature Cited

Dillon, L. S. 1952. The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Texas. American Midland Nat.,
vol. 48, pp. 330-420, 3 pis.

Fourteenth International Congress of Zoology, 1953. Copenhagen decisions on
zoological nomenclature. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature,

x { ' +

London, xxix + 135 pp.

LeConte, J. L. 1858. Catalogue of Coleoptera of the regions adjacent to the boundary
line between the United States and Mexico. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
ser. 2, vol. 4, pp. 9-42, pi. 4.

— - - . 1861-1862. Classification of the Coleoptera of North America. Smith¬

sonian Misc. Colls., vol. 3, art. 136, xxv + 278 pp.

Selander, R. B. 1954. Notes on the tribe Calospastini, with description of a new sub¬
genus and species of Calospasta (Meloidae). Coleop. Bull., vol. 8, pp. 11-18, 1 pi.
Van Dyke, E. C. 1928. A reclassification of the genera of North American Meloidae
(Coleoptera). . . . Univ. California Pubis. Ent., vol. 4, pp. 395-474, pis. 15-19.
Wellman, F. C. 1910. On the classification of the Lyttidae (Meloidae s. Cantharidae
auctt. [sic]). Ent. News, vol. 21, pp. 211-222.

News

Mrs. Patricia Yaurie, The American
Museum of Natural History, is complet¬
ing a paper on the North American
beetles in the genus Trox.

Dr. Carl T. Parsons, Burlington, Ver¬
mont, is revising the family Lagriidae
for North America and is also continuing
his studies in the family Nitidulaide.

The University of Washington has re¬
cently purchased Kenneth M. Fender’s
collection of Coleoptera, exclusive of the
Lycidae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae and
Cantharidae, for the use of Prof. Mel¬

ville Hatch in his study of the Coleop¬
tera of the Pacific Northwest. The collec¬
tion consists of over 22,000 specimens of
mounted beetles plus a greater number of
unmounted ones. It is richest in material
from the vicinity of McMinnville, Ore¬
gon, and is, in general, the best collection
of Oregon Coleoptera in existence. It
adds greatly to the University’s already
important collection of northwestern
beetles.

Mr. Fender announces that he will
start another general Oregon behtle col¬
lection. — M. H. Hatch.

20

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION

Compiled by J. Gordon Edwards

The following thirty persons have
been selected as Contributing Editors
for this section of the Bulletin. Each
contributor is responsible for report¬
ing bimonthly on all articles printed
in certain assigned periodicals to which
they have access. In this manner it is
hoped that a nearly complete coverage
of all coleopterological literature in the
world will be made easily available to
readers of the Bulletin. The reports

bv these editors are submitted on 3 x 5
*/

cards in a uniform fashion, so that they
can be placed in a single master file of
references dealing with beetles. Within
reasonable limits this file will be at the
disposal of any subscriber of the Bulle¬
tin. As soon as the bimonthly reports
have been received by the Current
Literature Editor, he will assemble the
data in manuscript form for inclusion
in the next issue of the Coleopterists’
Bulletin. Some articles which are
deemed to be too limited in their scope
to be of much value to our readers may
be omitted from the published list,
but will still be included in the master
file for future reference. The Current
Literature Editor, at present, is J. Gor¬
don Edwards, of San Jose State Col¬
lege, California, and inquiries concern¬
ing this section should be mailed direct¬
ly to him. If an article is overlooked
by our Contributing Editors it will be
appreciated if the author (or any other
interested person) will call it to the
editor’s attention so that it may be
included in this section.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:

William H. Anderson, Dept. Ent., U.S.

Nat’l. Museum, Washington, D. C.;
William F. Barr, Dept. Ent., Univ. of

Idaho, Moscow, Idaho ;

Frank M. Beer, Agriculture Hall, Ore¬
gon State College, Corvallis, Oregon;

W. J. Brown, Div. of Ent., Science
Service, Canadian Dept, of Agricul¬
ture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;

Donald DeLeon, 16 Oviedo Ave., Coral
Gables, Florida;

Henry Dietrich, Comstock Hall, Cor¬
nell Univ., Ithaca, New York;

Lawrence S. Dillon, Dept, of Biology,
Texas A. & M., College Station,
Texas ;

J. Gordon Edwards, Dept, of Nat.
Sciences, San Jose State College,
California ;

Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control &
Research Inc., Johnnycake Rd.,
Baltimore, Maryland;

J. Linsley Gressitt, Bernice P. Bishop
Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii;

Melville H. Hatch, Dept, of Zoology,
Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash¬
ington ;

Henry F. How’den, Dept, of Zoology,
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ten¬
nessee ;

P. Jolivet, Institut Royal des Sciences
Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles,
Belgium ;

Edwin W. King, Dept, of Biology,
Cornell College, Mount Vernon,
Iowa;

Merton C. Lane, P. 0. Box 616, Walla
Walla, Washington;

W. Harry Lange, Dept, of Entomolo¬
gy, University of California, Davis,
California ;

Ira La Rivers, Dept, of Biology, Univ.
of Nevada, Reno, Nevada;

Carl H. Lindroth, Zoological Institute,
Lund, Sweden;

Borys Malkin, Dept, of Anthropology,
Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash¬
ington ;

( Concluded on page 26)

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

21

TWO FORMS OF BLEPHARIDA RHOIS (FORST.)

By S. D. Hicks1

Blepharida rhois (Forst.) is represented in the Canadian National
Collection by a few specimens from many localities in North America.
Leng (1920) lists one specific name and two synonyms for the forms of
the genus in the United States. This synonymy, like that of other recent
authors, follows Rogers (1856, p. 29). The usage of these names has
been questioned by some workers. Recently, two series collected in
eastern Ontario have suggested a possible solution to this problem.

Specimens obtained in eastern Ontario at Marmora and Belleville
all have reddish-brown lines instead of blotches on the elytra. There
are other specimens of the striped form in the Canadian National Col¬
lection bearing the labels “eastern Ontario” and “Deseronto, Ont.

In the New York State Museum are striped specimens collected near
Albany and New York. These are the only locality records of the striped
form known to the writer.

The blotched form is widely distributed. In the Canadian National
Collection specimens are recorded from southern Ontario at Caradoc,
Strathroy, London, and Ojibway, one specimen from Medicine Hat, Al¬
berta, and specimens from the United States as follows: a locality near
New York City; New Jersey; Kansas; Gardens Corner, South Carolina;
Cloudland State Park, Georgia ; Florida ; Davis Mts., Texas ; and Boulder,
Colorado.

The striped form, which appears to have only a northern distribution,
consistently shows two color characters. The elytra are yellowish with
only moderately variable reddish-brown stripes, and the first four anten¬
nal segments are pale, the remainder dark.

The blotched form has variable color characters. There seems to be
no definite pattern on the elytra, which show a blotchy combination of
yellow and reddish-brown and which vary geographically ; the antennae
are not constant in color. Northern specimens have pale antennae ; Florida
specimens have the first four segments pale, the remainder dark. The
antennae of specimens from intermediate localities vary in color and are
intermediate between the northern and southern forms. In the south, the
antennal differences in the blotched form suggest geographical races.

Male genitalia of the two forms were compared and no character was
found to separate them.

Systematic Entomology Unit, Division of Entomology, Canada Department of
Agriculture, Ottawa.

22

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

According to the literature, Blepharida rhois restricts its feeding to
plants of the genus Rhus. Host labels on specimens and collectors’ ex¬
periences confirm this. There are records of the striped form on fragrant
sumac, Rhus aromatic a Ait., and of the blotched form on staghorn sumac,
Rhus ty pinna L.

The names rhois (FoPster, 1771, p. 21) and meticulosa (Olivier, 1807,
p. 531) apply to the striped form. The name stolida (Fabricius, 1792,
p. 318) is available for the blotched form, unless it applies properly to
a Central American species as suggested by Olivier (1807, p. 526).
Jacoby’s descriptions (1885, pp. 385-389; 1891, supplement, p. 306) sug¬
gest that there is no species known from Central America like either of
these forms. Frolich (1792, p. 129) used the name virginica for a form
from Virginia. His description seems to apply to neither form. Further
study may show that two taxonomic entities, specifically or subspecifically
distinct, are concerned.

I am indebted to Dr. J. A. Wilcox of the New York State Museum for
the loan of specimens. __

j . ^

References

Fabricius, J. 1792,. Entomologia systematica. Tom. 1 [pars. 1]. Hafnia.
Forster, J. R. 1771. Novae species insectorum. Centuria 1. London.

Frolich, J. A. 1792- Bemerknngen fiber einige seltene Kafer aus der Insect-
ensammlung des Herrn Hofr. und Prof. Rudolph in Erlangen. Naturforcher
26 : pp. 68-165.

Jacoby, M. 1880-1892. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Coleoptera, vol.
6, part 1. Phytophaga (part).

Jacoby, M. 1888-1892. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Coleoptera, vol.
6, part 1, suppl. Phytophaga (part).

Leng, C. W. 1920. Catalogue of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico.
Mount Vernon, New York.

Olivier, A. G. 1807. Entomologie. Coleopteres, 5. Paris.

Rogers, W. F. 1856. Synopsis of species of Chrysomela and allied genera in¬
habiting the United States. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 8,
pp. 29-39.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

23

COLLECTING ACMAEODERA IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

By J. W. Tilden1

The mountains both east and west of the Santa Clara Valley are good
collecting areas for members of this genus. The dry chaparral-covered
region east of Mt. Hamilton and the dense scrub oak near its summit are
the choicest spots in which to seach for them. June is the best month,
though some may be taken earlier. After the first of July, the collecting
fades rapidly due to the dry conditions.

Beating, sweeping and inspection are the methods of collecting that
are usually most productive. However, netting individuals as they fly
to plants is the best method on certain days when many of them are on
the wing. It requires a little practice to know an Acmaeodera in flight,
but once the cut of body and wings, as well as the peculiar hovering hab-

r

it, is known, it is distinctive. This method has the advantage of not dis¬
turbing the natural behavior of the beetles. On favorable days one can
stand in one spot and take a series. Some of the species are attracted to
flowers, but unfortunately, in this area those that behave in this way are
usually members of very common species.

To date, eighteen species have been taken in the county, but some of
these are represented by but one to a few specimens. No doubt other
species remain to be detected. There follows an enumeration of the
known species for the area, together with the plants with which they are
associated, insofar as this is known.
coquilletti Fall

Taken on and in association with Scrub Oak ( Quercus dumosa Nutt.)
Very common here, although in some places rare.
plagiaticauda Horn

One only, taken on Mt. Hamilton, by beating from Manzanita ( Arcto -
staphylos sp.) This species seems to be rare.
jocosa Fall

Not common. Found east of Mt. Hamilton on Chamise Brush ( Adeno -
stoma fasciculatum H. & A.)
angelica Fall

General on both sides of the valley and also east of Mt. Hamilton. Very
common, found on many kinds of scrub brush. Perhaps the most com¬
mon species in the region.
nexa Fall

Scarce. Three specimens to date, all taken on Mt. Hamilton, in beat¬
ings, plant not noted.

1San Jose State College, California.

24

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

dolorosa Fall

Scarce. Two, Mt. Hamilton, in beatings, plant not noted.
hephurni Lee.

Common on both sides of the valley and east of Mt. Hamilton. At¬
tracted to many kinds of flowers, but especially to Eriophyllum spp.
(Compositae) . I have dug adults from twigs of Ceanothus spp. in Santa
Cruz County.
quadriseriata Fall

Rare or overlooked. One only, Mt. Hamilton, in sweepings.
acuta Lee.

Fairly common on both sides of the valley. On flowers of many sorts,
especially Eriophyllum. This is at times the commonest species.
connexa Lee.

Oddly, this common species is either rare or overlooked in this region.
One only, Silver Creek Hills, May 26, 1940, on Yarrow or “Queen Anne’s
Lace” ( Achillea millefolium L.)
vandykei Fall

Not common, but widely distributed. Found on both sides of the valley.
Usually taken by beating on Ceanothus spp.
prorsa Fall

Locally common in two widely separated localities, Stevens Creek, on

the west side, and just beyond the summit of Mt. Hamilton, on the east

side. Found flying around Scrub Oak and at times resting on the tips of

Manzanita.

simidans Van Dvke

«/

A good series was taken at Isabel Creek, east of Mt. Hamilton, June,
1951, but has not been taken before or since.
guttifera Lee.

Not common. Taken east of Mt. Hamilton, mostly on the Arroyo Bayo,
in June, on Rhamnus crocea Nutt. (Redberry)
sinuata Van Dyke

This striking species is not common. Most of the ones I have seen have
been taken in flight around Buck Brush ( Ceanothus cuneatus (Hook.)
Nutt. This species is distinctive-looking in flight because of its bright
pattern of coloration.
adenostomae Cazier

Found on both sides of the valley, in chaparral areas where Adeno-
stoma grows. Fairly common in June.
perlanosa Timberlake

I have not personally taken this species in this county, but have been

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

25

in the field when it was taken by other collectors. It has been found in
the Stevens Creek Area on Eriodictyon calif ornicum (H. & A.) Greene.
This species is fairly common in the Panoche Valley in San Benito Coun¬
ty, and near Atascadero and in the Pine Mountains (La Panza Range) in
San Luis Obispo County. In these areas it is taken on Eriodictyon
crassifolium Benth.
gemina Horn

Apparently scarce. Two only, both taken June 30, 1951, on the Arroyo
Bayo east of Mt. Hamilton. They were flying in hot sunlight at mid-day,
over Tar Weed ( Madia sp.) in a dry open field.

I am indebted to Mr. Jacques Heifer for checking determinations of
this genus in my collection.

BEETLE PEST CONDITIONS

During the first quarter of 1954 the Economic Insect Survey Section received
several notes of interest to coleopterists. Although the majority of the reports
were for the 1953 season, they still deserve mention.

Lesser clover leaf weevil ( Hypera nigrirostris (F.)), which was reported in
Nebraska for the first time in 1952, was found general in eastern areas of the
State during 1953, where it damaged red clover. Sweetclover weevil ( Sitona
cylindricollis Fahr.) was determined from two collections from Atchinson and
New Madrid Counties, Missouri last year, thereby establishing statewide occur¬
rence. Reports from that State indicate that this insect and clover root curculio
(S. hispidida (F.)) may be responsible for the serious decline in sweetclover
acreage in Missouri during the past three years. Western corn rootworm (Dia-
brotica virgifera LeC.) damage in Kansas in 1953 was greater than in any
previous year.

The dermestid, Trogoderma granarium Everts, was reported from Arizona
for the first time early in February. Specimens were taken from a flour and
feed mill in Phoenix. In connection with the attention being given this pest and
stored grain insects in general in California, there have been found among mis¬
cellaneous collections specimens of a grain beetle ( Lophocateres pusillus (Klug) )
and a flour beetle ( Palorus ratzburgi Wissm.). Both of these are first records for
California.

As an example of the importance of the heavy infestations of boll weevil
( Anthonomus grandis Boh.) in some of the southeastern states in 1953, North
Carolina estimated that the insect caused approximately 25,000,000 dollars loss
to the State’s cotton growers.

Smaller European elm bark beetle ( Scolytus multistriatus (Marsh.)) was
found in Nebraska for the first time in 1953 according to reports. Specimens
were collected from a declining elm in Omaha. Coleopterous conditions in the
Nation’s forests were covered in detail in the summary of the more important
forest insects in 1953, released through the Cooperative Economic Insect Report
in February 1954 by the Division of Forest Insects Research, Forest Service.

Joseph W. Gentry, U.S. Department of Agricidture

26

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

( Concluded from page 20)

Edward J. F. Marx, 115 Plymouth
Place, Merchantville, New Jersey;
Vaughan F. McCowan, Weyerhaeuser
Timber Co. Research Center, Cen-
tralia, Washington;

F. Monros, Instituto Miguel Lillo,
Tucuman, Argentina;

Eduardo Navajas, Instituto Biologico,
Sao Paulo, Brasil;

P. Francisco Silverio Pereira, C.M.F.,
Dept, of Zoology, Sao Paulo, Brasil;
Milton W. Sanderson, Illinois State
Nat. Hist. Survey, Urbana, Illinois;
T. J. Spilman, Division of Insects,
U. S. National Museum, Washing¬
ton, D. C.

H. F. Strohecker, Dept, of Zoology,
Univ. Branch, Coral Gables, Florida;
Theodore M. Telsch, 6020 North “A”
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
T. 0. Thatcher, Dept, of Entomology,
Colorado A. & M., Fort Collins,
Colorado ;

J. Theodorides, 21 Blvd. de Grenelle,
Paris 15e, France;

Frank N. Young, Dept, of Zoology,
Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana.

It is anticipated that changes in this
staff must be made, and persons who
would be willing to report on beetle
articles in scientific periodicals for this
section are urged to notify the Cur¬
rent Literature Editor of that fact.
These names will be kept on file until
a vacancy on the staff occurs, at which
time the volunteer will be contacted to
determine whether or not he is still in¬
terested in contributing to the section.

At present there is a critical gap in
our literature coy^r&ge, due to the lack
of any volunteer from the British Isles
to report on those important scientific
periodicals which are published there.
The editor would be highly pleased if
British coleopterists who have access
to some or all of these publications and
who are willing to devote a few minutes
each month to writing the references on
file cards would notify him of that
fact. Detailed instructions and 3x5
cards will be mailed to such volunteers
immediately. There is also a need for
a South American contributor who has
access to entomological periodicals of
Argentina, because Dr. Wittmer will
soon be unable to continue his support
of this section. Kindly address all
correspondence concerninng the Cur¬
rent Literature Section to J. Gordon
Edwards. During the summer his ad¬
dress is : Headquarters, Glacier Na¬
tional Park, Montana. After Septem¬
ber this correspondence should be ad¬
dressed to Dr. Edwards at San Jose
State College, California.

Members who have questions con¬
cerning coleopterological publications
are encouraged to ask this editor for
the information. For example, if a
reader desires a key to the species of
a certain genus of beetles and does not
know if such a key has ever been pub¬
lished, it is one of the functions of this
section to make that information avail¬
able to our subscribers. The response
to your inquiries will be as rapid as
possible.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

27

PLANT ASSOCIATION DATA FOR A FEW ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
COLEOPTERA (CLERIDAE, MELOIDAE, CHRYSOMELIDAE,

CERAMBYCIDAE)

By Hugh B. Leech and J. Wagener Green1

k. v

The following- records were obtained during August, 1952. We are

responsible for the identifications, unless they are otherwise credited.

Dr. Thomas H. Kearney of the California Academy of Sciences was so

kind as to name the plants for us.

CLERIDAE

Enoclerus brmaculatus Skinner — Adults on a dying oak ( Quercus sp.).
Top of road up Madera Canyon, 6,200 ft. elev., Santa Rita Mts.,
Santa Cruz Co., Ariz., August 1.

MELOIDAE

Tetraonyx fulva LeConte — On flowers of Spheralcea angustifolia var.
cuspidata Gray. Shumway, Navajo Co., Ariz., August 24.

Zonitis punctipennis (LeConte) [det. J. W. MacSwain] — On flowers of
Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook. 3.5 mi. SW. of Portal,
3,000 ft. elev., Chiricahua Mts., Cochise Co., Ariz., August 12.

.•>4

CHRYSOMELIDAE

Lema balteata LeConte — Adults and larvae feeding on Solarium sp.,
probably S. nodiflorum Jacq. Floor of Carr Canyon, 5,400 ft. elev.,
Huachuca Mts., Cochise Co., Ariz., August 9.

Babia burner alis (Fabricius) — In numbers on leaves of Rubus neomex-
icana Gray. Rustler Park, 8,000 ft. elev., Chiricahua Mts., Cochise
Co., Ariz., August 17.

Leptinotarsa violascens Stal — Adults and larvae feeding on Solarium sp.,
probably S. nodiflorum Jacq. Floor of Carr Canyon, 5,400 ft. elev.,
Huachuca Mts., Ariz. August 9 ; 2.5 mi. W. of Harshaw, Patagonia
Mts., Santa Cruz Co., Ariz., August 2.

Zygospila conjuncta pallida (Bland) [det. F. Monros] — Feeding on
Aster tanacetif olius H.B.K. Whitewater Canyon, 4 mi. NE. of
Glenwood, Catron Co., N. Mex., August 20.

Calligrapha multiguttata Stal [det F. Monros] — On Heliopsis parvifolia
Gray. Top of road up Madera Canyon, 6,200 ft. elev., Santa Rita
Mts., Santa Cruz Co., Ariz., August 1.

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco 18.

28

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

Longitarsis repandus LeConte [det. L. G. Gentner] — On Senecio longi-
lobus Benth. Floor of Carr Canyon, 5,400 ft. elev., Huacliuca Mts.,
Ariz., August 9 ; Shumway, Navajo Co., Ariz., August 24.

Attica brisleyi Gentner [det. L. G. Gentner] — On Gaura parviflora Dougl.
Shumway, Navajo Co., Ariz., August 24.

Octotoma marginicollis Horn — Very numerous on Monarda menthaef olia
Graham. Top of road up Madera Canyon, 6,200 ft. elev., Santa Rita
Mts., Santa Cruz Co., Ariz., August 1.

Pentispa suturalis Baly — On a small low shrub, Baccharis sp. Floor of
Carr Canyon, 5,400 ft. elev., Huachuca Mts., Ariz., August 9.

CERAMBYCIDAE

Ophistomis laevicollis var. ventralis Horn — On flower-heads of Baccharis

glutinosa Pers. Double Adobe
Hidalgo Co., N.Mex., August 15

ORGANIZATION OF THE BULLETIN

Your attention is called to the pres¬
ent organization and publication of
The Coleopterists' Bulletin. The
Bulletin now bears the imprint of the
Department of Biology, St. John
Fisher College. This means that it is
published with the approval of the ad¬
ministration of St. John Fisher Col¬
lege. Office space and office facilities
are generously provided by the College.

However, the Bulletin is ENTIRE¬
LY dependent upon subscription fees
and donations for its publication. The
receipts are deposited with the College
and the Bulletin thus is non-profit.
Any donation to the Bulletin is tax
exempt.

The administration organization of
the Bulletin is as follows : Editor and
Manager: Ross H. Arnett, Jr. Ad¬
visory Board : Dr. J. Gordon Edwards,
Dr. Henry Dietrich, Dr. Eugene J.
Gerberg, Dr. Melville H. Hatch,
Mr. George B. Vogt, and Dr. Ross H.
Arnett, Jr.

In addition, the following persons
are designated as Associate Editors :
NEWS — Dr. Henry F. Howden,
CURRENT LITERATURE — Dr. J.

ranch, 5,500 ft. elev., Animas Mts.,

Gordon Edwards, and ECONOMIC
COLEOPTERA — Dr. Eugene J. Ger¬
berg. Typescripts falling in any of
these categories, News, Current Litera¬
ture, or Economic Coleoptera should
be directed to these associate editors.
All other material may be sent directly
to the editor.

At the present writing there is need¬
ed typescripts of a revisionary nature.
Please consult the notice to authors on
the fly leaf of current volumes for
directions.

Editor

CODING BIOLOGICAL TAXONS

A preliminary meeting was held re¬
cently to explore the possibility or ad¬
visability of developing a uniform sys¬
tem for use in coding biological taxo¬
nomic entities. Participants at this
exploratory meeting were from the
Library of Congress, the United States
Department of Agriculture, the Smith¬
sonian Institution, and the Chemical-
Biological Coordination Center of the
National' Research Council.

It is known that several laboratories
are entering the results of their ex-

( Continued on page 30)

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

29

ON THE HABITS OF BEETLES OF THE GENUS CATOPS

By Allen H. Benton1 and John Wilcox2

The beetles of the genus Cat ops are widely known as fungus feeders,
and because they are sometimes found on dead mammals they have been
considered to be carrion feeders. There is, however, some evidence that
members of this genus, like small beetles in the related families Leptinidae
and Platypsillidae, may be casual or accidental ectoparasites of small
mammals.

There is strong evidence that these beetles feed on hair and other
wastes from small mammals. Blatchley (Coleoptera of Indiana, 1910)
recorded Catops terminans (Lee.) from the nests of mice, and C. basilaris
Say from the nest of a short-tailed shrew. Leonard (List of Insects of
New York, 1928) reported, on the authority of Leng and Davis, that
C. terminans had been taken from owl pellets on three occasions. Since
owl pellets consist entirely of bones, hair and bits of undigested tissue,
it seems evident that the beetles were feeding on such materials. From
eating such waste in nests and owl pellets, it is a short step to feeding
directly on the mammal itself. Jameson (Journal of Mammalogy, vol.
31(2) :141, May, 1950) recorded C. basilaris from short-tailed shrews
(Blarina brevicauda) but assumed it to be a carrion feeder.

In extensive trapping operations in 1952 and 1953, four beetles of
this genus were removed from mice or mouse nests. The total of these
specimens is greater than the total number of Leptinus americanus, a
true parasite of shrews, of which three specimens were taken during this
period. Specimens of Catops taken were : Catops terminans — Bushnells-
ville, Greene county, N. Y., June 4, 1952, from Clethrionomys gapperi,
the red-backed mouse ; C. basilaris — Town of Berlin, Rensselaer county,
N. Y., July 29 and August 11, 1953, from the red-backed mouse; C. alsio-
sus Horn — Albany, Albany county, N. Y., March 16, 1953, from nest
on Microtus pennsylvanicus, the meadow vole.

The external similarity between Catops and Leptinus is striking. This
similarity may not be significant with regard to similarity of habits,
but it seems worthy of note.

The above evidence indicates that some members of this genus, found
of freshly killed mammals and in mammal nests, may actually occur at
times on living animals. Whether these occurrences are accidental, or
whether this is a case of incipient or actual ectoparasitism, has not been
established. The habits of these beetles might well be subjected to
further study.

JNew York State College for Teachers, Albany, New York.

2New York State Museum, Albany, New York.

30

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

( Continued from page 28)
periments on machine or hand-sort
punch cards and that at least a few are
listing the species of plants or animals
tested by means of a code on these
punch cards. In order to facilitate the
exchange of information between vari¬
ous laboratories, it would seem to be
highly desirable for these research
groups to use a uniform taxonomy cod¬
ing system. If the need or usefulness
of uniformity is confirmed by sufficient
biologists, a start on the formation of a
standardized code should be made as
soon as possible so that the conversion
from individual codes can be accom¬
plished with a minimum of effort.

The interested persons who have been
informally discussing the project do
not want to set plans in motion for the
actual codification unless there is a
real or potential need for it. Our im¬
mediate problem, therefore, is to de¬
termine what areas of biology could be
usefully served by a standard taxo¬
nomic code. We are, therefore, request¬
ing that those who have worked out or
adopted a system for coding taxonomic
entities, or who may be conducting
work which might benefit from such
codification, submit their opinions con¬
cerning a standardized biological tax¬
onomy code.

Letters should be addressed to :

Dr. G. Congdon Wood
Chemical-Biological
Coordination Center
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D. C.

Reviews

INSECTS AS HUMAN FOOD

By F. S. Bodenheimer. Dr. W.
Junk, Publishers. The Hague, 1951.
352 pp. Dutch Guilders 10.

The entomological literature is full
of many articles and references to the
use of insects as human food, but never
before have these notes been brought
together in one volume. This book,
written in the English language by the
well known Biologist, Dr. F. S. Boden¬
heimer, is a thorough survey of the
worlds literature on the practice and
importance of insects as an item of diet
among the people of the world, both
present day and the past. The sub¬
title “A chapter of the ecology of man”
aptly describes the contents. There are
many references to beetles as well as
many other forms of insect life. Most
readers will be surprised to learn of
the importance and extent of entomo-
phagy even today. The lack of a sub¬
ject index is regretted, but the exten¬
sive bibliography will prove useful to
those who wish to persue this subject
further.

R. H. Arnett, Jr.

CURRENT LITERATURE1
General

- -SLU. J . : i

Cobos, A. 1953. Especies nuevas de Coleopteros de la provincia de Almeria
(Spain). Archivos del Instituto de Aclimatacion, vol. 1, pp. 127-134; Essig,
E. O. 1953. Edwin Cooper Van Dyke (in memoriam). Pan-Pac. Ent., vol.
29(2), pp. 73-88, 1 pi.; Hatch, M. H. 1953. The beetles of the Pacific North-

- - - ^ 10*’

^Compiled this month by Dr. William F. Barr and Or.- J. Gordon Edwards.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

31

west, Part I, (Introduction and Adephaga). Univ. Wash. Publ. Biol., vol. 16,
PP- 1-340, 37 pis. (contains keys to all species of Adephaga known from that
area) (price $5.00).; Leech, H. B. 1953. Entomological bibliography of Edwin
C. Van Dyke. Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(2), pp. >89-97.; Pennack, R. W. 1953.
Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. "769 pp., 470 figs, (keys to
many aquatic beetle adults and larvae included) Ronald Press, N. Y. ($14.00).;
Van Dyke, E. C. 1953. The Coleoptera of the Galapagos Islands. Occas.
Papers Calif. Acad. Sci., No. 22, 185 pp., 7 pis. ($3.50).; Van Dyke, E. C.
1953. New Coleoptera from western North America. (Carabidae, Throscidae,
Curculionidae, Melasidae, Buprestidae) . Pan-Pac. Ent,, vol. 29(2), pp. 98-107.;
Valurie, P. 1953. Collecting in Sonora, Mexico, including Tiburon Island.
Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc., vol. 61, pp 79-91.

Buprestidae

Cobos, A. 1951. Una observacion biologica sobre el genero Elaphocera Gene.
Boletin Real Sociedad Espanola Hist. Nat., vol. 49 (1, 2 & 3), pp. 85-92.;
Cobos, A. 1953a. Mission Cientifica J. Mateu al Sahara Frances. Buperestidos.
Tamuda, Ano I Semestre I, pp. 9-24.; Cobos, A. 1953b. Notas sobre el genero
Anthaxia Esch., Y descripciones de especies nuevas de la fauna paleartica. Bol-
lettino Societa Ent. Italiana, vol. 83 (7 & 8), pp. 99-104.; Cobos, A. 1953c.
Revision de los Buprestidos de Canadias. Archivos Instituto de Aclimatacion,
vol. 1, pp. 93-125. ; Cobos, A. 1953d. Nota acerca de la presencia del Buprestis
(Cypriacis) splendens F., en Espana. Y de la Validez. Bollettino Associazione
Romana Ent., vol. 8(2), pp. 27-33.; Figg-Hoblyn, J. P. 1953. A new species
of Acmaeodera from western Nevada. Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(4), pp. 219-221,
1 fig. ; Heifer, J. R. 1953a. Two new Hippomelas Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29, pp.
34-36.; Heifer, J. R. 1953b. A new species of Trachykele blondeli (cupreo-
marginata). Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(3), pp. 176-178.

Cantharidae

Fender, K. M. 1953. New species of Podabrus from western North America.
Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(3), pp. 170-175, 2 figs.

Carabidae

Lapouge, G. V. de. 1953. Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 192: Carabidae sub¬
family Carabinae, with 9 pis.

Cerambycidae

Gressitt, J. L. 1951. Longicorn Beetles of China. Longicornia (Paris),
vol. 2, pp. 1-667, 22 pis., 1 map. ($14.50).; Gressitt, J. L. 1953. Notes on
nomenclature and relationships of some palearctic and nearctic Lepturinae.
Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(4), p. 207.

Cicindelidae

Cazier, M. A. 1954. A review of the Mexican tiger beetles of the genus
Cicindela. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 103, pp. 227-310, 223 figs., 3 pis.

Colydiidae

Malkin, B., 1953. African species of the genus Machlotes. Rev. Zool. & Bot.
Africa, vol. 48(1 & 2), pp. 149-161, 21 figs.

Cossonidae

Van Dyke, E. C. 1953. A new cossonid beetle from California, probably
introduced. Pan-Pac. Ent., vol. 29(2), pp. 107-108.

Cupesidae

Edwards, J G. 1953. The morphology of the male terminalia of beetles

32

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 2

belonging- to the genus Priacma. Inst. Royal Sci. Nat. Belgique, Bull., vol.
29(28), pp. 1-8, 2 figs.

Curculionidae

Gilbert, E. E. 1953. Sexual dimorphism and synonymy in Anthonomus. Pan-
Pac. Ent., vol. 29, p. 41; Vaurie, P. 1954. Revision of the genera Anchylo-
rhynchus and Petalochilus of the Petalochiliiiae. (South American). Amer.
Mus. Novitates, No. 1651, 58 pp., 4 figs.

Elateridae

Arnett, R. H., Jr. 1952. A review of the nearctic Adelocerina. Wasmann
Jour. Biol., vol. 10, pp. 103-126.

Endomychidae

Strohecker, H F. 1953. Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 210: Endomychidae., 140
pp., 64 textfigs., 5 pis. (includes keys to genera of world).

Meloidae

Linsley, E. G. and J. W. MacSwain. 1952. Notes on the biology and host
relationships of some species of Nemognatha. Wasmann Jour. Biol., vol. 10,
pp. 91-102, 2 pis. ; MacSwain, J. W. 1952. A synopsis of the genus Gnathium,
with description of new species. Wasmann Jour. Biol., vol. 10(2), pp 205-224,
2 pis.; Selander, R. B. 1953. A new species of Calospasta from Utah. Pan-
Pac. Ent., vol. 29, pp. 47-48

Passalidae

Doesburg, P. H. 1953. On some neotropical Passalidae. Pan-Pac. Ent., vol.
29(4), pp. 203-205.

Staphylinidae

Malkin, B. 1953. New ’records of Oxyporus from Arizona. Pan-Pac. Ent.,
vol. 29(4), p. 218.

NOTICES

Wants, exchanges, and requests for information, but not advertisements for the sale of
specimens and equipment, will be published here provided it pertains to beetles. This service
is free. Notices will be published as space permits. Paid advertisements will be accepted.

CHRYSOMELIDAE, CERAMBYCIDAE : Exchange. Offer Asian, Pacific
Coleoptera in various groups; particularly desire Cryptocephalinae, Hispinae,
Disteniinae of world. J. L. Gressitt, Bishop Museum, Honolulu 17, Hawaii.

INDIAN COLEOPTERA: Offering for sale South Indian beetles of all families.
All specimens with correct data. P. Susai Nathan, Naturalist, Kurumbagaram,
P. O., via Karikal, Tanjore District, South India. (Adv.)

CHILEAN COLEOPTERA : Offering for sale beetles from Chile at 5 to 20 cents
each in series of 10 to 20 of each species. Write for available material. Tomas
Cekalovic K., Casilla 214, Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile. (Adv.)

OEDEMERIDAE : New duties now permit me to spend full research time on
a monograph of the Oedemeridae of the world. At present I am completing a
revision of the Central American species. Will determine North American and
Central American species promptly, and will be glad to have specimens of this
family from any part of the world at any time for longer studies towards the
final monograph. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., St. John Fisher College, Rochester, N. Y.

• I

Not. H»%T.

B

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

Coleopterists’

Volume IX June, 1955

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT 0m IOLO
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription4:*$^.00 per ^
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available. *.. >

The general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. \FoKn
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr.' J. Gofftpfcv
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control 'f>
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University oi°
Washington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.

CERAMBYCID ON BOX-ELDER TWIG

Fig. 1. Synaphoeta guexi (LeConte). (2X) This photograph of a live
woodboring beetle illustrates the manner in which they cling to box-elder
twigs upon which they are often found. These insects are common from
California to British Columbia and they vary from 15 to 23 mm in length.
In spite of their relatively large size they are usually difficult to see,
because their olive-green, yellow, and black colors blend so well with their
environment that they are easily overlooked. The adults seldom fly except
at night, and are not then attracted to lights, consequently most specimens
in collections have been found by careful inspection of twigs or by chop¬
ping them from branches or trunks of box-elder and other favored hosts.
The larvae bore about in dying parts of box-elder, maple, buckeye, laurel,
poplar, cherry, and many other kinds of trees. Pupation occurs in cavities
eaten in the wood by those larvae, and in early spring the adults begin to
eat their way out of the sapwood of branches which have been dead for
about a year. If the bark on the under side of such branches is shaved
off at that time, the openings of the burrows may be exposed, often re¬
vealing the beetle’s head blocking the exit. Normally the bark would be
penetrated in a few more days and the mature beetle would emerge from
the burrow to mate.

J. Gordon Edwards, San Jose State College, California.

34

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

Reviews

RECENT PAPERS ON
CARABIDAE

Several important papers on Carabidae
have come to my attention. These are
all by the well known Carabidologist, Dr.
Carl H. Lindroth, Zoological Institute,
University of Lund, Sweden.

The recent paper in this Bulletin,
1 1 Carabidae Common to Europe and
North America’ ’ sets the keynote to this
recent series. Dr. Lindroth, who is in¬
terested in the circumpolar distribution
and taxonomy of Carabidae, spent con¬
siderable time in this country studying
types and collections of Carabidae. He
has been able to straighten out a fan¬
tastic amount of difficult nomenclature as
a result. Much of this work is documented
in these papers.

The greatest amount of changes in
synonymy is found in “Random notes
on North American Carabidae.” The
Kirby and Dejean types of North Ameri¬
can Carabidae are discussed in two pa¬
pers (1953, 1955). A revision of two
circumpolar genera, Diachila and Ble-
thisa, with discussion of Elaphrus larvae
was published in 1953. The remaining
three papers deal with the carabids of
Laborador (1954), Nova Scotia (1954),
and Newfoundland (1955). The latter
paper is available from the Entomologi¬
cal Society, Zoological Institute, Lund,
for $3.50 (17 Swedish Crowns).

Any student of North American carja-
bids will find this series a most valuable
and carefully done piece of work. I be¬
lieve it represents a tremendous advance
in our knowledge and should set an ex¬
ample for other workers by leading the
way and pointing out what needs to be
done before our beetle nomenclature in
the new world begins to settle down.

The complete citations to these papers

follow:

1953 (Oct.) A revision of Diachila
Motsch. and Blethisa Bon. with re¬
marks on Elaphrus larvae (Col. Cara¬
bidae), Kgl. Fysiogr. Sallsk. Handl.
(n.s.) vol. 65, 28 pp.

1953 (Oct.) Kirby’s types of North
American Carabidae (Coleoptera),
Proc. Royal Ent. Soc. London (Ser.
B.), vol. 22, pp. 167-177.

1954 (Mar.) Random notes on North
American Carabidae (Coleopt.), Bull.
Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. Ill, pp. 117-
161.

1954 (June) Carabidae common to Eu¬
rope and North America, Coleopt. Bull.,
vol. 8, pp. 35-52.

1954 (July) Carabid beetles from Nova
Scotia, Canadian Ent., vol. 86, pp. 299-
310.

1954 (Aug.) Carabid beetles from East¬
ern and Southern Labrador, Canadian
Ent., vol. 86, pp. 364-370.

1955. The carabid beetles of Newfound¬
land including the French islands, St.
Pierre and Miquelon, Opusc. Ent.,
suppl. 12, 160 pp., 58 figs.

1955. Dejean’s types of North American
Carabidae (Col.), Opusc. Ent., vol. 20,
pp. 10-34.

R. H. Arnett, Jr.

COLEOPTERORUM CATALOGUS
SUPPLEMENTA

Several new parts of this series have
recently appeared as follows : Pars 5
(Editio secunda), Cupesidae, Paussi-
dae, by Em. Janssens, 84 pp. (Issued
June 3, 1953). Dutch Guilders 21.
Pars 144 and 110, Curculionidae :
Oxycoryninae, Belinae, Archolabinae,
Attelabrinae, Apoderinae, by E. Voss,
34 pp. (Issued Noverber 30, 1953).
Dutch Guilders 18. Pars 102, Anthri-
bidae, by P. Wolfrum, 63 pp. (Issued
December 21, 1953). Dutch Guilders
14.50.

R. H. Arnett, Jr.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

35

STUDIES IN THE MALACH 1 1 DAE — VI

By M. Y. Marshall1

The purpose of the present paper is to present descriptions of new
species and subspecies of Malachiidae which have come to light during
the past year in the course of identifying material in that family for
several museums and colleges, as well as observations on already known
species which I hope will contribute to the better understanding of those
species. Most of the material on which the paper is based has been
referred to me by the following institutions : U. S. National Museum,
American Museum of Natural History, University of Arizona, Univer¬
sity of Arkansas, University of California, University of Idaho, Uni¬
versity of Utah, Ohio State University and Cornell University.

COLLOPS Erichson
Collops bipunctatus (Say)

(Figure 1)

In 1951, and again in 1952, I noted the occurrence of a southern form
of this species in the neighborhood of Mexico City but refrained from
describing it as a subspecies due to the large area of overlap between
this and the northern form and the lack of information concerning the
species in the area between Durango City and Mexico City. A series of
85 specimens, collected by C. and P. Vaurie of the David Rockefeller
Mexican Expedition of 1953 in the states of Zacatecas, Aguascalientes
and Guanajuato, covers the greater part of the latter area and further
consideration of the subject convinces me that the southern form is
deserving of subspecific rank.

Collops bipunctatus australis, new subspecies

(Figure 2)

Male. Differs from the nominate subspecies in the coloration of pronotum, legs
and antennae. The two thoracic spots, which in the nominate subspecies are small
and round and at times are reduced to mere points, are markedly dilated, so as
to cover almost one-half of the pronotal surface. The spots are roughly tri¬
angular, with the median edges parallel and separated by a narrow median red line.
They almost attain the anterior thoracic margin and extend about two-thirds of the
distance from the center to the basal and lateral margins, the lateral edges of the
spots roughly paralleling the lateral thoracic margins. The legs and antennae are
entirely black, except the first antennal segment and the proximal tip and upper
surface of the second segment, the first segment with a narrow dorsal piceous streak.
The frontal pale area is reduced to a small triangular spot at the center of the
frontal margin.

Female. Similar to the male, except for the usual secondary sexual characters
in the antennae and terminal sternite. Length, male and female, 7.0 mm.

1Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

Holotype, male and allotype, female, “Mexico, D. F., 3 Sept., 1928.
G. Lassmann, collector,” in the author’s collection. 13 paratypes, one
“15 mi. e. Aguacalientes, Agnas, Mex., VIII-12-53” and 12 “San Miguel
Allende, Guan., Mex. YIII-12- 53,” all collected by C. and P. Vaurie.
Paratypes in the author’s collection and in that of the American Museum
of Natural History.

These paratypes, including the series of 45 specimens from the Dis¬
trito Federal, show a slight variation in the size of the thoracic spots,
which is the main distinguishing character of the subspecies, but none
which would give rise to any doubt as to whether the specimen should
be assigned to the northern or the southern subspecies. The new sub¬
species thus easily conforms to the 75 percent rule ; in fact, it would
still conform if the 75 percent were raised to 100 percent.

The hybrid population in the zone of overlap, as described by me in
1952, contains a mixture of intermediate forms and specimens which
could be referred to either one or the other of the two subspecies. Thus
the specimens from Zacatecas, as well as the large series perviously
noted from Chihuahua and Durango (1952), should be labeled Collops
punctatus punctatus X australis. The zone of overlap or hybridization
is quite extensive, but no more so than the similar zone between Cicin-
dela flavopunctata flavopunctata and Cicindela flavopunctata rectilatera,
as illustrated by M. Cazier in his Review of the Mexican Species of
Cicindela (1954), p. 276. Lastly, it is noted that the variation in ques¬
tion is not continuous as one progresses from the north toward the
south, i.e., a cline, but is discontinuous or abrupt at the limits of the
zone of hybridization, i.e., northern Chihuahua and southern Zacatecas.

Collops arizonensis Marshall

Three females, which obviously belong to this species, from Ruby,
Arizona, have the prothorax entirely rufous. Typical specimens, in
which the prothorax is black with the lateral margins rufous, have also
been taken in the Iluachucha Mts., Arizona. The specimens from Ruby
closely resemble females of C. tricolor Say, but in this species the elytra
are more finely punctured and the lateral and sutural marginal beads
of the elytra are more or less rufous.

ATTALUSINUS Leng

C. W. Leng, in 1918, established this genus, in the following short
paragraph.

* 1 Attalusinus submarginatus Lee., which was not recognized when Dr. Horn’s
revision was written (1872), has been found by Dr. Schwarz at Catalina Springs,
Arizona. It is, however, not an Attains, but represents a new genus, nearer to
Chaetocoelus than to Attains, which may be called Attalusinus.”

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

37

In 1948, pp. 122 and 124, I discussed this genus, giving the generic
characters which I had taken from specimens in the U. S. National
Museum, and stated that the National Museum contained eight speci¬
mens belonging to the genus, including the series of five collected by
Dr. Schwarz at Catalina Springs, none of which were believed by Mr.
Barber to belong to submarginatus Lee. In 1951, p. 86, I recorded from
Yuma, Arizona a female of submarginatus, the only other specimen of
the species known at that time, which I had been able to compare with
Leconte’s unique female type in the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Now, through the kindness of Drs. Chapin and Blackwelder formerly

of the National Museum, I am enabled to study the above mentioned
material from that institution.

The eight specimens included undoubtedly represent two, and possibly
three, distinct species. Unfortunately, complete examples of both sexes
are not present from any one of the three localities represented, there
being one male from Panamint Valley, California, two males from Nuevo
Leon, Mexico, three females and two incomplete males from Catalina
Springs, Arizona. One of these incomplete males has only the antennae
missing; the other is minus the entire head and prothorax. The male
from Panamint Valley I believe to belong to Leconte’s species, A.
submarginatus, and propose to describe it as the allotype of that species,
missing for the past 103 years; the two males from Nuevo Leon appear
to be conspecific with the Catalina Springs specimens, which are un¬
questionably distinct from A. submarginatus. I would like to have
chosen one of the males from Catalina Springs as the holotype of the
new species, due to the fact that both sexes are represented in the
material from that locality, but have chosen instead one of the males
from Nuevo Leon, since it is a complete specimen. The five specimens
from Catalina Springs are therefore designated as paratypes. If addi¬
tional material should prove them to be specifically distinct from the
Mievo Leon population, the error could easily be corrected. Material in

this genus is so scarce, however, that this may not happen for another
103 years.

For the convenience of my readers, I give here a translation of
Leconte’s short description of Ebaeus submarginatus (1852), which is
not easily obtainable.

Elongate, aeneous black, thinly pubescent, thorax slightly alutaceous, not trans¬
verse, narrowed toward the base, obsoletely rufescent, elytra scarcely dilated, de¬
pressed, obsoletely rugose, shorter than the abdomen. Length .06. One female speci¬
men, Colorado River, California. The antennae and tibiae are testaceous at base.”

38

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

Attalusinus submarginatus (Leconte)

(Figure 4)

Male. Elongate oblong, parallel, the elytra slightly widened posteriorly; color
piceotesaceous, somewhat paler than the female, slightly aeneous ; pronotum, anterior
portion of frons, genae, palpi, tibiae, tarsi and first three or four antennal segments
testaceous, the pronotal disc clouded with piceous. Head short, broad, 1.5 times wider
than long, the eyes small but prominent; head barely wider than prothorax, t e
entire front moderately excavated anterior to the middle of the eyes and more
shallowly in a semicircle extending from the interocular line to the occiput, a small,
shining, blunt tubercle at the middle of the interocular line. (Fig. 4) Antennae
long, almost reaching the tips of the eyltra, feebly serrate from the fourth segment,
the pubescence long and conspicuous, first segment slightly enlarged, second small,
spherical, third and fourth cylindrical, about as long as the first, segments 5 to 10
slightly longer, subequal, eleventh slender, 1.5 times as long as tenth, cylindrical.
Prothorax 1.5 times wider than long, strongly narrowed behind, scarcely sinuate n
front of the posterior angles, basal margin strongly reflexed, surface finely aluta-
ceous, no pubescence visible. Head and elytra are minutely, sparsely punctulate,
with short, fine pale pubescence. Elytra finely rugulose, 2.15 times the length of the
prothorax, leaving three tergites exposed ; apices evenly and separately rounde ,
not at all truncate, apex 1.2 times wider than base. Ventral surface shining, finely
and sparsely punctulate and pubescent. The protarsi in the type are not visible.

Length 1.5 mm. ,,

Allotype, male, “Panamint Yy. April 91 K., A. Koebele, collector,

in the U. S. National Museum. No parallotypes.

Attalusinus mexicanus, new species
(Figure 3)

Male. Elongate, parallel, the elytra not perceptibly widened posteriorly. Color
testaceous, anterior half of frons, genae and basal margin of pronotum ivory white,
the elytra paler toward the apices and lateral margins. Head short, broad, 1.3 times
wider than prothorax, a small, rounded tubercle, piceous in color, at center of mter-
ocular line. Behind this is a semicircular depression, extending on to the occiput
and joining at either end with a lateral depression which reaches the orbit on either
side. The portion of the front anterior to the tubercle forms a raised, pentagonal
area, which contains a deep, rounded depression immediately anterior to the tubercle ;
(Fig. 3), surface shining, punctuation and pubescence sparse and extremely fine.
Antennae moderately long, attaining terminal third of elytra; pubescence fine, not
conspicuous; filiform, first segment moderately enlarged, second small, spherical,
third and succeeding segments about as long as first, eleventh slightly longer; third
segment spoon shaped, with entire anterior face flattened and excavated. Prothorax
1.1 times wider than long, strongly narrowed behind, rather strongly sinuate m
front of posterior angles; base strongly reflexed; surface shining and finely aluta-
ceous; punctuation and pubescence as on the head. Elytra finely rugulose, 2.15
times the length of prothorax, leaving three tergites exposed, apices separately
rounded, indefinitely truncate ; pubescence fine, pale and sparse, but more conspicuous
than on’head and pronotum. Ventral surface shining, finely and sparsely punctulate
and pubescent. Second protarsal segment projecting in a free lobe over the third,
with its tip narrowly black. Length 1.5 mm.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

39

Female from the type locality unknown.

Ilolotvpe, male, labeled “Sabinas Hidalgo, N. L., Mex. 49: 8/9/42.
Grassland, overgrazed. M1598.”

Six paratypes, one male with the same data as the holotype; two
males and three females, labeled “Catalina Springs, Arizona. 15-4.
Hubbard-Schwarz Collection. Roots of Riddellia. ’ ’ Holotype and four

paratypes in the U. S. National Museum; two paratypes in the author’s
collection.

The male paratype from Nuevo Leon is identical with the holotype,
except that one antenna and one elytron are missing. One of the males
fiom Catalina Springs, with only the antennae missing, appears to be
identical with the holotype, except for darker coloration. The parts
that are testaceous in the holotype are piceous in the paratype and the
parts that are ivory white in the holotype are testaceous in the paratype.
Certain minor differences in the sculp turation of the head, practically

undescribable, appear to be well within the limits of intraspecific varia¬
tion.

The three female paratypes are all darker than the holotype, two
having the ground color piceous, as in the male paratype from the
same locality ; one with the ground color piceotestaceous. In one the
elytra are entirely whitish testaceous, except for a piceous scutellar area.
They are all more elongate than the male, have the frons unmodified,
antennae shorter, reaching the middle of the elytra, which are short,

l.lo times as long as the prothorax and squarely truncate, leaving six
tergites exposed.

The males of this species can be easily separated from the same sex
of A. submarginatus by the characteristic frontal excavations, the wider
head, the shorter less pubescent antennae, with the peculiar deformity
of the third antennal segment, and the parallel elytra. The females can
be separated from those of A. submarginatus by the short, parallel elytra,
which are squarely truncate at the apex and leave six tergites exposed,
whereas the elytra in the females of A. submarginatus are much longer,
leaving only three tergites exposed, and are definitely widened at the
apex and evenly rounded.

TANAOPS Leconte

Tanaops rostratus (Horn), new combination
Attalus rostratus Horn, Trans. American Ent. Soc., 4 :121. Fall, ibid.,
43 :87. Marshall, Proc. California Acad. Sci., 4th series, 27 :116.

Tanaops neglectus Marshall, Canadian Ent., 78 :185. (new synonymy)
One problem which has puzzled students of the Malachiidae for many
years is the proper identification of Horn’s species, Attalus rostratus ,

40

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

described by him in 1872 from a single female specimen. Fall (1917)
stated that it was more than likely that this species would prove to be
a Tanaops when the male was discovered and surmised that it might be
his T. angusticeps. In 1946 I described Tanaops neglectus, from a series
of two males and seven females, giving the distinguishing characters
which separate it from T. angusticeps , to which it is most closely related ;
but did not discover until later that my collection contained two female
specimens of this species under the name Attains rostratus, a fact which
I reported in 1951, when reviewing the genus Attains , mentioning also
that I had seen a female specimen of T. neglectus, identified by F.
Blanchard as A. rostratus.

Recently I sent a female of T. neglectus to the Philadelphia Academy
of Natural Sciences, for comparison with Horn’s type of A. rostratus
and Mr. Harold J. Grant, Jr., the Assistant Curator of Entomology,
who kindly made the comparison, informs me that, in his opinion, the
two specimens are conspecific. The only difference between the two
worth mentioning, according to Mr. Grant, is that the prothorax of
Horn’s type is rufous, whereas that of the specimen of T. neglectus is
black, with the posterior angles rufous. The color of the prothorax is
notoriously variable in Tanaops, several of the species occurring with
either black or rufous prothorax, or various combinations of black and

rufous.

Tanaops lobulatus, new species

Male . Oblong, parallel, elytra slightly widened posteriorly. Piceous black, ventral
surface of first two antenal segments, distal half of clypeus, genae, base of mandi¬
bles, mouth parts (except palpi), pronotum (except pronotal discal spot), elytral
apices and margins (except basal), pro- and mesocoxae, all the trochanters and all
the abdominal sternites testaceous. Head moderately elongate, 1.2 times longer than
wide, biimpressed between the eyes; surface shining, punctures and pubescence
extremely fine. Antennae moderately long, passing the pronotum by almost three
segments, feebly serrate, pubescent, the intermediate segments not sinuate. Pronotum
quardate, 1.1 times wider than long, all the angles broadly rounded, the posterior
slightly flattened, the sides parallel, the anterior margin feebly produced; a piceous
pronotal discal spot, extending from just behind the anterior margin seven-eighths
the distance to the posterior margin and from the center two-thirds the distance to
the lateral margins. The anterior and lateral borders of the spot are irregularly
crenulate ; the posterior border is produced into three lobes, the median lobe about
twice as long as the lateral lobes. Surface of pronotum glabrous, shining, no
punctures or pubescence visible. Elytra black, shining at the base, becoming gradu¬
ally duller toward the apex; surface minutely, transversely rugulose, punctures and
pale pubescence very fine and dense, the erect black setae numerous and evenly dis¬
tributed, apices broadly pale, posterior half of sutural margins more narrowly pale,
lateral margins very narrowly pale, with a dilation of the pale margins just anterior

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

41

to the middle. Ventral surface and legs finely and densely punctured and pubescent,
the tarsi slightly paler. Abdominal pits moderate in size, narrowly coalescent, those
on the fifth sternite larger. Length 3.0 mm.

Female. Similar to the male except as follows. The clypeus and anterior part of
the front, to the anterior ocular margins, are pale. The front is more deeply im¬
pressed, the impression ending posteriorly in a sharp, arcuate line at the midocular
level, the area immediately anterior to this line more coarsely punctured. Antennae
shorter, scarcely serrate. Discal pronotal spot narrower, but posteriorly lobulate as
in the male. Posterior coxae piceotestaceous, all the abdominal sternites piceous
black, with the posterior margins very narrowly pale. Abdominal sternites and pro-
tarsi simple. Length 3.5 mm.

Holotype, male and allotype, female, “7 mi. west of Westward Pass,
Inyo Co., Calif. J. W. MacSwain, collector. VI-24-53.” Three para-
types, one male and one female same data; one female same locality but
collected by W. D. McLellan, VI-26-53. Holotype and allotype in the
collection of the University of California, at Berkelej^, California, para-
types in the author’s collection.

The male paratype shows no difference from the holotype worth men¬
tioning, except that the discal pronotal spot is somewhat narrower, as
in the allotype. Both female paratypes have the front biimpressed, as
in the holotype. In one the first three abdominal segments are pale in
the central portion and in the other the dilation of the lateral elytral
pale margins is more feeble than in the other four specimens.

This species runs to couplet “00” in my 1946 key to the genus
Tanaops, which couplet contains T. sierrae Marshall and T. nunen¬
macheri Marshall. It differs from both species in having the abdomen
pale in the male, black in the female ; in T. sierrae the abdomen is pale
in both sexes and in T. nunenmacheri it is black in both sexes. Further,
the antennae are much more feebly serrate than in either of the above
species, or in any of the related species. The pronotum in both T. sier¬
rae and T. nunenmacheri is usually black, but it may be black with the
basal angles pale, or pale with or without a dark discal stripe, but not
with the clearly lobulated discal spot of the present species. Lobulatus
resembles T. nunenmacheri more closely than any other species and, in
fact, the female collected by Mr. McLellan has been in my cabinet for
some time, identified as T. nunenmacheri. The error was not apparent
until I examined the series of four specimens collected by Mr. MacSwain.

PSEUDEBAEUS Horn
Pseudebaeus bicolor LeConte

A series of six specimens of this species, all males, collected by Dr.
M. H. Hatch in Oregon and Washington, show a variation which should
be recorded, as it is apt to cause difficulty in identification.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

The variation consists of the presence of a blackish piceons spot or
stripe, occupying about the central third of the pronotal disc, which is
uniformly pale in typical specimens. This spot is wider toward the pos¬
terior end and in one is enlarged so as to cover the greater part of the
pronotum. Almost surely specimens will eventually be found in which
the entire pronotum is piceous in color.

Consideration might be given to designating this form as a sub¬
species, except that typical specimens of P. hicolor have been reported
from California, Oregon and British Columbia (Marshall, 1951) and
presumably occur also in Washington. Also, a reexamination of the
eastern specimens in my series of P. hicolor shows a definite tendency
to this variation in many of the specimens.

ATTALUS Erichson
Attalus humeralis LeConte
Attains pettiti Horn (new synonymy)

Observations on these two species were recorded in 1951, pp. 107 and
108, and in 1953, p. 828. The Brownsville, Texas specimens mentioned
in 1951, under A. humeralis, were incorrectly identified and the differ¬
ences noted between the two species, under A. pettiti, were based on
that misidentification. In 1953, the discovery of intermediate specimens
of A. pettiti, from Ohio and Illinois, with reduced apical spots on the
elytra, and some in which the apical spots were entirely absent, con¬
vinced me of the correctness of the above synonymy, but I refrained
from describing the Brownsville specimens as new, due to the lack of
an opportunity at that time to study LeConte’s type of A. humeralis.

Recently I sent two specimens to Dr. P. J. Darlington, Jr., at the
Museum of Comparative Zoology, one from Illinois, agreeing with typi¬
cal A. pettiti in every respect, except that the apical spots were wanting,
and one of the Brownsville specimens. Dr. Darlington kindly compared
these with LeConte’s type of A. humeralis and he informs me that the
Illinois specimen corresponds with that type. The Brownsville species
is herewith described as Attalus scapularis.

Attalus scapularis, new species
(Figure 5)

Male. Oblong-oval, elytra rather strongly widened and rounded posteriorly, be¬
ginning at anterior third, convex. Color rufotestaceous, paler at junction of anterior
and middle thirds of elytra, which are faintly transversely impressed at this point;
faintly washed with piceous on disc of posterior third of elytra; a small humeral
spot, antennae (except three basal segments), tips of mandibles, terminal segment
of maxillary palpi, tips of femora, tibiae and tarsi piceous. Head broad, 1.3 times
wider than long, an ill-defined piceous spot at center of front, a row of about eight
long, black setae at posterior third of clypeus; surface shining, punctures and

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

43

pubescence barely visible. Antennae of medium length, passing pronotum by about
two segments, feebly serrate, rather densely pubescent. Prothorax transversely oval,
1.2 times wider than long, strongly convex, all margins and angles broadly rounded,
anterior portion of disc faintly washed with piceous; surface shining, punctures and
pubescence as on head. Elytra densely and rather coarsely punctured, punctures (in
middle third) separated by not more than their diameters; somewhat dull; pubescence
pale, short, dense, uniform, semierect, no erect black setae present; a faint carina
from the humeral umbo parallel to lateral elytral margin, about half-way to the
tip. Ventral surface and legs finely and sparsely punctulate and pubescent, the
legs more densely so. Lobes of second protarsal segments parallel, as wide as the
segment, reach about the tip of third segment, are piceotestaceous in color, with a
very narrow black edge. Pygidium large for the genus, hirsute, triangular, the apex
narrowly truncate, entire. Length 2.5 mm.

Female. Paler than male, the central third of elytra being almost a sulphur
yellow. Elytra more shining, the pubescence inconspicuous (probably abraded).
Antennae almost as strongly serrate as in male. Two abdominal tergites exposed ;
pygidium with a deep, narrow apical notch, last sternite with a minute apical notch
and a small semicircular depression at the base. Length 3.0 mm.

Holotype, male, “Brownsville, Tex. VIII-8-37. D. J. and J. N. Knull
collectors” and allotype, female, “Brownsville, Texas, V-26-03,” no
collector’s label. One male paratype, same data as holotype, except col¬
lected on Y-31-39. Holotype in the collection of Ohio State University,
allotype and paratype in the author’s collection.

The male paratype is slightly darker than the holotype, the pale trans¬
verse elytral depression at the basal third showing as a poorly defined
fascia. No other differences are noted.

This species resembles typical A. humeralis closely as to color and
runs to this species in my 1951 key to the species of Attalus. It is how¬
ever, more oval, with the elytra less shining and much more densely and
coarsely punctate. It can be easily separated by the pygidium, which
is entire in the male, deeply and narrowly emarginate in the female, as
in A. tucsonensis Marshall, while in A. lmmeralis (Figure 6) the pygidi-
um has a small triangular apical notch in both sexes.

Attalus limonis Marshall

This species was described in 1951, from Tamaulipas, Mexico and has
been recently collected, by Dr. Mont A. Cazier, in Jim Wells County,
Texas. This locality is in southern Texas, less than 100 miles north of
Brownsville, across the Rio Grande from Tamaulipas, so that its occur¬
rence in our territory was rather to be expected. It will probably be
found in other collections, mixed with A. rufiventris Horn, which it
superficially resembles. It should be added to our lists.

Attalus bicolor Marshall

The unique male type of this species, recently described (1953), was

44

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

labeled merely “ Texas. ” Three females of the species, collected by Dr.
J. N. Knull at Corpus Christi, Texas, not only fix its locality more
definitely, but permit the designation and description of the allotype.

Female. Similar to the male, except as follows. Elytra rather strongly dilated
posteriorly ; antennae shorter and very feebly serrate ; head piceous black as far
forward as the center of the eyes; prothoracic discal spot forming a uniform central
stripe reaching from the apical almost to the basal margin; all the legs piceo-
testaceous, the posterior femora with a dorsal piceous stripe ; posterior margins of
abdominal segments narrowly pale ; apex of pygidium with the same small notch
seen in the male. The parts which are clear yellow in the male type are testaceous
to pieeotestaceous in the female, so that the contrast between these and the black
elytra is less pronounced and the specific name less appropriate. Length 2.5 mm.

Allotype, female, “Corpus Christi Lk., Tex., III-28-52. D. J. and
J. N. Ivnull collectors, ’ ’ in the collection of Ohio State University. Two
parallotypes, same data, except one collected III-17-52, one in the col¬
lection of Ohio State University and one in the author’s collection.

The parallotypes do not show any variation of consequence, except
that the dorsal pronotal stripe is wider than in the allotype.

Attalus mcclayi, new species
(Figure 7)

Male. Elongate oval, the elytra gradually and moderately widened posteriorly,
from just behind the humeri. Black, elytra faintly iridescent; entire prothorax,
inferior surface of first three antennal segments, under surface of head, mouth parts
(except palpi and mandibles), ventral surface, including coxae, trochanters and
anterior femora, testaceous ; antennae, tibiae, tarsi and center of metasternum
piceous; middle femora with the upper surface piceous, the lower surface testaceous;
posterior femora piceous, with the proximal ends testaceous. Head moderately
elongate, 1.2 times longer than wide, surface rather dull, faintly impressed between
the eyes, punctures not evident, pubescence fine, pale, sparse, a few erect black setae
on the tempora. Antennae moderately long, passing posterior border of prothorax by
three segments (from paratype; antennae defective in liolotype), feebly serrate and
finely pubescent. Prothorax subquadrate, 1.1 times wider than long, sides parallel,
the anterior margin slightly produced, all the angles broadly rounded, the posterior
slightly impressed; surface faintly shining, punctures and pubescence not evident,
numerous erect black setae scattered over entire surface. Elytra shining, surface
slightly rugulose, punctures dense, extremely minute, pubescence short, white, dense,
the erect setae numerous and evenly distributed. Ventral surface moderately shining,
punctures and pubescence about as on the elytra, very fine and dense. Legs long
and slender. Terminal abdominal segment consists of a pair of black, heavy hooklike
processes, round to oval in cross section, turned mediad at right angles at about the
center of their length and reach less than half the distance to the tip of the pygidium,
which is long narrow, strongly concave from side to side ventrally, with the apex
squarely truncate. (Fig. 7) The lobes of the second protarsal segments are elongate,
slightly spatulate, narrowly bordered with black and cover about two-thirds of the
third segments. Length 3.0 mm.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

45

Female. Similar to the male, except as follows. Slightly broader in proportion to
length; antennae more feebly serrate; entire metasternum and terminal sternite
piceous black, the latter evenly convex and hirsute ; pygidium rounded at the tip.
Length 3.5 mm.

Ilolotype, male and allotype, female, ‘ ‘ Glenwood, New Mexico, VI-22-
47. A. T. McClay, collector,” temporarily in the author’s collection,
but to be returned eventually to the University of California. Para-
tt pes in the author’s collection and in that of the University of
California.

Described from a series of nine specimens, two males, seven females,
all with the same data. The single male paratype shows no variation
worthy of note, but the abdomen has become so distorted in drying that
the structures are not visible. The lateral portions of the metasternum,
rather than the central portion, are piceous. The female paratypes are
likewise in rather poor condition. They differ from the allotype mainly
in showing more piceous coloration of the ventral surface. In all of
them the mesosternal side pieces are more or less piceous, as well as the
penultimate or fifth sternite and in some this coloration partially in¬
volves also the fourth sternite. The pronotum is uniformly testaceous
in all paratypes, as in the types, but in some the black head is faintly
visible through the translucent pronotum, giving a false impression of
a transverse apical spot.

The species superfically resembles Tanaops mimus Fall, but may be
distinguished at once by the generic characters in the male. In my 1951
key to the genus Attains, it runs to nig rip es Horn, to which it is most
nearly related, except that the abdomen is not entirely black in the
female. The male is easily separated from the same sex of A. nigripes
(Figure 8) by the heavy hooklike processes which make up the sixth
sternite and which, so far as my experience goes, are unique in the
family. These processes in the male of A. nigripes are pale yellow,
flattened and triangular in outline, with only the extreme tips slightly
directed mediad and the inner margin of each process slightly concave.
The male of nigripes also has the pygidium very broad at the base and
is almost semicircularly rounded, with a very small notch or emargina-
tion at the apex.

The species is named in honor of its discoverer, Mr. A. T. McClay, of
the University of California.

PSEUD ATTALUS Champion
Pseudattalus texensis, new species

Female. Ovoid, broadly widened posteriorly. Black, the head, antennae, prothorax,
anterior two pairs of coxae, trochanters and legs testaceous. Head small, slightly
narrower than the pronotum, 1.3 times wider than long, the occiput and labrum

46

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

piceotestaceous, front unimpressed, surface glabrous, shining, no pubescence visible
except on the labrum. Antennae 9 -segmented, not appreciably serrate, short, reaching
to about the posterior third of the pronotum, very finely pubescent. Pronotum trans¬
versely oval, 1.3 times wider than long, all the angles broadly rounded; surface shin¬
ing, glabrous, pubescence extremely fine and visible only in an oblique light. Elytra
strongly widened posteriorly, nine-tenths as wide as long, the apices separately
rounded, exposing the pygidium and a portion of the propygidium; surface shining,
the punctures extremely fine, rather sparse, pubescence a pale golden yellow, thin
but rather long and semierect, conspicuous when viewed obliquely; no erect black
setae present. Ventral surface piceous black, very finely and rather sparsely punc¬
tured and pubescent; terminal sternite broad, short, depressed in the center,
Pygidium much wider than long, the apex evenly rounded. Posterior tibiae slightly
arcuate, with a long, straight apical spur, which about reaches the end of the first
tarsal segment. The left tarsus in the liolotype is deformed (it has evidently been
broken off and an attempt made at regeneration) ; the spur is smaller than on the
right, but still plainly visible. Length 1.1 mm.

Male unknown.

Holotype, female, “ Hidalgo Co., Texas. III-26-54. D. J. and J. N.
Knnll, collectors,” in the collection of Ohio State University. One fe¬
male paratype, same data, except collected V-28-51, in the author s
collection.

The paratype shows no noteworthy variation from the type, except
that the front is faintly and transversely impressed and the pubescence
on the head just visible. The pygidium is slightly truncate at the apex
and the metasternal side pieces are piceotestaceous in color. The tibial
spurs are not visible, due to the way the insect is mounted.

The genus Pseudattalus has been previously reported from Guatemala,
Panama and Colombia. My collection contains one male and four fe¬
males of P. armatus Champion, from Vera Cruz, Mexico. The present
species agrees with P. armatus in the presence of the posterior tibial
spurs in the female, which are absent in the other two species, P . mini¬
mus Erichson and P. punetatus Gorham. These are all minute in¬
sects which strongly resemble our Attains granularis Erichson, but
which are separated at once by their 9-segmented antennae, a very rare
character in the Malachiidae. P. armatus differs from the present spe¬
cies in being uniformly black throughout.

The following distributional records are supplementary to those con¬
tained in Leng’s Catalogue (1920) and Supplements and Nos. Ill, IV
and V (1951, 1953, 1954) of the present series of Studies and Cham¬
pion’s paper (1914) on the Mexican Species.

Collops parvus Schffr., California; C. punetatus Lee., Chihuahua,
Mex. ; C. dux Fall, Nyarit, Mex. ; C. flavicinctus Fall, California, Utah ;
C. viftatus Say, Idaho, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, Mex.; C. punctu-
latus Lee., Guanajuato, Mex. ; 0. insulatus Lee., Chihuahua, Mex. ; C.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

47

texanus Schffr., Chihuahua and Sonora, Mex.; C. tibialis Schffr., Chi¬
huahua and Aguascalientes, Mex. ; G. balteatus Lee., Arkansas; C. blan-
dus Er., Nyarit and Colima, Mex., C. paradoxus Champ., Michoacan,
Mex.; Tanaops complex Fall, Chihuahua, Mex.; T. sierrae Marshall,
Idaho ; T. nunenmacheri Marshall, Idaho ; Antho comus biguttulus Horn,
New Mexico, North Dakota ; A. falli Marshall, Idaho ; Attains zebriacus
Blatch., Maryland ; A. rusticus Fall, Chihuahua, Mex. ; A. marginipennis
Blatch., Texas; A difficilis , Lee., Texas, Sinaloa, Mex.; A. nigripes Horn,
North Dakota, A. scincetus Say, D. F., Mex. ; A. dilutimargo Fall, Texas;
A. sappkirinus Gorh., Fla.

Literature Cited

Cazier, Mont A. 1954. A Review of the Mexican Tiger Beetles of the
Genus Cicindela. Bull. American Mus. of Nat. Hist., 10, (article
3) : 231-309.

Champion, G. C. 1914. Revision of the Mexican and Central American
Malachiidae and Melyridae. Trans. Entom. Soc. of London pp
13-127.

Fall, H. C. 1917. Short Studies in the Malachiidae. Trans. Amer. Ent.
Soc., 43:67-88.

Horn, G. H, 1872. Synopsis of the Malachiidae of the United States.

Trans. American Ent. Soc., 4 :109-127.

LeConte, J. L. 1852. Catalogue of the Melyrides of the United States.

Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 6 :163-171.

Leng, C. W. 1918. Notes on Some Changes in List of Coleoptera. Jour.
New York Ent. Soc., 26 :201-211.

1920. Catalogue of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico.
John D. Sherman, Jr., Mt. Yernon, N. Y.

Marshall, M. Y. 1946. Studies in the Malachiidae. Canadian Entom.
78:183-195.

1948. Studies in the Malachiidae II. Ent. America., 26, 4 :113-144.

1951. Studies in the Malachiidae III. Proc. California Acad, of
Sciences. (4th series), 27, 4:77-132.

1952. The Malachiidae of North Central Mexico. American Mus.
Novitates, No. 1584.

1953. Studies in the Malachiidae IV. American Midi. Nat., 49, 3 :
825-831.

19o4. Studies in the Malachiidae V. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 49,

3 :66-80.

48

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 3

Fig. 1. Pronotum of Collops bipunctatus (Say). Fig. 2. Pronotum of C. bipunc-
tatus australis n. subsp. Fig. 3. Head and first four antennal segments of Attalusinus
mexicanus n. sp., Male. Fig. 4. Head and first four antennal segments of Attalusinus
submarginatus (Lee.), male. Fig. 5. Pygidium of Attains scapularis n. sp., female.
Fig. 6. Pygidium of A. humeralis (Lee.), female. Fig. 7. Terminal sternite of
Attalus mcclayi n. sp., male. Fig. 8. Terminal sternite of Attains nigripes Horn,
male.

otO |\fdl-

■at

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume IX August, 1955 No. 4

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

The general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. John
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Gordon
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Yogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.

A NOTE ON THE GENUS DIPHOTUS BARBER 1941
(COLEOPTERA; LAMPYRIDAE.)

By Frank A. McDermott1

The genus Diphotus was established by the late Herbert S. Barber
(1941) for a series of lampyrids encountered in the Jamaican collec¬
tions of Dr. John B. Buck, giving as distinctive from Photinus:

“Sternites 6 and 7 not apparently luminous in either sex;
sternite 8 well developed and conspicuously the source of
light. ”

Diphotus bucki was named as the tj^pe species. In addition to the type
species, Barber described the following new species; D. flavomarginatus,

D. lucivolans , D. montanus, D. ornicollis, D. mutchleri, and D. semifus-
cus. He further found that Photinus unicus Mntchler (1923), P. glau-
cus (G. A. Olivier, 1790), and P. pantoni E. Olivier (1907) also belonged
in Diphotus. Since the above publication by Barber, an opportunity has
been provided through the courtesy of the entomologists of the Museum
Nationale de l’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, to examine a paratype of
Olivier’s Photinus pantoni which proved to be identical with Barber’s
Diphotus mutchleri, and the latter therefore becomes Diphotus pantoni
(E. Oliv.) The identification of Mntchler ’s Photinus unicus with Buck’s
specimens was marked as questionable by Barber ; the writer ’s exami¬
nation of specimens in the collection of the Institute of Jamaica leaves
him with no doubt of their identity. To the above species, Buck (1947)
added Diphotus dahlgreni, D . darlingtoni, and D. masti as new species.

A study of the original descriptions, and examinations of specimens
in the U. S. National Museum and the Museum of Comparative Zoology,
has shown that a number of other Antillean lampyrids previously de¬
scribed as Photinus are properly Diphotus ; these are shown on table I.

1Wilmington, Del. THf mm Of TH£

MNP? \m

49

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

Table I. — Additional Antillean Diphotus

SPECIFIC

NAME:

AUTHORITY:

LOCALITY:

REASON* 2 :

albicollis

Chevrolat (1858)

Cuba

M.C.Z.

apoplecticus

E. Olivier (1899)

Cuba

Description

cubanus

Leng & Mutchler (1922)

Cuba

U.S.N.M.

dubiosus

Leng & Mutchler (1922)

Puerto Rico

Description

infernus

E. Olivier (1912)

Martinique

U.S.N.M.

lengi

Mutchler (1923)

Haiti

Description

limbipennis

J. Duval (1857)

Cuba

U.S.N.M.3

lutzi

Leng & Mutchler (1922)

Dominica

Description

magnus

Mutchler (1923)

Cuba

M.C.Z.4

nanus

E. Olivier (1912)

Cuba

U.S.N.M.

nefarius

E. Olivier (1912)

Cuba

U.S.N.M. & M.C.Z.5

pygmaeus

E. Olivier (1899)

Cuba

M.C.Z.

quadrimaculatus

Castelnau (1840)

Hispaniola

U.S.N.M.6

simplex

E. Olivier (1912)

Dominica

U.S.N.M.7

singularis

Leng & Mutchler (1922)

Cuba

Description

sublateralis

Mutchler (1923)

Cuba

Description

triangularis

E. Olivier (1912)

Puerto Rico
Hispaniola ;

U.S.N.M.8

vittatus

G. A. Olivier (1790)

Puerto Rico

U.S.N.M.

vittiger

Gyllenhal (1817)

Martinique

U.S.N.M.8

-for placing in Diphotus. The descriptions frequently leave no question as to the

genus.

3Heterophotinus E. Olivier, 1907.

4Bears a superficial resemblance to our common Photinus pyralis.

°quadrinotatus by label on specimen in U.S.N.M.

6Has also small lateral pale spots on 7th sternite, possibly luminous organs.

7Mucli like specimens of Rabopus decorus (Klug) Mots., but smaller.

8Marked as Diphotus by H. S. Barber.

In addition to the above, a specimen labeled Photinus marginipennis
in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, is also
Diphotus; it does not answer the description of P. marginipennis by
Lucas (1857). It apears that species properly included in Diphotus are
rather widely distributed throughout the West Indies, and if the speci¬
men of P. marginipennis referred to above was collected in Brazil, Lucas’
locality, they may also be found in South America. The foregoing list
is therefore probably by no means complete, and collectors having speci¬
mens of “Photinus” from South America, and possibly also from Cen¬
tral America and Mexico, may find it desirable to examine them to de¬
termine if they really belong in that genus.

Barber’s rather brief characterization of Diphotus may be expanded

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

51

to give a differentiation from Pkotinus. The most obvious distinction
from Pkotinus is the presence of the luminous organs on sternite 8 only ;
none on sternite 6, and doubtfully on sternite 7 in one case, noted above.
In Diphotus the 7th sternite is frequently black; the mandibles tend to
be proportionately larger and the labial palpi smaller than in Pkotinus
species of corresponding body size. The characters are given in Table II.

Table

II. — Characters of Diphotus

AND Photinus

Luminous

organs

•

Diphotus

Lateral on 8th ab¬
dominal sternite in

both sexes.

Photinus

Usually the entire
ventral surfaces of
sternites 6 and 7
in the S ; median
on sternite 6 in the

9.

Antennae

Filiform, not com¬
pressed ; not more
than y2 total

length of insect.

like Diphotus.

•

Aedeagus

See Buck (1947)
for drawings and
description.

See Barber (1941)
for general descrip¬
tion.

Tibial spurs

Very small, fre¬
quently indistin¬

guishable from
hairs, or apparent¬
ly absent.

Pronounced ; pat¬
tern 0-2-2.

The majority of the species of Pkotinus have well-developed luminous
organs, which in the species that have been studied, are used in a specific
flashing signal system for the mating of the sexes, while in Diphotus
the luminosity consists of long steady glows; how species distinction is
recognized in the latter genus is unknown.

The question has been raised as to whether Diphotus is synonymous
with Motschulsky ’s Rabopus. Leng and Mutchler (1922, p. 436) put
what they believed to be Rabopus roseicollis Mots, in Lucidota as
L. decorus, because of the strongly serrate antennae. In the absence of
any possibility of examining Motschulsky ’s type at this time, and Leng
and Mutchler ’s placing of his Rabopus roseicollis in Lucidota , it seems

52

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

best to consider Barber’s Diphotus as valid, unless and until indis¬
putable evidence to the contrary can be adduced.

Incidentally, Leng and Mutchler’s name Photinus simplex for E.
Olivier’s P. vitiosus var. simplex, is preoccupied by P. simplex Gorham
(Biol. Cent. Amer., 1881, p. 42), but as the former species is here trans¬
ferred to Diphotus a new specific trivial name is not necessary.

Literature Cited

Barber, Herbert S. 1941. Proc. Rochester Acad. Sci., Vol. 8, pp. 1-13.
Buck, John B. 1947. Proc. U. S. National Museum, Vol. 97, No. 3210,
pp. 59-79.

Leng, C. W., and A. J. Mutchler. 1922. Bull. American Mus. Nat.

Hist., Vol. XLVI, Art, VIII, pp. 413-499.

Mutchler, A. J. 1923. American Mus. Novitates, No. 63.

Olivier, G. A. 1790. Entomologie, Vol. 2, p. 13; PI. 1, Fig. 4.
Olivier, E. 1907. Wytsman’s Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 53.

Olivier, E. 1910. Junk-Schenkling Coleopterorum Catalogus, Pars. 9.
Olivier, E. 1912. Lampyridae of the Antilles. Rev. Sci. Bourbonnaise,
Vol. 25, pp. 18-34.

ORR'S RECORDS OF BEETLES EATEN BY THE PALLID BAT

Many species of beetles and other insects have been recorded in literature deal¬
ing with the food of animals, birds, reptiles and fish. Most of these reports seem
to be unknown to systematic entomologists, though they are often well docu¬
mented and give ecological data and locality records.

Orr1 found remains of the following beetles (determined by E. C. Van Dyke)
beneath a pallid bat roost along San Juan Creek, 9 miles west of Simmler, San
Luis Obispo Co., Calif.: Polyphylla probably decimlineata, Romaleum simplici-
colle , Prionus calif ornieus , Eleodes acuticauda . He also cites records by others:
at Glendora, Los Angeles Co., Calif., Prionus calif ornieus, Ligyrus gibbosus
(by Mrs. Grinnell) ; at Mission San Antonio de Padua, Monterey Co., Calif.,
Polyphylla decimlineata (by Hatt) ; near Albuquerque, N. Mex., “large June
bugs, and one large ground beetle” (by Borell) ; at Indian Springs in southern
Nevada. Burt saw the bats “. . . frequently alighting on a lawn to capture June
beetles ( Polyphylla ) . . .”.

The bats must have come to the ground to get the flightless Eleodes ; indeed
heavy wingless Jerusalem crickets ( Stenopelmatus spp.) are a common food
for this species, which catches lizards too.

Hugh B. Leech, California Academy of Sciences

iORRi, Robert T. 1954. Natural history of the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus
(LeConte). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., (Ser. 4), Vol. 28 (No. 4) pp. 165-246, 28 text
figs. Published January 7, 1954. (Insects, pp. 231-232).

vi A; ' : v.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

53

ON SOME NEW GENERA OF NEARCTIC CHRYSOMELINAE

(CHRYSOMELIDAE)

By F. Monros1

Before a revision of the genus Calligrapha can be attempted, it is
necessary to restrict it to such a degree as to retain in it only those
species which agree with the genotype in the majority of their critical
characteristics. It is another problem, not dealt with here, to analyze
the relationships of Calligrapha and to define its generic differences, if
there are such, with the Zygogramma-Zygospila complex.

There is no satisfactory definition of Calligrapha and the comparison
of the critical species with the genotype, namely Calligrapha polyspila
Germar, from Southern Brazil and Eastern Argentina is still the most
I reliable way to elucidate their taxonomy. By this method, several well-
known North American “ Calligraphae” need to be removed from that
genus and to be placed in some other unrelated ones.

There will be probably some objections to changing a familiar name
such as Calligrapha similis, as listed in the catalogues and in most collec¬
tions, into an almost unknown one such as Bidensomela hidenticola.
The reason for taking some species out of Calligrapha and considering
them as belonging in independent genera is not, however, the fun of
creating names and making taxonomy more difficult, but the aim to
attain more homogeneous units and the better understanding of the rela¬
tionships of the insects studied.

An explanation of the fact that several Nearctic species were wrongly
placed in Calligrapha and are still in this genus, in spite of being fairly
common and well known may be the circumstances that most of the
older species of “Calligrapha” were described as Chrysomela olim.
When this last genus became restricted to a smaller unit, these species
were transferred to Calliagrapha merely because they are yellow with
dark markings, but they were not compared with the typical Cal¬
ligrapha of Central and South America ; thus, the meaning of the genus
Calligrapha became more and more confused by not keeping the danger
of misplacing genericly different species in mind.

It is to be noted that, while typical Calligrapha from Central and
South America feed on Malvaceae, most of the species approaching the
northern limits of the genus feed on quite unrelated plants. An ecologi¬
cal difference may thus be added to the purely morphological ones con¬
sidered in the present paper.

1 Fundacion Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

All the new genera here described present the following characters
and belong in the tribe Doryphorini :

Epipleurae ciliated at apex; anterior coxal cavities open behind; anterior pro-
sternal margin without oral prolongation; pronotum without swollen lateral margin;
claws simple and separated; antennae colored.

BIDENSOMELA new genus
(Figure 1, 2, 29, 30)

Type species : Chrysomela similis Rogers
Craneal sutures visible. Antennae somewhat dilated and pubescent from 7th seg¬
ment. Elytra with IOMj rows of punctures; rows 6 and 7 somewhat irregular in the
middle. Elytral pattern consisting of dark longitudinal bands on yellow ground.
Median lobe of male genitalia with a short spicula on each side and a short median
prolongation.

This genus seems rather closely allied to Calligrapha but may be dis¬
tinguished by the different type of male genitalia and elytral punctures
and pattern.

Its only known species feeds on Compositae and I consider it to con¬
sist of two subspecies as follows :

Discal elytral band only with lateral notch. From the North and West _

_ _ _ _ _ 1 _ ___B. bidenticola bidenticola

Discal elytral band including a yellow longitudinal one in space' between rows 4 and
5. From the South _ : _ _ _ B. bidenticola meridionalis

Bidensomela bidenticola subspecies bidenticola (Brown)

(Figure 1)

Chrysomela similis Rogers, 1854:35, pi. 1, f. 13; Suffrian, 1858:275, pi.

2, f. 13; Stal, 1865:258 (nec Muller, 1776).

Calligrapha similis Crotch, 1873:48, 49; Linell, 1896:198.

Polyspila similis Weise, 1916:43.

Polyspila similis v. intermedia Achard, 1923 :69.

Polyspila similis v. hilaris Achard, 1923 :69.

Calligrapha bidenticola Brown, 1945 :122.

Known from Canada and United States.

Bidensomela bidenticola meridionalis new subspecies

(Figure 2)

Differs from typical race in the elytral pattern which is of same color as head
and pronotum and with a longitudinal yellow band in space between rows 3 and 4,
as shown in figure.

Florida : Enterprise (holotype and 6 paratypes Hubbard & Schwarz
leg. in USNM and Monros), Crescent City (1 paratype in USNM). Less
typical specimens from Jacksonville and Capron (USNM). — Specimens
from Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and some ones from Virginia and
Maryland represent an intermediate form between the typical race and
the present one.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

55

COREOPSOMELA new genus

(Figures 3, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24)

Type species: Calligrapha elegans ssp. calif ornica Linell
Frontal suture obliterated, clypeal ones poorly marked. Mandibles moderately
projecting and little angular at external margin. Last segment of maxillary palpi
shorter and thinner than proceding one. Antennae somewhat dilated and pubescent
from 6th segment. Elytra with 10*4 well impressed rows of punctures, the 6th and
7th somewhat irregular. Without denticle between claws. Elytral pattern consisting
of black longitudinal stripes on yellow ground. Median lobe of male genitalia with¬
out lateral spiculae; its apex subtruncate and with a median prolongation.

This monobasic genus is found in Southern Canada and United States ;
its only species feeds on Compositae.

The combination of characters described distinguishes it from all
other known Chrysomelinae. From Calligrapha it may be separated
especially by the different type of male genitalia, the shape of the
mandibles, the obliterated frontal suture, the elytral punctures and
pattern and the general facies, as well as a different host. Although
I do not attempt to establish its relationships in the present paper, it
does not seem to be closely allied to Calliagrapha-Zygogramma complex.
Two geographic races may be distinguished, as follows:

Discal band of elytra entire or weekly notched. From the East _

- C. californica coreopsivora

Discal black band divided by an oblique yellow transversal one. Known only from Los
Angeles County, California - , - - - C. californica californica

Coreopsomela californica subspecies californica (Linell)

(Figure 4)

Calligrapha elegans ssp. californica Linell, 1896 :198.

Polyspila elegans ab. californica Weise, 1916 :39.

Coreopsomela californica ssp. coreopsivora (Brown)

(Figure 3)

Chrysomela elegans Olivier, 1807 :532, pi. 6, f . 92 ; Rogers, 1854 :35, Suf-
frian, 1858:276; Stal, 1865:259 (nec Gmelin, 1789).

Calligrapha elegans Crotch, 1873:48; Linell, 1896:198.

Polyspila elegans Weise, 1916:39.

Calligrapha californica coreopsivora Brown, 1945 :122.

ACALLIGRAPHA new genus

(Figures 5, 11, 20, 27, 28)

Type species : Chrysomela praecelsis Rogers.

Only clypeal sutures visible. Antennae somewhat dilated and pubescent from 7th

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

segment. Sides of pronotum subparallel, slightly constricted behind middle. Elytra
more convex than in allied genera, with lO1/^ well impressed rows, the space between
4 and 8 occupied by irregular punctures. Claws with a small denticle between them.
Elytral pattern consisting of longitudinal brown bands on yellow ground. Median
lobe of male genitalia without lateral spiculae and with a projecting median process.

This monobasic genus differs from Calligrapha especially by the shape
of the male genitalia and the elytral pattern and punctures as well as
the general facies.

Acalligrapha praecelsis (Rogers)

(Figure 5)

Chrysomela praecelsis Rogers, 1854:35, pi. 1, f. 14 — Suffriaan, 1858:276,
pi. 2, f. 14; Stal, 1865:259.

Calligrapha praecelsis Crotch, 1873:48; Linell, 1896:198; Brown, 1945:
123.

Polyspila praecelsis Weise, 1916:42.

Occurs in Canada and Central United States and Brown mentions it
on Convolvulaceae.

CALLIGRAMMA new genus
(Figures 6, 10, 19, 21, 31, 32)

Type species : Chrysomela cephalanti Schwarz.

Craneal sutures visible but not deep. Antennae somewhat dilated from 6th seg¬
ment, pubescent from 7th. Elytra with 10 regular and deep rows of punctures and
without shortened scutellar one. Without denticle between claws. Pattern consisting
of alternate brown and yellow bands. Male genitalia with a small spicula on each
side, obliquely directed backwards; its apex subacute.

Differs from Calligrapha in the elytral punctures and pattern and the
lack of scutellar row. From Zygogramma-Zygospila it may be distin¬
guished by the separate claws and from Desogramma by the absence of
denticle between the claws. From all the allied genera it is easily dis¬
tinguished by the absence of shortened scutellar row of punctures.

Calligramma cephalanti (Schwarz)

(Figure 6)

Chrysomela cephalanti Schwarz, 1878:366.

C alligrapha cephalanti Linell, 1896 :198.

Polyspila cephalanti Weise, 1916 :39.

Known only from Florida (Capron, Coral Gables, Homestead, Tampa).
Achard (1923) suggests that this species may represent nothing but
a minor variation of Bidensomela bidenticola, from which it differs,
however, in several important characters.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

57

GRAPHICALLO new genus
(Figures 7, 8, 9, 25, 26)

Type species : Chrysomela lunata Fabricius.

Craneal sutures visible. Antennae somewhat dilated and pubescent from 6th seg¬
ment. Elytra with 10% rows, of which 5 to 8 confused and irregular. Claws with¬
out denticle. Elytra! pattern consisting of dark longitudinal bands on yellow ground.
Median lobe of male genitalia with a median apical short projection and a short
spicula on each side at apex.

I base the present genus on the type species which seems closely allied
to Calli graph a but differs in the shape of the male genitalia and the
elytral punctures and pattern.

The species may be split in two geographical races, as follows :

Discal brown band of elytra with a single yellow inclussion immediately outside 4th
row; punctures between rows 9 and 4 completely irregular. Eastern subspecies _

0 |una|a |unafa

Discal brown pattern consisting of three more or less parallel longitudinal bands sepa¬
rated by yellow ones. Punctures, between rows 9 and 4 tending to be arranged
in rows. Northern and Western subspecies _ G. lunata hybrida

Graphicallo lunata subspecies lunata (Fabricius)

(Figure 7)

Chrysomela lunata Fabricius, 1787:69; Gmeliu, 1790:1677; Olivier,
1790:699; Fabricius, 1792:318; Fabricius, 1801:435; Olivier, 1807:
517, pi. 6, f. 75; Stal, 1865:260.

Chrysomela brunnea Thuuberg, 1787 :43, f. 7.

C alligrapha lunata Crotch, 1873:48; Linell, 1896:198.

Polyspila lunata Weise, 1916 :40.

C alligrapha lunata mediorupta Achard, 1923 :69.

Calligrapha lunata bowditchi Achard, 1923 :69, footnote.

Calligrapha lunata medionota Schaeffer, 1933 :478 (nomen nudum)

C alligrapha lunata lunata Brown, 1945 :122.

Graphicallo lunata subspecies hybrida (Say)

(Figure 9)

Chrysomela hybrida Say, 1825:449; Rogers, 1854:34, pi. 1, f. 11; Suf-
frian, 1858:272, pi. 2, f. 11.

Calligrapha lunata v. latevittata Achard, 1923:69.

Calligrapha lunata v. lativittis Schaeffer, 1933:478.

Calligrapha lunata hybrida Brown, 1945:122.

Short key to distinguish Calligrapha and allied genera

■I. Claws connate-
Claws separated

2

3

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

2. Elytral punctures regular _ _ _ Zygogramma Chevrofat

Elytral punctures irregular (like Calligrapha) _ _ _ Zygospila Achard

3. Elytra with scutellar row of punctures _ l _ _ _ 4

Elytra without scutellar row _ _ _ Calligramma new genus

4. Median lobe of male genitalia without lateral spiculae _ _ 5

Median lobe with lateral spiculae _ &

5. With denticle between the claws; elytra more convex than pronotum _

_ Acalligrapha new genus

Without denticle between the claws; elytral convexity follows pronotal one _

_ 1 _ , - Coreopsomela new genus

6. Median lobe acute at apex and without apical truncate projection _ _ _

_ Calligrapha Chevrolaf

Median lobe with an apical projection _ 7

7. Spiculae on apical projection _ Graphicallo new genus

Spiculae on sides of median lobe itself _ Bidensomela new genus

Figs. 14 to 17. Mouth parts of Coreopsomela calif ornica. Fig. 18.
Antenna of Coreopsomela calif ornica. Fig. 19. of Calligramma cepha-
lanti. Fig. 20. of Acalligrapha praecelsis. Fig. 21. Tarsi of second pair
of legs of Calligramma cephalanti. Fig. 22. of Coreopsomela calif ornica.
Figs. 23 to 24. Median lobe of male in Coreopsomela calif ornica, lateral
and superior. Figs. 25 and 26. Graphicallo lunata. Figs. 27 and 28.
Acalligrapha praecelsis, lateral and under side. Figs. 29 and 30. Bidenso¬
mela hidenticola. Figs. 31 and 32. Galligramma cephalanti. Figs. 33
and 34. Calligrapha polyspila.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

59

(For explanation of figures, see page 60)

60

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

Literature Cited

Acfiard, J. Fragments entomologiqnes.

Brown, W. J. Canadian Ent. LXXVII :117-133.

Crotch, G. R. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia XXV:19-83 (48-50).
Fabricius, J. Ch. 1787, Mantissa Insectornm 1.

1792, Ent. Syst. I.

1801, Syst, Elenth. I.

Gmelin, J. F. ed. IV (Linnaeus Syst. Nat.).

Linell, M. Ij. Journ. New York Ent, Soc. IV :195-200 (198-200).
Olivler, A. 1790. Encyel. Meth.

1807, Entom. V.

Rogers, AV. F. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia VIII :29-39 (31-35).
Say, Th. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia III.

Schaeffer, Ch. Journ. New York Ent. Soc. XLI :457, 480.

Schwarz, E. B. Proc. American Philos. Soc. XVII :353-469 (366-367).
Stal, C. Monogr. Chrysom. Amerique I-III :l-365.

Suffrian, F. Stett. Ent. Zeit. XIX:237-278 (253-266).

Thunrerg, C. P. Mus. Nat. Acad. Upsala IV :l-50.

Weise, J. (In Junk-Schenkling ) — Col. Cat. LXVIII :l-255 (38-44).

Fig. 1. Bidensomela bidenticola (Brown). Fig. 2. B. b. meridionalis
n. ssp., typical specimen from Enterprise (Florida). Fig. 3. Coreopso-
mela calif ornica coreopsivora (Brown). Fig. 4. C. c. calif ornica (Linell),
holotype in USNM. Fig. 5. Acalligrapha praecelsis (Rogers). Fig. 6.
Calligramma cephalanti (Schwarz), holotype in USNM. Fig. 7. Graphi-
callo lunata (Fabricius). Fig. 8. Another elytral pattern. Fig. 9. G.
lunata hybrida (Say). Fig. 10. Head and cephalic sutures in Calli¬
gramma cephalanti. Fig. 11. in Acalligrapha praecelsis. Fig. 12. in
Coreopsomela calif ornica. Fig. 13. in Calligrapha polyspila Germar,
type species of the genus Calligrapha.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

61

CURRENT LITERATURE

Edited by J. Gordon Edwards

General

Hatch, M. H. 1954. The broader implications of the development of ento¬
mology in the Pacific Northwest. (Mention of Coleopterists.) Proc. Ent. Soc.
British Columbia. 50:7-15. Hemming, F. 1954. Notice of proposed suspension
of the Rules in certain cases for the avoidance of confusion in the validation of
current nomenclatorial practice (A.,N.S., 18). Pan-Pac. Ent. 30(3) :179-80.
Swezey, O. H. 1954. Forest entomology in Hawaii — an annotated check-list
of the insect faunas of the various components of the Hawaiian forests. B. P.
Bishop Museum Spec. Publ. 44:1-266, 32 figs. Trissot, A. N. et al. 1954* A
brief history of entomology in Florida. (Mentions several Coleoptera special¬
ists.) Florida Ent. 37(2) :51-71. Richmond, H. A. 1954. Forest insect surveys.
Proc. Ent. Soc. British Columbia 50:28-30. Spencer, G. J. 1954. Two decades
of household pests in Vancouver, B. C. (A summary of inquiries.) Proc Ent
Soc. British Columbia 50:32-37, 1 chart. Weber, N. A. 1954. Insect fauna
of an Iraq oasis, The City of Baghdad. (Short paragraph on beetles.) Ent.
News 65(8) :203-206.

Anthribidae

Sleeper, E. L. 1954. New Rhynchophora, I. (Gymnognathus, Ischnocerus,
Stenocorus, & Ormiscus.) Ohio Jour. Sci. 54(2) :117-25, 7 figs.

Buprestidae

Cobos, A. 1953. Revision de las Ectinogonia Spinola s. str. (key to spp. on
51-54.) R^ev. Chiliena Hist. Nat. 3:41-68, 4 figs., 1 pi., 1 map. Davis, J. J. 1954.
Insects of Indiana in 1953. (Economic status of some Agrilus & Chrysobothris.)
Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:152-56. Heifer, J. 1954. A new Hippomelas from
California. Pan-Pac. Ent. 30(2) :117-18. Knull, J. N. 1954. Five new species
of Buprestidae. (Acmaeodera, Agrilus, Chrysobothris, & Taphrocerus.) Ohio
Jour. Sci. 54(1) :27-30, 12 figs. Olave, O. 1953. Una nueva especie Chilena de
Buprestidae, Curis (Cylindrophora) iricolor n. sp. Rev. Chiliena Hist. Nat.

3: p. 22. Olave, O. 1953a. Buprestis novemmaculata L. en Chile. Rev. Chiliena
Hist. Nat. 3:74.

Cantharidae

Fender, K. M. 1954. On some Malthodes. (no keys) Pan-Pac. Ent. 30(2)-
131-32. v ' *

Cerambycidae

Cerda, G-. 1953. Cerambicido de Europa colectado en Chile. Rev. Chiliena
Hist. Nat. 3: p. 116. Cerda, G. 1953a. Nuevos Cerambicidos chilenos. (no
keys.) Rev. Chiliena Hist. Nat. 3:135-39. Cerda, G. 1953b. Contribucion al
estudio de los Cerambicidos chilenos. Rev. Chiliena Hist. Nat. 3:180-81. Leech,
H. B. 1954. Leptidiella brevipennis (Mulsant) reared from Tovon. Pan-Pac'
Ent. 30(2) :p. 158.

Chrysomelidae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana in 1953. (Economic status of some
Ceratoma, Chaetocnema, Epitrix, & Galerucella.) Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:
152-56. Gould, G. E. 1954. Is the potato flea-beetle becoming resistant to

62

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

DDT ? Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:143 (abstract). Monros, F. 1953. Revision
sistematica de las Clytrinae de la Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay, & Chile, (keys to
tribes, genera, spp., & subspp.) Acta Zool. Lilloana 14:5-2^4, 404 figs. Monros,
F. 1954. Notes and synonyms in Chrysomelidae. (10 genera.) Proc. Ent. Soc.
Wash. 56(1) :23-26, 3 figs. Monros, F. 1954. Megalopus jacobyi, nueva plaga
de Solanaceae en el nor-oeste Argentino, con notas sobre biologia y taxonomia
de Megalopinae. (no keys.) Rev. Agron. Noroeste Argentino 1(2) :167-79,
18 figs.

Coccinellidae

Tissot, A. N. et al. 1954. A brief history of the introduction of Crypto-
laemus montrouzieri in Florida. Florida Ent. 37(2) :54, 69.

Curculionidae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana in 1953. (economic status of Brachy-
rhinus ovatus, Hypera punctata, & Lixus concavus) Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci.
63:152-56. Pereira Filho, T. 1954. Fauna do Distrito Federal. XI: Sobre a
genitalia de Entimus imperialis (Forster 1771). Rev. Brasileira Biol. 14(3):
263-67, 12 figs. Rings, R. W. 1954. Comparative effectiveness of five radio¬
isotopes in studying dispersal of Conotrachelus nenuphar. Ohio Jour. Sci.
54(4) :231-36, 1 fig. Sleeper, E. L. 1954. New Rhynchophora. I. (Myrmex,
6 spp., Neotylopterous, 1 n. sp., & Thysanocnemis, 2 n spp.) Ohio Jour. Sci.
54(2) :117-25, 7 figs. Sleeper, E. L. 1954a, New Rhynchophora. II. (1 n. sp.
of : Anchonus, Centrinogyna, Conotrachelus, Erethistes, Eulechriops, Gerstaeck-
eria, Paracamptus, Pentarthrinus, Pseudacamptus, Rhyssematus, & Smicraulax,
and 2 n. spp. of Trichobaris) Ohio Jour. Sci. 54(3) :180-86, 6 figs. Vaurie, P.
1954. New spp. of Calendra from Mexico, with notes on others. (2 n. spp.)
American Mus. Nov. No. 1681, pp 1-8.

Dermestidae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana in 1953. (Economic status of Attagenus
piceus) Proc, Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:152-56.

Elateridae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana for 1953. (Economic status) Proc.
Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:152-56. Dobrovsky, T. M. 1954. Laboratory observa¬
tions on Conoderus vagus Candeze. (Biological) Florida Ent. 37(3) :123-31.

Elmidae

Chandler, H. P. 1954. New genera and species of Elmidae from California.
(Atractelmis, Optioservus, & Rhiselmis) Pan-Pac. Ent. 30(2) :125-31, 3 figs.
Sanderson, M. W. 1954. A revision of the Nearctic genera of Elmidae (ConPd
from Jour. Kans. Ent. Soc. vol 26). (no keys in this part). Jour Kansas Ent.
Soc. 27(1) :1-13, 19 figs., 1 pi.

Hydrophilidae

Travassos, L. 1954. Contribuigao para o conhecimento dos Nematodeos para-
sitos de Coleopteros aquaticos. (especially the parasites of Hydrophilus ater)
Rev. Brasileira Biol. 14(2) :143-51, 6 figs.

Meloidae

Selander, R. B. 1954. Notes on Mexican Meloidae. (host plant records for
35 spp., key to 2 spp. of Linsleya on p. 89) Jour. Kansas Ent. Soc. 27(3):
84-97, 14 figs., 1 pi.

J955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

63

Melyridae

Moore, I. 1954. Notes on Endeodes LeConte, with a description of a new
species from Baja California, (key on p. 196). Pan-Pac. Ent. 30(3) :195-98,
no figs. Wittmer, W. 1954. Malacodermata Neotropicales ; Contribucian a su
conocimiento. (synonymical notes on some Silisogaster, Polemius, Lentieornis,
Sills, Tucumaniusm, & Attalus). Neotropica 1:29-31.

Paussidae

Pallister, J. C. 1954. Homopterns hondurensis Darlington from Yucatan
Mexico. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(1) :27-28.

Pselaphidae

Borgmeir, O. F. M. 1954. Zur Ivenntniss der termitophilen Pselaphiden Bra-
siliens. (genera Syrmocerus, Hamotocellus, Hamotus, Apharus, Termitotyrus
n. gen., & Neotyrus) Rev. Brasileira Biol. 14(2) :201-14, 39 figs., 10 refs. Park,
0. 1954. The Pselaphidae of South Bimini Island, Bahamas, British West
Indies, (keys to all spp,;7 n. spp., 3 n. genn.) American Mus. Nov. No. 1674,
pp. 1-25, 22 figs. Scarabaeidae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana in 1953. (economic status of Popillia
japonica). Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:152-56. Howden, H. F. 1954. A review
of the genus Podolasia Harold, (key to males on pp. 3-4*, 4 n. spp.) American
Mus. Nov. No. 1661, pp. 1-11, 15 figs. Martinez, A. 1953. Nuevas especies de
Oogenius Solier. (Keys to spp. of subgenera). Rev. Chiliena Hist. Nat. 3:75-
86, 11 figs. Martinez, A. 1954. Scarabaeoidea Neotropica, I. (Vulcania &
Pseudepilissus as n. names for Oxyligyrus politus & 2 spp. of Canthon) Neo-
tropia 1.27-28, Pereira, F. S. 1953. Notas sinonimicas. (Synonyms of a great
many genera & spp.; key to 2 spp. Peltecanthon on p. 399)^Dusenia 4:387-402
12 figs. Pereira, Pe. T. S. 1954. A new myrmeaophilous scarabaeid beetle
from the Philippine Islands with a review of Haroldius. Psyche 61(1) :l-8,
1° figs. Polivka, J. B. 1954. The seasonal behavior of the Japanese Beetle
in Ohio. Ohio Jour. Sci. 54(1) :59-2. Vaurie, P. 1954. New Synonymy in
Diplotaxis. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(2) :49-54.

Scolytidae

Davis, J. J. 1954. Insects of Indiana in 1953. (economic status of Hylastinus
obscura) Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 63:152-56. Smith, R. H. & F. Mergen, 1954.

A bark beetle attacking scions of grafted slash pines. Jour. Forestry 52(11) :
864-6o.

with the brood care and brood rearing
instinct of beetles should be of particular
interest to anyone concerned with the
habits and biology of Coleoptera. The
scope of the book is world wide, sum¬
marizing much of the literature on the
habits of Coleoptera. Scolytidae, leaf¬
rolling weevils, some Cerambycidae and
many of the Scarbaeidae are dealt with
at length, with diagrams and pictures of
the larvae and brood cells serving as an
excellent supplement to the text.

(H. F. Howden)

Review

BRUTFURSORGE — UND BRUT-
PFLEGEINSTINKTE DER KAFER

Yon Lengerken, Hanns. 1954. Second
edition. 383 pp, 241 illustrations. Pub¬
lished by Akad. Verlagsgesellschaft Geest
& Portig. K.-G., Leipzig Cl, Sternwarten-
strasse 8, Germany. Price DM 29.

Professor von Lengerken ’s comprehen¬
sive and well illustrated work dealing

64

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 4

THE SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH
STATION OF THE AMERICAN
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The American Museum of Natural His¬
tory lias . announced the establishment of
The Southwestern Research Station. It
is located on the eastern slope of the
Chiricahua Mountains, near Portal, Co¬
chise County, in southeastern. Arizona.
The property is within, .theyrlimi-ts. of 'the .
Coronado National Forest at an elevation
of 5400 feet. r *yn&‘

The station was established for the'
purpose of making, available Research
facilities for scientists ajid^stuckints -in
all branches of science, vvli(fc have- ‘prob-‘
lems that can be investigated through
the utilization of the faunal, floral and
geological features of the area. It will
be open during the entire year.

It is operated by the American Muse¬
um of Natural History, Central Park
West at 79th Street, New York 24, New
York and under the direction of Dr.
Mont A. Cazier, Chairman and Curator
of the Department of Insects and
Spiders, to whom all inquiries should be
addressed. Anyone interested in the sta¬
tion should write to the above named
individual for the booklet which gives
the details of the operation and a general
description of the area. (M. A. Cazier)

News

This summer the Canadian Depart¬
ment of Agriculture, Division of Ento
mology at Ottawa, will send out person
nel to collect insects in the following lo¬
calities: Southern California (4 man

party), Baffin Island (2 men), Atlin
Lake in northernmost British Columbia
(2 men), Vancouver Island (3 men in¬
cluding W. J. Brown), British Columbia
(S. L. Wood will study bark beetles),
Missouri (E. C. Becker, who will collect
beetles for several weeks).

(W. J. Brown)

E. J. Ford, Jr., of Honolulu, is pro¬
gressing in his work on Anobiidae. He
now has perhaps the largest collection of
Coleoptera from Oahu and has recently
given his non-Hawraiian collection to the
Bernice P. Bishop Museum. The museum
received a gift of 28,000 beetles from
Dr. J. L. Gressitt, who is also giving
half of the T. C. Maa Chinese collection
to the Bishop Museum and half to the
California Academy of Sciences.

(J. L. Gressitt)
Dr. Milton W. Sanderson, Illinois
Natural History Survey, writes that he is
at present working on the Phyllophaga
occurring in Mexico and thb .Neotropics.

(H. F. Howden)
Dr. Floyd Werner, University of Ari¬
zona, has kindly offered to furnish in¬
formation on good collecting sites to
anyone making a trip to Arizona. The
university staff will have information on
the localities where it has rained, what
plants are blooming, etc., and should be
able to direct the collector to a likely
location. (H. F. Howden)

Mr. Frank Parker and D. K. Dun¬
can are working on an annotated list of
the Buprestidae of Arizona for publica¬
tion by the university. This is intended
to be the first of a series. (F. Werner)
Dr. Melville H. Hatch, University of
Washington, recently left Seattle with
Mrs. Hatch on a 3-month entomological
trip. After a few days in the San Fran¬
cisco area and in southern California,
they will visit southern Florida, then
the museums in Philadelphia. Washing¬
ton, New York, Boston and Rochester.
On the return trip they will visit ento¬
mological collections in Canada, especially
the Canadian National Collection in To¬
ronto. The primary purpose of the trip
is to enable Dr. Hatch to check on
types of Staphylinidae and related
families, preparatory to the completion
of Part II of his series 11 Beetles of the
Pacific Northwest.”

(J. Gordon Edwards)

/vs .C UBMRY OF THE

>t(b

r-T

W1AK Jl3 1^6

McdT' liuS ■

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

UMiVkubih Of iLLUtUJo

Coleopf erists’ Bulletin

Volume IX

October, 1955

No. 5

SAlNTUl'S 'vitb februa,T by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,

FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription- $4 00 per
Jear, bdh domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

fTii ?eneraj policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Bio” gy St John
Fisher College, Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr J. Go ion
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg Insect Control
and Rmrch, In<t-i Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
b^Rosf^’ ArnettIrjrGe°rge B' ^ °gt’ Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited

THE PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF ATRACTOCERUS Palis.

By Edwin W. King1- 2

The genus Atractocerus was described in 1802 by Palisot de Beauvois,
and at present contains approximately a dozen species, distributed
, throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The species
! have long been recognized by many workers as being a bizarre, unortho¬
dox coleopterous type — Lacordaire, in 1857, expressed well the doubt
that has existed concerning them when he wrote “Ces insectes ont plutot
les facies de certaines Nevropteres que des Coleopteres. ” But he does
not elaborate, and a succession of workers (Paulian, Boving and Craig¬
head, Sharp and Muir, Forbes, Woodworth, Redtenbacher, and Barber)
have all placed the genus in the family Lymexylonidae, sometimes with
some reservations. It is the purpose of the present paper to re-examine,
with special reference to the wing venation and female genitalia, the
relationships of this genus to those with which it has been most commonly
associated: Hylecoetus, Melittomma (Lymexylon) , and T elegeusis.

The genus Atractocerus (fig. 1) may be briefly characterized as fol¬
lows : head round, eyes holoptic or nearly so ; antennae fusiform ; maxil¬
lary palpi with short flabellate processes, the galea and lacinia reduced
to short stubs; labium with mentum and submentum elongate, extending
between the bases of the maxillae so that the latter lie outside of the
mouth cavity; prosternum with only a narrow strap of scleritization
anterior to the coxal cavities, the remainder membranous ; anterior
trochantins large ; tarsi pentamerous, elongate, and simple ; elytra greatly

1Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.

-The writer wishes to acknowledge with thanks the assistance of the following
individuals and institutions for specimens and criticism: Dr. W. H. Anderson, of the

TSNM, The Chicago Museum of Natural History, and the staff of the Illinois Natural
History Survey.

65

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

reduced; hind wings not shortened by folding, their venation with no
recnrrents and only one crossvein; abdomen with seven visible ventral
segments, eight dorsal; male genitalia with lateral lobes forming vari¬
ously shaped antler-like processes; female genitalia with coxites large
valvifers reduced.

In the past the assumption has been made that Atractocerus was a
bizarre relative of that group of genera which have made up the Lymexy-
lonidae and Telegeusidae. Evidence in favor of this view is at best rather
indecisive, and evidence contrary to it may have gone somewhat unap¬
preciated. The hypothesis set up here is this : In the course of evolution
from some megalopterous type the ancestors of the order Coleoptera lost
certain veins of the hind wing, transformed the front wings into elytra,
and acquired the power to fold the hind wings in the complex folding
patterns common today among beetles. The hypothetically ancestral
structures of both larva and adult assumed features which may be and
have been deduced from existing forms. However, it is most unlikely
that all these changes occurred simultaneously, or were ever all present
at one time in a given species. If a form diverged early from the beetle
line, before all the basic features of the Coleoptera had become estab¬
lished, one would expect of it three things : a) that it should retain some
features of its pre-coleopterous ancestor not shared by other beetles; b)
that it should have developed specializations of its own not shared by
other beetles; and c) that it should develop certain features in parallel
with other beetles when it is exposed to the same selection pressures as
they. Atractocerus appears to be such a form.

The Hind Wing

Forbes (1922, ’26), in his excellent papers on coleopterous venation
and wing folding, notes the fact that the wing of Atractocerus lacks any
transverse folding and that the venation is extremely simple. He regards
both conditions as specialized from a more typical coleopterous wing.
It seems possible that these facts may have a different explanation, and
lead to a different conclusion.

One obviously must begin by working out as accurately as possible the
homologies of the veins. The wing venation of Atractocerus sp. is shown
in figure 2a ; the enlarged base of the wing in figure 2b. Costa, Subcosta,
and Radius present no particular problems. Costa lies in the wing mar¬
gin and is distinguishable only at its base. Subcosta, as in other insects,
articulates with the apex of the elongate first axillary sclerite (I).
Radius, in the Coleoptera, is the first strong longitudinal vein, and the
position, convexity, and basal articulation to the second axillary sclerite
(II) all indicate that the vein here labeled R may safely be called Radius.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

67

In the wings of insects in general, Media and Cubitus arise not directly
from a primary basal sclerite but from the median plate (m), a
sclerotized area distal to the axillaries. The median plate is divided by
the base of the cubital furrow, which, when extended into the wing
proper, marks with great consistency the separation between the anal
and cubital veins. This fold can be traced without difficulty through the
median plate in the wing of Atractocerus, and divides the plate into a
proximal part (m) and a distal part (nT). However, the fold does not
extend far into the wing membrane. Plate m' in Atractocerus is in turn
weakened and divided by a membranous area. The vein lying posterior
to Radius extends to the base of the wing, and there unites with the
anterior part of m\ It cannot, therefore, be the Radial sector, and must
be either Media or Cubitus. If it is Cubitus then the next posterior vein,
which arises from another part of nT, has three convex branches, and lies
entirely anterior to the cubital furrow, must be the 1st Anal of Comstock
and Needham. In that case one is forced to acknowledge a three-branched
1st Anal and the complete disappearance of Media. An hypothesis which
more satisfactorily fits the facts is that the three-branched vein is Cui
+ 1st A. In support of this interpretation, the following points may be
noted. (1) Cubitus, as well as Media, often articulates with the median
plate, as does this vein. (2) Cui is strongly convex, and its branches,
when they occur, are also convex. (3) In other Coleoptera (i.e. Cupes,
fig. 3a, b) and also in at least a few Megaloptera (Corydalis) , 1st A is
associated at its base with the median plate, rather than with the third
axillary as are the other anals. Its fusion basally with the base of Cubitus
is not difficult to visualize. (4) 1st A is a convex vein; all three branches
of the vein in question are strongly convex. (5) Cu2 (1st A in Forbes’
nomenclature) is a notoriously weak vein in all insects. It lies in the
bottom of the cubital furrow and disappears often in several orders,
including many Coleoptera. (6) The remaining veins of the wing are all
concave, all lie distinctly behind the cubital furrow, and all are associated
with the third axillary; conditions which seem to mark them as the
second and following anals. Unless 1st A forms a branch of the three-
branched vein, 1st A is unaccounted for, and the vein here called 1st A
does not disappear often. At this point one is forced to assume that 1st
A crossed the cubital furrow and united basally with Cui, probably after
the atrophy of Cu2.

The second branch of the three-branched vein is distinctly convex, and
lies well away from the cubital furrow. Hence it seems unlikely that it
is Cu2, and it must, of necessity, be a second branch of Cui — Cuib.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

Interpretation of the remainder of the wing is not difficult. The jugal
fold is well defined, and between it and the cubital furrow are two con¬
cave veins. There is no reason to doubt their homology with the veins
occupying the same region in wings of other Coleoptera. The vein
here called 2nd A is the 3rd A of Forbes; normally two-branched, but
in this wing reduced to a single vein. 3rd A in fig. 2a may then be
considered Forbes’ 4th A. The above interpretation is almost identical
to that of Redtenbacher, who came to it without the use of basal
sclerites in 1896.

The features of such a venation seem to point to an exceedingly remote
ancestry for this genus. Forbes notes, and it has been observed by others,
that there is no vein in the Coleoptera which could be considered
(Cuib in the terminology used here). If this interpretation is correct,
Cuib has been retained in Atractocerus.

The lack of crossveins ( Atractocerus has only one) also seems to indi¬
cate considerable divergence. One would expect the loss of the radial
crossvein with the loss of the radial sector, but the loss of the m-cu cross¬
veins and cu-a is less easy to explain if Atractocerus is to be considered
close to other forms.

In a recent (1952) paper on the affinities of Telegeusis, H. S. Barber
stresses the close relationship of that genus to Atractocerus. The females
of Telegeusis are unknown ; the wing of T. debilis is illustrated in figure
4. To quote from Barber : ‘ ‘ The modified alar venation of Atractocerus
and Telegeusis appear comparable and derived from the primitive vena¬
tion of Lymexylon, the differences between the first two being such as
are necessary for the swift and powerful flight of Atractocerus in con¬
trast with that of the feeble Sonoran form.” The venation of Telegeusis
could indeed have been derived as Barber suggests. However, Atracto¬
cerus must have been derived not from Melittomma ( Lymexylon ) which
has lost Culb (fig. 5), but from some ancestor of Melittomina ■ which did
possess this vein. The wing of Telegeusis is a typical Polyphagous type,
with somewhat reduced venation and quite orthodox folding.

As has been mentioned, the wing of Atractocerus lacks any sign of
transverse folding. This fact in itself is somewhat remarkable. Wings
which have secondarily lost their folding, such as Necydalis , still retain
the interrupted venation of a previously-folded wing. The veins of
Atractocerus , excepting the r-m crossvein which is crossed by a longi¬
tudinal fold, show no weakening whatever. They are spaced in such a
way that folding of the tip of the wing, even in the manner of the
Serricornia, is impossible. This evidence alone seems sufficient to suggest
that the ancestors of this genus never did fold their wings as did prac¬
tically all other beetles.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

69

To summarize, the evidence drawn from the wings rests on: (1) the
retention of Cuib, (2) the lack of crossveins in the Cubital and Anal
fields, (3) the absence of interruptions in the tips of the longitudinal
veins, and (4) the absence of transverse folding.

The Female Genitalia

In 1927 Tanner reviewed in some detail the anatomy of the female
genitalia in 66 families of beetles. He notes a difference between the
“compact” Adephagous type and the “elongate” Polyhagous form.
Tanner ’s conclusions on phylogeny, insofar as they are pertinent to the
present problem, are summarized briefly below:

1. The coleopterous female genitalia consist of parts which may be
homologized with little difficulty within the order.

2- The Caraboidea (i.e. the Adephaga exclusive of the Gyrinidae) are
“a very primitive group,” since there may be found in the Caraboidea
all the parts present in any Polyphagous species.

3. The Caraboid genitalia are compact and complex, with broad,
sclerotized coxites, sternites and valvifers, while the Polyphagous fami¬
lies are characterized by their narrow, comparatively membraneous
genitalia with all sclerites reduced.

No idence is offered, nor does Tanner claim, that his series Cara¬
boidea were themselves ancestral to the Polyphaga. However, the im¬
plication is made that because all parts of the genitalia are present
and recognizable in the Caraboid type the ancestral form must have
been of that type. The figures of Caraboid genitalia given by Tanner
shov far greater complexity than do those of the more simple, elongate
Polyphaga; and Tanner notes this, apparently without being impressed
with the possibility of another point of view.

It is suggested that if the earliest female Coleoptera possessed genitalia
with all the structures of Tanner’s Caraboid type, but possessed them in
a simple, unmodified condition, then that form could have diverged on
the one hand to give rise to the complex, compact type now seen°in the
Adephaga, and on the other hand to produce the elongate form with its
reduced sclerotization which is prevalent among the Polyphaga.

Such an ancestral form may have resembled Brathinus (fig. 6), which
is redrawn from Tanner and appears to represent a very simple type.
Genitalia of Atraciocerus were not illustrated by Tanner, but he does
figure those of Hylecoetus, a primitive Polyphagous type, redrawn in
fig. 7. The genitalia of A. brasiliensis (fig. 8), resemble those of Hyle¬
coetus more closely than they do those of any other species figured by
Tanner. Differences between the two are readily apparent, but most

70

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

Fig. 1. Atractocerus sp. Female. Fig. 2a. Atractocerus sp. Wing. Fig. 2b. Atracto-
verus sp. Wingbase I>JI, III, Axillary sclerites; m, m', median plate. Fig. 3a. Cupes
concolor. Wing base. Fig. 3b. Cupes concolor. Wing. Abbreviations as in 2b. Fig.
4. Teleguesis delilis. Wing. Fig. 5. Melittomuia sericeum. Wing. Fig. 6. Brathinus

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

71

significant is the retention of the elongate, sclerotized proctiger by
Atractocerus. The proctiger of Hylecoetus is reduced to a small button.
^ sio large in Hylecoetus and Brathinus / small in Atractocerus.

It seems reasonable to suggest that both Atractocerus and Hylecoetus
must have come from an ancestor in which both proctiger and valvifers
were well-developed. Atractocerus then apparently reduced the valvifers
and retained unchanged the elongate proctiger, which Hylecoetus re¬
tained elongate valvifers and reduced the proctiger. On the basis of this
character the two forms appear to be not closely related.

The Male Genitalia

Little can be deduced from the male genitalia that assists in the present
problem. Sharp and Muir (1912) note that the two species of Atracto¬
cerus they studied ‘ ‘ differ from one another and do not approach to any
of the trilobe forms.” In this they are certainly quite correct. There
seem to be no significant similarities between the genus in question and
its putative relatives when the male genitalia are considered.

The Maxillae

One of the features which appears to unite Atractocerus , Melittomma,
Hylecoetus, and Telegeusis in a single superfamily is the fact that each
genus possesses highly modified, flabellate maxillae. Maxillae of the first
three of the above genera are illustrated in figures 9-11 respectively.
Their similarity lies in the Y-shaped structure which arises from the
third segment of the palpus. The maxilla of Telegeusis does not show
the thumblike process common to the other three. Hylecoetus and Melit¬
tomma have four distinct palpal segments ; Atractocerus three indistinct
ones. Of the three genera, Atractocerus shows the greatest divergence
from what might be called an “ orthodox” maxilla. This is not incon¬
sistent with the idea that it departed from the main line of beetle an¬
cestry at an earlier date than the other two genera. Under this view, the
similarity of the maxillary process is a parallelism.

Larvae

The larva of Atractocerus appears neither to support nor refute the
hypothesis here presented. It is a woodborer, with the general features
of the Polyphaga, and while it is readily separable from the other genera
under consideration, there seem to be few characters of phylogenetic
significance. Barber notes similarities between Atractocerus and

sp. Female genitalia, redrawn from Tanner. C, coxite; P, proctiger; PP, paraproct;

S, sternite; St, stylus; Yf, valvifer. Fig. 7. Hylecoetus sp. Female genitalia, redrawn
from Tanner. Abbreviations as in 6. Fig. 8. Atractocerus brasiliensis. Female geni¬
talia. Abbreviations as in 6. - ’ ' r

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

Lymexylon, but it is difficult to say whether they indicate a truly close
relationship or parallelism in response to the lignivorous habit.

Fig. 9. Atractocerus sp. Maxilla. Fig. 10. Melittomma sericeum. Maxilla. Fig.
11. Hylecoetus sp. Maxilla.

The larval leg has a single claw. The megalopterous ancestor of the
Coleoptera very probably had a two-clawed larval leg, as most of the
Adephaga larvae do today. The Polyphaga as a group have only one claw,
but before Atractocerus is placed with the other polyphagous families on
this evidence alone, it should be remembered that the tendency to reduce
two larval claws to one is not unknown in other holometabolous groups,
notably the Hymenoptera. Such reduction has occurred at least once in
the Hymenoptera, and at least once in the Polyphaga. It is not beyond
the bounds of possibility that it has taken place independently in this
genus.

Conclusions

On the evidence of wing folding, venation, and genitalia the point of
view appears tenable that the ancestor of the genus Atractocerus di¬
verged from that of the remainder of the Coleoptera after the develop¬
ment of elytra and before the formation of the usually accepted sub¬
orders. In doing so it (1) retained certain venational features, (2)
failed to develop wing folding, (3) acquired individual and independent
structures of the genitalia, and (4) developed some features of the
maxilla and larva in parallel with those of its closest relatives among the

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

73

primitive Polyphaga. The phytogeny here expressed is diagrammed in
figure 12.

The designation of the species of this genus as the family Atracto-
ceridae, as has been done in the past, appears quite justifiable. Their
relationship to the suborders Adephaga, Archostemata, Polyphaga, and
Strepsiptera seems to be best shown in designating the genus and family
as the new suborder APLICALAE, or Coleoptera in which the wings
have remained primitively without transverse folding, and possess the
other features already discussed.

OTHER POLYPHAGA

Fig. 12. Relationship of Atractocerus to the Megaloptera-Coleoptera Stem and to
the major divisions of the Coleoptera.

74

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

References

Palisot de Beauvois, A. M. F. J. 1802. Mem. N. Gen. Ins., 4.

Forbes, W. T. M. 1922. The Wing Venation of Coleoptera. Ann. Ent.
Soc. America. 15 :328-351.

1926. The Wing Folding patterns in the Coleoptera. Jonr. New
York Ent. Soc. 34 :42-68 ; 34 :92-139.

Lacordaire, M. T. 1857. Hist. Nat. des Insects. 4:501.

Redtenbacher, J. 1896. Vergl. St. uber das Flngelgeader der Ins. Ann.

des K. K. Naturh. Hofm. Wein. 1 :209-221.

Sharp, D. and F. Muir. 1912. The Comparative Anatomy of the Male
Genital Tube in Coleoptera. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, pp. 477-642.
Tanner, V. M. 1927. A Preliminary Study of the Genitalia of Female
Coleoptera. Trans. American Ent. Soc. 53 :5-50.

UNUSUAL ABUNDANCE OF SANDALUS IN SOUTHERN INDIANA

In September, 1954, a Sandalus, tentatively determined as niger Knoch, was
found in some numbers in the dry woodlands in the Scott ’s Pond area near Blooming¬
ton, Monroe County, Indiana. Males were observed on the morning of September 25
flying at heights of 4 to 15 feet, but no females were taken in flight. The buzzing
of several males attracted our attention to a large female together with two males
resting about 12 feet above the ground, on the trunk of a small hickory. Other
males were seen to veer in flight and approach this group. Some came to rest and
then took off so that the males resting on the trunk seemed to be changing con¬
stantly. By standing beneath the tree it was possible to net the males as they flew
to and from the trunk, and nearly a dozen were collected in less than an hour. A
smaller female with a smaller coterie of males was found on a tree nearby. Both
females and most of the males were very dark; only one male was light brown.

The area in which these beetles were found has been rather thoroughly explored in
connection with ecological studies of other insects every year since 1950, but no
specimens of Sandalus have been collected or observed before. It thus seems possible
that the unusual abundance in 1954 was connected with the emergence of Brood X
of the Periodical Cicada ( Magicicada septendecim) which occurred in the general
area in 1953. — Frank N. Young, Indiana University

News

Dr. Takehiko Nahane is now editor
of the Japanese journal of entomology
Akitsu. Volume 4, no. 4 is now in press.
Volumes 1-3 were published by the
Takeuchi Entomological Laboratory,
Kyoto, 1937-1943 and all papers were
written in Japanese. The present volume

is published by the Kyoto Entomological
Society and includes paper written in
English. Volume 4 contains 116 pages
in total, of which 45 pages are written
in English containing descriptions of new
forms of Cerambycidae, Erotylidae, Mor-
dellidae, Nitidulidae, Elateridae, Niponi-
idae, Carabidae, Dytiscidae, Trogidae,
Ciidae, Lycidae, as well as descriptions
of a few orders other than Coleoptera. —
R. H. Arnett, Jr.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

75

Reviews

COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
OF THE INSECTS OF JAPAN.

COLEOPTERA

Edited by The Kinki Coleoptero-
logical Society. Hoikusha Co.,
Japan, 1955. 228 pp., 68 colored
plates. $6.50 USA.

This is a remarkable collection of
good colored illustrations of sev¬
eral hundred Japanese beetle spe¬
cies, perhaps the finest and great¬
est number to be published since
the Biologia Centrali- Americana,
many of them approaching Biolo¬
gia quality. The accompanying
text describing the beetles illus¬
trated is entirely in Japanese, ex¬
cept that Latin names are given for
the species. Unfortunately there
is no index to the Latin names so
that those unable to read Japanese
will find it difficult to locate the
names of the species illustrated.

The book has been issued in two
editions. The first edition (dated
1954) contains a few plates of un¬
suitable and exotic species. It also
contains descriptions of several
new forms (listed below) which are
described in English. From the
standpoint of the taxonomist then,
the first edition is more important
because the second edition has been
printed omitting the descriptions
of the new species, as should be, as
well as the unsatisfactory plates.
However, five new plates have been
added.

The new forms described in the
book are : p. 24, Gaurotes thalas-
sina var. aureopupurea Hayashi;
p. 31, Eustrangalis distenoides ab.
anticereductus Hayashi ; p. 33,
Leptura latipennis f. trigonata
Hayashi ; p. 34, Strang alia shiko-
kensis f. kaznoi Hayashi and S. s.
f. kii Hayashi; p. 49, Anaglyptus
(Anaglyptics) subfasciatus var.
rufescens Hayashi p. 52, Molorchus
minor f. fuscus Hayashi; p. 54,
Molorchus ( Linomius ) mizoguchii
Hayashi ; p. 55, Mesechthistatus
binodosus f. insularis Hayashi; p.
56, Monochamus subfasciatus var.
meridianus Hayashi (all Ceram-
bycidae) ; p. 80, Hikohohodemia
Nakane and Hayashi (Genotype:
Hikohohodemia nomurai sp. nov.,
allied to Dircaea Fabricius and
Ploeotrya Stephens) ; p. 81, Hiko¬
hohodemia nomurai Nakane and
Hayashi, Melandrya quadrisignata
Nakane and Hayashi, Melandrya
fiavipennis Nakane and Hayashi,
Melandrya duodecimmaculata Na¬
kane and Hayashi (all Melandry-
idae) ; p. 106, Coptoderina osakana
Nakane, Ohkura and S. Ueno
(Carabidae) ; p. 154, Xanthochroa
atriceps subsp. shikokuana Iga and
Nakane ; p. 155, Chrysanthia viati¬
ca ab. obscuricolor Iga and Nakane
(all Oedemeridae) ; p. 183, Ontlio-
phagus japonicus ab. testaceipen-
nis Iga and Goto (Scarabaeidae) .

The book is well bound in cloth
with a full color illustration of two
species of scarabs on the front cov¬
er. The dust jacket also has full

76

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

color illustrations of additional
scarabs, a pair. The book slips into
a box which also has full color il¬
lustrations of several species of
beetles, a plate on each side of the
box.

When one compares the quality
of these illustrations with the in¬
sect illustrations that appeared re¬
cently in Life magazine, one won¬
ders how it is possible to produce a
book of this nature at the low price
of $6.50. We can only conclude
that more persons are interested
in insects in Japan than in the
United States for it appears that
such a publication would be impos¬
sible to produce in this country, at
least without very heavy subsidiza¬
tion.

Even if you do not read Japa¬
nese, and most of us don’t, a copy
of the volume would be useful and
can be obtained by writing to :
IJoikusha Co., 1-chome, Uchi-
kyuhoji-eho, Higashi-ku, Osaka,
Japan.

R. H. Arnett, Jr.

CENTRAL ASIATIC CARABUS

By 0. L. Kryzanowskii. [Russian
title: ZUZELICY SREDNEI
AZII (ROD CARABUS)]. Aka-
demia Nauk CCCR. Opredelitye
po faunye CCCR isdavanyoye
Zoologiteheskim Institutom
CCCR no. 52, 132 pp., 110 illus¬
tration, index. Moskva-Lenin-
grad, 1953.

This work covers Central Asiatic
species of the genus Carabus. First

30 pages are devoted to general
morphology, biology, ecology, and
biogeography of these beetles, the
balance to systematics. Each spe¬
cies or subspecies is described in
detail preceeded by quite elongated
key made up of 194 dichotomies.

The author points out that the
life histories of most Carabus spe¬
cies are very imperfectly known,
in spite of their economic impor¬
tance as chief predators on the
nematod and trematod bearing
Mollusca.

Systematically Kryzanowskii di¬
vides them into two groups : brevi-
mandibulate and longimandibulate.
He discusses in great length the
faunal relationships. Central Asi¬
atic Carabus fauna is remarkable
for its endemicity. Out of a total
of 97 species and 20 subspecies no
less than 89 species are endemic.
Only 8 spread outside Central Asia
including 3 ( C . granulatus, cica-
tricosus , and clafhratus ) into Cen¬
tral Europe. Dzungharia has 62
forms (58 endemic), Western
Tian-Shan 16 (13 endemic) and
Pamiro-Altai 17 (15 endemic).

Steppes of Kazakstan have only 6.

Two species are described as
new : C. grigorjewi and Trachy-
carabus mandibularis buchtarmen-
sis. Discussing distribution of C.
granulatus the author does not
seem aware of its introduction and
establishment in North America.

The work is entirely in Russian
without a summary in any other
language. Borys Malkin

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

77

OCYPUS OLENS (MULLER) IN THE UNITED STATES

(STAPHYLINIDAE)

Ocypus olens (Miill.), also known as Staphylinus ( Goerius ) olens (Miill.), is a
common species in Europe. In July and August, 1953, I collected two of these hand¬
some beetles from Whittier, California (Los Angeles County). They are rather large,
black staphylinids (23 to 25 mm. long) and are sparsely clothed with short, black
hairs. Voluminous correspondence has revealed the following information.

Ocypus olens (Miill.) has been recorded from California and Mexico by Black-
welder in the Fifth Supplement to Leng’s Catalogue. In his personal collection
Blac-kwelder has specimens from: Los Angeles, California (5 January 1930, collected
by Morris Ojena) ; Coatepec, Mexico (15 May 1929, collected by O. Fulda) ; and
Tejupilco, Mexico, D. F. (August 1932, probably collected by Hinton and Usinger).

Dr. W. Dwight Pierce, Curator of the Entomology Collection of the Los Angeles
County Museum, reports specimens from Los Angeles collected on the following dates:
February 1925 (larvae); 5 October 1931; 17 June 1935; 22 February 1936; 14
January 1938 (larvae); September 1940; and July 1944. On one occasion Dr.
Pierce received reports that members of this species made themselves unpopular by
biting the toes of people sitting around a swimming pool in Hollywood.

Di. E. C. Van Dyke (1945 Pan-Pacific Ent., vol. 21, p. 10) also records this beetle
from Hollywood, collected 16 April 1936, and from west Los Angeles, in November
1940. He states that it has been found in abundance near the University of Cali¬
fornia’s Los Angeles campus.

Hugh B. Leech, Curator of the Entomological Collection at the California Academy
of Sciences, cites three specimens of Ocypus olens taken in Golden Gate Park (San
Francisco) in February 1945 and May 1947 (P. Raven, collector). He states that
one other was taken from Saint Francis Wood, San Francisco County, on 12 Sep¬
tember 1952.

This is, so far as I know, a summary of all the North American captures of this
species— Ray E. Williams, 1611 Maple Street, Whittier, California.

CURRENT LITERATURE

Edited by J. Gordon Edwards

4 ft *

General

Davis, J. J. 1953. Insects of Indiana for 1952. (Continuation of report on
abundance & importance of beetles & other insects in the state.) Proc. Indiana
Acad. Sci. Vol. 62:1/6-80. Fichter, E. 1954. An ecological study of inverte¬
brates of grassland and deciduous shrub savanna in eastern Nebraska. Ameri¬
can Midland Nat. 51(2) :321-439, 36 figs., 33 tables. Theodorides, J. 1948. Les
Coleopteres parasites accidentals de l’homme. (On beetles parasitic on man.)
Ann. Parasitologie 23:348-63. Theodorides, J. 1949. Quelques emplois peu
usuels de Coleopteres. (On some uncommon uses of beetles). Rev. Vervief.

78

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

Hist. Nat. (1949) : pp. 9-10, 99-102. Theodorides, J. 1949. Les Coleopteres
comestibles. (Edible beetles.) Nat. Beiges 30:126 37, 1 pi. Theodorides, J.
1949. Les Coleopteres nuisibles aux animaux domestiques. (On beetles injuri¬
ous to domesticated animals.) Ann, Parasitologie 24:116-23. Theodorides, J.

1949. Les Coleopteres parasites accidentels de l’homme. Note eomplementaire.
Ann. Paraistologie 24 :110-15. Theodorides, J. 1950. De ^utilisation des Cole¬
opteres en therapeutique. Montpellier Med. 37-38 :175-82. Theodorides, J.

1950. Les Coleopteres parasites accidentels de l’homme et des animaux domes¬
tiques (4e note). Ann. Parasitologie 25:69-76. Theodorides, J. 1950. The
parasitological, medical and veterinary importance of Coleoptera. Acta Tropica
7 :48-60. Theodorides, J. 1950. Remarques sur l’allotrophie chez des Cara-
biques et d’autres Coleopteres. (On allotrophy in beetles, especially carabids.)
L’Entomol. 6 :79-82. Theodorides, J. 1951. Notes sur des Coleopteres d’impor-
tance medicale. Medec. Trop. 11:512-24. Theodorides, J. 1951. Contribution
a l’etude ecologique des parasites et commensaux de Coleopteres. Bull. Soc.
Hist. Nat. Toulouse 86:242-44. Theodorides, J. 1952. Contribution a l’etude
ecologique des parasites et commensaux de Coleopteres (2e note). Trans. 9th
Int. Congr. Ent. 1 :454-59. Theodorides, J. 1952. Note eomplementaire sur
l’allotrophie chez les Coleopteres. Feuille Nat. (n.s.) 7:87-90. Theodorides, J.
1952. Les Coleopteres fossiles. Ann. Soc. Ent. France 121 :24-48, 18 figs.
Weems, H. V. Jr. 1954. Perry Wilbur F attig (Obituary). Florida Ent. 37:
p. 34.

Anthicidae

Theodorides, J. & Ph. Dewailly. 1951. Nouvelle observation de phoresie de
Anthicus fairmairei Bris. sur un Meloe, et remarques sur l’attirance des Anthi-
cides par les Meloidae. (On phoresy of Anthicidae on Meloidae.) Vie et Milieu
2 : 60-64. Theodorides, J. & Ph. Dewailly. 1952. A propos des rapports entre
Coleopteres Anthicides et Meloides. Vie et Milieu 3:214-15.

Bibliography

Araujo, L. It. 1954. Jose Francisco Zikan. (Biography & bibliography of
this man who has published many papers on Coleoptera.) Rev. Brasileira Ent.
1:119-28.

Brentidae

Soares, B. A. M. 1954. Nova especie de Brentidae do Brasil pertencente a
tribo Calodromini, ainda nao assinalada no Novo Continente. (1 n. sp. of
Stilbonotus.) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 1 :163-67, 2 figs.

Carabidae

Theodorides, J. 1950. A propos de l’ecologie de Penetretus rufipennis Dej.
Vie et Milieu 1 : p. 255.

Cerambycidae

Knull, J. N. 1954. A new Euryptera and notes on other Cerambycidae.
(With key to spp of Euryptera north of Mexico.) Ohio Jour. Sci. 54(2) :129-30.
Knull, J. N. 1954. A new North American Eupogonius, with notes. Ent. News
65(5) :127-28. Lane, F. 1954. Notas sinommicas — I. Lycodesmus Melzer, 1927 —
Ites Waterh., 1880. (Lamiidae.) (Synonymy of the 2 genera; redescription of
I. plagiatus.) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 1:195-201, 2 figs. Tippmann, F. F. 1953
1954). Studien ueber Neotropische Longicornier. (New spp. & subspp. of 19
neotropical genera, no keys.) Dusenia 4(4-5) :181-228, 38 figs., 5 pis.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

79

Chrysomelidae

Jolivet, P. & J. Theodorides. 1950. Les Helminthes parasites de Coleopteres
Chrysomelides. Ann. Parasitologie 25 :340-49, 1 fig. Jolivet, P. & J. Theodorides.

1951. Les parasites, phoretques et predateurs des Chrysomeloidea (2e note).
Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belgique 27(25) :l-55. Jolivet, P. & J. Theodorides.

1952. Les parasites, phoretiques et predateurs des Chrysomeloidea (3e notes).
Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belgique 28(20) :1-19. Jolivet, P. & J. Theodorides.
1953 Les parasites, phoretiques et predateurs des Chrysomeloidea (4e note).
Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belgique 29(32) :1-15. Lima, A. de Costa. 1954.
Sobre algumas especies de Disonycha. (6 n. spp., 1 n. subsp., key to 22 S.
Amer. spp. of Disonycha with yellow vittae, on pp. 3-8.) Rev. Brasileira Ent.
1:1-24, 24 figs. Theodorides, J. 1949. Un Coleoptere Chrysomelide nuisible
aux cultures de betterave : Cassida nebulosa L. (Cassida destructive to red
beets.) Bull. Horticulture (Liege 67:113-14, 2 figs.

Cicindelidae

Cazier, M. A. 1954. A review of the Mexican Tiger Beetles of the genus
Cicindela. (2 n. spp.; 2 n. subspp. ; keys to Mexican spp. & subspp.) Bull.
American Mus. Nat. Hist. 103(3) :231-309, 223 figs., 3 pis.

Curculionidae

Everly, R. T. 1953. The effect of the lesser clover leaf weevil on the seed
yields of mammoth red clover (Hypera nigrirostris Fab. — nots on habits, life
hist., & evaluation of damage.) (Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 62:217-22, 4 tables.
Sleeper, E. L. 1954. A European weevil in North America. (Gymnaetron.)
Ent. News 65(5) :120-30. Vaurie, P. 1954. Revision of the genera Anchylo-
rynchus and Petalochilus of the Petalochilinae. American Mus. Novitates No.
1651 : pp. 1-58, 4 figs.

Dermestidae

Beale, R. S. Jr. 1954. Biology and taxonomy of the nearctic species of
Trogoderma. (key to larvae, p. 54; key to adults, pp. 52-54.) Univ. California
Pub. Ent. 10(2) : 35-102, 18 figs.

Dytiscidae

Young, F. N. 1953. The approach to taxonomic problems. (Discussion of
Matus). Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 62:175-75.

Georyssidae

Lima, A. de Costa. 1954. Notas coleopterologicas. (1 n. sp.) Rev. Brasileira
Ent. 1: 177-80, 6 figs.

Haliplidae

Spangler, P. J. 1954. A new species of water beetle from Michigan. (Bry-
chius) Ent. News. 65(5) :113-17, 1 fig. (no key).

Hydro philidae

Munsee, J. R. 1953. A preliminary report on biometrical studies on Tropi-
sternus striolatus (LeC.) and T. mexicanus (Cast.). Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci.
62 :207-10, 2 tables.

Meloidae

(see references listed under Anthicidae in this list)

Melandryidae

Malkin, B. 1954. A new northeast melandryid. (n. subsp. of Emmesa) Pan-
Pac. Ent. 30(1) : p. 35.

80

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 5

Nilionidae

Lima, A. de Costa & C. A. Campos Seabra. 1954. Um novo Nilio de Minas
Gerais. Rev. Brasileira Ent. 1:227-29, 5 figs.

Orthoperidae

Lima, A. de Costa. 1954. Notas coleopterologicas. (1 n. sp. Matthewsiella) .
Rev. Brasileira Ent. 1:177-80, 6 figs.

Paussidae

Theodorides, J. 1950. Paussus favieri Pairm. dans la region de Banyuls. Vie
et Milieu 1:97-98.

Pselaphidae

Becker, E. C. & M. W. Sanderson. 1954. Honduras Pselaphidae, part II.
(keys to spp. of Decarthron, p. 440, & Arthmius, p. 455) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer¬
ica 46(4) :437-64, 5 pis.

Scarabaedae

Gyrisco, G. G. et al. 1954. Biology of the European Chafer Amphimallon
majalis Razoumosky. (Morphology, biology, & control measures.) Cornell Univ.
Agr. Exp. Sta. Mem. 328 : pp. 1-35, 8 figs., 15 tables. Howden, H. F. 1954.
Habits and life history of Mycotrupes, with a description of the larva of M.
gaigei. (no keys) Misc. Publ., Mus. Zook, Univ. Michigan, No. 81: pp. 52-59,
74 figs. Hubbell, T. H. 1954. Relationships and distribution of Mycotrupes.
(no keys) Misc. Publ., Mus. Zool., Univ. Michigan, No. 84: pp. 39-51, 3 figs,
(maps) Luginbill, P., Jr. 1954. A contribution to the embryology of the May
Beetle. Ann. Ent. Soc. America 46(4) :505-28, 13 pis. Miller, A. 1954. Dung
beetles and other insects in relation to human feces in a hookworm area of
southern Georgia. American Jour. Trop. Med. & Hygiene 3(2) :372-89. Olson,
A. L. & T. H. Hubbell. 1954. A revision of the genus Mycotrupes. (key to
spp. & subspp. on pp. 13-15.) Misc. Publ., Mus. Zook, Univ. Michigan, No. 84:
pp. 7-38, 1 pi. Pereira, P F. S. 1951. 0 genero Scatonomus Erichs. (2 n. spp.)
(key to neotrop. genera of Dichotomiini, pp. 55-57, key to 7 spp. Scatonomus,
pp. 57-58.) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 1:53-78, 38 figs. Theodorides, J. 1951. (Observa¬
tions ecologiques et faunistiques sur des Coleopteres coprophages des Pyrenees-
Orientales. Vie et Milieu 1 :460-65. Theodorides, J. 1952. Les parasites et com-
mensaux des Geotrupini. Riv. di Parass. 13:277-93, 6 figs. Vaurie, P. 1954.
New synonymy in Diplotaxis. Bull Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(2) :49-54.

Silphidae

Theodorides, J. 1950. Observations et remarques sur l’ecologie des Necro-
phores. Phys. Comp. Oecologie 2:107-28, 8 figs., 1 pi.

Staphylinidae

Theodorides, J. 1950. Considerations sur les Paederus vesicants et essais de
vesication avec des especes de France. (On vesicating spp. of Paederus in
France.) Bulk Soc. Pathol. Exot. 43:100-13, 1 pi. Theodorides, J. 1952. Re¬
marques sur les Paederus vesicants. Trans. 9th. Int. Congr. Ent. 1 :969-70.

Techniques

Barth, R. 1953(1954) . Metodos de trabalho na anatomia e histologia ento-
mologica — Arbeitsmethoden der entomologischen Anatomie und Histologie.
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 51:95-186. (On techniques in entomological histology
& in anatomical work.) Hanson, J. F. 1954. A simple technique for improving
& accelerating KOH clearing of insects. Bulk Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49: p. 21.

coid f

Yo/.cj4

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

VSot.Umi .

The Coleopterisfrai^in

Volume IX

December, 195$

pff n

No. 6

VTTl TATJM -with rebrua17- BIOLOGY,

$4.00 per

SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, Nevtuniiii i terras ^oi suoscTiplffen
year,TStlL0^mrtlCra-nd f<°$n’nP,ayable- in advanre. Back numbers are available,
the follnwfn^ AaHv?c°n1Cie|(0f Jhe Col®°Pterlsts’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
S-!v,!° n i, g Koard: Dr Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. John

Fisher College , Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University Dr J Go ion
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of

b^RosI*!?’ Amett^Jr6801^6 B‘ V°gt’ EntomoloSist> U- S- Department of Agriculture. Edited

HABITAT NOTES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA OF CICINDELA
CiRCUMPICTA JOHNSONI FITCH ( CICI N DELI DAE ) 1

By Paul J. Spangler2

Today, although most entomologists would find it difficult to discover
a new species of insect in their back yard, the chances of finding an
| undescribed larval form would be very good.

It is evident when one examines the literature on descriptions of im¬
mature insects, that much work remains to be done in this field. In the
family Cicindelidae, where adult taxonomy has progressed rapidly, one
still finds a dearth of larval descriptions. This is true in most groups of
insects. I mention this with the hope that it will interest others to work
in the grossly neglected field of immature taxonomy.

Salt springs are scarce and widely scattered in Missouri. Since these
areas and many of the insects associated with them are unusual, an
entomological survey of a few of these springs was initiated to determine
whether any halophilic forms were present.

During a survey of the historical Boone’s Lick Salt Spring area located
three miles north of Petersburg, Howard County, Missouri, adults of
Cicindela circumpicta johnsoni Fitch were found. The flats around the
salt, springs were literally alive with these handsome beetles.

Numerous adult Cicindela circumpicta johnsoni were caught in flight
by sweeping with an aerial net. No adults of the subspecies C. c. salinae
Vaurie were seen. A few Cicindela repanda Dej., were the only other
tiger beetles collected in the area.

Examination of the ground showed typical burrows of cicindelid lar¬
vae. Due to the abundance of the adults, these burrows were suspected to

Contribution from Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No
1586.

department of Entomology, University of Missouri.

81

82

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

be those of Cincindela circumpicia johnsoni Fitch. A number of burrows
were excavated and larvae were collected for study. The burrows were
nearly vertical and extended from six to twelve inches into the soil. The
majority of burrows were located along the periphery of the salt flats
but many were also scattered about over the inner area.

The larvae which were collected were compared with descriptions of
known larvae, and they proved to be different than any of those described.
Examination and comparisons with the immature forms of C. repanda
Dej. eliminated the possibility that these larvae belonged to the latter
species. From this evidence then, it is assumed that these immature
insects are the larvae of C. c. johnsoni Fitch.

Larvae will be deposited in the following institutions : U. S. National
Museum, American Museum of Natural History, California Academy
of Sciences and the University of Missouri Entomological Museum.

Although this beetle has been previously reported from the state by
Yaurie (1951) it is not common in the state, and it should be noted that
it occurs at two additional salt springs. One of these is located one mile
west of Rocheport, in Howard County, Missouri, south of U. S. Highway
40, and the other, one and one-half miles east of Rocheport, in Boone
County, on the north side of the same highway. Examination of other
saline areas in the state might provide us with additional records.

Larval Description

Color. — Head black with blue-green reflection; pronotal margins tes¬
taceous, disk of pronotum castaneous; mesonotum fuscous anteriorly,
testaceous posteriorly ; metanotum testaceous ; antennae testaceous except
fuscous ultimate segment ; mandibles with retinaculum and apices
piceous, bases ruf o-testaceous ; maxillae and labium testaceous ; legs
testaceous except elongate fuscous spot laterally on coxae, apices of tarsal
claws piceous. Setae on dorsum of head and pronotum glassy, the
remaining setae testaceous.

Measurements. — Length of fully extended larvae from apices of closed
mandibles to end of pygopod 17 to 21 mm. ; width at third adbominal
segment 2 mm. ; diameter of ocellus II, 0.40 mm ; distance between ocellus
I and ocellus II, 0.30 mm. ; diameter of ocellus I, 0.35 mm. ; length of
fronto-clypeo-labial area 1.70 mm.; width 1.80 mm.; length of pronotum
on midline 2.10 mm. ; width 3.40 mm.

Head. — Setae on dorsum conspicuous ; ocellus II subequal to ocellus I,
distance between ocellus I and ocellus II about equal to width of ocel¬
lus II ; fronto-clypeo-labral area slightly wider than long ; U-shaped ridge
on the caudal part of frons with two setae ; antennae with ultimate seg¬
ment half as long as penultimate, ultimate segment with 3 setae, penulti-

HEAD -DORSAL VIEW

PRONOTUM- DORSAL VIEW

LABIUM -VENTRAL VIEW

ANTENNA - DORSAL VIEW

MAXILLA- VENTRAL VIEW MAXILLA- DORSAL VIEW

RIGHT MANDIBLE
VENTRAL VIEW

RIGHT MANDIBLE
DORSAL VIEW

3rd ABD. SEGMENT
LATERAL VIEW

PROTHORACIC LEG
CEPHALIC ASPECT

MESOTHORACIC LEG
CEPHALIC ASPECT

LABRUM- DORSAL VIEW

5th ABD. SEGMENT
DORSAL VIEW

METATHORACIC LEG
CEPHALIC ASPECT

PJ..

Larva! Characteristics of Cicindela circumpicta johnsoni Fitch

84

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

mate with 3 to 4 ; maxillae with ultimate segment of each galea with 5
setae ; maxillary palpus three segmented, ultimate segment longer than
penultimate, penultimate with 2 setae ; antepenultimate shortest of all
and without setae, palpifer with 7 strong spines ; ligula with 4 fine setae
arranged in a transverse row at ventro-distal end, ultimate segment of
labial palpus with 1 spine ventro-medially, penultimate segment with
3 spur-like projections on ventro-distal margin and with 2 setae on each
side of projections.

Thorax. — Pronotum with cephalo-lateral margins extending as far
cephalad as mesal portion, primary setae 6, large and glassy in appear¬
ance.

Abdomen. — Sclerotized areas distinct, setae yellowish brown ; caudal
margin of ninth abdominal sternum bearing two groups of 3 strong
setae each ; pygopod with a ventral ring of fourteen strong setae ; inner
hooks on fifth abdominal segment with 6 to 8 setae each ; the spine-like
projection obsolete ; median hooks with 2 strong and 2 or 3 weak setae.

This species runs to couplet 24 in Hamilton’s (1925) key. It can be
separated from abdominalis and marginata by the following key :

1. Ligula with 4 fine setae but not arranged in transverse row at ventro-distal end, the

median two setae caudad of lateral setae; ultimate segment of the antennae with
7 or 8 setae; inner hooks on dorsum of fifth abdominal segment with 3 prominent

setae _ abdominalis

Ligula with 4 fine setae arranged in a transverse row at ventro-distal end - 2

2, Ultimate segment of antennae with 9 or 10 setae, penultimate with 9 or 10 setae; proxi¬

mal segment of galea with 3 setae; inner hooks on dorsum of fifth abdominal segment"

with 10 or II prominent setae, median hooks with 3 setae each - . - marginata

Ultimate segment of antenna with 2 to 4 setae, penultimate with 3 to 4 setae; proximal
segment of galea with 5 setae; inner hooks on dorsum of fifth abdominal segment

with 5 to 7 prominent setae, median hooks with 4 or 5 setae each -

_ _ _ circumpicta johnsoni

References Cited

Hamilton, Clyde C. 1925. Studies on the morphology, taxonomy, and
ecology of the larvae of holarctic tiger-beetles (Family Cicin-
delidae). Proc. United States Nat. Mus. Vol. 65, Art. 17, No. 2530,
pp. 1-87.

Vaurie, Patricia. 1951. Five new subspecies of tiger beetles of the genus
Cioindela and two corrections (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) . Ameri¬
can Mus. Novitates No. 1479, pp. 1-12.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

85

CATCHING BEETLES WITH THE AID OF A BICYCLE WITH NOTES ON

THE LEIODIDAE OF THE RHEINLAND

By H. Klapperich1

Some years ago my activities were directed towards building up a
collection of the beetles of the Rheinland. The abundance of members
of the family Leiodidae in this area particularly attracted my attention.

The first specimen of Leiodes calcarata Er. was captured on a warm
May afternoon by beating the blossoms of a hawthorn bush, Crataegus
oxyacantha, growing at the mouth of the Sieg river near Bonn. Shortly
thereafter I captured a specimen of Leiodes ot>esa Schmidt on the cut
trunk of a pine tree in the “ Kotten-Forest ” near Bonn. This species is
a great rarity in the Rheinland.

At the time of this early collecting I found an article in the ‘ ‘ Coleop-
terologische Rundschau’’ (vol. 13, no. 3, p. 127) by Dr. A. Fleischer giv¬
ing directions for the collection of species of Leiodes and Colon. This
article was of great interest to me. Fleischer’s instructions suggested
that I look for these beetles in sunny glades, where the rays of the sun
penetrated to the forest floor, a floor covered with dense cushions of
moss or dense grass and other vegetation. The beetles live a secluded
life among the roots of moss, grass, and in the mycelium of mushrooms
and other fungus.

Most species of leiodids appear before sunset when the shadows are
long. They come out of the roots for mating. The earlier the shadows
fall, the earlier the “truffle-beetles” appear. When twilight has changed
to night the insects return to their lair. Therefore, at this latitude there
are about two hours in which to capture these beetles. During rainy
and windy weather no beetles appear. But when the weather is clear,
warm and sunny, the collector will see these beetles in abundance. It
was under such conditions that I collected leiodids from the spring of
1928 until the fall of 1930. At the end of June in the spring of 1928 I
collected near Rosberg (Ville) within 10 minutes, 15 specimens of
Leiodes calcarata and L. obesa. Further collecting always yielded more
specimens of these two species.

During the evening of June 6, 1930 by collecting in “quaking-grass”
(Briza media) and other plants at the edge of an oak woods within
the “Ivotten-Forest, ” I captured the rare Leiodes scita Er. in the dense
shade. This species is a new record for the Rhine Province. Mr. Horion
reported capturing it at the same time of day in the moor of Lind near
Wahn.

^aiserstr. 229, Bonn, Germany.

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Two hours is a short span of time, and too short to catch many
Leiodes. Some way must be found to increase the amount of collecting
that can be done in this limited time. In the spring of 1931 I devised
a means of collecting from a bicycle, thus enabling me to cover a larger
area in a shorter time. By holding the net by the handle in the right
hand, and steering the bicycle with the left hand, holding the net in
such a manner as to allow the beetles to fall into the back part of the
net, I was able to collect great numbers of these beetles. Of course it
is necessary to stop frequently and remove twigs and leaves from the
net. It is recommended that the entire contents of the net be emptied
into a tight paper bag and stored for future examination later in the
laboratory.

In my most frequently visited hunting preserve in the “Kotten-
Forest77 with its broad, grass-covered forest roads, I was able to capture
in one evening in June 25 Leiodes of several species. It is especially
note- worthy that I was able to take in June and again at the end of
July 1931 from a pine woods, two specimens of Triathron markeli
Schmidt. On August 27, 1931 I again caught by this method two L.
scita. On August 29, 1931 I collected for the first time the rather rare
Leiodes tripkei Schmidt, six males and seven females. Likewise, on
September 2nd, I caught three more females on low bushes growing on
gravelly ground. Here these beetles were swarming from 7 to 8 :30 p.m.
On the following evening not a single specimen could be found in this
same area. It appears that the swarming time was over. At other
places in the “Kotten-Forest77 I could not find a single specimen of
these beetles.

Besides the L. calacarata and L. obesa, I caught less frequently
Leiodes lucens Frm., which also was a new record for the Rhein Prov¬
ince. Leiodes dubia Kugel, which is described as very abundant in
Reitter ’s ‘ ‘ Fauna Germanica 7 7 was captured only twice during the whole
time. It was not until late in the fall that I came upon the finest and
smallest species, Leiodes nigrita Schmidt. This species has a red pro¬
thorax and dark brown elytra. Mr. Jansen, in the “Seven-Mountains77
found now and then Leiodes litura Steph. Mr. Schneider often sends
Leiodes badia Strm. taken by sweeping over water at Overath on the
Agger. So far, Leiodes ovalis Schmidt has been captured only in June
from moist meadows of the upper Ahr valley near Kreuzberg.

On the edge of a swampy meadow of the “ Kotten-Forest 7 7 I captured
Agaricophagus cephalotes Schmidt, one specimen on August 2, 1930 and
again two females on August 27, 1931 at the same spot. In addition,
during these evening excursions, other relatives of Leiodes are captured.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

87

such as Colenis immunda Strm. and the better species of Cyrtusa.

Several times I have found in the bag of my net the best of our four
indigenous species of Anisotoma, the A. castanea Hrbst. Conversely,
the Colon species were very scarce and they remain so even now. Dur¬
ing the entire year 1931 I caught only two specimens, and these be¬
longed to the most common species, Colon brunneum Latr. As a good
addition, there were among the yield of Leiodes, one specimen of Pseu-
deuglenns pentatomus Ths. new for Germany. Also new records for the
Rheinland were Tropideres cinctus Payk. and Stenus scrutator Er. In
the fall I was able to collect also by this method Mycetoporus baudueri
and M. reyi, one specimen of Caridina triguttata Gy 11. and Ptinus
coarchcollis Strm. as well as many other common species.

There are still at least ten species of Leiodes as yet undiscovered,
which should occur in the Rheinland. Perhaps this report will inspire
serious collectors to use the generally forgotten bicycle to help discover
here, and in other countries new and interesting species of beetles, help¬
ing by this method to explore the habitat and inhabitants of their
native soil.

NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERISTS*

Mr. J. W. T. Armstrong, of “Callubri, ” Nyngan, N.S.W., is an amateur cole-
opterist who has collected and studied Australian beetles for the past 28 years. His
personal collecting efforts have so far been confined to the eastern half of N.S.W.
and to Tasmania, with brief excursions into eastern Victoria and south-eastern
Queensland. He is chiefly interested in the smaller more obscure families and has
written a number of revisionary papers on the Australian Dermestidae. He is now
engaged in a study of the Helodidae of the world and has already published one
paper on Australian species while one on those from Japan is almost completed, and
others dealing with South America and Africa have been commenced. He is equally
interested in the other groups that used to be associated under the name Dascillidae,
and wTould appreciate the loan of specimens for study.

Mr. H. W. Brown of Reid House, Reid Park, Mosman’s Bay, Sydney, has a large
collection of Coleoptera accumulated over a lifetime of travel in nearly all parts of
Australia, including very remote areas. His collection is especially rich in Ceram-
bycidae, Buprestidae and Tenebrionidae.

Mr. A. N. Burns of the National Museum, Melbourne, has a large and very finely
housed private collection. While Coleoptera are well represented, the main emphasis
of the collection is on Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera.

Dr. P. B. Carne, Division of Entomology, C.S.I.R.O., Canberra, is interested in
the taxonomy of the Scarabaeoidea as a whole, with particular reference to the

xThe following notes on Australian Coleopterists were compiled and submitted to-
the editor of the News Section by Dr. P. B. Carne, Division of Entomology, Common¬
wealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Canberra, Australia.

88

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Vol. IX, No. 6

Dynastinae and Rutelinae. He has completed a revision of the Australian species
of the former subfamily and is at present studying a number of ruteline genera.
His chief occupation is in studying the ecology of scarabs damaging pastures and
crops, his present subject of study being the introduced African dynastine Hetero-
nychus sanctae-helenae. A part time study which he carries on as a continuing
interest is the rearing of Scarabaeoid larvae and the association of the larval and
adult stages; he hopes to publish a series of papers on the identification of such
larvae.

Mr. J. O. Campbell of Clump Pt., via El Arisli, North Queensland writes —

“I haven’t collected seriously for several years although my collection is still in
very good condition. I still follow any journals or whatever printed matter I can
get hold of. My collection is a detailed one of Australian Lepidoptera and Coleop-
tera and many of the species are represented by series. I collected all around
Australia, New Guinea and adjacent islands.”

Mr. J. Maoqueen of Milmerran, S. Queenland is primarily a collector of Lepidop¬
tera, but has interests also in the Buprestidae.

Mr. R. P. McMillan of “Melaleuca,” Burt Rd., Cannington, Western Australia
is concerned with the collecting and study of inquiline coleoptera and also Bupres¬
tidae, the former being a winter and the latter a summer occupation. He is at
present working on the classification of his collection of inquilines which numbers
about 1500 specimens representing some 200 species. He is especially interested in
the Pselaphidae and Histeridae.

Mr. McMillan, although married and with a family, plans to attend the University
to obtain a B.Sc. degree, and later to extend his collecting activities over much of the
vast areas of Western Australia. He at present occupies the position of Hon. Asso¬
ciate Entomologist to the W. A. Museum in Perth.

Mr. E. Sutton of Fletcher, South Queensland has a large collection of Coleoptera,
especially Buprestidae, but mostly unnamed. His home is on the highest part of South
Queensland, almost on the border of granite country. His especial interest is in
working out the life cycles of local Coleoptera.

Dr. F. H. Uthmr-Baker of Canning Road, East Fremantle, W. A., is interested
in the Curculionidae of Australia, with especial reference to the W. Australian fauna.
He hopes to revise the genus Leptopius for which study he is at present indexing
the literature on the group.

Mr. F. E. Wilson, of 28 Ferncroft Avenue, East Malvern, Victoria, is one of the
best known private collectors in Australia. His magnificent collection, covering a
very wide field, is rich in Coleoptera from all parts of Australia and contains a
great deal of type material in this and other Orders. “Ras” as he is familiarly
known to all Australian entomologists, is always at home to interested entomologists
visiting Melbourne, and his cabinet and booklined study has been the scene of many
a fruitful discussion on both taxonomic and ecological problems with both amateur
and professional entomologists.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

89

Reviews

WATER BEETLES OF FLORIDA

By Frank N. Young. University of
Florida Studies, Biological Series, vol¬
ume 5, number 1, pp. i-ix, 1-238; 111
illustrations. 6% x 10", paper bound.
University of Florida Press, 1954.
Price $6.00.

This impressive book is the result of
more than 15 years of study, during
which the author examined an esti¬
mated 30,000 Florida water beetles, in¬
cluding many type specimens. He has
included useful sections on collecting
techniques and methods of preserving
and mounting water beetles. Follow¬
ing an ecological discussion applying
to aquatic beetles in general, the topog-
raphy, climate, and vegetation of Flori¬
da is compared with that of the At¬
lantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. The
various types of “landscapes” which
are recognized by Dr. Young in Florida
are discussed, and a map shows the ex¬
tent of each of these ecologically sig¬
nificant zones. Special emphasis is
placed upon differences in vegetation,
soil, water conditions and general
topography, and a few characteristic
kinds of aquatic insects of each biome
are mentioned. The origin of Florida
water beetles is hypothesized. The
present ecological distribution of 118
species is summarized in a table which
will be valuable to all biologists work¬
ing with aquatic forms of life any¬
where in the world. The excellent key
for the identification of families and
subfamilies of aquatic beetles is illus¬
trated with lucid drawings that clarify
the meaning of each couplet. This
key, as well as those to the genera oc¬
curring in the state, will prove ex¬
tremely useful to Coleopterists, es¬
pecially those in eastern United States.
Each of the 9 families and 64 genera

is characterized briefly and many are
illustrated by drawings. Keys are in¬
cluded which will separate all species
known to occur in Florida. A discus¬
sion of each species includes a brief de¬
scription, taxonomic notes, locality rec¬
ords, habitat preferences, and selected
references. The bibliography and in¬
dex for the book seem to be unusually
complete. This publication should sat¬
isfy an urgent need for information
about water beetles in general, and
will be of great value to many Coleop¬
terists. The sections concerning basic
ecological aspects of aquatic biology
will be useful and interesting to almost
every entomologist. Dr. Young has
done an extremely thorough job in pre¬
paring this worthwhile contribution,
and his work will certainly be a classic
on the subject for many, many years.

J. Gordon Edwards

FOREST ENTOMOLOGY IN
HAWAII

By Otto H. Swezey (Consulting en¬
tomologist, Experiment Station of the
Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association
and Honorary Consultant, Bernice P.
Bishop Museum). An annotated check¬
list of the insect faunas of the various
components of the Hawaiian forests.
Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special
Publication, vol. 44, pp. 1-266, 32 figs.
Issued August 2, 1954. (Published in
collaboration with the Hawaiian Bo¬
tanical Society and the Hawaiian En¬
tomological Society.) Edited by R. H.
Van Zwaluwenberg.

This work is concerned with the host-
plants, damage and occurrence of in¬
sects in relation to the native flora of
Hawaii. It thus almost entirely con¬
cerns the native Hawaiian insects,
which are highly endemic. There is a
great deal of information on beetles
in this work, since the Coleoptera form
an important part of the native fauna.
The information is not arranged by

90

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

orders, however, but the insects attack¬
ing each plant are arranged systematic¬
ally under the plant names. The plants
are arranged alphabetically and .in¬
formation on one group of beetles may
be found under many different host
plants. Full indexing to families and
genera, as well as to species under the
genera, permits ready finding of groups
of interest.

. This remarkable work is a monu¬
ment to a life-time of careful searching
for information on the native Hawaiian
insects, many of which are extremely
rare and very limited in range, if not
already extinct. The number of host-
records is enormous, and much addi¬
tional information is presented on
many species. An interesting aspect
is that many of the native insects are
highly specific in their host-plant rela¬
tions. Dr. Swezey has assembled a
wealth of information of lasting value
on a most remarkable fauna.

J. L. Gressitt

TENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
OF ENTOMOLOGY

The Tenth International Congress of
Entomology will be held in Montreal
from 17 to 25 August, 1956. The meet¬
ings will be held at McGill University
and the University of Montreal. Several
sections have been arranged including :
Systematics, Behaviour, Ecology, Geo¬
graphical Distribution, as well as ap¬
plied aspects of the field. These sections
will, however, be interpreted so as to
cover the whole range of entomological
science. Symposia will be arranged in
many of the sections. Further announce¬
ments will be made later.

The Congress fee will be $15.00 with a
reduction for accompanying members and
student members. There will also be sev¬
eral excursions scheduled, for some of
which a charge will be made.

Those wishing to receive further in¬
formation with a view of attending the

Congress should notify the Secretary as
soon as possible. They will then receive
the application forms and a booklet giv¬
ing more particulars. There papers can
be sent only to those who give the noti¬
fication requested. Those who would like
to receive a personal invitation are re¬
quested to apply to the Secretary. — J. A.
Downes, Secretary, Division of Ento¬
mology, Science Service Building, Ot¬
tawa, Ontario, Canada

Projects

Dr. Mont A. Cazier, the American
Museum of Natural History, has under¬
taken a very interesting and extensive
project on Cicindelidae. He (and assist¬
ants) visited Nevada, California, Ari¬
zona, and the northern section of Mexi¬
co in order to collect and transplant
colonies of tiger beetles into different
habitats, releasing some in the eastern
sections of the country and transferring
some colonies in the west from one iso¬
therm to another. The purpose of this
study is to discover if there is any re¬
action of the particular populations to
special environmental conditions.

Dr. W. F. Barr, University of Idaho,
writes that he is continuing his project
dealing with insects associated with des¬
ert shrubs in southern Idaho. He has
turned up some interesting and worth¬
while specimens during the study.

Dr. Gonzalo TTalffter of Mexico City
is currently engaged in revising the Mexi¬
can Scarabaeini. He has recently pub¬
lished several papers on Phanaeus and is
generally interested in the Coprinae.

(H. F. Howden)

Dr. Jacques Helfer recently com¬
pleted the manuscript on the Buprestidae
of the California area, which will be
published as a part of the California
Insect Survey by the University of Cali¬
fornia (Berkeley). (J. Gordon Edwards)

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

91

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION

Edited by J. Gordon Edwards

General

Balfour-Browne, E., S. Basden, et al. 1954. A Coleopterist’s Handbook.
120 pp., 50 figs., 20 pis. (paper). Lee, R. D. and R. Ryckman. 1954. Coleoptera
and Diptera reared from Owl Nests. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(1) :23-24.
Green, J. et al. 1951. The Coleoptera of Skokholm Island. Ent. Mon. Mag.
87 :196-199, 1 fig. Green, J. 1953. Beetles of a Cheshire farm. Ent. Mon. Mag.
89:81-86, 1 fig. Young, F. N. 1955. A preliminary survey of the water beetle
fauna of Glen Julia Springs, Florida. Jour. Florida Acad. Sci. 18(1) :59-66.

Anobiidae

Boving, A. G. 1954. Mature larvae of the beetle family Anobiidae. Biol.
Medd. [Denmark] 22(2) :l-298, 50 pis.

Anthicidae

Pallister, J. C. 1955. Ant-like flower beetles of North Central Mexico col¬
lected on the David Rockefeller Expedition of 1947, and other Mexican and
Central American Anthicids in the American Museum of Natural History.
American Mus. Novitates, No. 1720, 18 pp. [Key to genera.]

Anthribidae

Valentine, B. D. 1955. Anthribidae of the Bahama Islands, British West
Indies. American Mus. Novitates, No. 1741, 11 pp., 1 fig. [Key to genera.]

Brentidae

Haedo Rossi, J. A. 1955. Notas Brentidologicas 1. Neotropica 1(4) :61-64.

Buprestidae

Heifer, J. R. 1955. A change of name in Chrysobothris. Pan -Pacific. Ent.
31(1) : p. 14. Knull, J. N. 1954. Two new North American Buprestidae, with
note. Ohio Jour. Sci. 54(5) :294-296. [Trachykele & Hesperorhipis.]

Cantharidae

Lima, A. da Costa. 1954. Sobre duas especies de Oontelus. (no keys) Rev.
Brasil. Ent. 2 :7-12, 12 figs,

Carabidae

Lindroth, C. H. 1954. Random notes on North American Carabidae. Bull.
Mus. Comp. Zool. 111(3) :117-161, 14 figs. Lindroth, C. H. 1955. A revision of
the North American species of Europhilus , a subgenus of Agonum, with a note
on A. bellfri. (key to spp.) Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(1) :1-14, 5 figs. Straneo, S. L. and
R. Jeannel. 1955. Los insectes de las islas Juan Fernandez: Carabidae. (key to
genera & species). Rev. Chilena Ent. 4:121-144, 19 figs. Vinson, J. 1955. Two
new species of Carabidae from Mauritius. ( Agonocolpodes and Pent agonic a)
Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London, B. 24(5-6) :104-106, 2 figs.

Cerambycidae

Dillon, L. S. 1955. Revision of the Neotropical Acanthocinini I: the genus
Canidia and its allies, (key to genera & species of Nyssodectes ) Ent. News
66(6) :141-149. Gressitt, J. L. 1953. The genus Glaucytes in the Pacific, (key
to spp.) Proc. Hawaiian Ent. Soc. 15(1) :195-199, 4 figs. Jaume, M. L. 1954.
Catalogo de los Cerambycidae de Cuba. Circ. Museo & Biblioteca Zool. Habana,
Feb. 1954; pp. 1021-1036. Knull, J. N. 1955. A new species of Obrium from Ten¬
nessee. Ent. News 66(5) :p. 139. Kuschel, G. 1955. Una nueva especie de Chelo-

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

C2

derus Castelnau. Rev. Chilena Ent. 4 :281-284, 1 fig. Lima, A. de Costa. 1955.
Sobre as especies de Loncophorus. Neotropica 1(4) :80-84, 3 figs. Linsley, E. G.
1955. Notes and descriptions of some species of Crossidius. (no keys) Pan.-
Pacific Ent. 31(2) :63-66. Navajas, E. 1954. Nota de nomenclature -.Phosphorus
Thomson, 1857 e Voetia Strand, 1943; os noines genericos de Yoet (1769-1804)
e Geoffroy (1762). Rev. Brasileira Ent. 2:229-230. Prosen, A. F. 1954. Un
nuevo genero y dos nnevas especies de Lamiidae Argentinos. Neotropica 1(3) :
33-36, 1 fig. Wallace, H. R. 1954. Notes on the biology of Arhopalus ferus
Muls. ( Criocephalus ) Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London, A. 29(7-9) :99-113, 5 figs.,
6 tables.

Chrysomelidae

Bechyne, J. 1954. La liste des Eumolpides de Rio Grande do Sul (Bresil) et
observations diverses sur les especes Neotropicales. (includes a great many
new spp. and genera) Arq. Mus. Paranaense. 10 :141- 226, 2 pis. Blake, D. H.
1955. Revision of the vittate species of the Chrysomelid beetle genus Disonycha
from the Americas south of the United States, (key to spp.) Proc. United
States Nat. Mus., No. 3338, 104:1-86, 75 figs. Blake, D. H. 1955. A study of
Leconte’s species of the Chrysomelid genus Graphops with descriptions of some
new species. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 113(4) :261-301, 6 pis. Edwards, J. G.

1953. Species of the genus Syneta of the World. Wasmann Jour. Biol. 11 :23-82,
2 pis. Gressitt, J. L. 1950. The Hispine beetles of China, (keys to all known
Chinese spp.) Lingnan Sci. Jour. 23(1-2) :53-142, 8 pis. Gressitt, J. L. 1952.
The Tortoise Beetles of China, (keys to all known spp.) Proc. California Acad.
Sci., 4th ser. 27(17) :433-592, 10 pis., 1 fig. 4 maps. Jaume, M. L. 1954. Catalogo
de la familia Eumolpidae en las Antillas. Mus. & Bibliot. Zool. de la Habana,
Circ., May-June 1954: pp. 1183-1203. Jolivet, P. 1954. Les parasites, phore-
tiques et predateurs des Chrysomeloidea. (5me note). Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat.
Belgique 30(23) :1-12. Jolivet, P. 1954. Cryptocephalidae of Upemba National
Park. (Africa). Parc National de l’Upemba, Mission G. F. de Witte 25(5):
97-112, 14 figs. Jolivet, P. 1954. Notes ecologiques preliminaires sur les
Chrysomeloidea des lies Canaries. Bull. & Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique 90(3-4) :
73-82, 6 figs. Jolivet, P 1954. Notes ecologiques preliminaires sur les
Chrysomeloidea de la Sierra Nevada. (Spain) Bull. & Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique
90(3-4) :69-72, 1 fig. La Rivers, I. 1951. The Cerambycoid semi-aquatic Cole-
optera of the Nevada Area, (keys to genera of larvae & adults, to adult spp. of
Donacia, & to some larvae of Donacia) Great Basin Nat. 11(3-4) :97-104.
Monros, F. 1953. Descriptions y comentarios sobre Chlamisinae. Acta Zool.
Lilloana 13 :77-95, 29 figs. Pallister, J. C. 1953. Leaf beetles of North Central
Mexico collected on the David Rockefeller Mexican Expedition. American
Mus. Novitates, No. 1623, 95 pp., maps. Tanner, V. M. and G. L. Nielson. 1954.
Gastroidea cyanea Melsh. preyed upon by an hempiteran predator. ( Gastrophysa
syanea). Great. Basin Nat. 14(1-2) :27-29. Uhmann, E. 1953. Amerikanische
Hispinae, IV. Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat. 21(2) :161-171, 5 figs. Wilcox, J. A.

1954. Leaf beetles of Ohio, (keys to all species) Ohio Biol. Surv., Bull. 43,
8(3) : 353-596, 36 figs.

Cicindelidae

Vaurie, P. 1955. Review of the North American genus Amblycheila. (species
key) American Mus. Novitates No. 1724, 26 pp., 11 figs., 1 table.

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

93

Cleridae

Vaurie, P. 1952. The Checkered Beetles of the Bahama Islands, British West
Indies. American Mus. Novitates No. 1547, pp. 1-5, 1 fig.

Coccinellidae

Chapman, J. A., Romer, J. I. and J. Stark. 1955. Ladybird beetles and army
cutworm adults as food for grizzly bears in Montana. Ecology 36 :156-158.
Malkin, B. 1955. Some California species of Hyperaspis, new and old. Pan-
Pacific Ent. 31(1) :29-31, 1 fig.

Colydiidae

Pope, R. D. 1955. Los insectos de las islas Juan Fernandez: Colydiidae. (spe¬
cies key) Rev. Chilena de Ent. 4:153-158, 5 figs.

Cucujidae

Steel, W. 0. and R. W. Howe. 1955. A new species of Cryptolestes associated
with stored products in Africa, (also Leptophloeus mentioned) Proc. R. Ent.
Soc. London, B. 24(5-6) :107-109, 2 figs.

Curculionidae

Bondar, G. 1954. Novo besouro, Belopoeus orbignyae, da palmeira babagu.
Rev. Brasileira. Ent. 2 :215-218, 2 figs. Hammad, S. M. 1955. The immature
stages of Pentarthrum huttoni Woll. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London., A. 30(1-3) :
33-39, 4 figs. Kuschel, G. 1955. Nuevas sinonimias y anotaciones sobre Cur-
culionoidea. Rev. Chilena Ent. 4:261-312. (key to Neotropical genera of Hy-
lobiinae, pp. 291-294). Sleeper, E. L. 1955. New Rhynchophora from Western
United States, (in Podapion, Smicronyx, Rhynchaenus <& Strongylotes ) Pan-
Pacific Ent. 31(2) :87-89. Tuttle, D. M. 1953. Notes on Listronotus debilis
Blatch. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 48(5) :123-124. Vaurie, P. 1954 New species
of Calendra from Mexico, with notes on others. American Mus. Novitates, No.

1681, 8 pp.

Dermestidae

Anon. 1955. “The Khapra Beetle.” Spec. Rept. of Joint Interim Comm, on
Agr. & Livestock Problems, Publ. by Senate of California. 106 pp., 11 photos.
Beal, R. S. Jr. 1954. Classification of the dermestid genus DeartJirus with
description of a new western species. Pan-Pacific Ent. 30(4) :231-234, 1 fig.
Beal, R. S. Jr. 1954. A revision of the species included in the genus Novelsis.
(key to spp of males & females) Trans. American Ent. Soc. 80:73-90, 3 figs.
Beal, S. R. Jr. 1954. Biology and taxonomy of the Nearctic species of Trogo-
derma. (keys to spp. of adults and larvae) Univ. California Publ. Ent. 10(2) :
35-102, 18 figs. Okumura, G. T. and F. L. Blanc. 1955. Illustrated key to species
of Trogoderma and to related genera of Dermestidae commonly encountered in
stored grain in California. California Dept. Agr., Admin. Bull. T-l (mimeogr.)
pp. 1-5, illus.

Dryopidae

La Rivers, I. 1950. The Dryopoidea known or expected to occur in the
Nevada Area, (keys to larvae & adult genera, & to spp of Helichus) Wasmann
Jour. Biol. 8:100-104.

Dytiscidae

La Rivers, I. 1951. Nevada Dytiscidae. (keys to genera or larvae, pupae,
adults, & to spp of adult genera). American Midland Nat. 45(2) :392-406.
Leech, H. B. 1955. Records of water beetles from Manchuria and Siberia.

94

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

(Dytiscidae & Hyrdophilidae, with key to Ilybius apicalis complex) Pan-Pacific
Ent. 31(2) :80-82. Young, F. N. 1953. New species of Bidessus from southern
Michigan. (1 n. sp.) Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 48(4) :111-112. Young, F. N.
1953. New Ilydroporus from Michigan with notes on other members of the
H. vilis group) Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 48(5) :116-122, 1 pi. Young, F. N. 1953.
A new species of Hydrocanthus from Florida, with notes on other species of the
genus. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 549, pp. 1-6.

Elateridae

Arnett, R. H. Jr. 1955. Supplement and corrections to J. A. Hyslop’s
genotypes of the Elaterid beetles of the World. Proe. United States N. M.,
No. 3336, 103(599-619). Eidt, D. C. 1953. European wireworms in Canada
with particular reference to Nova Scotia infestation. Canadian Ent. 85(11) :
408-414, 1 map. Golbach, R. 1953. Revision de los Adelocerinae de la Argen¬
tina. (incl. Lacon & Dilobitarsus ) Acta. Zool. Lilloana 13:265-306, 5 figs., 2
tables. Golbach, R. 1953. Ovipalpus schajowskoii sp. n. (with key to spp of
Ovipalpus) . Acta. Zool. Lilloana 13:387-390, 4 figs.

Elmidae

La Rivers, I. 1950. The Dryopoidea known or expected to occur in the
Nevada Area, (key to spp. of Lara } Stenelmis, Narpus, Heterlimnius, & Micro-
cylloepus ) Wasmann Jour. Biol. 8(1) :104-108.

Erotylidae

Boyle, W. W. 1954. Concerning the status of Ischyrus graphicus Lac., with
descr. of 4 new Erotylidae species from western North America. Jour. New
York Ent. Soc. 62(1) :39-53. Pallister, J. C. 1955. The Pleasing Fungus Beetles
of North Central Mexico collected on the David Rockefeller Mexican Expeditions
of 1947. (no keys) American Mus. Novitates, No. 1706, pp. 1-6.

Helodidae

Leech, H. B. 1955. A new genus for Cyphon robustus. (Sarabandus) . Pan-
Pacific Ent. 31(1) :p. 34.

Hydrophilidae

La Rivers, I. 1954. Nevada Hydrophilidae. (keys to adult & larval genera
and to adults of all known Nevada spp.) American Midland Nat. 52(1) :164-
174. Leech, H. B. 1955. (see paper included under Dytiscidae by him, above)

( Hydrochara is included, with key to spp.) Pan-Pacific Ent. 31(2) :80-82.

Hypocephalidae

Araujo, R. L. 1954. Revisao da bibliografia e notas a ecologia de Hypo-
ceplnalus aramatus Desm., 1832. Rev. Brasileira Ent. 2 :175-192, 66 biblio¬
graphic references.

Lampyridae

Alicata, J. E. and H. A. Bess. 1952? Fireflies may control flukes. Hawaii
Farm Science 1(3) :pp 3 & 7, illus.

Lucanidae

Benesh, B. 1955. On the genus Macrocrates , with notes on other stag beetles.
Ent. News 66(3) :57-63, 4 figs, (no keys) Benesh, B. 1955. Some notes on Neo¬
tropical stagbeetles. (no keys) Ent. News 66(4) :97-104.

Meloidae

Farr, T. H. 1954. Helcidae (Diptera) attacking blister beetles in Mass. &
Ariz. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(3) :p. 88. Kaszab. Z. 1954. liber die Arten

1955

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

95

der Meloiden-Gattung Zonitodema Peringuey. (key to 13 Ethiopian spp.) Proc.
R. Ent. Soe. London, B. 23(11-12) :191-196. Selander, R. B. 1955. Blister beetle
genus Linsleya. (1 n. sp.) American Mus. Novitates, No. 1730, 30 pp., 12 figs.,
1 table. Vaurie, P. 1950. The blister beetles of North Central Mexico, (keys to
Mexican genera & to North Central Mexican spp. of Meloidae). American Mus.
Novitates, No. 1477, pp. 1-68, 21 figs. Werner, F. G-. 1955. Studies in the genus
Epic ant a of the North American continent. 1 — the cavipes group, (key to 14
known spp.) Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 50(1) :1-12, 1 table, 6 figs.

Melyridae

Marshall, M. Y. 1952. The Malachiidae of North Central Mexico, (key to
spp.) of Collops, pp. 3-4). American Mus. Novitates, No. 1584, pp. 1-20, 8 figs.
Marshall, M. Y. 1954. Studies in the Malachiidae, V. (no keys) Bull. Brooklyn
Ent. So. 49(3) :66-80.

Nitidulidae

Dobson, R. M. 1954. A note on the anatomy and morphology of the external
genitalia of Carpophilus obsoletus Er. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London, A. 29(4-6) :
45-50, 6 figs. Easton, A. M. 1955. A revision of the nearctic species of the
beetle genus Meligethes. (keys to spp.) Proc. United States N. M. 104(3339) :87-
103, 3 figs. G-illogly, L. R. 1955. Los insectos de las islas Juan Fernandez, (key to
spp. of Cnips ) Rev. Chilena Ent. 4:145-152, 3 figs. G-illogly, L. R. 1955. A re¬
view of the genus Mystrops Er. (key to 14 spp.) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 3:191-204,
8 figs.

Oedemeridae

Arnett, R. H. Jr. 1953. The Oedemerid beetles of the Bimini Island group,
Bahama Islands, British West Indies, (keys to spp.) American Mus. Novitates,
No. 1646, pp 1-13, 23 figs.

Paussidae

Pallister, J. C. 1954. Homopterus hondurensis Darlington from Yucatan,
Mexico. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(1) :27-28.

Pselaphidae

Marsh, G. A. and R. O. Schuster 1954. A preliminary revision of the genus
Pselaptrichus. (key to spp. on 10-11) Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 12(2) :
3-28, 3 pis., map. Park O. 1953. New or little-known pselaphid beetles of the
United States, with observations on taxonomy and evolution of the family Psela¬
phidae. (keys to spp. of Bythinopsis, Pselaptrichus , Machaerites, & Machaerodes)
Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 9(14) :249-283, 5 pis. Park, O. 1954. Pselaphidae of
South Bimini Island, British West Indies, (key to spp.) American Mus. Novi¬
tates, No. 1674, 25 pp. Park, O., et al. 1950. The tree-hole habitat, with emphasis
on the pselaphid beetle fauna. Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 9(2) :19-57, 6 pis., 5
tables, 3 figs. Park O. and R. O. Schuster 1955. A new subtribe of pselaphid
beetles from California. (Trisignina, with n. gen. Trisignis & 2 n. spp.) Chicago
Acad. Sci. Nat. Hist. Misc. No. 148, pp. 1-6, 8 figs.

Ptinidae

Townsend, L. H. 1954. Gibbium psylloides Czen. in Kentucky. (Distr. note)
Jour. New York Ent. Soc. 62(1) :p. 26.

Rhipiphoridae

Vaurie, P. 1955. A review of the genus Macrosiagon in Mexico, with notes on
Bhipiphorus. (key to Central Amer. spp. of Macrosiagon on pp. 5-6) American

96

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. IX, No. 6

Mus. Novitates, No. 1717, pp. 1-19.

Scarabaeidae

Battista, G. W. 1954. Changes in the fat content of the Japanese Beetle
during metamorphosis. Jour. New York Ent. Soc. 62(1) :27-37, 3 figs. Carne,
P. B. 1954. Notes on the Australian Rutelinae and description of a new genus,
Dynastomorphus. (key to spp. of this genus in Australia) Proc. R. Ent. Soc.
London, B. 23(1-2) :36-40, 17 figs. Cartwright, O. L. 1955. Scarab beetles of the
genus Psammodius in the Western Hemisphere, (key to spp. on pp. 417-420).
Proc. United States N. M., No. 3344, 104:413-462. Gressitt, J. L. 1953. The
Coconut Rhinocerus Beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros. B. P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 212, 157
pp., 50 figs. Howden, H. F. 1954. Notes on Australian beetles in the tribe Bolbo-
ceratini formerly in the genus Bolboceras. Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales
79 :142-144. Howden, H. F. 1954. Review of the genus Podolasia Harold, (key
to males) American Mus. Novitates, No. 1661, 11 pp., 15 figs. Howden, H. F.
1955. Case of interspecific ‘parasitism’ in Scarabaeidae. Jour. Tennessee Acad.
Sci. 30(1) :64-66. Knowlton, G. F. 1953. Dynastes granti in Utah, (distr. note)
Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 48(2) :p. 49. Martinez, A. 1951-1953. Scarabaeinae
nuevos o poco conocidos. (of Argentina) Mision de Estudios de Patologia
Regional Argentina 22(79) :31-40, 3 figs.; 22(80) :23-26, 13 figs.; 23(81-82) :53-
118, 40 figs., 2 tab. (key to spp. of Bruchaphodius) ; 24(83-84) :69-85, 22 figs.
Martinez, A. 1954. Un nuevo genero de Bolboceratini neotropical, (key to 3
spp.) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 2:193-204, 11 figs, (genus Zefevasia , of Argentina)
Vaurie, P. 1954. New synonymy in Diplotaxis. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(2) :
49-54. Vaurie, P. and M. A. Cazier 1955. Thirteen new species of Diplotaxis
from northern Mexico. American Mus. Novitates, No. 1739, 25 pp., 3 figs.

Scolytidae

Schedl, K. E. 1955. Chilenische Borkenkafer 4. Rev. Chilena de Ent. 4 :255-
284. Struble, G. R. and R. C. Hall 1955. The California 5-spined Engraver, Ips,
confusus : Its biology and control. United States D. A. Circ. No. 964, 21 pp.,
7 figs.

Staphylinidae

Steel, W. O. 1954. On Oxytelusi picticornis Fauvel, with the descriptions of
two allied species, (from New Caledonia). Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London, B. 23 :181-
187, 8 figs.

Tenebrionidae

Pallister, J. C. 1954. The tenebrionid beetles of North Central Mexico col¬
lected on the David Rockefeller Mexican Expedition of 1947. American Mus.
Novitates, No. 1697, 55 pp., 12 figs, (no keys)

Trogidae

Vaurie, P. 1955. A revision of the genus Trox in North America, (species key
on pp. 24-28) Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist. 106(1) :l-90, 27 figs.

Techniques

Edwards, G. A. et al. 1954. Electron microscopy in the study of insects, (some
references to muscles of Hydrophilus & Dytiscus) Rev. Brasileira Ent. 2:97-104.
Gressitt, J. L. 1954. Notes on the use of photography in taxonomic work. Bull.
Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49(4) :105-106, 1 fig. Hanson, J. F. 1954. Simple technique
for improving and accelerating KOH clearing of insects. Bull. Brooklyn Ent.
Soc. 49(1) :p, 21.

*

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

VOLUME 10, 1956

Published by THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

NAT.

HIST,

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin is published by the Department of Biology, Saint
John Fisher College, Rochester, New York, and edited by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.
Head, Department of Biology, and Associate Professor of Biology, Saint John
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with illustrations are particularly desired,
and in most cases, descriptions of new
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 10, 1956

Anderson, D. M., Notes on Cleonus piger (Scop.) in the Untied

States (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) _ 81

Arnett, R. H., Jr., Contribution towards a monograph of the Oede-

meridae. 9. Notes on the genus Oxacis LeConte _ 21

Arnett, R. H., Jr., Contribution towards a monograph of the Oede-
mericlae. 10. Two new species of Oxacis LeConte and the redis¬
tribution of an additional species _ 57

Ball, G. E. Notes on the genus Zacotas LeConte, 1869, and on the
classification of the tribe Broscini (= Broscidae sensu Jeannel,
1941. Coleoptera, Carabidae) _ 33

Bottimer, L. J., The identity of Bruchus arenarius Wolcott [Bru-

chidae] _ 67

Cobos, A., Un genero y dos nuevas especies de Buprestidae de Nueva
Guinea _ 91

Current Literature _ 25, 32, 52, 55, 62, 66, 68, 89

Forbes, AVm. T. M., Note on Atractocerus _ 10

Kissinger, D. J., Studies on North American Apion : The Apion

disparatum group (Curculionidae) _ 69

Lindroth, C. IL, The americanus group of Oodes (Carabidae) _ 63

Murayama, J. J., Two new species of Platypodiclae from the Orien¬
tal Region _ 11

McDermftt, F. A., Gigantic glowworms from South America - 17

Notice to All Subscribers _ 60

Notices _ 16

Projects _ - _ 16

Reviews _ 10, 20, 26

Recently Published _ . _ : _ 54, 85, 96

Rumpp, N. L., On the occurrence of Cicindela fera Chevrolat in the

United States (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) _ 55

Snyder, T. E., Cupes and Dacdalea _ _ _ 20

Vaurie, Patricia, Diplot axis of the eastern United States, with a new
species and other notes (Coleop., Scarabaeidae) - 1

Vaurie, Patricia, Octotoma gundlachi mining lantana leaves in

Cuba [Chrysomelidae] _ 80

Vaurie, Patricia, Atractocerus brasiliensis in Cuba - - — 86

Werner, F. G., Lappus thicaniformis, a new species from Michoacan

(Anthicidae) _ 87

Young, F. N., A preliminary key to the species of Hydrovatus of the
Eastern United States (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) -

Zimmerman, E. C., On Trachyphloeosoma and a new species from
Hawaii (Coleoptera: Cnrculionidae) _

Zimmerman, E. C., Notes on Pseudostenotrupis (Curculionidae:
Cassoninae) _ ... _

LIST OF NEW TAX A DESCRIBED IN VOLUME 10

Apion alloeum Kissinger, new species (Cnrculionidae) -

Apion bickleyi Kissinger, new species (Cnrculionidae) -

Apion schwarzi Kissinger, new species (Curculionidae) _

Apion sect at or Kissinger, new species (Curculionidae) _

Br achy cor oebus helferi Cobos, new species (Buprestidae) _

Biplot axis blanchardi Vaurie, new species (Scarabaeidae) _

Helferella Cobos, new genus (Buprestidae) _

Helferella dianae Cobos, new species (Buprestidae) _

Lappus thicaniformis Werner, new species (Anthicidae) _

Oocles brevis Linclroth, new species (Carabidae) _

Oxacis barbara Arnett, new species (Oedemeridae) _

Oxacis championi Arnett, new species (Oedemeridae) _

Oxacis nitens Arnett, new species (Oedemeridae) _

Oxacis nitens subspecies knulli Arnett, new species (Oedemeridae)

Platypus acutidentatus Murayama, new species (Platypodidae) _

Platypus kusukusensis Murayama, new species (Platypodidae) _

i

Pseudostenotrupis marshalli Zimmerman, new name for Leurostenus
filum Marshall (Curculionidae) _

Trachyphloeosoma advena Zimmerman, new species (Curculionidae)

DATES OF PUBLICATION
Volume 10, 1956

No. 1 (pp. 10-16), June 29, 1956
No. 2 (pp. 17-32), September 12, 1956
No. 3 (pp. 3-56), November 29, 1956
No. 4 (pp. 57-68), March 7, 1957
No. 5 (pp. 69-80), May 7, 1957
No. 6 (pp. 81-96), May 7, 1957

. m

ol€>

THE LIBWffy OF T

kM. -

o - M N W8

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

T, A . . . x , n .. ; of m

The Coleopterists Bulletin

Volume X

February, 1956

No. 1

„ . -r^bi^hed bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
^ ear’ both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

Tbe general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. Tohn
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr.‘ J. Go. Ion
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H, Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
\\ ashington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett. Jr.

DIPLOTAXIS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES, WITH A NEW
SPECIES AND OTHER NOTES (COLEOP., SCARABAEIDAE) 1

By Patricia Vaurie2

During the course of a revisional study of the North American scarab
beetles of, the genus Diplotaxis, subfamily Melolonthinae, it was found
that only a dozen or so of the 165 or 170 species inhabit the eastern
United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The
purpose of this preliminary paper is to present a key for the identifica¬
tion of the species of this area with their known distributional pattern,
to make known a new species, to bring the synonymy up to date, and to
request the loan of specimens (of these species only) from any localities
not included, such additional material to be incorporated in the final
revision of the genus. The majority of specimens on which this paper is
based are in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History ;
a few are from the collections of the University of California.3

The eastern species include many of the earliest described forms, in¬
cluding Kirby’s genotype, tristis. With the exception of Fall’s atlantis,
all the species were described before 1900, most of them before 1860.
Two species, cephalotes and bowditchi Fall, described from southern
Illinois and Missouri respectively, are Mexican species that do not occur
in the United States, the former being a synonym of the Mexican simplex
Banchard. Five of the species are large (9 to 12 nun.), the remaining
small; all are glabrous dorsally except sordida. Some of the species,

1This study is made possible, in part, by a grant from the National Science Founda¬
tion.

2 American Museum of Natural History.

3I wish to thank Dr. O. L. Cartwright of the United States National Museum, for
examination of the type of nigra, Dr. P. J. Darlington, Jr., of the Museum of Com¬
parative Zoology, for information on the type of Alobus fulvus, and Mr. A. T. McClay
and Dr. P. H. Hurd, Jr., of the University of California, for the loan of specimens.

2

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

( atlantis , frondicola, liberta, punctatorugosa, tristis, and the harperi-
fulva group) extend their ranges west of the Mississippi, some to Ne¬
braska, Kansas, and Oklahoma; liberta and tristis have been taken in
Ontario, Canada, and tristis also in Nova Scotia. D. bidentata, sub-
costata, languida and rufa occur in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal states
but not inland, the latter two being known from Florida only.

Key to the Species of Diplotaxis of the Eastern United States

I. Head, pronotum, and elytra covered with short hairs — -_.i - sordida

Head, pronotum, and elytra glabrous, without hairs - 2

2. Front of head behind clypeus rather abruptly transversely swollen, often pinched, and

base of both elytra and pronotum on sides deeply depressed; small (8 to 9 mm.)

_ punctatorugosa

Front of head behind clypeus not at all swollen, or if slightly so, then either size larger,
10 to 12 mm., or base of pronotum and elytra not depressed - - - 3

3. Front angles of pronotum either markedly acute (fig. I), or impressed, or both;

large (II to 12 mm.) _ 4

Front angles of pronotum not acute or impressed; large or small.— - 5

4. Pronotum sparsely, irregularly punctured (many impunctate areas); scutellum usually

well punctured; labrum at middle same length as or shorter than reflexed underside

of clypeus _ liberta

Pronotum densely, uniformly punctured; scutellum usually virtually impunctate; labrum
at middle longer than reflexed underside of clypeus _ tristis

5. Pronotum with a basal depression from side to side consisting of a line of impressed

punctures usually bordered in front by impunctate space _ . _ harperi-fulva group

Pronotum without basal depressed line _ _ _ 6

6. Front tibiae tridentate, the basal tooth in front of middle, the apical tooth no larger

than the middle tooth (fig. 2) _ _ _ _ _ 7

Front tibiae seemingly bidentate, basal tooth either obsolete, or very small and
situated slightly behind the middle, apical tooth very long (fig. 3) - 8

7 Large, II to 13 mm.; elytral costae visible, their4 punctures much smaller than those

on wide interva Is _ _ . _ atlantis

Small, 7 to 9 mm.; elytral costae scarcely recognizable because their punctures of
same size as those on wide intervals _ frondicola

8. Head and clypeus with punctures so coarse, deep, and dense that the roughened

surface is n,early tuberculate _ rufa

Head and clypeus with punctures dense or sparse, but not causing surface to be rough
or tuberculate _ 9

9. Elytra very elongate, at least four times longer than pronotum; small, 6 to 8 mm., pale

yellow _ languida

Elytra no more than three times longer than pronotum; small or large, reddish to

black _ 10

10. P rocess between front coxae unicarinate; sides of pron,otum evenly arcuate to front

and hind angles; clypeal margin evenly arcuate; small, 8 to 9 mm _ bidenta+a

Process between front coxae bicarinate (but unicarinate in two of 53 specimens)’
sides of pronotum bulging at middle, thence sinuate or constricted to front and
hind angles; clypeal margin slightly emarginate or nearly truncate; usually over
9 mm. _ subcostata

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

3

All the above species have the claws bent and cleft apically, although
less so in tristis and liberta, but they do not necessarily belong to the
same gioup except geographically. Their affinities to other members
of the genus are not discussed here but a few descriptive lines are given
for each species. The species are arranged below in alphabetical order
for convenience.

Distributional and Synonymical Notes

Specimens have been examined from all localities except those marked
with an asterisk (") , which are taken from the literature. The only eastern
states not represented are West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Diplotaxis ATLANTIS Fall, 1909

Type Locality: Rhode Island.

Synonym: Diplotaxis nigra Cartwright, 1939; type locality, Hinton,
Oklahoma.

Atlantic coast and inland. "Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Dela¬
ware, District of Columbia, Maryland, "Virginia, "North Carolina,
"Georgia, and inland in Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

This large species is similar in many characters to tristis and liberta
of the eastern species, differing from both in the shape of the pronotum
1 which does not have the front angles acute or impressed.

Although the types of atlantis and nigra are from widely located spots,
they are nonetheless the same species as shown by an examination of
two topo paratypes of nigra and reexamination of the type by its author.

Diplotaxis bidentata LeConte, 1856

Type Locality : Georgia.

Atlantic coast. New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida.

A black, highly polished, very round, small species with the head and
pronotum very sparsely punctured and the front tibiae, as in languida
and some of the other species, virtually bidentate.

Diplotaxis frondicola (Say), 1825

Type Locality : United States.

Atlantic and Gulf coasts and inland. '"'New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
"Maryland, "District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, "Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and inland, Kentucky, "Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, "Nebraska, and Kansas.

A robust, light brown species with a large pronotum that is exceedingly
uniformly densely punctured (head and clypeus also have same kind of
punctuation). A number of other species from Texas and farther west
( thoracica , pinguescens , basalis, dubia) might readily be confused where
they occur together.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

The Harperi-fulva Group

The three eastern species of this group are as similar to one another
externally as are the various confusing forms of the trapezifera Bates
group of species from the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Cen¬
tral America (the U. S. representatives being angular is, pinalica, chiri-
cahuae, etc.). In both groups, however, the male genitalia exhibit con¬
stant differences, and once the identity of each species can be established
by the genitalia, then the slight external differences can be used to
separate the species, at least in most cases.

When Fall said about harperi Blanchard that, ‘ ‘ barring texana, which
is closely allied, there is little danger of mistaking this species for any
other,” he did not know that there might be other species involved, all
of which have, with slight variations, the general characters he gives, ‘ ‘ the
rounded clypeus, strongly transverse prothorax with sides straighter and
less convergent than usual, with the distinctly impressed basal margin,
and the rather course and dense punctuation,” (1909, p. 80). He con¬
sidered the type and only specimen of Alohus fulvus LeConte as an aber¬
rant form of harperi. I also have seen this type and it is certainly a
Diplotaxis, as shown by Fall, but I believe it is a distinct species very
close to harperi. Of the 150 or so specimens examined in this group, I
have identified only five as fulva; the males of fulva differ from 28 dis¬
sected males of harperi in the genitalia (figs. 4, 5), and both sexes of
fulva differ in the straighter sides of the pronotum as well as in other
relative characters, such as longer antennal club, longer and narrower
palpal segment, larger pygidium, longer clypeus, larger eyes. The third
species in the group is new and is described below.

Diplotaxis fulva, (LeConte), 1856

Type Locality: New York.

Known from New York and New Jersey only.

Diplotaxis harperi Blanchard, 1850

Type Locality: Savannah, Georgia.

Atlantic coast and inland. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Caro¬
lina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and inland in Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Fall gives
about ten additional states but there is no way of knowing whether he
had harperi or the new species.

Diplotaxis blanchardi, new species
(Figures 6, 7)

Medium in size, reddish brown to piceous, head often black, glabrous
dorsally; clypeus evenly arcuate; labrum large and flat; pronotum

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

5

strongly transverse; punctures large and coarse and deep; claws cleft
subapically.

Description of Type: Male: Length 9 mm. Head with front rounded to clypeus
but slightly declivous just behind clypeus, densely irregularly punctured in front, the
punctures becoming sparser behind, with an impunctuate space at middle of vertex;
eyes very large, each eye about one quarter of width of vertex; clypeus without hairs,
long, nearly one half of length of head, punctures somewhat denser than those on
head, broadly rounded, margin straight in front, slightly reflexed, broadly rounded to
sides which are scarcely sinuate, sides not reflexed; labrum large, nearly flat, shallowly
curved in front, longer at middle than at sides and at least twice as long at middle as
reflexed underside of clypeus, moderately punctured; mentum rather flat, irregularly
declivous in front, the declivity more or less scalloped behind with an incomplete
raised edge, the edge pubescent; palpi without dorsal impressed area on terminal seg¬
ment; antennae 10-segmented, club as long as funicular segments combined. Pronotum
rather flat, twice wider than long, widest just behind middle, lateral margins gently
aicuate to basal and apical angles which are not produced or impressed, surface densely
punctured except for impunctate area at middle base, punctures on sides rugose, sides
at middle with a small round depression, punctures same size as those on head, base
of pronotum impressed from side to side with large touching punctures. Scutellum
with one puncture. Elytra irregularly punctured as on pronotum, three times longer
than pronotum, second interval multipunctate, costae convex, with smaller punctures
separated by about 4 or 5 times their diameters, surface exceedingly shiny, the punc¬
tures deep set, very confused, giving rugose appearance, marginal hairs short. Abdomen
not ridged laterally ; pygidium with large punctures as on elytral intervals, separated
by about one half their diameters ; last abdominal segment without groove above
pygidium. Hind tarsi about as long as hind tibiae; first hind tarsal segment shorter
tiian second and twice as wide at apex as at base, this segment shorter than the longest
of the posterior spurs; middle tarsi with first and second segments about equal in
length; front tibiae with basal outer tooth in front of middle (about as in fig. 2);
claws abruptly angulate and cleft subapically, tooth almost as long as claw. Genitalia

(fig. 6), the outer lobes are joined at less than basal fourth, their apices are truncate
and not deflexed.

Type Locality: Elmwood, Tennessee. Type, male, in the collection of
the American Museum of Natural History. Sixty paratypes : New York :
1 female. Kentucky: 1 female; Princeton, Apr. 29, 1937, 1 male; Lexing¬
ton, Sept, 8, 1940, 1 male; Minorsville, May 8, 1939, 2 females. Indiana:
Orleans, Apr., June, 1934, 1939, 5 males, 10 females. Illinois: Carbondale,
May 19, 1910, 2 males “on oaks”; Pittsfield, July 6, 1946, June 3, 1948.
6 males, 13 females; Rock Island, June 3, 1930, 1 male. Iowa: 1 female;
Mt, Pleasant, June 1, 1926, 1 female. Missouri: Ranken, May 20, 1934,
1 female. Nebraska: Fort Omaha, May, 1943, 1 female; Sioux Co., June
22, 1926, 1 female. Kansas: 1 female; Topeka, 1 male; Lawrence, June,
1925, 1933, May, 1951, 2 males, 3 females; Douglas Co., 1 female; Osage
Co., June 14, 1925, 1 male; Montgomery Co., 1916, 1 female. Oklahoma:
Sulphur, May 23, 1937, 1 male. Texas : Jeff Davis Co., July 8, 1933,

1 female. Paratypes in the collection of the American Musuem and of
the University of California.

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Vol. X, No. I

Diagnosis : Distinguished from its close relatives, fulva and harperi,
principally by the difference in the male genitalia (figs. 4-6 ), but

distinguished from them externally only by rather slight and relative
characters ; from fulva by the arcuate, not virtually straight, sides of the
pronotum; from harperi by the more sparsely punctured head and
clypeus, especially the vertex of the head which usually has impunctate
areas, and by the slight interruption between head and clypeus at the
suture (in harperi the head and clypeus are equally densely punctured
as if they were one). The clypeus in Uanchardi is usually not so broad
as in harperi and is sometimes subsinuate at middle, the eyes, pygidium,
and antennal club are bigger, the pygidium more sparsely punctured,
the last palpal segment is stouter, the labrum flatter, the apices of the
penis flat and truncate, the lobes joined nearer base.

Remarks: Most of the 21 male and 39 female paratypes are from
separate localities except for two series, one from Pittsfield, Illinois, and
one from Orleans, Indiana. I have examined dissected males of harperi
from these same localities, and the two species also from other identical
places. No hlanchardi have been seen from the southeastern coastal states
where harperi has been taken, but it may be found to occur there.

The sexes are rather difficult to distinguish externally in both
hlancliardi and harperi because the shape of the pygidium varies and
because the first hind tarsal segment in the male is shorter than the spur
and is widened at the apex as in the female, not thin and elongated as in
the males of most Diplotaxis. It is, however, slightly narrower than in
the female, the hind femora are also narrower, the hind tarsi longer, and
the spurs narrower and more pointed. Thirteen of the 21 males were
dissected.

The size range of the paratype series is from 8 to 10 mm. More indi¬
viduals are piceous and dark in color than are reddish like the type. The
pronotal and elytral punctuation is often more confluent than in the
type, the elytral costae are often virtually obliterated by the punctures.
The scutellum is generally impunctate, but may have quite a few shallow
punctures.

Three males and three females from Urbana, Illinois (taken at four
different dates) have not been included as paratypes because there is
some doubt as to whether they are this species. The males have the inner
edge of the hind tibiae very hairy and although males of blanchardi
from nearby places in Illinois and elsewhere do have a few hairs, they
are certainly not so abundant. More specimens from Urbana are needed
to show whether this is an individual variation. The male genitalia are
also slightly different, being stouter and more widened apically, but
essentially the same.

1956

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7

Diplotaxis languida LeConte, 1878

Type Locality: Tampa, Florida.

Florida only. A very pale yellow species, often with the pronotum
slightly reddish ; elongate, small, with a short clypeus as in bidentata,
about one third or one fourth of the length of the head.

Diplotaxis liberta (Germar), 1824

Type Locality: America septentrionali.

Synonyms : Melolontha moesta Say, 1825; type locality, United States.
Diplotaxis georgiae Blanchard, 1850; type locality, Savannah, Georgia.

Atlantic and Gulf coasts and inland. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Delaware, ^Maryland, ^District of Columbia, Vir¬
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and inland,
^Kentucky, *Iowa, and Ontario, Canada.

Often confused with tristis, but the pronotal front angles are usually
narrower, more acute, and the pronotal punctuation sparser, less uniform.

Diplotaxis punctatorugosa Blanchard, 1850

Type Locality: Savannah, Georgia.

Synonyms: Diplotaxis excavata LeConte, 1856; type locality, Georgia.
Diplotaxis frontalis , LeConte, 1856 ; type locality, Georgia. Diplotaxis
densicollis Fall, 1909 ; type locality, South Carolina.

Atlantic and Gulf coasts and inland. Rhode Island, New Jersey,
Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, and inland in Oklahoma.

Distinguished from all eastern species by the ridged head. The broad
rounded clypeus and large labrum associate this small species with the
members of the harperi-fulva group. The reasons for the synonymy were
given by Vaurie (1954, p. 51) ; I have since dissected some males and
find the genitalia of the three forms similar. A correction is necessary
in that I stated that the type locality of excavata was not designated by
LeConte, and it was designated as Georgia.

Diplotaxis rufa Linell, 1895

Type Locality: Georgiana, Florida.

Florida only. Size of the above species. Close to subcostata, with the
same kind of sinuation of the sides of the pronotum, the same front
tibiae, with the third or upper tooth tiny or obsolete, but distinguished
from it and all other species I know by the intensely pock-marked
appearance of the head. I have seen only five specimens.

Diplotaxis sordida (Say), 1825

Type Locality: United States.

Synonym: Diplotaxis rugosioides Schaeffer, 1907; type locality,
Hampton, New Hampshire.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

Atlantic and Gulf coasts and inland. New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and inland in Michigan.

This large species (11 mm.) is the only one in the eastern area that
is hairy dorsally. It is so uniformly finely, densely, rugosely punctured
dorsally that the differentiation between the broad and narrow (or
costal) intervals of the elytra cannot be made; even the limits of the
sutural interval are obscured. It is also quite distinct because of its very
deeply emarginate clypeus.

The form rugosioides is said to differ “in the absence of dense, yellow¬
ish pubescence of the thorax and also the much shorter and scarcely
visible pubescence on the elytra” (Schaeffer, p. 62) and I have seen a
number of specimens from various localities that have this short pubes¬
cence throughout. However, I believe this is due to wear and/or to
individual variation because, although most of the specimens have the
pronotal hairs longer and denser than those on the elytra, some have the
hairs equally long on both pronotum and elytra or even equally short
on both {rugosioides) , and some have both long and short pubescence on
the elytra. The male genitalia of the short and long haired forms appear
to be identical.

Diplotaxis subcostata Blanchard, 1850

Type Locality: Savannah, Georgia.

Synonym: Diplotaxis castanea Burmeister, 1855; type locality, North
America.

Atlantic and Gulf coasts. New Jersey, ^Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, * Alabama, *Texas,

Similar to rufa but usually larger, and with the head sparsely, not
densely punctured. Apparently the only species with the prosternal
process bicarinate, instead of unicarinate.

Diplotaxis tristis Kirby, 1837
Type Locality : “latitude 54°,’’ [Canada].

Synonym: Diplotaxis corpulenta Burmeister, 1855; type locality
Pennsylvania.

Atlantic coast and inland. *Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa¬
chusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nova
Scotia, Canada; inland in Michigan, ^Kansas, and Ontario, Canada.

Same size and general appearance as liberta and atlantis, differing
from the former as stated in the key and from both in the more arcuate
front margin of the labrum which is also longer and narrower.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

9

Literature Cited

Fall, H. C. 1909. Revision of the species of Diplot axis of the United
States. Trans. American Ent. Soc., vol. 35, pp. 1-97, pi. 1.
Schaeffer, C. 1907. New Scarabaeidae. Jonrn. New York Ent. Soc.,
vol. 15, pp. 60-75.

Vaurie, P. 1954. New synonymy in Diplotaxis (Coleop., Scarabaeidae).
Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., vol. 49, pp. 49-54.

Fig. I. Pronotum of Diplotaxis liberta, showing front angle. Fig. 2. Front tibia of
D. atlantis and D. frondicola. Fig. 3. Front tibia of D. bidentata, languida, rufa,
and subcostata. Fig. 4. Male genitalia of D. fulva , South Orange, N. J. Fig. 5.
Male genitalia of D. harperi, Kentucky. Fig. 6. Male genitalia of Zh blanchardi,
new species, type, Elmwood, Tenn. Fig. 7. Diplotaxis blanchardi, new species.

10

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

Review

INSECTS OF MICRONESIA

Introduction, vol. 1, by J. Linsley
Gressitt, 1954. 257 pp. Bibliog¬
raphy, vol. 2, by Teiso Esaki,
E. H. Bryan, Jr., and J. L.
Gressitt, 1955. 65 pp. Coleop-
tera : Chrysomelidae, vol. 17, no.
1, by J. Linsley Gressitt, 1955.
60 pp. Bernice P. Bushop Mu¬
seum, Honolulu.

It is no surprise that this series
of publications describing the in¬
sect fauna of the Micronesian is¬
lands is off to a splendid start. It
is under the able direction and edi¬
torship of Dr. J. Linsley Gressitt
who is well known for his work on
the beetles of the Asiatic region,
and for his boundless energy.

The first two volumes of the
series serve as an introduction and
background for those to follow. A
prospectus of forthcoming volumes
is published in the introduction.
Volume 1 is an excellent source
book for the geography and ecology
of these islands. It is only neces¬
sary to thumb through the volume
to realize that these islands are
the reality of our childhood dreams
— the tropical paradise that every
naturalist dreams of visiting. A
study of the text will reveal the
tremendous amount of field work
that has gone into the project, con¬
vincing evidence of the usefulness
of the specialized volumes to follow
provided the individual authors
take advantage of this wealth of
field experience.

R. H. Arnett, Jr.

NOTE ON ATRACTOCERUS

I still think that this genus is definitely Coleopteran, Polyphagan, and nearer to the
Lymexylidae than anything else. I think if Dr. King lifts the elytron without dis¬
turbing the folding of the wing, he will find the median sclerite diagonally folded in
exactly the same way in both Eylecoetus and Atractocerus, with two convex and an
intervening concave fold radiating from its apex, just as I figured it in the VE Congres
Internationale o’Entomologie, pi. 15, fig. 21, in 1932. The concave furrow runs
between the trifid vein and the next single axillary, just as it does between the anas¬
tomosing four veins and the fifth of the principal group in Eylecoetus and many
Coleoptera, and the preceding and following convex folds also fall in the same posi¬
tions, indicating strongly that the 3 -forked vein represents three main anal branches,
and the two following ones the same two of most Coleoptera. The specialization is
exactly parallel to that between the Tenebrionidae and the Meloidae, save than in
the latter ease each stage has one less vein. — Wm, T. M. Forbes, 16 Garden St., Cam¬
bridge 38, Mass.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

II

TWO NEW SPECIES OF PLATYPODIDAE FROM THE

ORIENTAL REGION

By Jozo J. Murayama1

In the course of the study, at the Smithsonian Institution, of Ipidae
and Platypodidae of the Oriental Region, two new species of Platy-
podidae were encountered. Each was represented by a male specimen.
The first was collected in the Palau Islands and was in the collection of
the II. S. National Museum, the other was in the writer’s collection,
haiing been collected by him in the wood of Japanese cedar ( Crypto -
Diet japonica D. Don.) from Formosa. The former species was recently
supplemented by 24 additional specimens, including males and females,
sent by Dr. S. L. Wood, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada.
Dr. W ood is interested in the species in connection with his study of
the group for the series on the insects of Micronesia.

Following is the description of the characters of the new species.

1. Platypus acutidentatus new species
(Figures 1-8)

Male : Elongate, reddish testaceous, apex of elytra darker. Front
slightly elevated in middle, reticulate, rugose with scattered shallow
punctures, a short median sulcus below the center, ciliate over mouth
and near vertex, eyes large, round, convex, antennae (fig. 6) with
scapus large, triangular, convex, pilose, with funiculus of four articules
of which the first large globular, clubs large, oblong, slightly incurved
near apex, covered densely with short and long setae ; vertex subangular,
reticulate, rugose with a shining median line and a vague elevation on
each side of the median line, punctation as in the front. Prothorax one
third longer than broad, surface shining, scattered with irregular punc¬
tures of two sizes, with a narrow median groove on the posterior part of
surface, not reaching the center nor base. Elytra cylindrical, slightly
broader in middle than prothorax, contracted before declivity, surface
faintly but regularly striate punctate, punctures round, sutural and sub-
sutural striae being impressed, interstices almost impunctate, 1st, 3rd
and 5th interstices slightly elevated near bases; declivity perpendicular
with external angles curved downwards and backwards, fundus almost
circular, the outer edge being weakly serrate, the upper edge almost
transverse when seen from above, leaving minute incision on suture, the
impressed surface of declivity polished, concave with apical emargina-
tion narrower than deep, reaching near center, each side with a tri¬
angular pointed upright tooth behind middle, the inner sutural angles
obtuse, external apical angles sharp (fig. 7, 8).

1Present address: U. S. National Museum, Washington 25, D. C.

12

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Vol. X, No. I

Female: Cylindrical, testaceous, elytral declivity and legs reddish
brown. Front depressed in behind half, deeper posteriorly, finely reticu¬
late, with few shallow punctures, weakly ciliate, with scarcely elevated
middle part, median line fine, short, antennae (fig. 2) yellowish, clubs
broad with round apex, incurvaiton almost invisible ; vertex short,
emarginated anteriorly by the depression of front forming a semicircular
ridge, median line and 'side elevations almost invisible. Prothorax one-
third longer than broad, surface shining weakly, reticulate finely, sprin¬
kled with fewer punctures than in male, median sulcus fine, not reaching
base, surrounded with a broad cordate patch, each side consisting with
9-10 irregular compact series of minute punctures (fig. 1). Elytra
cylindrical, slightly narrowed at base and broader in middle, gradually
narrowing behind middle and abruptly near declivity ; surface with series
of very weak punctures, alternate interstices forming costa-like elevation,
bases of 2nd and 5th rugose with many tubercles ; declivity almost perpen¬
dicular, forming obtuse edge with upper surface, with sutural angles
obtuse, apical emargination shallow, about one-third of sutural length
in declivity, without spines, exterior margin round, with fine but distinct
serration, fundus slightly depressed behind and along the upper and
outer margins, scattered with long hairs, rugose (figs. 3, 4).

Measurements of type specimens:

Male mm.

Female mm.

Length of body

4.24

4.28

Length of prothorax

1.24

1.24

Width of prothorax

0.96

0.96

Length of elytra

2.80

2.44

Width of elytra (at base)

0.96

0.94

Width of elytra (before the declivity)

1.12

0.96

Holotype, male, U. S. National Museum; allotype and 23 syntypes to
be returned to Dr. Wood who will distribute them as agreed upon for
the Insects of Micronesia.

Host tree : Unknown.

The first specimen found of this new species was in the collection of
the U. S. National Museum (K. L. Maehler, leg. 1 $ , March 1948, from
Palau Isl.). After that 24 specimens were sent for determination by
Dr. S. L. Wood, Dept. Agr., Ottawa, Canada. The latter contains 8 males
and 16 females, all from Palau Isl. (J. L. Gressitt,’ 2 MM, 6 X, 1951,
12 XII, 1952, 8 FF, 6-10 XII, 1952 ; J. W. Beardley, 2 MM, XI, 1952,
IV, 1953, 1 F, IV, 1953; H. S. Dybas, 4 MM, 4 VIII, 1945, 14 XII, 1952,
5 FF, 4-28 VIII, 1945; E. Hagen 2 FF, 1 & 29 VIII, 1945).

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

13

This species belongs to Platypi cupulati of Chapius, resembling Platy¬
pus decens Sampson.1 However, in the new species the male body larger,
declivity with upper edges forming right angles with suture, the apical
emargination obtuse to suture, its teeth are large, perpendicular to the
surface of fundus and situated near apex. From another resembling
species, Platypus malmsei Schedl2 this species differs in the punctation
of pronotum and in the construction of declivity. These characters are
common in the 9 males without any deviation. The female shows rather
common form as those of other Platypi cupulati type females. However,
the special semicircular depression in the front and the construction of
declivity are characteristic.

2. Platypus kusukusensis new species
(Figures 9-12)

Male : Elongate subcylindrical, reddish testaceous, head and apex of
elytra darker. Front convex, transversely depressed over the mouth,
reticulate rugose, sparsely set with few shallow piligerous punctures, a
short longitudinal sulcus in the center, eyes large, round, convex, black,
antennae with scapus large, round, convex, pilose, clubs large, oval,
liilose ; vertex convex, continuous from front without boundary, reticu¬
late, scattered with few large punctures, with a long shining median line
continuing from base to apex, a vague longitudinal elevation on each
side of the median sulcus. Prothorax two-fifths longer than wide, surface
shining, irregularly scattered with fine punctures, minutely wrinkled,
before base and behind apex where it is also comixed with punctures,
median groove short, situated posteriorly, not reaching base; accom¬
panied with an oblong area which contains about 10 series of punctures
(fig. ,10). Elytra cylindrical with fine but regular striae of punctures
curving outwards before declivity, the first striae impressed throughout,
the others at bases only, interstices almost impunctate, elevated at bases,
the 1st, 3rd and 5th jointed at bases, declivity declined downwards and
backwards, rounded hexagonal in contour, concave, shining, slightly ele¬
vated in both sides of suture, without punctures, with sharp serrate outer-
edges, posterior emargination not deep, reaching one-third of the entire
sutural length in declivity, each side with a thick and pointed tooth in
middle, with external angles obtuse, prolonged backwards, upper edge
of the declivity recurved when seen from above, forming a small sharp
angle with suture (figs. 11, 12).

1 Am. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9, 10, p. 147 (1922).

2Ark. Zool. 31 B, no. 11, p. 3 (1939).

14

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

to*

^ )tUA\*Aj4,y*+.

Figures 1-8, Platypus acutidentatus, new species. Fig. 1, female, dorsal aspect,
X15.7; fig. 2, female antenna, X15-7; fig. 3, female, lateral aspect of elytral apex,
X15.7; fig. 4, female, posterior aspect of elytral declivity, X15-7; fig. 5, male, dorsal
aspect, X14.6; fig. 6, male, antenna, greatly enlarged; fig. 7, male, lateral aspect of
elytral apex, XU-6; fig- 8, male, posterior aspect of elytral declivity, X14.6.

Figures 9-12, Platypus husukusensis, new species. Fig. 9, male dorsal aspect, X14.2;
fig. 10, male, patch of punctures on pronotum, greatly enlarged; fig. 11, male, lateral
aspect of elytral apex, X14.2; fig. 12, male, posterior aspect of elytral declivity
X14.2.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

(5

Measurements of the type specimen :

Male mm.

Length of body

3.3

Length of prothorax

1.0

Width of prothorax

0.7

Length of elytra

2.06

Width of elytra (at base)

0.70

Width of elytra (before declivity)

0.72

Habitat: Kusukus, Formosa (J. J. Murayama, 18 XII, 1922), ex
C ryptomeria japonica D. Don.).

Type in the writer’s collection.

This species belongs to Platypi cupulati Chapnis and can be separated
from other species by the characteristic shape of elytral declivity and
by the punctures on the thoracic surface.1 The writer found this example
in the course of the revision of the Formosan Scolytidae during the stay
in the Smithsomian Institution, U. S. National Museum, Washington
25, D. C.

1 This new species resembles mostly P. malaisei Schelcl, Ark. Zool. 3 IB, p. 2 (1939).
However, by comparison with that author’s description, the new species is smaller,
the punctation on front and on pronotum and construction of the elytral declivity are.
quite different.

16

THE COLEOPTER1STS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. I

‘I

Jarrige, R. Jeannel, C. Koch, etc. A
number of important papers have been
published in 1953. Dr. Jeannel (Mem.
Inst. Scient. Madag., E IV, p. 139-344,
200 figs.) gives a taxonomic revision of
the Pselaphidae from Madagascar de¬
scribing 69 genera of which 26 are new
and 163 species with 86 new species. A
fairly important number of new species
of Carabidae, Scolytidae, Cleridae, Helo-
didae, Alleculidae, Scraptiidae, Malaco-
dernata, etc., are described in recent
numbers of the Mem. Ins. Scient. Madag.

(H. F. Howden)

NOTICES

Wants, exchanges, and requests for information, but not advertisements for the sale of
specimens and equipment, will be published here provided it pertains to beetles. This service
is free. Notices will be published as space permits. Paid advertisements will be accepted.

CHRYSOMELIDAE, CERAMBYCIDAE : Exchange. Offer Asian, Pacific
Coleoptera in various groups; particularly desire Cryptocephalinae, Hispinae,
Disteniinae of world. J. L. Gressitt, Bishop Museum, Honolulu 17, Hawaii.

INDIAN COLEOPTERA: Offering for sale South Indian beetles of all families.
All specimens with correct data. P. Susai Nathan, Naturalist, Kurumbagaram,
P. 0., via Karikal, Tanjore District, South India. (Adv.)

CHILEAN COLEOPTERA: Offering for sale beetles from Chile at 5 to 20 cents
each in series of 10 to 20 of each species. Write for available material. Tomas
Cekalovic K., Casilla 214, Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile. (Adv.)

PRIONINAE : Wanted, information on check list and literature of
world species of subfamily Prioninae. Will buy specimens or literature.
E. W. Mange, Box 6, Hanover, Pa.

RHIPIPHORIDAE : Specimens of the following genera, and other
desired for study for preparation of Ph.D. thesis: Setosicornia Pic,
Trigonodera Dej., Ancliolaemus Gerst., Rhipiphorus Bosq, Rhipidius
Thunb., Pelecotomoides Cast., Euctenia Gerst, Evanicerct Guer., Metoecus
Gerst., Aporrhipis Pasc. Mireya Manfrini, Department of Zoology of
the Miquel Lillo Institute, Miguel Lillo 205, Tucuman, Argentina.

COLEOPTERA OF NORTH CHILE, PERU & BOLIVIA: On ex¬
pedition to these areas to collect topotypes of insects collected in 1937
by Dr. Titcnack that were destroyed during the last war. Luis R. Pena,
Casilla 2984, Santiago, Chile.

Projects

Dr. R. Paulian has written that for
the last four years, the Institute for Sci¬
entific Research of Madagascar has been
slowly building up a general collection
of the local insect fauna. Coleoptera
make up a prominent part of this collec¬
tion, filling 190 large sized insect boxes.
Types of 145 local species and many
paratypes are represented in the collec¬
tion. Much of the material has been
identified by specialists, such as Drs.
Strohecker, Guignot, Yrydagh, Bechyne,

lo

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume X

April, 1956

No. 2

SAINT bTOHN iSwAnTWw February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

year both do mffi?S = $4'°0 ^

the f Sluwfng6 Adv?soi7eBoard ^Dr °1 *R>^erHtSAmett *^Jr aiH ^ejer^*ne^ on the recommendation of
Fisher Coilege; Dr. Henry DietSc^rof^

Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. E^Ine J Gerber I^seci Control
and Research, Inc Baltimore. Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of ZooS University of

by RossStHn’ A?nettrjrGe°rge B' V°gt’ EntomoloSist> u- S. Department of Agr&ture. Edited

GIGANTIC GLOWWORMS FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

By Frank A. McDermott1

cP

%

In 1923 Barber-’ described “A Remarkable Wingfess Ofow-w&rm from
Ecuador,” which he very tentatively identified as th;^apt?rgus ffmale of

IflljllJf

liiiiiiiiiii

wtT»«C 1

_ { 2

3(

Fig. 1. Dorsal view of the 60
mm. larva. Fig. 2. Ventral view
of the 65 mm. larva. Fig. 3.
Dorsal view of the 40 mm. lar-

>v

va. (Photographs taken with a
2*4 x 3*4 Eastman Kodak set
at infinity, with an accessory
lens of 105 mm. focal length,
Panatomic X film, f. 32, 20
secs, exposure under illumina¬
tion of two 75-watt inside-
frosted lamps in reflectors
about 12 ins. from the object
and directed at an angle of
about 45 °.)

1 Wilmington, Delaware.

-Barber, Herbert S.; Insecutor Inscitiae Mentruus, Vol. XI, pp. 191 194. l pi.

NAT.

HIST.

17

18

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 2

Phaenolis abditus E. Oliv. This female was 35 mm. long; an accompany¬
ing larva was 40 mm. long, and both had been taken at altitudes of 2500-
3000 meters. Barber also mentions a larva 50 mm. long taken in Chile
and orginally questionably referred to the female of Cladodes ater Solier,
though regarded by Barber as more probably the larva of a species of
Calyptocephalus or of a Pleotomus- like form. I have recently received
from Sr. Luis E. Pena, Santiago, Chile, three very large lampyrid larvae
measuring 65, 60, and 40 mm. long ; these were taken at Recinto, Nuble
Prov., and El Coigual, Curico Prov., at altitudes of probably around
1500-2000 meters. They are apparently all of the same species, and are
not adult females ; they differ from the specimens described by Barber.
A similar larva, but only 19 mm. long, taken at Estero de Leiva, Parral,
was sent to me by Sr. Pena in a previous shipment.

The greater part of the dorsum of the 60 mm. larva is a somewhat
shiny black, but the pronotum, which is parabolic in outline, 11 mm. long
by 13 mm. wide at the base, bears a submarginal oval yellow spot on each
side in the apical 3d, and the rounded posterior angles are narrowly
bordered yellow. The edges of the meso- and metanota are bordered pink,
and the expanded lateral lobes of these segments are ventrally pink, each
with a narrow triangular black spot pointing posteriorly,^ The first ab¬
dominal segment is also narrowly bordered pink dorsally, while the 2nd
to the 7th segments, except for very narrow lateral edges and some in¬
definite median spots which are pinkish yellow, are black ; the 8th has a
narrow yellow apical margin, and the small, almost squarely truncate 9th
segment has small yellow postero-lateral points. Ventrally, in addition to
the pink meso- and metathoracic segment, there is a little pink on the
prosternum ; the under sides of the lobes of the tergites are yellow. The
7th sternite has a yellow apical edge, while the 8th is mostly yellow and
bears two lateral luminous organs. The ventral portion of the 5th and
6th segments is missing. The meso- and metanota are 15 mm. wide, the
first five abdominal segments 15 to 14 mm., after which they measure 12,
10, 7.5, and 5 mm. wide respectively. The 8th is somewhat sinuate apical-
ly, the others almost straight.

The 65 mm. larva is broken, the last three segments being detached,
but it is generally very similar to the 60 mm. specimen ; the pink margins
of the thoracic segments are broader, and the pinkish-yellow borders of
the abdominal segments are more pronounced. The 40 mm. specimen is
similar to the 65 mm. one, and these two are from the same locality, El
Coigual. The 19 mm. specimen was at first thought to be possibly the
larva of Pyractonema depressicornis, but it is evidently a juvenile stage
of the giant larvae.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

19

The head of the larva is very much retracted into the pronotum, but
the 4.6 mm. long, very slender, dark reddish brown mandibles are visible ;
they are somewhat more curved than in Barber’s Ecuador larva, and
are directed slightly upwards. The antennae are 4-jointed, the 2nd
article being short, the 3d about twice as long, and the 4th again short;
the 2nd and 3d are black above and white below, while the 4th is reddish
brown, cylindrical, and appears to have a minute apical appendage.
There are 2 or 3 long setae on the 3d and 4th articles. Maxillary palpi
are short, 4-jointed, reddish brown, and slightly compressed, so that the
apical edge of the 4th is a dull, almost straight line. The labial palpi are
2- jointed, brown, the 1st article cylindrical, the 2nd a narrow acute cone.
M hile the structure of these mouth parts is obviously similar to Barber ’s
drawing, there are some differences. The claws are single, very stout.
The legs bear several rows of sharp red spines, particularly on the inner
side. The abdominal spiracles are on the ventral surface of the lateral
lobes, and appear as a slit in a yellow bead, set in a small membranous
area.

The disparity in size between the male, 11 mm. long, and the female,
35 mm., of Phaenolis abditus, assuming Barber’s tentative identification
to be correct, is really not so surprising ; for instance in Phengodes lati-
oollis the males are 15-17 mm. long, while the larviform females may be
50 mm. For other comparisons, Photinus xanthophotis, of Jamaica, may
be 20 mm. long ; the one larva so far found was 32 mm. long ; the apterous
female of Pleotomus davisii is 16-18 mm. long, and the male probably
about 12-15 mm., but the larvae may be up to 30 mm. long. While no
species of Cratomorphus has apparently been reported from Chile, it
would seem possible that these very large larvae might be referable to
that genus, in which the adults may be 28-30 mm. long. In the adult
Cratomorphus the spiracles are not ventral, but it does not follow that
they may not be ventral in the larvae. It would be interesting to know
on what forms these large larvae prey.

As indicated in Barber’s paper, collectors in the higher altitudes in
Chile and adjoining countries should look for very large adults of some
lampyrid having pigmentation resembling that of these giant larvae.
Lamprocera might be an alternative for Cratomorphus.

The specimens will be deposited in the U. S. National Museum.

20

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 2

Cupes and Daedalea.

Cupes and Daedalea, a wood-boring beetle and a wood-destroying fungus, asso¬
ciated forms of life, have names as euphonious as the inseparable Hero and Leander.
Foresters often can determine the quality of an area or site or its suitability for grow¬
ing certain trees by the plants that grow on it. Certain plants are indices of the
type of growth the land and site may be expected to support.

When a forest entomologist sees a fruiting body of the fungus Daedalea quercina
growing on an oak log or stump he may expect to find the larvae or young of a
beetle, a species of Cupes, in the wood. The underside of the small fungus fruiting
body has a convoluted appearance due to a labyrinth of pores. The elongate, legged
beetle larvae has a dilated prothorax, prosternum with asperities, and the end of
abdomen with a chitinized anal process.

Apparently the wood is capable of supporting both forms of life — which gradually
reduce it back to its origin, the soil. — Thomas E. Snyder, Washington, D. C.

Reviews

THE NATURAL CLASSIFICATION
OF THE FAMILIES OF
COLEOPTERA

By R. A. Crowson. Nathaniel Lloyd
& Co., Ltd., Burrell St. Works, Black-
friars, London, S. E. 1, England, 1955.
187 pp., 213 figs. 31/ paper, 36/ cloth.

The series of papers published in the
Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine
under the title “The Classification of
the families of British Coleoptera"
have been somewhat revised and as¬
sembled into this valuable book. I be¬
lieve most coleopterists have followed
this series with interest, and are happy
to learn that it is available in this
handy book form.

To revise the classification of the
largest order of animals now known,
indeed, over one quarter of the animal
kingdom, is a daring undertaking, far
beyond the abilities of the ordinary
student. Few men have attempted such
a task. Those who have, have been
forced to limit their revision to a
single set of characteristics, and their
classifications have been based on such

features as larvae, wing venation, tar¬
sal and sclerite characteristics, geni¬
talia, mouthparts, or some similar set
of features. I think it can be truly
said then, that Mr. Crowson’s mono¬
graph is a turning point in the history
of coleopterology, for he has made
every effort to combine all known
anatomical leads in such a way as to
knit together a classification that in¬
volves many startling changes based
on what appears to be overwhelming
evidence.

Space does not permit a lengthy re¬
view of the innovations in this work,
nor would it be proper to attempt to
point out the features the reviewer dis¬
agrees with. Each of us will find some
points of disagreement, and perhaps a
few errors in fact. It is our duty to
pick this work apart in the search for
truth, and this Mr. Crowson hopes for.
But I think most readers will find and
agree that this work is not sloppily
done, and will find it hard to gather
evidence for further changes for some
time to come. Meanwhile, this work
should be intensely studied, used, and
built upon, for I think it is a major
foundation work. — R. H. Arnett, Jr.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

21

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A MONOGRAPH OF THE OEDEMERIDAE
9. NOTES ON THE GENUS OXACIS LECONTE1

By Ross H. Arnett, Jr.2

Several lots of very fine oedemerid material have been sent to me for
study. This material has enabled me to understand many of the problems
of speciation in the genus Oxacis, but much remains unknown. More
collecting and field study is needed before anything in the nature of a
revision can be published.3

On March 24, 1954, Dr. Howard E. Evans of Cornell University col¬
lected several larvae of a beetle at Cape Sable, Florida. One of these
pupated and emerged at Ithaca, New York, June 24, 1954. It was identi¬
fied by the author as Oxacis laeta ■ (Waterhouse). Since that time sev¬
eral more specimens of this species collected in Florida, or on the Flori¬
da Keys, have come to my attention. This species represents a new addi¬
tion to the Nearctic fauna. A redescription of this species, and several
others that have come to my attention follows.

Oxacis laeta (Waterhouse) NEW COMBINATION
CopicUta laeta Waterhouse, 1878. Trans. London Ent, Soc. 1878: 306.
Type. — British Museum (Natural History), 1 specimen
Type locality. — “St. Domingo.” Hispanola.

The sharply constricted pronotum, the five pronotal impressions, and
the six merging dark spots on the pronotum are the most diagnostic fea¬
tures of this species. It will key to Oxacis granulata in Arnett (1951a),
from which it is readily separated by the above mentioned characteristics.

Description or the species. — Head with coarse, shallow punctures, space between
punctures micro-rugose. Antennae are normal, with each segment four and one-half

Pin* previous papeis of which this one comprises number nine of the series were
unnumbered. A complete bibliography of papers published by the author on Oedemeri-
dae is cited in the bibliography at the end of this paper. It is the authors intention to
follow this papei with a series of short papers on Oedemeridae under this general
title, of which several are already in press. It is necessary to do this at this time in
order to release borrowed material long held by the author.

-Department of Biology, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York.

3I acknowledge with thanks the loan of material by Drs. Howard E. Evans, Cornell
University, Mont A. Cazier, American Museum of Natural History, P. J. Darlington,
Museum of Comparative Zoology, R. H. Beamer, University of Kansas, J. F. Gates
Clarke, United States National Museum, H. F. Stroheeker, University of Miami,
Rupert L. Wenzel, Chicago Museum of Natural History, Floyd Werner, University of
Aiizona, T. H. Hubbell, University of Michigan, G. Frey, Frey Museum, Paul D.
Hurd, University of California, and J. N. Knull, Ohio State University. I also wish
to thank Miss C. M. F. von Hayek, British Museum (Natural History), for inform#
tion on the type specimens and for comparing specimens with types.

22

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

times as long as broad at the widest portion. Eyes are set farther apart than their
width at dorsal view, slightly emarginate at the point of insertion of the antennae.
Mandibles entire, blunt at the apices, short. Maxillary palpi have the apical segment
triangular, widest near the middle of the segment.

Thorax sharply constricted behind the middle. Notum punctate, the punctures
coarse, shallow, set apart about the same distance as the width of the punctures ; area
between punctures micro-rugose ; five shallow impressions, one on each anterior-lateral
margin, one central, one medially-anterior, and one medially-posterior. The legs aie
normal for the genus, claws without basal tooth.

The abdomen is normal with a finely rugose ventral surface.

Pubescence short, fine, golden, somewhat coarser on the notum and at the apical
margins of the abdominal sternites.

Color piceous-brown with pale markings as follows : apical seven antennal segments,
clypeus, palpi, protliorax except for six large, merging (these are variable) spots and
a central longitudinal stripe, sutural margin of elytra, lateral margin of elytra except
for basal one-eighth, and legs except for variable area at the apices of the femora.

Size: 10-12 mm.

Male genitalia: Normal for the genus, no specific distinguishing features.

Larvae: (See separate description by J. G. Rozen of the U. S. National Museum.)

Biology: the larvae were collected by Dr. Howard E. Evans in salt water drift
wood. Adults were collected on coconut palm buds by Dr. H. F. Strohecker.

Distribution. — This species appears to be confined to the Greater
Antillian islands of Hispanola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Florida Keys,
and the southern part of Florida.

Material examined. — 89 : Florida, Cape Sable, 1, Marathon, 5, Long
Key, 3, Big Pine Key, 10; Cuba, Batabano, 3, Rangel, 1; Puerto Rico,
Hatillo, 1 ; Haiti, Port-au-Prince, 2, Manville, 63.

Oxacis angustata Champion

Oxacis angustata Champion, 1890. Biol. Centr.-Amer., Col., 4(2) :158.

Types. — British Museum (Natural History), 1 female, 3 males.

Type locality. — Puebla, Tehuacan, Mexico.

This is a very elongate, narrow, shiny species, close in appearance to
0. variegata and 0. lineatula. The moderately shiny head and thorax,
and the piceous-brown color will distinguish this species. It will key to
0. laevicollis in Arnett (1951a), but it is not close to this species.

Description of the species. — Head densely and finely punctate; antennae with
segments 1 and 3 equal in length, the second segment a little over one-half as long as
the third segment, antennae longer in the male than in the female. Eyes slightly
emarginate near point of insertion of the antennae. Alandibles model ate, curved,
subacute at apex, entire. Maxillary palpi with the apical segment cultriform, widest
near the basal third.

Protliorax longer than broad, sides moderately rounded anteriorly and gradually
converging behind. Notum densely and finely punctate, area between punctures
micro-rugose, disc depressed in the middle before the base, and a rather laige, but
shallow oblique depression on each side anteriorly; base and apex feebly emarginate

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

23

nt the center. Legs normal for the genus, claws entire. Elytra very elongate, sub¬
parallel, densely and finely rugose punctate, with three costae.

Abdomen beneath densely and finely rugose punctate.

Pubescence somewhat coarse, decumbent, yellowish, pale beneath thorax and at
base of femora.

Color piceous-brown ; head in front, at the base, at the sides at base, and at the
sides behind, testaceous; eyes black; antennae piceous-brown; apices of mandibles
black; prothorax with an indeterminate longitudinal space one either side of the
notum testaceous ; elytra piceous-brown, the suture lighter ; sternum piceous-brown ;
legs piceous-brown with basal two-thirds of the femora and the coxae testaceous.

Length: 8.5-10 mm.

Male genitalia: Normal for the genus, no specific distinguishing features.

Biology: unknown.

Distribution. — Known only from the type locality.

Material examined. — Known to me only by a male and a female from
the type series.

Oxacis nitens, new species

This species is often confused with 0. laevicollis Horn which is also
shiny, but may be readily separated from that species by the predomi¬
nate brown or fuscus color instead of the near piceous color of the elytra,
and by the broad pale sutural area instead of the very narrow pale
sutural area of 0. laevicollis.

Holotype: Male, Arizona, Grand Canyon, mile 72, June 7, 1953 (G. D.
Butler) [Deposited in the U. S. National Museum collection.]

Description of the species.— Head longer than broad, 2: 1.5 including mandibles;
surface coarsely, but very sparsely punctate. Antennae with each segment four times
as long as broad, second segment about one-half as long as the third segment. Eyes
large, emarginate near the insertion of the antennae, set apart a distance about equal
to their width when viewed dorsally. Mandibles short, acute at the apices, curved.
Maxillary palpi with the apical segment cultriform, widest at basal one-fourth, sides
nearly parallel from basal one-fourth to apical one-fourth.

Thorax longer than wide ; surface very sparsely puntate, shiny, flat, sides uniformly
converging behind widest portion, shoulders evenly rounded. Sternum smooth. Legs
normal for the genus, claws not toothed at base. Elytra shiny, slightly rugose
punctate, elongate.

Abdomen shiny beneath, rugose punctate.

Pubescence on head and thorax almost entirely absent; elytra and abdomen with
short, fine, golden pubescence of medium density.

Color pale testaceous with elytra brown, with narrow lateral margin pale, sutural
area with pale central area, narrow at base and apex, varying to entirely brown.

Length : 8-12 mm.

Male genitalia: no distinguishing specific features.

Biology: unknown.

Distribution. — This species ranges from Arizona into the southern
part of California in the low lands, canyons, and desert regions. The sub¬
species described below is a mountainous form.

24

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

Material examined. — 53 : Arizona, Riverside, 1, Tucson, 11, Sabino
Canyon, Santa Catalina Mts., 4, Grand Canyon, Mile 72, 4, Haualpia
Mts., 5, Wickenburg, 5 ; California, Waterman Canyon, Los Angeles Co.,

I, Riverside Co., Indian Wells, 12, Blythe, 1, and Indio, 7, Plaster City,
Imperial Co., 1.

Oxacis nitens subspecies knulli, new subspecies

Holotype : Male, Pinon Flats, Santa Rosa Mts., California. (D. J. and

J. N. Knnll) [Deposited in the Ohio State University collection.]

This subspecies fits the description of the species except that it has a
very broad pale area on the disc of the elytra. It is found in the Santa
Rosa Mountains of California and presumedly is a mountainous form.

Material examined. — From type locality, 4 specimens.

Oxacis securicula, new species

This species is probably one of the most distinctive of the genus. It
resemble Oxycopis mimetica in appearance, but of course lacks the bi¬
furcate mandibles, and it has an entirely different range. The cream-
colored submarginal stripe on the elytra, the reddish central stripe and
lateral reddish-orange markings on the pronotnm, a result of the lack of
the coarse cream-colored pubescence in those areas readily defines this
species. It will key to 0. subfusca in Arnett (1951a), but it is not close to
this species. It is more similar to 0. coahuila Champ, and 0. laeta.

Holotype. — Male, El Palmar, 16 k. west of Tetzonapa, Vera Cruz,
Mexico, 600 ft. (W. Nutting and F. Werner). [Deposited in the U. S
National Museum collection.]

Description of the species.— Head short, as broad as long including the mandi¬
bles. Antennae with each segment six times as long as broad, second segment one-
third the length of the third. Eyes slightly emarginate at the point of insertion of
the antennae, set farther apart than their width at dorsal view. Mandibles short,
curved, acute at the apices. Maxillary palpi with the apical segment triangular,
widest near the basal third, two times as long as broad.

Notum of the prothorax slightly longer than broad, sharply constricted behind the
apical portion, shoulders acute at the apex, surface coarsely, closely punctate, surface
between punctures very rugose, shining. Legs normal for the genus, claws without
basal tooth. Elytra rugose punctate.

Abdomen with the ventral surface rugose punctate.

Pubescence short, fine, yellow, except for the mid-lateral region of the thorax
where it is long and coarse and contributed to the pale or cream color of this region
of the thorax.

Color piceous, thorax pale with reddish central stripe and lateral reddish-orange
markings, elytra with pale margins and submargins, and pale sutural area; base of
femora and tibiae pale, remainder black; base of antennal segments pale, rest black;
pale apical area on each abdominal sternite.

Male genitalia: no distinguishing specific characteristics.

Biology: unknown, collected at light.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

25

Distribution. This species is known from southern Mexico, Guate¬
mala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Material examined.— 27 : Mexico, Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, 1,
\ era Cruz, Cordoba, 10, and El Palmar, 3; Guatemala, Panzos, 1, Palin,

2, Azutla, 1 ; Honduras, Zamorano, Morazan, 2 ; El Salvador, San Salva¬
dor, 7.

Bibliography
{See footnote 1, above.)

Arnett, R. H., Jr. 1947. A review of the genus Rhinoplatia Horn.
(Col., Oedemer.). Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 49: 241-246.

. 1948. A preliminary key to the genera of Oedemeridae of
the world. Col. Bull., 2: 13-14.

- 1949. The abdominal morphology of male Sessinia decolor

(Fairm.). Oedemeridae. Col. Bull., 3: 9-12.

- . 1950. Generic names of the beetle family Oedemeridae and

their type species. Journ. Washington Acad. Set., 40: 217-225.

• 1051a. A revision of the Nearctic Oedemeridae (Coleop-
tera). American Midi. Nat., 45 : 257-391.

- . 1951b. A preliminary key to the Neotropical genera of

Oedemeridae. Col. Bull., 5 : 57-59.

. 1953a. Beetles of the oedemericl genus Vasaces Champion.
Proc. United States Nat. Mus., 103 (no. 3317) : 87-94.

- . 1953b. The oedemerid beetles of the Bimini Island Group,

Bahama Islands, British West Indies. American Mus. Novitates,
no. 1646, 13 pp.

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION

Edited t>y J. Gordon Edwards

General

Dreisbach, R. R. 1952. Preparing slides of insect genitalia. Systematic
Zoology 1(3) :134-36, 2 pis. Sabrosky, C. W. 1953. How many insects are there?
Systematic Zoology 2(1) :31-36. Wood, S. L. 1952. Observations on the homolo¬
gies of the copulatory apparatus in male Coleoptera. Annals Ent Soc Amer
45(4) :613-17, 2 pis.

Alleculidae

Buck, F. D. 1955. A new genus of Cistelidae from Australia. ( Pemanoa , for
some spp. formerly in Atoichus Carter) Ent. Mon. Mag. 91(1098) :269-72, 9 figs.

Amphizoidae

Edwards, J. G. 1950. Amphizoidae of the World. Wasmann Jour. Biol 8(3) •
303-332, 4 pis.

Anthribidae

Zimmerman, E. C. 195o. Ivarl Jordan’s contribution to our knowledge of the
anthribid beetles. Trans. R. Ent. Soc. London 107:67-68.

( Continued on page 32)

26

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

Reviews

SUPPLEMENT TO THE “COLOURED
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE INSECTS
OF JAPAN,” COLEOPTERA

Edited by The Kinki Coleoptero-
logioal Society. Hoikuaha Co., Ja¬
pan, Feb. 1956. 51 pp., 6 colored

plates. (In Japanese)

Additional species are described and
illustrated in this supplement (see
Col. Bull,, vol. 9, p. 75, 1955 for a
review of the original book.) There is
a section at the end of this paper
bound book on collecting, mounting,
and identification of beetles. There are
no new species described. — R. H.
Arnett, Jr.

REVISION DER MELOIDEN-
GATTUNG ELETICA LAC
(COLEOPTERA HETEROMERA)

By Zoltan Kaszab. Ann. du Mus.
Royal du Congo Beige Tervuren
(Belgique), Sci. Zool. Vol. 41, 1955,
168 pp., 97 text figures, 11 plates with
98 figures.

This is a catalogue of 4 subgenera,
32 species, 7 subspecies, and 246 color
aberrations, of which 2 subgenera, 15
species and 201 aberrations are de¬
scribed as new. Many of the aberra¬
tions and some of the species were rep¬
resented in Dr. Kaszab’s material by
only one of two specimens, which
would suggest that further collecting
will reveal many additional forms. Il¬
lustrated by figures are the male
genitalia of 20 species, half tone re¬
productions of the head of 11 species
and 1 subspecies, and general views of
24 species and 2 subspecies, frequently
showing both sexes. Except for two
Oriental species and one aberration,
constituting the subgenus Meteletica,
the group is exclusively central Afri¬
can.

The work takes the form of a de¬
scriptive key, including keys to the
aberrations, in which the two members
of each dichotomy do not occur to¬
gether, but are separated by the ma¬
terial pertaining to the groups (sub¬
genera, species, subspecies, and aber¬
rations) coming under the first mem¬
ber of the dichotomy. The reviewer is
interested in this because it is the form
of key which he has adopted in most
of his publications, to the perplexity
of some of his colleagues. It is a form
that is more flexible than the type in
usual use and allows groups to be ar¬
ranged in the key in a natural se¬
quence, at least to the extent that the
key itself is based on “natural’’ char¬
acters. Moreover, when descriptions
follow the key rather than are included
in it, it means that the sequence of
groups both in the key and in the sec¬
tion of descriptions can be nearly or
frequently completely identical.

This monograph adds another to the
long series of publications on Meloidae
and other Heteromera by its author,
who is connected with the Hungarian
Natural History Museum in Budapest.
It, moreover, is symptomatic of the
extensive current effort of the Belgian
government to discover and make
known the natural products of the Bel¬
gian Congo.

Finally, Dr. Kaszab’s monograph
may well be studied by American
coleopterists as a type of taxonomic
analysis that has never yet become gen¬
eral on this continent. Can we be sure
that the deprecative attitude assumed
in North America towards the descrip¬
tion of color variations is not a meas¬
ure of the immaturity of beetle studies
in this country? May not the aberra¬
tion studies of the central Europeans,
with their longer and more intensive
coleopterological tradition, represent a
stage beyond ours in the study of the
fauna? — Melville H. Hatch, Uni¬
versity of Washington.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

27

ON TRACHYPHLOEOSOMA AND A NEW SPECIES FROM HAWAII

(Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

By Elwood C. Zimmerman1

The discovery in Hawaii of a new species of broad-nosed weevil belong¬
ing’ to the genus Trachyphloeosoma, apparently a recent accidental im¬
portation, has led to a survey of the genus, and the results of my study
are presented herewith.

Subfamily OTIORHYNCHINAE
Tribe TRACHYPHLOEINI

No members of this tribe have heretofore been recorded from Poly¬
nesia, but a number of species are found in Australia and New Zealand,
and together with Eurasia, Africa and North America, there are about
250 species known in some 17 genera. By far the largest number of
species is found in the Mediterranean area. Evidently none occur in
South America. The group as a whole is poorly known and inadequately
treated in literature. It is an assemblage of ground dwellers. Lacordaire,
1863 :191, characterized the tribe as a section of the Otiorhynchinae
whose members have the antennae at most moderate, most often short
and stout, the club oval. Seutellum absent or very small. Elytra not
broader than the prothorax at the base, not angulate at the humeri.
Corbels of the hind tibiae open ; tarsal claws free. Second abdominal seg¬
ment longer than each of the two following segments, separated from the
first by an angulate suture; intercoxal projection broad, truncate in
front. Apterous.

Genus Trachyphleosoma Wollaston

Trachyphloeosoma Wollaston, 1869:414; 1877:170. Marshall, 1916:275,
redeseription.

Trachyphloeops Roelofs, 1873:165. Synonymy by Sharp, 1896:92.

The known species of this genus are as follows :
advena Zimmerman.

Hawaii.

alternatum Marshall.

Tr achy phloe soma alternatum Marshall, 1916:176, figure 85.

India.

setosum Wollaston. Type of the genus.

Trachyphloeosoma setosum Wollaston, 1869 :415.

Trachyphloeops setosa Roelofs, 1873:166, pi. 2, figure 6. Type of
Trachyphloeops.

lrrhis research was completed at the British Museum (Natural History) during the
tenure of a grant from the National Science Foundation, and I wish to express my
gratitude to the Museum and to the Foundation.

28

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

Tr achy phloeo soma roelofsi Sharp, 1896 :92 (new name for setosa
Roelofs). New synonym.

Japan; St. Helena.

I have compared the Wollaston series of setosum from St. Helena with
the Sharp material of roelofsi from Japan and find the two series to rep¬
resent only one species, and the new synonymy is necessary. Such dis¬
continuity in distribution indicates that the species has been artificially
spread by commerce. Wollaston found it in great abundance on St.
Helena, and it is probable that it has been introduced there. From the
evidence now available, it is not possible to say whether it is a Japanese
insect or whether it has also been introduced to Japan.

KEY TO THE KNOWN SPECIES OF TRACHYPHLOEOSOMA

1. Alternate elytral intervals more elevated than the even numbered ones, thus giving the

elytra a moderately ribbed appearance; length about 4 mm., excluding head; Nilgiri
Hills, Madras, India _ alternatum Marshall.

Elytral intervals not alternately elevated; length, excluding head, about 2.5 mm. or
less; not from India _ _ 2

2. Only elytral intervals one, three, five and seven with complete rows of well developed,

erect, spatulate setae, the other intervals with at most only a few much smaller
setae; first segment of antennal fimicle compressed and (excluding basal stalk) sub-

circular in outline when viewed from broadest side; St. Helena and Japan _

_ setosum Wollaston.

Elytral intervals one to eight each bristling with a row of erect, narrowly spatulate setae,
the setae equally developed on all these intervals; first funicular segment of normal
shape and not subcircular; Hawaii _ advena Zimmerman.

Trachyphloeosoma advena Zimmerman, new species (figures 1, 2).

Derm reddish brown to piceous; covered with a yellowish brown, earth-like in¬
crustation which conceals most of the surface; scales and setae mostly yellowish; the
scales appear to be “ mealy” or “furry.”

Head with dorsal sculpturing continuous with that of the dorsum of the rostrum,
coarsely and roughly sculptured, with a rather broad median channel from top of
head to base of epistome, the coarse sculpturing and most of the median channel nor¬
mally concealed by the incrustation; with two longitudinal rows of conspicuous, long,
erect, curved, subspatulate setae on each side of median line from epistome to above
hind margins of eyes and a single, curved row across crown ; epistome with a half¬
moon shaped, oblique, median, apical area marked off by a vague raised line, longi¬
tudinal dorsal contour of epistome thus conspicuously angulate as seen from side,
epistome with several long, narrow setae ; mandibles each with several long, narrow
setae; side of rostrum with long, narrow setae in the bare area at base of mandible,
but with some subspatulate setae in the incrusted area beneath the scrobe; eye four
facets broad, not quite as long as distance between hind margin and prothorax, only
a little longer than subapical thickness of antennal scape ; mentum one-tenth broader
than long, broadly sub-diamond shaped, but hexagonal, with four long setae set in a
transverse row behind middle.

Antennae with scape reaching anterior margin of pronotum, slightly arcuate,
gradually thickened to apex, squamose and incrusted, with numerous, long, erect, nar-

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

29

Fig. 2. — Trachyphloeosoma ad-
vena Zimmerman. Sketch of side
view of head and antenna.

Fig. 1. — Trachyphloeosoma ad-
vena Zimmerman; length, exclud¬
ing head, 2 mm. Incrustation re¬
moved from part of elytra to re¬
veal sculpture.

30

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

rowly subspatulate setae, longer than the seven funicular segments combined; funicu¬
lus, viewed from beneath, with the entire length of segment one including its subovoid
apical part (the part seen from above) and its basal stalk (concealed from above
by scape) subequal in length to segments two, three and four combined, its greatest
breadth subequal to length of segment two ; segment two about one-fourth longer
than broad, subequal in length to segments three and four combined; segments three
to seven successively slightly broader ; club ovoid, about as long as funicular segments
three to seven inclusive.

Pronotum a little broader than long, broadest near middle ; coarsely punctate
granulate (this structure to be seen only when surface is denuded of scales and in¬
crustation), appearing somewhat like the surface of a blackberry, the derm shiny
where cleaned ; with numerous, erect, curved, narrowly subspatulate setae, each
arising from the top of a granule.

Elytra, as illustrated, a little more than twice as long as pronotum, measured from
side; intervals from one to eight (the others usually abraded by actions of legs)
each with a row of numerous, conspicuous, long, erect, arcuate, subspatulate setae;
intervals flat or gently convex, not elevated; striae only slightly impressed between
the punctures which are large and nearly as broad as the intervals (as seen when
properly cleaned) and the separations of some of them subequal to their diameters.

Legs with femora and tibiae with numerous, erect, curved, narrowly subspatulate
setae; hind femora reaching to base of ventrite five.

Sternum with the prosternum of equal length before and behind the coxae, these
areas each with a row of large punctures, and with setae which are shorter than those
on dorsum ; intercoxal process of mesosternum bluntly tuberculif orm, protuberant,
squamose ; metasternum coarsely punctured, with curved, subspatulate setae, the
process between the mesocoxae about one-lialf as wide as the diameter of an eye, dis¬
tance between mid and hind coxae at narrowest point one-half greatest diameter of
a metacoxa.

Venter with first and second ventrites with large punctures and curved, narrowly
subspatulate setae, the segments fused but the arcuate suture between them deep and
broad ; ventrite one only a little longer than two along median line, the intercoxal
process sinuously truncate, as broad as the greatest diameter of a metocoxa ; ventrite
two as long as three, four and five together along median line, declivitous behind;
ventrites three and four narrow, subcariniform, together distinctly shorter than
ventrite five, each with a single row of widely spaced, erect, curved setae; ventrite
five coarsely punctured and with a number of slender, curved, erect setae, a little less
than twice as broad as long.

Length (excluding head) : 2. 0-2.4 mm.; breadth; 1.0-1. 2 mm.

Hawaiian Islands : Mt. Tantalus, Oahu. Holotype female, to be de¬
posited in Bishop Museum, Honolulu and 19 female paratypes, collected
from litter on the ground beneath an Acacia koa tree between March and
December, 1954, by F. A. Bianchi. Paratypes will be deposited in the
British Museum, United States National Museum and in Honolulu. Mr.
Bianchi used a modified “Berlese funnel” to collect the specimens.

The fact that all of the specimens collected are females leads to the
presumption that the species may be parthenogenetic. One example has
the ovipositor fully extruded, and it is longer than the elytra.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

31

I have been unable to distinguish a 1 1 mandibular scar ’ ’ on this species,
and this is an unusual feature.

The salient features which distinguish this little weevil from its known
congeners are summarized in the key. It does not appear closely allied to
either of the other described species, but it is most like setosum. There is
no other weevil in the Hawaiian Islands which might be confused with
this species.

This new member of the Hawaiian fauna has been found in the most
intensively collected lower forest area in the Islands — Mt. Tantalus
which rises directly above the city of Honolulu. Several years ago I did
considerable sifting of forest floor litter in this area, but I did not find
the species. It is probable that a more detailed survey in other areas of
Honolulu will reveal the insect in other places. At this time it is not pos¬
sible to tell whence the species has come. It may have been introduced
from a western Pacific island or from Asia or the Orient during or after
the recent world war. (Since this manuscript was written, I have ex¬
amined, in the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, two
examples from Tam Dao, Tonkin, collected by H. Perrot and in the
Hustache collection, which appear to be a form of advena.)

The larvae of this species will probably be found to feed on the under¬
ground parts of plants, while the adults are defoliators, and it is possible
that it may become of some economic importance.

The specimens were sent to me for study by Mr. F. A. Bianchi, Experi¬
ment Station, Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Experiment Station, Honolulu.
The drawings except the antenna, are the work of Mr. Arthur Smith,
British Museum (Natural History).

Literature Consulted

Lacordaire, Th. 1863. Curculionidae, in Genera des Coleopteres 6 :1-
637. La Librarie Encylopedique de Roret, Paris.

Marshall, G. A. K. 1916. Curculionidae, in The Fauna of British
India. . . i-xv, 1-367, figs. 1-106. Taylor and Francis, London.
Roelofs, W. 1873. Curculionides Recueillis au Japon par M. G. Lewis.

Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique 16 :154-192, pis. 2, 3.

Sharp, David. 1896. The Rhynchophorus Coleoptera of Japan. Part IV.
Otiorhynchidae and Sitonides, and a genus of doubtful position
from the Kurile Islands. Trans. Ent. Soc. London 1896 (part 1) :
81-115.

Wollaston, T. V. 1869. On the Coleoptera of St. Helena. — Curculioni¬
dae. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (IV)4 :401-417.

- . 1877. Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. i-xxv, 1-256. John Van

Voorst, London.

32

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Vol. X, No. 2

(■ Continued from page 25)

Buprestidae

Weiss, H. B. 1954. Trachys pygmaea (Fab.) the Hollyhock Leaf Miner in
New Jersey. Ent. News 65(9) :230-232.

Carabidae

Basilewsky, P. 1955. Revision des especes africaines dn genre Epomis Bonelli,
(key to African spp. on pp. 97-99). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. London 107:95-116,
16 figs. Moore, B. P. 1955. Carabidae in the French Pyrenees. Ent. Mon. Mag.
91(1098) :265-266.

Cerambycidae

Dillon, L. S. 1955. Revision of the neotropical Acanthocinini. I. The genus
Canidia and its allies. (Key to spp. of Canidiopsis) . Ent. News 66(1) :176-178.
Dillon, L. S. 1956. The nearctic components of the tribe Acanthocinini, Part I.
(keys to spp. of eight genera) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 49(2) :134-167, 1 pi. Dillon,
L. S. and E. S. Dillon. 1952. The tribe Onciderini. Supplementary notes, (no
keys) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 45(1) :59-79. Gressitt, J. L. 1951. Longicorn beetles
from New Guinea and the South Pacific, (keys to spp. of Osphyron, C eresium ,
Tethionea, Iphra , Iphrobrium, Syllitus , and Epania ) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer.
44(1) :l-30, 1 pi. Gressitt, J. L. 1951. Longicorn beetles from New Guinea and
the South Pacific, Part II. (with key to spp. of Glaucytes ) Ann. Ent. Soc.
Amer. 44(2) :201-212, 1 pi. Gressitt, J. L. 1952. Longicorn beetles from New
Guinea and the South Pacific, Part III. (keys to spp. of Dihammus and Gnoma )
Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 45(1) :44-58, 5 figs.

Chrysomelidae

Bryant, G. E. 1955. New species of Monolepta from New Guinea, (no keys)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 12, 8 :474-478, 5 figs. Bryant, G. E. 1955. New species
of Chrysomelidae from Africa, (no keys) Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, ser 12, 8:911-
916, 6 figs. Massee, A. M. 1955. Longitarsus quadriguttatus Pont, found in Kent
(England). Ent. Mon. Mag. 91(1098): p. 285. Monros, F. 1949. El genero
Mylassa Stal. (with key to spp.) Acta Zool. Lilloana 7:489-525, illus. Monros, F.
1949. Sobra la posicion sistematica de algunos Eupoda dudosos. Acta Zool.
Lilloana 7 :545-574, illus. Pollard, D. G. 1955. The identity of the Cotton Flea
Beetle of the Sudan, (genus Podagrica ) Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 12, 8:713-
717, 3 figs.

Cossonidae

Anderson, W. H. 1952. Larvae of some genera of Cossonidae. (Keys to tribes
and to genera of Trypetini, Anchonini, and Cossonini). Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer.
45(2) :281-309, 22 figs. Gilbert, E. E. 1955. A new genus and species of blind
weevil from Florida (Caeco-ssonus) . Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(4) :193-195, 1 pi.

Dytiscidae

Young, F. N. 1953. Two n. spp. of Modus, with key to known spp. and subspp.
of the genus. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 46(1) :49-55, 5 figs.

Elateridae

Kring, J. B. 1955. A chamber for studies of site-selection by Elateridae. Ent.
News 66(7) :187-189.

Erotylidae

Boyle, W. W. 1955. New name for a Burmese erotylid. ( Tritoma ) Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist. ser. 12, 8 : p. 544.

i£. /6

/). 3

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume X June, 1956 No. 3

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

The general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. John
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Go. don
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md.; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.

NOTES ON THE GENUS ZACOTUS LE CONTE, 1869, AND ON THMRAIY 0f Yto
CLASSIFICATION OF THE TRIBE BROSCINI (=BROSCIDAE SENSU
JEANNEL, 1941. COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) .

By George E. Ball1

1. Introduction

NOV 39'

QNIViftglltf % |U|

I became interested in the genus Zacotus several years ago. While
examining a batch of undetermined Carabidae, I came across a fine series
of specimens of this genus, the first I had ever seen, and was so taken
by their bright color and graceful form that I determined to learn some¬
thing about the species of Zacotus. These characteristics are hardly
striking enough to capture the imagination of students of birds and
butterflies, but they fairly dazzle those of us who deal with creatures
as drab as most of the ground beetles are.

The first, problem to be considered was the taxonomic validity of the
names employed in Zacotus. Four names had been proposed, based on
variation in color and sculpture, and later they were synonymized. Then
Hatch (1953) divided the single species, Zacotus matthewsii, into two
subspecies and two aberrations. Secondly, the taxonomic position of
the genus needed to be investigated. Le Conte described Zacotus as a
broscine. Horn (1881 : 169) erected the tribe Zacotini for this genus
because it lacks a setigerous puncture in the scrobes of its mandibles,
and so could not be a broscine. Sloane (1923 : 248) suggested that
Zacotus , specimens of which he had not seen, may be a broscine, and in
my opinion, he was right : Zacotus is a broscine. This decision created
a third problem. If this genus belongs in the Broscini, then what are
its relationships within the Tribe? Jeannel (1941) proposed a classifi¬
cation of the Family Broscidae ( = Tribe Broscini) and divided the

department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

- -r

* \ I »

33

34 THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN Volume X, No. 3

group into three subfamilies : Broscitae, Barypitae, and Creobitae. Some
of the characters of Zacotus suggested that it should be placed in the
Broscitae, others that it belonged in the Creobitae. It seemed impossible
to place Zacotus in Jeannel’s scheme, and this led me first to question
the validity of his classification, and then to propose a slightly different
one, based on a study of representatives of all of the broscine genera
that could be obtained from the collections of the entomologically more
important museums of North America. Britton (1949) presented an
interpretation of the pattern of geographical distribution of the Broscini,
and the assessment of this constitutes the final problem considered here.

II. Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the following curators for permission to study material in their
care: Dr. P. J. Darlington, Jr., Museum of Comparative Zoology; Dr. Mont A.
Cazier, American Museum of Natural History; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Cornell Univer-
tisy; Dr. Theodore H. Hubbell, University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology; Dr.
Wm. Anderson, United States National Museum; Mr. W. J. Brown, Department of
Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario; Mr. Hugh B. Leech, California Academy of Sciences;
Mr. James A. G. Rehn, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. I am
especially appreciative of Dr. Darlington’s cooperation in this study for he has given
me much encouragement. Mr. Leech as always went out of his way on my behalf.
I asked for the loan of a single male of Miscodera insiginis , and received not only
this specimen but a boxful of Broscini, including two genera that I had not seen
previously. Mr. Brown gave me four specimens of Miscodera arctica. Dr. P. Munros,
Fundacion Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Republic of Argentina, presented me with series
of several species of B ary pus and Cnemacanthus ( s . str .) while Dr. B. Elwood Mont¬
gomery, Purdue University, gave me a pair of Mecodema crenicolle Castelnau. Mr.
E. B. Britton, British Museum of Natural History, encouraged me to undertake
this study.

Finally, I wish to thank Dr. B. Hocking for reading the manuscript, and for his
many valuable suggestions arising therefrom, and Miss Ann Byrtus for typing
the manuscript.

III. Variation in the Genus ZACOTUS

The members of this rare genus are inhabitants of the forests of the
Pacific Northwest (Hatch and Fender, 1944), ranging from at least
northern California (Humboldt County) to southern Alaska (Dolomi,
Prince of Wales Island), and eastward from Vancouver Island to the
Bitter Root Mountains in extreme southwestern Montana, (see Fig. 1)
Four specific names have been proposed in Zacotus: matthewsii Le
Conte, 1869; angustus Casey, 1920: subopacus Hopping, 1925; and
fredericki Nunenmacher, 1944. Hatch and Fender (1944) pointed out
that these names were based on slight variations and that they applied to
a single, variable species. The same concluson was reached in this study,

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

35

Figure 1. The distribution of Zacotus matthewsti. See text for explanation of
numbers and symbols.

36

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 3

based on an examination of the external characters of fifty-six specimens.
The male genitalia of ten specimens which represented three of the
four named forms were found to be virtually identical. Representatives
of typical fredericki were' not seen. The oldest of the four names is
Z. matthewsii, and this is, therefore, the name of this species.

Hatch (1953 : 186) presented in abbreviated form a classification of
the populations of matthewsii, based on color of the dorsal integument.
This classification is discussed below in terms of the characteristics of
the specimens which I have seen.

Data on variation in color, luster and surface sculpture of the dorsal
integument are presented in Table 1 and in Fig. 1. The localities in
which specimens of matthewsii have been taken are indicated by circles
in Fig. 1 : empty circles represent localities which have been recorded
by Hatch and Fender (1944) ; filled-in-circles represent localities from
which I have seen specimens. The numbers near each filled circle indi¬
cate the characteristics of the specimens taken at the locality which is
represented by the circle (see Table 1.). Color was assessed subjectively
without reference to a standard chart. Variation in sculpture cannot
be described very precisely but the impressions on the head and pron-
toum are usually deeper in western specimens than in eastern ones, so
that the dorsal surface appears more coarsely sculptured in the former
and more finely so in the latter. As an added complication, many speci¬
mens are intermediate between the extreme conditions. In the discussion
which follows, the localities are grouped by their respective longitudes.
Hatch and Fender (1944) characterized the specimens which they
examined, and their observations are not repeated here.

TABLE 1.

NUMBERS ASSIGNED TO COMBINATIONS OF COLOR, LUSTER AND SCULP¬
TURE OF THE INTEGUMENT OF THE DORSUM IN Zacotus matthewsii.

Sculpture of Dorsal Integument

Color

coarse

intermediate

fine

Metallic coppery

1

o

LJ

3

Dull coppery

4

5

6

Coppery-green

7

8

9

Green

10

11

12

Metallic violaceous

13

14

15

Dull violaceous

16

17

18

The Alaskan specimen was collected at Dolomi (55°08'N., 132° 03'W.).
Specimens with bright coppery integument in group 124. 5-123. 6°AV.
are from the following localities on Vancouver Island: Courtenay

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37

(2 specimens), Findlayson (sic!) Flats (not plotted), Mt. Lehman
(not plotted), Nanaimo, (2 specimens), Quamichan Lake (near Duncan),
“Vancouver Island” (3 specimens) and Victoria. One of the “Van¬
couver Island” specimens is the type of matthewsii Le Conte (Le Conte
Collection, Museum of Comparative Zoology, No. 5854, “Van”). Of
two metallic violaceous specimens, one is the type of angustus Casey
(Casey Collection, United States National Museum), Josephine County,
Oregon, and the second was collected in “Humboldt County” California.
The three empty circles in this group in Oregon represent Forest Grove,
Salem, and Lincoln County (type locality of fredericki Nunenmacher) .

The specimens included in group 123.5-122.6 °W. were collected at
Lake Cushman, Mason County, Washington (Nos. 7,8 on map). Of
eight specimens, three have a coarsely sculptured integument, and five
are classed as “intermediate.”

Of three specimens in group 122.5-121.6 °W. with bright coppery
integument, two were collected on Mount Hood, Washington. One of
these is as coarsely sculptured as is the type of matthewsii, while the
other is somewhat less so. The third specimen with a coppery integu¬
ment was collected on Mount Rainier, Washington (No. 2 on map),
and its sculpture is classed as intermediate. The remaining specimen
was taken five miles northeast of Pinehurst, Jackson County, Oregon,
elevation 2000' (No. 14 on map). The empty circle in this group rep¬
resents Seattle, Washington.

Group 121. 5-120. 6°W. includes specimens from three localities:
Princeton, British Columbia, (2 specimens, including the type of sub-
opacits Hopping, Canadian National Collection, Ottawa, No. 1380) ;
Mount Adams, Yakima County, Washington (four specimens; the in¬
tegument is metallic violaceous in one, dull in the other three) ; and
Merritt, B. C. (represented by the empty circle).

The empty circles in group 120.5-119.6 represent Mount Bonaparte,
Kanogan County, and Mt. Toppenish, Yakima County, Washington.

Group 119. 5-118. 6°W. includes specimen from four localities. Two
specimens collected in a red cedar forest along Kettle Creek near Chris¬
tina Lake, British Columbia, one from Walla Walla, Washington,
(No. 18 on map) and three from Tollgate, Oregon, have finely sculp¬
tured, dull violaceous integuments. The integuments of two specimens
from Meacham, Oregon (No. 17 on map), and one from Tollgate, Ore¬
gon, are metallic violaceous while the sculpturing is classed as inter¬
mediate. Another Tollgate specimen has a metallic violaceous, coarsely
sculptured integument. The empty circle in northeastern Washington
represents Newmar Lake, Spokane County.

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Volume X, No. 3

The 117. 5-116. 6°W. group includes nine specimens collected in Latah
County, Idaho. The integument of one specimen, taken at Moscow,
Idaho, (Casey Coll.) is dull coppery. The sculpture of three of the
remaining specimens is classed as intermediate, and as fine for five
specimens. The British Columbia localities in this group are Creston
(4 specimens) and Kaslo. The empty circles in Idaho represent Coeur
D’ Alene and St. Joe National Forests, Waha, and Pierce. The empty
circle in Montana represents the Bitter Root Mountains.

The material available for study was insufficient to permit analysis
of mensural characteristics. It is apparent to the unaided eye that
Vancouver Island specimens average larger in size than specimens from
the mainland. However, the following measurements of total length of
females (length of head from the anterior margin of the clypeus to be¬
hind the eyes, plus the length of the pronotum along the mid-line plus the
length of the elytra along the suture ) show how slight the difference is :
Vancouver Island, eight specimens, 15.2-18.0 mm; mean 16.7 mm; Mason
County, Washington, five specimens, 14.4-17.0 mm; mean 15.9 mm;
Latah County, Idaho, nine specimens, 15.3-17.0 mm; mean, 16.1 mm.
The Vancouver Island specimens appear to be relatively wider also,
but this is not borne out by the measurements.

These data seem to indicate that in general the integument of the
reddish specimens is shining and coarsely sculptured, while that of the
violaceous specimens is dull and less coarsely or finely sculptured. (The
lack of perfect correlation indicates that all of the specimens are con-
specific.) On the basis of these data it is possible to divide the species
into eastern and western races. Four names are available. The type
locality of matthewsii is Vancouver Island, and so this name applies
to the western race. The name fredericki is based on a specimen col¬
lected in northwestern Oregon, with a bright green integument, and
probably represents an extreme variant of the western race, or possibly
an intergrading population. The dorsal integument is lustrous, as is
that of the western race, but is relatively smooth, like that of the eastern
race. The type specimen of angustus Casey exhibits the color of the
eastern race and the sculpture and luster of the western one, and so
this name seems to apply to an intergrade specimen, and not to either
extreme. That leaves only subopacus Hopping to consider. The type
locality, Princeton, B. C., is well within the range of the eastern race,
and the characters of the type are those of the eastern race. Thus,
this race may be called Z. matthewsii subopacus, and the western race,
Z. m. matthewsii. This is essentially the arrangement presented by
Hatch (1953: 186-187). However, he treated fredericki and angustus

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39

as aberrations, whereas I do not think such action is necessary or de¬
sirable. Specimens referable to fredericki are either extremes of m.
matthewsii or they possibly may be classed as intergrades, also.

The most interesting aspect of variation in matthewsii is the seeming
discontinuity of color variation. The specimens of each population
sample that I have examined and which has been reported on by Hatch
and Fender (1944), excluding that from Latah County, Idaho, and
the metallic green type of fredericki were either coppery, or violaceous.
If this is correct then it is likely that the eastern and western races were
separated from one another, possibly during the Pleistocene, and that
the connection between them has been re-established relatively recently.
If, on the other hand, variation is continuous (i.e., a gradual shift in
percentage of reddish to violaceous individuals from west to east) so
that a sharp line cannot be drawn between the eastern and western
populations, then it would seem unlikely that there had been a major
break in the range of the species. If the latter proves to be the case
and variation turns out to be clinal then it would be profitable to
abandon subspecific names in matthewsii. Large series of specimens
are needed from many localities, especially in the central Cascades,
before we begin to understand the distribution of color in this species.

IV. Relationships of Zacotus

Horn (1881 : 169) believed that the absence of setae from the scrobes
of the mandibles was characteristic of Zacotus, and mainly for this
reason, he removed this genus from the Broscini. However, of fifty-
six specimens examined by me, seven lack the setae from both mandibles,
twelve have a seta in the scrobe of one mandible, but not in the other,
while thirty-seven have setae in the scrobes of both mandibles. Further,
the New Zealand broscines Mecodema, Metaglymma and Brullea lack
the mandibuar setae, so that this particular feature is not characteristic
of all broscine genera. The data in Table 2 show that the combination
of morphological features which characterize the Broscini are possessed
by Zacotus. Therefore, there seems to be no valid reason for excluding
this genus from the Broscini.

Bradley (1930) included Zacotus in the Broscini, but his key to the
genera is not altogether satisfactory because it depends upon the pres¬
ence or absence of mandibular setae to separate this genus from the
other North American broscine, Miscodera. However, the following
key should give satisfactory results :

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Volume X, No. 3

Dorsal surface of head with several longitudinal grooves; ventral surface with two
deep, transverse grooves on either side of gula; mentum with ventral surface almost
plane, not deeply impressed on each side of tooth; elytra with 5-12 punctures in
the lateral umbilical series - Zacotus Le Conte.

Dorsal and ventral surfaces of head smooth; mentum with a deep circular impression
either side and basad of tooth; elytra with 2-4 punctures in the lateral umbilical
ser;es _ _ Miscodera Eschscholtz.

TABLE 2

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BROSCINI AND OF Zacotus

Characteristics

Broscini

Zacotus

Shape of body

pedunculate

pedunculate

No. glabrous ant. segs.

1-4

4

Seta in mandibular scrobe

present or absent

present or absent

Front tibiae

anisochaetous

anisochaetous

Front coxal cavities

uniperforate

uniperforate

Middle coxal cavities

closed by sterna

closed by sterna

Elytral plica

present, not interrupting
indexed margin toward apex

present, not interrupting
indexed margin toward apex

Male genitalia, lateral lobes

setiferous

setiferous

V. Classification of the Broscini
The Subtribes. — Jeannel (1941: 287-288) presented an abbreviated
classification of this family2 (tribe) and based his subfamilial (snb-
tribal) categories on details of the basal orifice of the median lobe,
and setosity of the left lateral lobe, (see Table 3.) In two footnotes
on page 289 in the above reference he states that “the species of the

TABLE 3.

JEANNEL ’S CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY BROSCIDAE

Characteristics

Subfamilies

Barypitae

Creobitae

Broscitae

Median lobe, basal

closed

open dorsally,

open dorsally,

orifice

dorsally

opening long

opening short

Left lateral lobe

not setiferous

not setiferous

setiferous

Included Genera

B ary pus

Creobius

Broscus 3

C ardiopthalmus

Promecoderus

C raspedonotus 3

Mecodema 3

Miscodera 3

Chaetobroscus 3

Brullea*

Broscodes 4

Ax on yd*

1 1 numerous others ’ ’

Broscosoma 8

2 Although I admire JeanneFs classification of the Carabidae ( sensu latiore) ,
I am not prepared to accept either his elevation of the tribes to family status or
his reasons for doing so. Britton (1949: 533) has already discussed these points,
and I agree with his conclusions.

•sGenera having sclerites x and y in the median lobe.

4I have not seen a representative of this genus.

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41

gondwanian lineage, especially the Creboitae, are generally of a metallic
color, coppery red or green” and that “the umbilical series is again
more specialized in the Creobitae, reduced to a very small number of
large pits” (my translation). Thus he indicates that these features
have appreciable classificatory value. However, Zacotus, Miscodera and
Broscosoma cannot be placed very satisfactorily in this scheme, for the
following reasons.

The extent of the dorsal emargination of the basal orifice does not
seem to be a particularly reliable taxonomic character. The numerical
value for total length of median lobe divided by the length of the dorsal
emargination varies from 0 in Jeannel’s Barypitae to 0.76 in the genus
Creobius. Approximate values for a single representative of each of
the following species are : Zacotus matthewsii , 0.17 ; Axonya championi,
0.20 ; Broscus ceplialotes, 0.25 ; Craspedonotus tibialis. 0.25 ; Broscosoma
baldense, 0.30; Parroa noctis, 0.30; Cerotalis sp. 0.30; Miscodera arctica,
0.43 ; and Promecoderus howitti, 0.50. There are no sharp breaks in
this series, but if the classification is based on this character, there is
no doubt that Zacotus goes with Broscus. Also, as in the Broscitae,
the left lateral lobe of Zacotus bears several setae apically (Fig. 4 C).
The punctures of the umbilical series in Zacotus range in number from
five to twelve per elytron, but these vary to such an extent through
the Broscini that their taxonomic value must be slight. On the other
hand, the metallic color of its integument suggests that Zacotus belongs
with the Creobitae. A somewhat similar picture emerges when the
characteristics of Miscodera and Broscosoma are considered. The dorsal
emargination of the basal orifice is not much greater in Broscosoma
than it is in Broscus , and Miscodera falls about midway between Broscus
and Creobius with respect to this character. Thus the placing of Bros¬
cosoma and Miscodera on the basis of this character is equivocal, but
they go with Creobitae in color, in having a reduced number of um¬
bilical punctures on the elytra, and in lacking setae on the left lateral
lobe. These facts seemed to indicate that the morphological foupdation
of Jeannel’s classification was weak. Further, I found that the genitalia
of Zacotus, Miscodera and Broscosoma agree with those of Broscus in
what seems to be an important structural detail, which is described
below. Because of these considerations, the structure of the male geni¬
talia was reinvestigated. Three different types were found, and were
used as the morphological basis for three subtribal groups. See Table
4 for a summary of the characteristics of the genitalia, and a list of
the genera which have each type; see also Figs. 2-17.

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Volume X, No. 3

TABLE 4.

SUGGESTED REARRANGEMENT OF THE BROSCINE GENERA5

Characteristics

Subtribes

Barypina -

Creobiina

Broscina

Median lobe,

closed

open

open or closed

basal orifice

dorsally

dorsally

dorsally

Median lobe.

completely

completely

partly sclerotized to

dorsal surface

sclerotized

membranous

completely

membranous

Basal keel

present

absent

absent

Sclerites x and y

absent

absent

present

Included genera

Bar y pus (s. lat.)

CreoMus, S.A.

Axonya, India

•

S.A.

Cascellius, S.A.
Promecoderus, Aust.
Parroa, Aust.
Gnathoxys, Aust.
Cerotalis, Aust.

Craspedonotus, Asia

Chaetolroscus, Asia

Broscus, Eurasia.

Zacotus, Nearctic

Miscodera, Holarctic

Broscosoma, Eurasia

Diglymma, N. Z.

Oregus, N. Z.

Metaglymma, N. Z.

Mecodema, N. Z.

Brullea, N. Z.

Percosoma, Aust.

Eurylychnus, Aust.
- 1 - -

5Genera not seen: Broscodes, Persia; Chlynus, Anst. ; Percolestus , Aust. ; Brithy-

sternum, Aust.; Acallistus, Aust.

Five points concerning the structure of the male genitalia are worthy
of mention. First, the extent of the dorsal emargination of the basal
orifice of the median lobe varies too much intergenerically to be useful
as a major taxonomic character. Its depth varies from 0.0 to 0.43 of
the length of the median lobe within the Broscina, as defined here.
Second, the presence or absence of setae on the left lateral lobe is not
of great importance in this group. Third, the internal sac of the Bary-
pina is everted from the left side, whereas in the other two groups, the
sac is everted from the dorsal side. Fourth, the genera included in
the Creobiina are a diverse lot, and further study may show that the
group as constituted here should be divided into several subtribes.
Fifth, the sclerites associated with the internal sac of the Broscina
have not been described previously, (see Fig. 3.) Three sclerotized
regions are associated with the internal sac. The apical plate lies nearest
the apex when the sac is in the inverted position, and is inside the
walls of the sac. This plate is lightly sclerotized, complicated in shape,
and in most of the illustrations, it is shown only in outline. The apical

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43

plate is attached by membrane along its ventral side to the internal
sac and its dorsal surface is partly covered by, but not attached to, a
more or less cup shaped sclerotized area. This latter sclerotization is
on the outer surface of the internal sac. For descriptive purposes, I
have designated it as “sclerite y. ” Based is a curved, elongate trough¬
like structure, “ sclerite x, ” which is on the basal dorsal surface of the
internal sac. The ventral surface of sclerite x is covered by a membrane
which appears to be a continuation of the internal sac, and the entire
structure probably surrounds that portion of the ejaculatory duct which
extends into the median lobe. When the internal sac is everted, and
this can be accomplished with difficulty, sclerite x moves distad with
the internal sac, but it remains within the median lobe. The origin
and function of this peculiar structure is unknown to me.

I believe that the forms which have sclerites x and y should be placed
in a single group. By contrast, if Jeannel’s scheme is accepted then
one of two postulates regarding the phylogeny of the Broscini must be
accepted also : either that the ancestral stock of each group possessed
these sclerites, and that they were lost in each of the three phyletic
lines ; or that the ancestral stock did not possess this feature, and that
it was evolved independently in each line. I doubt that the ancestral
stock of the Broscini possessed these sclerites, that such a complicated
structure would be developed independently three times, and that once
evolved it would be lost in each line. Therefore, I reject both of the
above postulates.

In spite of the slight modifications that have been made in Jeannel’s
scheme it is apparent that he made a major contribution to the classifi¬
cation of the Broscini by his study of the male genitalia. Equally
important was his discovery that Cnemacanthus (sens, lot.) was not
even related to the broscines, but that this genus belonged in the Conchi-
fera (see Figs. 17 a and b, illustrating the glabrous, conchiferous lateral
lobes of Cnemacanthus araucanus) .

In the course of this study, I have examined a number of other
characters, such as the number of glabrous segments of the antennae ;
shape of the palpi; setae of the ligula, head, pronotum, and abdomen;
color; number of punctures in the umbilical series of the elytra; speciali¬
zation of the fore and middle tarsi of the males; and the scutellar
(morphological first) and second striae of the elytra. All of these
features were found to exhibit both inter and intrageneric variation,
but the pattern of variation did not show any significant trends or
coincide with the pattern of variation of the genitalia. For example,
males of Promecoclerus have spongy pubescence on the first four tar-

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Volume X, No. 3

someres of the front and middle tarsi, but the tarsi of males of the
closely related Anheterus gracilis are without spongy pubescence. (As
a matter of fact, these two groups are very probably congeneric.) The
front and middle tarsi of Creobius , Cascellius , and several genera of
the subtribe Broscina also have spongy pubescence ventrally. Thus,
if this character were relied on, several different forms would be grouped
together, while otherwise similar forms would be placed in different
groups.

Specimens of Broscus have a single puncture bearing a single seta
over each eye, while individuals of the seemingly closely related Chaeto-
broscus and the seemingly unrelated Creobius have three or four supra¬
orbital punctures over each eye. Glabrous fourth antennal segments
are characteristic of Broscus, whereas the apical halves of the fourth
antennal segments are hairy in the closely related Craspedonotus.
Mandibular setae are lacking in three closely related genera of the
Broscina, but these setae are present in all of the remaining broscine
genera seen in this study. The posterior pair of pronotal setae are
lacking in Miscodera arctica, but are present in M. insignis, as well as
in all of the other species that I have examined. The base of the second
elytral stria is present in some species of Broscus, whereas it is absent
in other species. The female retractile plates do not offer characters.
Thus the division into subtribes is based only on the structure of the
median lobe and internal sac of the genitalia.

Relationships op the Subtribes. — The three groups recognized here
seem to be structurally about equidistant from one another, and it
appears impossible to derive any one group from any other. This
suggests that the Broscini has had a long history, and that a large
fragment of it is lost to us.

Classification of the Broscina. — The genera included here may be
arrayed as follows : a. those with a keeled ligula, dorsal surface of the
median lobe partly sclerotized, basal orifice closed dorsally, and with
an elongate sclerite x, which lacks lateral upturned projections — the
New Zealand genera (see Figs. 11 and 12) ; 6, those with an unkeeled
ligula, dorsal surface of the median lobe partly or not sclerotized, basal
orifice open dorsally, and with an elongate sclerite x which has lateral
upturned proections — the Oriental-Palaearctic-Nearctic genera, exclud¬
ing Axonya championi (see Figs. 2-9) c. the genus Axonya, with an
unkeeled ligula, dorsal surface of the median lobe unsclerotized, basal
orifice open dorsally, and with a short sclerite x which lacks lateral
projections, (see Fig. 10.) I suggest that each of these groups is

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monophyletic, and that of the three, Axonya is the most primitive.
I cannot place the Australian Eurylychnus and Percosoma in this
scheme because I did not study them with sufficient care and have not
had the opportunity to re-examine them.

Of the New Zealand genera, Diglymma and Oregus seem to be more
primitive than the other three as is indicated by the characters in the
first couplet of Britton’s key (1949 : 5 38 ) . Further the scutellar stria
is preserved in Diglymma and Oregus , and their elytra are flat basally ;
in Metaglymma , Mecodema, and Brullea, on the other hand, the scutellar
stria is absent, and the elytra are ridged toward the base.

The genera of the Old and New World, excluding Axonya, are all
so very similar structurally that they could easily be included in a single
genus. However, the species included in each of the present genera
are more similar to their respective congeners than they are to the
species of any other genus. Thus the genera seem to be natural, and
it is only a matter of changing their taxonomic rank. I am not pre¬
pared to implement this suggestion at present because I have not seen
representatives of all of the Broscini. The six Holarctic genera with
which I am familiar seem to form two minor phyletic arrays: one in¬
cluding Broscus, Chaetobroscus, and Craspedonotus — they have about
the same pronotal shape, and only the basal tarsomeres of the front
tarsi bear spongy pubescence or none at all ; a second including Zacotus,
Miscodera, and Broscosoma, the males of which have spongy pubescence
on the basal tarsomeres of the front and middle tarsi.

Notes on the Creobiina.— I have studied critically only a few
specimens of this group, including Cascellius gravesi, Creobius eydouxi,
Promecoderus howitti , and a species of Parroa. The species representing
Cascellius, and Promecoderus have four setae on the ligula, while this
structure in Parroa bears only two setae, apically. In the males of
Creobius, Cascellius, and Promecoderus (excluding A. gracilis) the
basal four tarsomeres of the front and middle tarsi bear spongy pu¬
bescence, while in Parroa they are without the pubescence. The male
genitalia of Creobius and Cascellius (Fig. 13) are quite similar and
the internal sac in each genus is expanded ventrally to form a pouch,
the latter curving part way around the rest of the sac. The internal
sac in Promecoderus is folded longitudinally, and is armed internally
with small spines (Fig. 14 A). The internal sac of Parroa bears a very
large spine attached to a broad plate on the left side (Fig. 15). The
genitalia and fascies of Cascellius and Creobius are so similar that the
two may be regarded as congeneric, but the difference in the genitalia

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of these and the other two genera is of greater magnitude than that
which occurs intergenerically in the Broscina.

VI. The Geographical Distribution of the Broscini

Britton (1949), in his outstanding work on the Broscini of New Zealand,
suggested that this tribe was of Cretaceous palaeantarctic origin because
of the relatively greater diversity of the Broscini on the southern land
masses, and because of its restriction to the temperate parts thereof.
Further, he states that the Broscini probably reached South America
by way of a southern land connection, and spread in early Tertiary
time from there through northern Africa to the Palaearctic, by way
of a land connection from northern South America to the Mediterranean
region. He does not accept invasion of the northern hemisphere by
way of Asia because ‘‘the Palaeantarctic continent was separated from
Asia from the end of the Jurassic until the late Tertiary so that the
Broscini could not have reached Asia directly from Australia sufficiently
early to allow for the considerable diversification of the Palaearctic
genera and species.” I question parts of this, first, because it seems
to be an unnecessarily complicated hypothesis to explain the distribu¬
tion pattern of the extant Broscini, and second, because the land bridges
mentioned are not supported by any geological evidence known to me.
A different point of view, based on my understanding of the taxonomy
and distribution pattern of this tribe follows.

Of the three subtribes, the Barypina are restricted to southern South
America, the Creobiina as defined here are found in southern South
America, and in western Australia, but nowhere else, and the Broscina
occur in New Zealand, Australia, and on the northern land masses
(see Fig. 18). It is likely that the ancestral stocks of the Barypina
and Creobiina arose in the southern hemisphere, and I consider it
possible that they reached South America by way of a southern route.
Possibly the ancestral stock of the extant Barypina arose in southern
South America. There is no evidence against this point of view.

"Whether invasion of South America took place by dispersal from
island to island or by way of a direct land connection across the south¬
ern polar region, it is impossible to say. However, geological data do
not support a direct land connection between South America, Ant¬
arctica, New Zealand and Australia.

The distributional data do not support the hypothesis that the
Broscina reached the Palaearctic by way of South America. This
subtribe, the only one of the three known to have representatives in
the northern hemisphere is not represented in South America, and the

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center of abundance of the group seems to be in the eastern Palaearetic.
The distribution pattern suggests to me that the ancestral stock of the
Broscina arose in the southeastern Palaearetic or in Australia and
dispersed from either of these centers possibly by way of what is now
the Indo- Australian Archipelago. Open stretches of sea may have been
crossed by flight, or by other means. If the dispersing stock was adapted
to temperate conditions, then it probably spread by flight from moun¬
tain top to mountain top across the tropical areas of the Old World
to the Himalayas proper and thence farther northward, eastward and
westward. However, dispersal did not have to take place by these
means. Possibly one stock of Broscina was adapted to tropical condi¬
tions, and dispersed across the tropical areas of the Old World; from
this stock evolved the extant temperate adapted broscine genera of
the Holarctic. Probably, one stock of Broscina got to New Zealand
from Australia, over the sea. Another possibility remains to be con¬
sidered; one portion of the ancestral stock of the extant Broscina of
the northern hemisphere may have reached South America by a southern
route, dispersed northward, reached the northern hemisphere by way
of North America, spread to the Palaearetic from the west, and ulti¬
mately died out in South America and in most of North America.
This is possible but it is not supported by the distribution of the extant
genera.

By way of summary, I consider it likely that the Broscini arose in
the southern hemisphere and became widespread there, probably in
Mesozoic time. South America may have been invaded twice : once by
the stock that gave rise to the Barypina, and once by the Creobiina.
The Palaearetic was invaded from the west, the Canary Islands from
the western Palaearetic, and North America, possibly by way of the
Bering Strait land bridge. New Zealand probably received its single
original broscine stock from Australia. This hypothesis has no more
positive evidence to support it than has Britton’s, but I think that the
circumstantial evidence is better. However, I wish to emphasize that
the geographical distribution of the extant Broscini can tell us nothing
about earlier land connections or former locations of continents, or
whether or not the continents have changed positions, but rather if we
knew more about such topics then we would know more about the
probable routes and times of dispersal of the Broscini. Darlington
(1952: 215-216) made a similar point with reference to the invertebrate
fauna of South America, and I feel that it is applicable to a discussion
of the distribution of this tribe.

48

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 3

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

49

(Figures 2-9, p. 48)

Figure 2. Male genitalia of Broscus cephalotes, 33x. A. Median lobe, left lateral
aspect B. Base of median lobe, dorsal aspect C. Left lateral lobe D. Bight
lateral lobe.

Figure 3. Lateral aspect of sclerites x and y, with the membranous portion of
the internal sac slit open to expose the apical plate of Broscus cephalotes, Turkestan
(Ball Collection), 66x. A. Sclerite x B. Sclerite y C. Apical plate.

Figure 4. Males genitalia of Zacotus matthewsii Le Conte, W(ashington)
T (erritory), (Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia). A. Median lobe, left
lateral aspect, 33x B. Base of median lobe, dorsal aspect C. Left lateral lobe, 33x
D. Bight lateral lobe, 33x E. Sclerite x, dorsal aspect, 66x F. Sclerite y, dorsal
aspect, 66x G. Sclerite x, left lateral aspect, 66x H. Sclerite y, left lateral aspect,
66x.

Figure 5. Sclerites of internal sac of Chaetobroscus anomalus Chaudoir, Jaloor,
Kulu ; (California Academy of Sciences). 66x. A. Sclerite x, left lateral aspect B.
Sclerite y, left lateral aspect C. Apical plate, left lateral aspect D. Sclerite x,
dorsal aspect E. Sclerite y, dorsal aspect.

Figure 6. Male genitalia of Craspedonotus margellanicus Kratz, Turkestan (Ball
Collection), 33x. A Median lobe, left lateral aspect B. Left lateral lobe C. Bight
lateral lobe D. Sclerite y of internal sac, dorsal aspect.

Figure 7. Male genitalia of Miscodera arctica Paykull, St. Geo. Bay, Nfld.,
(University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology). A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect,
33x B. Left lateral lobe, 33x C. Bight lateral lobe, 33x D. Sclerite x, dorsal
aspect, 66x E. Sclerite y, dorsal aspect, 66x.

Figure 8. Male genitalia of Miscodera insignis Mannerlieim, Banier Nat. Pk.
Wash., (California Academy of Sciences). 66x. A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect
B. Sclerite x, dorsal aspect C. Sclerite y, dorsal aspect.

Figure 9. Male genitalia of Broscosoma baldense Bosch., Monte Baldo, Switzerland,
(California Academy of Sciences). 66x A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect B.
Sclerite x, dorsal aspect C. Sclerite y, dorsal aspect.

(Figures 10-17, p. 50)

Figure 10. Male genitalia of Axonya championi Andrews, India, (California
Academy Of Sciences). 150x A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect B. Left lateral
lobe C. Sclerite x., dorsal aspect D. Sclerite y, dorsal aspect E. Apical plate,
dorsal aspect.

Figure 11. Sclerites of internal sac of Diglymma ovipenne Sharp, Cass, New
Zealand (California Academy of Sciences). 66x A. Sclerite x, dorsal aspect B.
Sclerite y, dorsal aspect C. Sclerite x, left lateral aspect.

Figure 12. Sclerites of internal sac of Brullea antarctica Castelnau, N. Karamea,
New Zealand, (California Academy of Sciences). 66x A. Sclerite x, left lateral
aspect B. Sclerite y, left lateral aspect C. Sclerite x, apical portion, dorsal aspect
I). Sclerite y, dorsal aspect.

Figure 13. Male genitalia of Cascellius gravest Curtis, Punta Arenas, Chile,
(Museum of Comparative Zoology). 33x. A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect B.
Left lateral lobe C. Bight lateral lobe.

Figure 14. Male genitalia of Promecoderus howitti Castelnau, Dunkeld, Victoria,
Australia, (Academy of Natural Sciences of Philedalphia). 33x A. Median lobe,
left lateral aspect B. Left lateral lobe C. Bight lateral lobe.

(Continued on p. 51)

50

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 3

17 B

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

(Figures 10-17, p. 50)
(Continued from p. 49)

Figure 15. Median lobe, left lateral aspect, of Parroa species'? Australia, (Ameri¬
can Museum of Natural History). 33x.

Figure 16. Male genitalia of B ary pus species? , Neuquen, St. Martin de los Andes,
Argentina. (Ball Collection). 33x A. Median lobe, left lateral aspect B. Left
lateral lobe C. Bight lateral lobe.

Figure 17. Lateral lobes of Cnemacanthus araucanus Germain, 22 mi. N. of Talca,
Chile, (California Academy of Sciences). 66x A. Left lateral lobe B. Right
lateral lobe.

Figure 18. The distribution of the Tribe Broscini (Broscines are known to occur
in the strippled area). At left, north polar projection; at right, south polar pro¬
jection.

Literature Cited

Bradley, J. C., 1930. A manual of the genera of beetles of America
north of Mexico, vii -|- 360 pp. Daw, Illston and Company, Ithaca,
New York.

Britton, E. B., 1949. The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand.
Part III-A revision of the tribe Broscini. Trans. R. Soc. N. Z.r
77(4) : 533-881, Plates 59-78.

Casey, T. L., 1920. Random studies among* the American Caraboidea.
Memoirs on the Coleoptera, IX: 133-299. The New Era Printing*
Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Darlington, P. J., Jr., 1952. Living invertebrates and Mesozoic South
America, pp. 213-225. In Mayr, E., et alii , 1952. The problem of
land connections across the South Atlantic with special reference
to the Mesozoic. Bull. Amer. Mus. nat. Hist., 99(3) : 83-258, 28 figs.

Hatch, M. H., 1953. The beetles of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1 : In¬
troduction and Adephaga, vii -f 340 pp., 37 plates, 2 text-figs.
University of Washington Press, Seattle.

52

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 3

Hatch, M. H. and K. M. Fender, 1944. Notes on Zacotus matthewsii
Le C. Canad. Ent., 76: 188.

Hopping, R., 1925. New Coleoptera from western Canada. Canada
Ent., 57 (8) : 206-208.

Horn, G. H., 1881. On the genera of Carabidae with special references
to the fauna of boreal America. Trans. Amer. ent. Soc., 9 : 91-196,
plates 1-10.

Jeannel, R., 1941. Coleopteres carabiques, premier partes. Fanne
de France, 39 : 1-571, figs. 1-213. Paul Lechevalier et fils, Paris.

Le Conte, J. L., 1869. List of Coleoptera collected on Vancouver’s
Island with descriptions of some new species. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist.,
(4) IV: 369-385.

Nunenmacher, F. W., 1944. A new species of Zacotus. Pan-Pac. Ent.,.

20 (1) : 12.

Sloane, T. G., 1923. The classification of the family Carabidae. Trans.
R. ent. Soc. Lond., 1923, pp. 234-250.

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION

Compiled by J. Gordon Edwards

Curculionidae

Gilbert, E. E. 1952. The homologies of the male genitalia of Rhynchophora
and allied Coleoptera. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 45(4) :633-637, 2 pis. Leech, H. B.
1955. Macrancylus littoralis (Broun) in California, with a note on Phloeophagus
protensus (Wollaston). Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(4) :191-192. Marshall, G. A. K. 1955.
New South African Curculionidae. (key to spp. of Ophryodotus and to genera
of Oxycoryninae). Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 12, 8:1-24, 14 figs. Marshall,
G. A. K. 1955. New East African Curculionidae. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 12,
8:289-303, 6 figs, (no keys) Marshall, G. A. K. 1955. Some new Himalayan
Curculionidae. ( Leptomias and Lagenolobus ) (no keys) Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lon¬
don (B) 24(7-8) :141-151, 3 figs. Sleeper, E. L. 1955. New Curculionidae from
British Columbia, (no keys) Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(3) :155-162. Tanner, V. M. 1950.
Studies in the weevils of western United States, (description of new genus,
Pseudoeucyllus ) Great Basin Nat. 10:71-73, illus.

Lucanidae

Benesh, B. 1955. Some further notes on the stagbeetles, with especial refer¬
ence to Figulinae. (no keys) Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 8(2) :59-76, 15 figs.

Lycidae

Green, J. W. 1951. The Lycidae of the United States and Canada, III. The
Platerodini (in part), (keys to nearctic spp. of Dictyopterus (Eros), Lopheros,

(Continued on page 55)

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

53

A PRELIMINARY KEY TO THE SPECIES OF HYDROVATUS
OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) 1

By Frank N. Young

In the process of work on a revision of the dytiscid genus Hydrovatus ,
I have noted a number of interesting relationships between the described
species. For example, the forms which we now call pustulatus Mel-
sheimer and compressus Sharp apparently represent geographical sub¬
species of the Palaearctic cuspidatus Ivunze. Intergradation between the
two American forms occurs in the southeastern coastal plain states. H.
brevipes Sharp from the west may belong to this complex. Also, H. horni
Crotch, described from Texas, is suspected of being specifically identical
with major Sharp, described from Guatemala. Since it seems that further
work on this genus will be delayed for some time, I present the following
preliminary key to the species so far described from the eastern United
States west to Texas. I hope that this attempt at classification of the
species will encourage further collecting which is needed to clarify the
taxonomic problems in the genus.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF HYDROVATUS

1. Size large; total length 2.9 to over 3.0 mm _ 2

Size smaller; total length about 2.1 to 2.75 mm. _ 4

2. Elytron at side below the humeral prominence with a deep longitudinal sulcus; length

over 3.0 mm. (Texas) _ horni Crotch

Elytra without marginal sulci, at most with a series of coarser punctures in a shallow
longitudinal furrow below the humeral prominence _ 3

3. Body form nearly hemispherical not much attenuate either behind or before; puncta-

tion and microsculpture somewhat finer; last visible abdominal sternite without a
prominent median ridge; length about 2.9 to 3.1 mm.; width about 1.9 to 2.1 mm.

(Peninsular Florida) _ peninsularis Young

Body form more attenuate before and behind; punctation and microsculpture of
dorsum coarse; color pattern of elytra more pronounced; last visible abdominal
sternite in the type with a small, flattened median ridge, only vaguely indicated
in Massachusetts specimens; length of type 3.05 mm.; width 1.94 mm. (Indiana,
Massachusetts) _ indianensis Blatchley

4. Size small; length about 2.1 to 2.4 mm.; body form attenuate before and behind

elytral punctation coarse irregularly distributed and sparse — a distinct longitudinal
series of coarser punctures visible on disk of elytron in some specimens; humeral
prominence distinct and beneath it a row of coarser punctures rather deeply im¬
pressed; venter piceous brown to almost black. (Arizona, Texas) _

_ davidis J. Balfour-Browne

Size larger; elytral punctation finer and denser; body form less attenuate, the sides
of pronotum more rounded; elytra without indication of striae of coarser punctures
on disk; humeral prominence not conspicuous, the row of punctures beneath it often
obliterated. _ 5

1 Contribution No. 613 from the Zoological Laboratory of Indiana University.

54

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 3

5. Length about 2.3 to 2.75 mm.; elytral punctures relatively fin.er and denser; color pat¬
tern usually pronounced; row of punctures below humeral prominence sometimes

obliterated. (Eastern United States) -

_ 1 _ cuspidatus pustulatus Melsheimer (new combination)

Length about 2.2 to 2.4 mm.; elytral punctures relatively coarser and sparser; color
pattern vague in teneral specimens; punctures below humeral prominence usually
presen, t. (Florida) _ - _ cuspidatus compressus Sharp (new combination)

Recently Published

GYRINIDAE. A MONOGRAPH OF
THE WHIRLIGIG BEETLES OF
SOUTHERN AFRICA
By Per Brinck. [Results of the Lund
University Expedition in 1950-1951.]
South African Animal Life, Yol. 1, pp.
329-518, 81 text figs. Uppsala, 1955.

The strictly taxonomic part of this
monograph is essential to workers who
have Southern African specimens to
identify, but all students of the Gyrini-
dae will find much of interest in the
more general third and fourth sections,
the ecological and zoogeographical ac¬
counts. Of special note are ‘ ‘ The eco¬
logical adaptive zonation of evolving
gyrinid genera’ * (pp. 477-479), “Species
differentiation and habitat specializa¬
tion” (pp. 491-498), “Flight and its
importance” (pp. 498-501), and Zoogeo¬
graphical account” (pp. 501-508).

The generic and subgeneric treatment
of the Gyrininae and Enhydrinae follow
Part I of his 1955 “A revision of the
Gyrinidae (Coleoptera) of the Ethiopian
Region” [see below], though the Ms. of
the present paper was ready for the
printer in 1953. But in the Orectochili-

nae, because of a somewhat unfortunate
action on the part of Dr. F. Guignot
(see pp. 4-5 of Part II of the Ethiopian
revision for details, and Brinck ’s re¬
strained comment), three of the 11 new
subgenera of Orectocliilus here described
are already synonyms. It is interesting
to compare the preliminary key to the
subgenera in this paper with the later
one in Part II of the work on Ethiopian
Gyrinidae.

Users of the monograph on Southern
African species should obtain also the
‘ ‘ List of localities investigated by the
Swedish Expedition to Southern Africa
in 1950-1951,” by Per Brinck and Gus-
taf Rudebeck. This is an annotated list
with ecological data, and comprises Chap¬
ter II of South African Animal Life
(i.e. Vol. 1, pp. 62-100, 2 figs., 5 maps).
Chapter I (pp. 11-61, 7 figs.), “Swedish
exploration of South African animal life
during 200 years,” is also by Per Brinck.
Many of the itineraries are from un¬
published diaries; most of the naturalists
collected insects to some extent and the
report makes excellent reading. — H. B.
Leech, California Academy of Sciences.

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

55

On the Occurrence of Cicindela fera Chevrolat in the
United States (Coleoptera-Cicindelidae)

A single female of C. fera, with all lunules colored deep orange as in C. sonimeri
Mann., was collected one mile south of Rodeo (Hidalgo county) New Mexico, on
August 5, 1955, at a location 32 miles north of the Mexican border. This lone speci¬
men was found on the wet and muddy edge of a drainage ditch, in conjunction with
C. sedecimpunctata Klug.

C. fera is a tiger beetle that was thought to be wholly contained within the terri¬
torial limits of Mexico; its distribution according according to Dr. M. A. Cazier (in
Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 1954, vol. 103, p. 257) ranges
from Pitiquito, Sonora, all the way down the western side of Mexico to the state of
Chiapas where it crosses the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to be found northward along
the Gulf coast to the Panuco River in Veracruz. An isolated population is found
astride the Durango-Coahuila border.

The insect collected near Rodeo indicates that another isolated population exists,
this one in the United States along the lower Arizona — New Mexico state line, very
nearly 200 miles northeast of the nearest known location in Mexico. — Norman L.
Rumpp, China Lake, California.

(Continued from page 52)

and Eropterus) Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 77(1) :l-20, 2 pis. Green, J. W. 1952.
The Lycidae of the United States and Canada, IV. The tribe Calopterini. (keys
to spp. of Calopteron, Caenia, and Celetes) Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 78(1) :1-19,
2 pis. Green, J. W. 1952. The Lycidae of the United States and Canada, V.
Plateros. (key to spp. on 151-52) Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 78(1) :148-181, 4 pis.

Meloidae

Selander, R. B. and G. E. Bohart. 1954. The biology of Zonitis atripennis
flavida LeConte. Wasmann Jour. Biol. 12(2) :227-243.

Mordellidae

Franciscolo, M. E. 1954. Contribution to the knowledge of Mordellidae and
Scraptiidae. (with keys to tribes of Anaspidinae, to genera of Anaspidini, to
some spp. of Akentra and Anaspis ( Spanisa ) of Natal and palearctic and etho-
pian regions) Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London (B) 23(1-2) :63-73, 5 figs. Franciscolo,
M. E. 1955. On two new genera of Mordellidae. ( Mordello palpus of Buru Is.
and Pselaphokentron of Uganda) Proc. R, Ent. Soc. London (B) 24(9-10) :
179-187, 5 figs.

Passalidae

Krause, J. B. and M. T. Ryan. 1953. The stages of development in the embry¬
ology of the Horned Passalus Beetle, Popilius disjunctus Illig. ( Passalus cornu-
tus Fab.) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 47(1) :l-20, 4 pis.

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN Volume X, No. 3

Paussidae

Darlington, P. J. Jr. 1950. Paussid beetles. (Keys to tribes and subtribes
and genera, with genitalic studies, biology, zoogeography, etc.) Trans. Amer.
Ent. Soc. 76(2) :47-142, 206 figs, (excellent coverage)

Pselaphidae

Becker, E. C. and M. W. Sanderson. 1953. Honduras Pselaphidae. (Keys to
genera of Honduras Pselaphinae and to spp. of Bytlninoplectus , Eupsenius ,
Reichenbachia , and S calenarthrus ) Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 46(3) :399-432, 6 pis.
Park, 0. 1954. A new genus of pselaphid beetles from the Antilles. ( Malleoceps )
Chicago Acad. Sci. Nat. Hist. Misc. No. 138, pp. 1-4, 3 figs. Park, O. 1955. New
or little known species of pselaphid beetles from southeastern U. S. Jour. Tenn.
Acad. 31(1) :54-100. Pearce, E. J. 1955. The British species of Biblopectus.
(no. keys) Ent. Mon. Mag. 91(1098) :272-273.

Rhipiphoridae

Franciscolo, M. 1952. One the systematic position of the genus Ctenidia Cas-
telnae. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London (B) 21:155-163. (key to spp.) Linsley, E. Gr.
and J. W. MacSwain. 1950. New western species of Rhipiphoridae. (no keys)
Wasmann Jour. Biol. 8(2) :229-239.

Scarabaeidae

Howden, H. F. 1955. Description of a new Peruvian Athyreus with notes on
the method of illustration. Ant. Arbeiten Mus. G. Frey 6(2) :667-673. Howden,
H. F. 1955. Biology and taxonomy of North American beetles of the subfamily
Geotrupinae with revisions of the genera Bolbocerosoma, Eucanthus , Geotrupes,
and Peltotrupes. (keys to spp.) Proc. U.S.N.M. 104:151-319, 18 pis. Luginbill,
P. 1953. A contribution to the embryology of the May Beetle. Ann. Ent. Soc.
Amer. 46(4) :505-528, 13 pis. Robinson, M. 1947. A new species of Stenocrates
from Central America, Ent. News 58 :233-234. Schein, H. 1955. Uber die Gatt-
ungen Anthracophorides Moser und Carretia Ruter. (Cetoniinae) (no keys)
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, ser 12, 8 :94-96.

Scolytidae

Callaham, R. Z. 1955. Sapwood moisture associated with galleries of Dendroc-
tonus valens. Jour. Forestry 53(12) -.916-917, 1 fig. Chamberlin, W. J. 1955.
Description of a new species of Phloeosinus and remarks regarding the life his¬
tory of Renocis heterodoxus Csy. Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(3) :116-120, 3 figs. Schedl,
K. E. 1955. Contributions to the morphology and taxonomy of Scolytoidea,147 :
new records and new spp. from Africa, (no keys) Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser.
12, 8 :211-220.

Staphylinidae

Kistner, D. H. 1955. A new species of Paederopsis from Arizona, (no key)
Chicago Acad. Sci. Nat. Hist. Misc. No. 142:1-4, 8 figs. Steel, W. O. 1955 Notes
on the Omaliinae, 7 : the genus Xanthonomus Bernhauer. (key to 2 spp.) Ent.
Mon. Mag. 91(1098) : 275-278, 6 figs.

Tenebrionidae

Parker, F. H. 1955. A new species of Schizillus. ( S . beali ) Pan-Pac. Ent.
31(3) :148-150.

Trogidae

Leatherdale, D. 1955. House infestation of Trox scaher (L) from a Jackdaw’s
nest. Ent. Mon. Mag. 91(1098) : p. 266.

LB

■L. /°

■&". 4~

A BIMONTHLY FUBMCATION

WMW if THE

MAR 14 iy57

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume X August, 1956 No. 4

QATvrphfnwS Tith February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,

FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
} esr, both domestic and foreign, payable m advance. Back numbers are available.
t1lo <^«JeneT?l policies of pie Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
n nng Ad™°% Board: Dr Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head, Department of Biology, St. John
isher College, Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Go, ion
Edwards, Professor of Entomology San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
\\ ashington, and Mr. George B. Yogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett, Jr.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A MONOCRAPH OF THE OEDEMERIDAE
10. TWO NEW SPECIES OF OXACIS LECONTE AND THE
REDISCRIPTION OF AN ADDITIONAL SPECIES1

By Ross H. Arnett, Jr.2

Oxacis championi, new species

The evident sub-lateral pale stripe is the most characteristic feature
of this variable species. The head and pronotum are pale. The elytra
vary from fuscus or reddish to nearly piceous, always with pale sutural
stripes.

Oxacis cam var p ( = 0 . sericea Dug., nomenda nudum , not Horn 1870).

Champion, 1890. Biol. Centr. — America, Col., 4(2) : 160.

Holotype : Male, Brownsville, Texas, July 15, 1947 (B. Valentine)
[Deposited in the U. S. National Museum collection.]

Description of the species. — Head moderate in length; surface coarsely

punctate, punctures set close together, area between shiny but micro-rugose.

Antennae with each segment three and one-half times as long as broad, second
segment about one-half as long the third segment. Eyes oval, emarginate near
point of insertion of antennae; set farther apart than their width at dorsal view.
Mandibles moderate, apices subacute. Maxillary palpi with the apical segment
cultriform, widest at basal one-fourth, sides coverging to apex.

Prothorax considerably longer than wide, sides nearly parallel, with widest por¬
tion sub-apical. Surface with punctuation similar to the head. Sternum of thorax
smooth to sub-rugose. Legs normal for the genus, claws simple. Elytra coursely
rugose.

Abdomen with the ventral surface rugose punctate.

Pubescene moderate in length and density, white.

Color piceous-brown to fuscus with pale yellowish or testaceous markings; head

pale with some piceous staining on front, rarely entirely piceous; notum pale,
immaculate, varying to a central piceous stripe and a lateral spot on each side;

1 The previous part of this series was published in this volume, pp. 21-25.

-Department of Biology, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, N. Y.

57

NAR

HIST.

58

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. A

elytra always with pale sutural and submarginal stripe, remainder varying from
piceous-brown to pale f useus or reddish-orange ; abdomen and legs variable, pale

to piceous. ■' :

. * • 1

Length: 8-12mm.

Male genitalia: no distinguishing specific features.

Biology: Collected on willow flowers at Mercedes, Texas, and in Willow-Cotton¬
wood area in Kansas.

Distribution. — This species has an extensive range throughout
southern and western Texas, part of Kansas, west into southern Arizona
(not known from New Mexico) south into Mexico in Sonora, Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamanlipas, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Jalisco,
Colima, Vera Cruz, and Tabasco.

Material examined.: — (All designated as Paratypes). 130: TEXAS:
Brownsville, 18 ; New Braunfels, 2 ; Burkbnrnett, Red River, Wichita
Co., 3; Victoria, 1; Presidio, 9; Mercedes, 7 ; Iverrville, 1; Jackson Co.,
1 ; San Benito, 2 ; Hidalgo Co., 1 ; no further data, 3 ; KANSAS :
Kendall, Kearny Co., 1; Madison, 1; ARIZONA: Baboquivari Canyon,
W. side of Baboquivari Mts., Pina Co., 2; Sonoita River, Patagonia,
Santa Cruz Co., 1; St. Xavier Mesa, Tucson, 1; MEXICO: no further
data, 1 ; SONORA: Sta. Rosa Ranch, N. Navojoa, 1; Minas Nuevas, 5;
Navajoa, 1; CHIHUAHUA: 25 mi. s.w. Camargo, 3; COAHUILA:
Metamoros, 4 ; NUEVO LEON : Vallecillo, 2 ; Linares, 1 ; TAMAULIPAS :
Victoria, 8; 22 mi. n. El Limon, 1; NAYARIT: Puerta de la Lima, 1;
San Bias, 2; Tepic, 2; SAN LUIS POTOSI: Valles, 1; El Banito, 5;
Tamazunehale, 1; El Salto, 1; JALISCO: Guadalajara, 22; 1 mi. s.w.
La Resolana, 1; Lake Chapala, 2; COLIMA: Armeria, 4; Vulcan, 3;
VERA CRUZ: Los Cocos, 1, Tolome, 1; TABASCO: Ocotlan, 2.

Oxacis barbara, new species

(tracts (Oxacis) floridana Arnett, 1951 (not Horn, 1896).

American Midi. Nat., 45 : 312.

Upon reexamination of the type of Oxacis floridana Horn it became

apparent that the bifid apices of the mandibles have previously been

overlooked, and that Horn’s species should be referred to the genus

Oxycopis Arnett. This will be treated further in another paper.

The species described as Oxacis floridana bv myself, referred to above

is hereby designated as a new species and named after my daughter,

Barbara. The male specimen (Lucedale, Mississippi, May 12, 1929, II.

Dietrich) upon which the description in 1951 was based is hereby

designated as the Holotype of the species. The remainder of the same

series from which the type was designated are designated as Paratypes.

The type and some of the paratypes are deposited in the Cornell Uni-

versity collection.

«/

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

59

Distribution. — This species is now known from Mississippi and Texas,
and probably occurs well into Mexico because it has been intercepted
at the Brownsville port on maily occasions.

Additional material examined.— 100 : TEXAS: Burkburnett, Red
River, Wichita Co., 61; Brownsville, 34; San Benito 5.

Oxacis trimaculata Champion

Oxacis trimaculata Champion, 1890. Biol. Centr. -Americana, Col., 4 (2) :

161, pi. 7, fig. 20.

Oxacis cana Arnett, 1951 (part), not LeConte, 1854.

Thorax orange-red with distinctly marked central piceous stripe, and
a piceous patch on each side ; elytra with or without pale marginal
stripe, orange with base stained with piceous to entirely piceous ;
mandibles large, recurved ; base of femora orange.

Type: Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico [British Museum (Natural
History) ] .

Description of the species. — Head elongate, longer than broad, 2.5: 1.5 in¬
cluding mandibles ; punctures large, distinct, area between smooth, about equal to,
or less than width of punctures. Antennae with each segment three and one-half
times as long as broad, second segment one-half the length of the third. Eves
large, oval, outline truncate near insertion of antennae, set farther apart than
width of eyes at dorsal view. Mandibles usually long, curved downward, length
of mandible 2.75 to head 6.75; apices acute to blunt at apice. Maxillary palpi
with the apical segment cultriform, sides parallel, widest at basal one-third.

Thorax as long as wide; surface with large, distinct punctures set closer together
than width of punctures; area between micro-rugose. Pronotum broad at anterior
half, sharply constricted posteriorly; apex emarginate, surface without impressions.
Thoracic sternum smooth. Legs normal for the genus, claws not toothed at base.
Elytra with surface rugose punctate, elongate, sides parallel.

Abdomen rugose-punctate beneath.

Pubescence moderate in length and density, recumbent, white.

Color orange with piceous markings; head orange, with variable central piceous
staining; eyes, antennae, palpi, and tips of mandibles black; pronotum orange with
a central piceous stripe and a patch of piceous staining on each side; mesosternum
orange, base of femora orange, color of elytra varies from orange with basal
piceous staining to entirely piceous; remainder of body piceous.

Male genitalia with no distinguishing specific features.

Length: 7-12 mm.

Biology: collected in willow-cottonwood areas.

Distribution. — This species ranges from southern California east
through southern Arizona, southern Texas, with a few specimens known
from Arkansas and Alabama, south into Mexico through Baja Califor¬
nia, Sonora. Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potesi,
Vera Cruz, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, with a few specimens known from
Guatemala.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 4

Material examined. — 106 : ALABAMA : Tuscaloosa, 2 ; ARKANSAS :
Hope, 2 ; TEXAS : Burkburnett, Wichita Co., 13 ; Rio Grand, Brewster
Co., 1 ; Hot Springs, Brewster Co., 7 ; Sherman, Grayson Co., 1 ; Christ-
oval, Tom Green Co., 1; San Antonio, 3; Davis Mts., 2; Brownsville, 1;
Devil’s River, 1; Lozier Canyon, Terrell Co., 4; ARIZONA: Yavapai
Co., 1 ; Almo Canyon, Ajo Canyon, Pima Co., 7 ; Sabino Canyon, Pima
Co., 1 ; San Pedro River, s. of Herford, Cochise Co., 1 ; Calabasas Canyon,
e. slope Tumacacori Mts., Santa Cruz Co., 1 ; w. side Roosevelt Reser¬
voir, Salt River, Maricopa Co., 1 ; Wickenburg, 1 ; CALIFORNIA :
Palm Springs, Riverside Co., 2 ; Ivanpah, San Bernardino Co., 1 ; Up¬
land, 1; MEXICO: BAJA CALIFORNIA: Purissima, 2; San Bartolo,
1; Venancio, 2; San Ignacio, 1; Trunio, 1; Catavina, 1; Miraflores,
5; San Fernando, 6; SONORA: Hermosillo, 1; Minas Nuevas, 5;
Desemboque, 1 ; Tamazunchale, 2 ; CHIHUAHUA : Camargo, 1 ; Delicias,
1; Chihuahua, 2; NUEVO LEON: Monterrey, 2; TAMAULIPAS :
Victoria, 4; SAN LUIS POTOSI : Llera, 2; El Banito, 1: TAMAZUN¬
CHALE : 3 ; VERA CRUZ : La Gloria, 1 ; GUERRERO : Mexicala, 1 ;
OAXACA : Tehuantepec, 1 ; Salina Cruz, 1 ; GUATEMALA : Varied-
adres, 1; Sacapulas, 1.

NOTICE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS

Beginning with Volume 11, the Coleopterists ’ Bulletin will be pub¬
lished quarterly, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter (March, June,
September, and December). This is necessary for two reasons: 1) longer
papers have been submitted with regularity, so that more space is
needed, and 2) it is difficult to keep on a bimonthly schedule and keep
a balanced issue.

Also beginning with Volume 11, the subscription price will be in¬
creased to $5.00 per volume. This has been necessary because: 1) the
low number of subscribers has not given us enough income to prevent
a deficit operation; we have always depended upon donations, and 2)
the additional income, plus the savings in printing and mailing by going
to a quarterly will allow us to substantially increase the number of
pages per volume.

1956

THE COLEOPTERI STS’ BULLETIN

61

NOTES ON PSEUDOSTENOTRUPIS (Curculionidae: Cossoninae)

By Elwood C. Zimmerman1
(British Museum (Natural History))

I have had occasion to examine two examples of “ Stenotrupis” filum
(Fairmaire) in the collection of the British Museum, and I have found
that they do not belong to Stenotrupis , as presently defined, and some
nomenclatorial changes are required.

Fairmaire described Proeces filum from Tahiti in 1849. I have not
been able to find the type in the Natural History Museum in Paris
where Fairmaire ’s collection is housed (it appears impossible to locate
many of the types of Fairmaire and other authors whose collections
are stored there, although the specimens are presumed to be somewhere
in the institution). In the British Museum there are two specimens
which were collected in the lowlands of Tahiti by Miss Evelyn Chees-
man in 1925. These examples were determined by the late Prof. E. C.
Van Dyke, as “Stenotrupis filum (Fairmaire)”, and they agree with
Fairmaire ’s description. In 1937, when in Honolulu, I received some
notes regarding these specimens from the British Museum, and on the
basis of that information, I published the new combination Stenotrupis
filum (Fairmaire) in 1938. The information given me, however, failed
to indicate that the antennal funicles have seven segments instead of
five segments, and thus Fairmaire ’s filum cannot be assigned to
Stenotrupis , all species of which have five-segmented antennal funicles.
We may, therefore, transfer filum to Pseudo stenotrupis Voss (Revue
Zoo. Bot. Africaines 32 (1) : 75, 1939). Pseudo stenotrupis already
contains a Marshall species named filum , and this species must have
a new name. The species of Pseudostenotrupis thus far described are
as follows :

Pseudostenotrupis filum (Fairmaire), new combination.

Proeces filum Fairmaire, Rev. Mag. Zoo. (II) 1 :588 (75 in reprint),
1849.

Stenotrupis filum (Fairmaire) Zimmerman', Proc. Hawaiian Ent.
Soc. 10(1) :139, 1938.

Tahiti.

Pseudostenotrupis macer (Boheman).

Proeces Macer Boheman, in Schoenherr, Genera Species Cure. 4(2) :
1082, 1838.

Pseudostenotrupis macer (Boheman) Voss, Rev. Zoo. Bot. Africanes

Whis research was completed during the tenure of a grant from the United
States National Science Foundation.

62

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 4

32:75, 1939. T
Madagascar.

Pseudostenotrupis marshalli Zimmerman, new name. Type of the genus.

Leurostenus filum Marshall, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (X) 11:15, 1933.
Pseudostenotrupis macer (Boheman) Voss, Rev. Zoo. Bot. Africaines
32:75, 1939.

Belgian Congo.

Pseudostenotrupis parvulus Voss.

Pseudostenotrupis parvulus Voss, Rev. Zoo. Bot. Africaines 32:346,
1939.

East Africa.

1 have seen a number of undescribed species, and it is probable that
the group is rather extensive.

When Proeces filum Fairmaire was transferred to Stenotrupis , it be¬
came necessary to rename Stenotrupis filum Champion. With the re¬
moval of filum Fairmaire to Pseudostenotrupis , we may return to the
use of Stenotrupis filum Champion for the Seychelles species, and Steno¬
trupis championi Zimmerman becomes redundant.

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION1

Edited by J. Gordon Edwards

General

Barth, R. 1954 (1955). O aparelho saltatorio do Halticineo Homoplioeta sex-
not ate Har. (The jumping apparatus of this flea-beetle) (in Portuguese and Ger¬
man) Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 52(2) : 365-76. Crowson, R. A. 1955. The natural
■classification of the families of Coleoptera. (Originally printed in Ent. Mon. Mag.
vols. 86-90, under title “The Classification of the families of British Beetles’7)
187 pp., illus. Nathaniel Lloyd & Co., Ltd., London. Gressitt, J. L. 1954. Insects
of Micronesia, Introduction. Vol. I. B. P. Bishop Mus., Honolulu, 257 pp., illus.,
map. Mani, M. S. et al 1955. Entomological survey of the Himalayas. IX. First
annotated check-list of insects from the north-west (Punjab) Himalayas (incl.
365 beetle spp.). Agra Univ. Jour. Res. Sci. 4(2) :471-512. Schwieger, H. 1952.
Die Kaferfauna des Antarkto-Archiplata Gebietes und ihre Probleme. (Beetles of
Antarctic region.) Internatl. Congr. Ent., Trans. IXtli. 1:559-60. Singh, S. et al.
1955. Entomological survey of the Himalayas. XII. 2nd annotated check-list
(inch 116 beetle spp.). Agre Univ. Jour. Res. Sci. 4 (suppl.) :657-716.

Un the April 1955 issue of the Bulletin we published a list of the names of specialists who
serve as Contributing Editors for this Section. These persons attempt to keep us informed
about all current publications dealing with beetles throughout the world, especially those of
taxonomic significance (containing keys or original descriptions). We are pleased to announce
that Dr. Richard B. Selander, of the Illinois State Natural History Survey Division, Urbana,
Illinois, has consented to join our group of regular contributors. Henceforth he will be respon¬
sible for pertinent articles in the Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine, Annals & Magazine of
Natural History (London), and the Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society (London).

( Continued on page 66) *•

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

63

THE AMERICANUS CROUP OF OODES (Carabidae)

By Carl H. Lindroth1

The specimens of Oodes standing under the labels “americanus Dej.”
and “fluvialis Lee.” in American collections exhibit a great amount of
confusion. Apparently, students have been unable to make a consistent
separation on the basis of the more or less distinct and close punctation
of the elytral striae, used by Horn (1870, p. 107; 1881, p. 30). In a
previous paper (1955, p. 26) I have briefly dealt with this group and
vas able to state that three — not two — forms are involved which at that
time I regarded as distinct species. After the material of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Cambridge, Mass., and of the National
Museum (NMW), Washington, D. C., was sent me for study, the large
series at hand convincingly showed that a strict limit cannot be fixed
between the true americanus as defined by Dejean (1826, p. 377), and
according to his typical specimen in the Paris Museum (Lindroth, Yc.),
and the fluvialis of Leconte (1863, p. 13). The latter is a northern form
of americanus and, though transitional individuals occur, the name may
stdl be used as covering a geographical subspecies. The insect provision¬
ally mentioned as “n. sp.” in my previous paper (l.c.) is herewith
described.

The species concerned, black without metallic tinge and with 7 com¬
plete elytral striae, are the North American representatives of Oodes
s. str.

Key to the North A merican Oodes s. str.

1. Small, 8-9 mm. Prothorax not perceptibly narroweckat base _ amaroides Chevr.

More than I I mm. Prothorax narrowed at base _ 2

2. Microsculpture of sternites (except the last one) consisting of transverse meshes. — $:

protarsi broader (fig. I-A); last sternite with sparse and fine, not conflud'ing punc¬
tures; penis, fig. 2-A. —9; Microsculpture meshes of elytra about isodiametric but
irregular, ± angulate - - brevis n. sp.

Microsculpture of sternites (except the last one) consisting of rounded, almost isodia¬
metric meshes. — &: protarsi, fig. I-B; last sternite with coarse and dense, confluding
punctures; penis, fig. 2- B, C. — 9 : Microsculpture meshes of elytra isodiametric,
rounded - americanus De|

Oodes brevis new species

Length 11.3-12.1 mm. Deep black, prothorax in the posterior half with feeble
tinge of brown laterally (as in americanus), antennae, mouth-parts and legs piceous.
Lroad as americanus s. str., but convex as pronounced sbsp. fluvialis. Lateral bead
of prothorax slightly narrower. Elytral striae deeper on an average and constantly
Avith distinct, rather close punctures. The entire upper surface is pronouncedly dull,
due to the strong microsculpture (especially in the 9), the meshes on the elytra
being about isodiametric but ± irregular, ± angulate. A similar difference (in corn-

zoological Institute, University of Lund, Siveden.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 4

parison with americanus) , though less evident, can be observed in the prothoracal
microsculpture of the $ . On the ventral surface, the niicrosculpture of the sternites
(except the last one) consists, of clearly transverse meshes, the difference from
americanus being best observed on the central part at the base of each sternite.

— $ : Protarsi (fig. 1-A) heavily dilated, especially the 2. joint, the 3. broadest
at base. Last sternite with sparse and fine, non-confluent punctures. Penis (fig. 2-A)
stout, greatest width in the basal half.

As typical region I have selected Virginia. The hototype $ is from
Fairfax Co., 29.IV.1928 (A. Nicolay, MCZ) ; the allotype $ is from
Fort Monroe, IV.1919 (coll. Hubbard & Schwarz, NMW). All specimens
from Virginia and District of Columbia ( vide below) have been desig¬
nated as paratypes.

Distribution — Texas: Orange, 10. IX. 1925 (C. E. White, MCZ). Geor¬
gia (without exact locality) (C. V. Riley, NMW). Virginia: Fort Mon¬
roe, IV.1919 2 ex. (coll. Hubbard & Schwarz, NMW) ; Fairfax Co., 29.

IV. 1928, 7.IV.1929 2 ex., 23.IX.1932 (A. Nicolay, MCZ, Mus. Univ.
Lund) ; Alexander, Aqueduct Bridge 13. VII. 1918 (NMW). District of „
Columbia: Washington 28. IV. 3 ex. (coll. Hubbard & Schwarz, NMW,
Mus. Univ. Lund), Eastern Branch 30.IX.1927 (immature) (H. S.
Barber, NMW). New Jersey: Rivervale, 9.V.1926 2 ex. (P. J. Darling¬
ton, Jr., MCZ) ; Camden 11.1916 (G. M. Greene, NMW) ; Laurel Springs

V. 1921 (G. M. Greene, NMW). Indiana: Elkhart (coll. Liebeck, MCZ).
Illinois: Richland & Lawrence Co., Wabash Valley, V.1879 (F. C. Bow-
ditch, MCZ). Iowa (without exact locality) (J. B. Smith, NMW).

Oodes americanus Dejean (1826)

The typical specimen, a $ in the Paris Museum ( vide above), is la¬
belled ‘ ‘ America borealis ” only but belongs to the large southern form
of the species.

forma typica

Length 12.3-14.0 mm. Broad and rather flat. Elytral striae with variably devel¬
oped punctures. Upper surface slightly shiny, microsculpture shallower than in
J) re vis (specimens of the same sex should be compared!), the meshes on prothorax
and elytra as well as on the central part of the sternites (except the last one)
are almost regularly isodiametric, rounded. The punctures of the last sternite are
coarse and confluent in both sexes. — $ : protarsi, fig. 1-B. Penis (fig. 2-B) with
slender basal part which forms an acute angle with the rest.

Distribution. — I have seen pronounced specimens of the forma typica
from California (MCZ), Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and
North Carolina (MCZ).

subspecies flu vial is Leconte (1863)

Length 11.3-12.5 mm. Slenderer, more convex and as a rule smaller than the
forma typica, which it represents in the northern part of the area. The sides of
prothorax are usually slightly less rounded at base. Indices of width and length

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

65

sculpture, or in the protarsi of the $, could be observed. The penis (tig. 2-C), in
pronounced specimens, is less slender, notably the basal part, which is situated at
about a right angle to the rest; but transitional forms occur. Possibly, with a large
material at hand, it would be practicable to construct a north-south “cline” on this
character, at least in eastern U.S.A.

Fig. 1. Protarsi in male of Oodes. —
A, 0. brevis, new species. (Washington,
D. C., paratype) ; B, 0. americanus Dej.
(Philadelphia Neck, Pa.).

Distribution.— The pronounced sbsp. fluvialis has a northerly dis¬
tribution: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Massa¬
chusetts, New Hampshire; Grimsby (pr. Hamilton), Ontario (Petit
coll. C. V. Riley, NMW).

Specimens ± intermediate between forma typica and sbsp. fluvialis
have been seen from Michigan, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and New York.

Fig. 2. Penis of Oodes. — A, 0. brevis,
new species (Fairfax, Va., paratype) ;
B, 0. americanus Dej. /. typ. (Califor¬
nia; specimen compared with the type of
Dejean) ; C, 0. americanus fluvialis Lee.
(Arlington, Mass.).

66

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 4

Bibliography

Dejean, P. F. M. A. 1826, Species General des Coleopteres. 2. Paris.
Horn, G. H. 1870. On the species of Oodes and allied genera. Trans.

American Ent. Soc. (Philadelphia), 3:105-109. i

- . 1881. Synoptic table of tribe Chlaeniini. Bull. Brooklyn

Ent. Soc. 4:29-30.

Leconte, J. L. 1863. New species of North American Coleoptera. 1.

Smiths. Misc. Coll. (Washington, D. C.), 6:1-177.

Ltndroth, C. H. 1955. Dejean’s types of North American Carabidae.
Opuscula Ent. (Lund), 20:10-34.

- i

(i Continued from page 62)

Buprestidae

Cobos, A 1956. Sexta nota sobre Buprestidos neotropicales. Los Mastogenius
Sol., de Sudamerica. (with key to S. Amer, sj)p.) Rev. Brasil. Ent. 5:203-1/, 13 tigs.

Carabidae

Jedlicka, A. 1954. Novi strevlici z asijske oblasti (13 n. spp. from Asiatic region)
Acta. Soc, Ent. Cechoslovenicae 51:119-28. Landin, B. 1955. Entomological results
from the Swedish expedition 1934 to Burma and British India. Arkiv. Zool.
8(3) :399-472. Lindroth, C. H. 1955. Dejean’s types of North American Carabidae.
Opuscula Ent. 20(1) : 10-34, (no keys).

Cerambycidae

Gardiner, L. M. 1955. Larval description of Acantliocinus pusillus Kby. Canadian
Ent. 87(5) :219-20, illus. Lane, F. 1956. Cerambycoidea Nova IV. (n. spp. from
S. America). Dusenia 7(l):l-32, 5 figs. Lepesme, P. and St. Breuning 1952. Note
preliminaire sur la classification des Coleopteres Cerambycides. (Proposed new
classification, with only 2 subfamilies.) (no keys) Internatl. Congr. Ent., Trans.

IX th. 1:139-42. Lepesme, P. and St. Breuning 1955. Lamiares nouveaux de
Cote d’Ivoire. (30 n. spp. & 20 new records for Ivory Coast) Bull. Soc. Ent.
France 60(7) :122-128, illus. Papp, C. S. 1955. New records for N. Amer.
Cerambycidae and a new subsp. of Leptura. Ent. News 66(8) :217-20. Zajciw, D,
1956. Nota sobre TJnxia scopifer (Klug. 1825). (key to 4 supp. incl.) Dusenia 7
(1) :33-36.

Chrysomelidae

Bechyne, J. 1954. La liste des Eumolpides de Rio Grande do Sul (Bresil) et
observations diverses sur les especes neotropicales. (many n. spp. & notes)
Arquiv. Mus. Paranaense 10(2) :141-266, 2 pis. Monros, F. 1953. Revision si-
stematica de las especies de Clytrinae de la Argentina, Paraguay, y Chile. (87
spp., with keys) Acta Zool. Lilloana 14:5-274, illus.

Coccinellidae

Muma, M. H. 1955. Lady bettles found on citrus in Florida, (no keys) Fla.
Ent. 38(3) :177-24.

( Continued on page 68)

1956

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

67

THE IDENTITY OF BRUCHUS ARENARIUS WOLCOTT

By L. J. Bottimer1

Ln June, 1950, Mr. J. C. Bridwell visited the Chicago Natural History
Museum to study the bruehid collection. He was much pleased to find
the type of Wolcott’s arenarius, which he immediately recognized as a
typical Zabrotes . Inasmuch as the writer was studying this genus, Mr.
Bridwell kindly gave him the above information to record.

The species was described from a single specimen collected by Prof.
A. Cl. A estal near Havana, Ill. In the Arestal report on a study of this
sand prairie (1913:50) the following reference appears:

“ Bruch us arenarius AVolcott, type unique. April 9.

Found on the sand between tufts of bunch-grass at the Devil’s Hole.
(For description, see Wolcott, ’12.)”

Pic (1913:15) listed the species under Bruchus. Leng (1920:305) used
Mylabris (=Pachybruchust), Bradley (1946:37) assigned it to Mega-
cents.

In July, 1955, the writer had occasion to make a northern trip where
he also visited the Chicago Museum to examine the type of arenarius.
Mr. Bird well and the writer are grateful to Drs. Dybas and Wenzel for
their cooperation during our visits.

The mounted specimen in question has several labels bearing the
following data:

Devil’s Hole, Havana, Ill. April 9, 1911. On the sand between
tufts of bunch grass. Col & pres, by A. G. Vestal. 234 Holotype
Bruchus arenarius Wolcott TYPE’*’

The description fits the type satisfactorily. It is evident, however,
that the describer was unacquainted with Zabrotes Horn (1885:156),
because he attempted to key the insect in Fall’s treatment of Bruchus
(1910:160), where it ran to Group IV. This group included six species,
five of which have been since assigned to Megacerus either by Bridwell
(1929:112) or Blackwelcler (1946:762).

Wolcott’s arenarius is a good species. Since Bridwell and the writer
consider Zabrotes a valid genus, the name of this hitherto unrecognized
bruehid can now be known as Zabrotes arenarius (Wolcott), new com¬
bination.

On July 29, 19o5, Dr. AI. AV. Sanderson and the writer spent a few
hours collecting in the Mason State Forest, about 15 miles northeast of
Havana, Mason County, Ill. The Forest is in the sand prairie area
studied by Prof. A^estal, and is near the “ Devil’s Hole” locality. On

1Kerrville, Texas.

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 4

this date, the legume, Cassia fasciculata Michx. (det. R. A. Evers, Illi¬
nois Natural History Survey), was in full bloom. The Zabrotes was
taken in moderate numbers by sweeping a rather small colony of the
plant. Several other colonies of this plant in the Forest gave negative
results ; however, two individuals were taken by the writer by sweeping
the Cassia about 5 miles south of Bath, also in Mason County. On the
following day, the writer again visited the Forest just before a shower,
and was able to take only a half-dozen additional specimens from the
Cassia at the first locality. No evidence of the host plant (i.e., larval)
of the bruchid was noted.

Literature Cited

Blackwelder, R. E. 1946. United States Nat. Mus. Bill., 185(4) :551-
763.

Bradley, J. C. 1946. Psyche, 53(3-4) :33-42. )

Bridwell, J. C. 1929. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 31(6) :112-114.

Fall, H. C. 1910. Trans. American Ent. Soc., 36:89-197.

Horn, G. II. 1885. Trans. American Ent. Soc., 12:128-162.

Leng, C. W. 1920. Cat. Col. America, n. Mexico. I

Pic, M. 1913. Junk-Schenkling Col. Cat,, Pars 55.

Vestal, A. G. 1913. Bui. Illinois State Nat. Hist., 10(1) :l-96.

Wolcott, A. B. 1912. Canadian Ent., 44(5) :161-163.

( Continued from page 66)

Curculionidae

Gilbert, E. E. 1955. A new genus and species of blind weevil from Florida.

( Caecossonus ) Pan-Pac. Ent. 31(4) :193-95, illus. Sleeper, E. L. 1955. A review
of the Traehyphloeini of America north of Mexico, (keys to genera & spp.) Ohio
Jour. Sci. 55(5) :279-92, illus. Smith, S. G. 1952. The cytology of Sitophilus
( Calandra ) oryzae (L.), S. granarius (L.), and some other Rhynchophora. Cytologia
17(1) :50-70, illus.

Dytiscidae

Young, F. N. and H. C. Severin 1956. Evidence of intergradation between
putative species of Colymbetes in South Dakota. Jour. Kansas Ent. Soc. 29(2):79-83.

Endomychidae

Strohecker, H. F. 1955. A new species of CJiondria with a key to the Bornean
species. Fieldiana: Zool. 34(32) :331-32, illus.

Erotylidae

Guerin, J. 1956. Descricao de Novas Especies e Variedades de Erotylidae
Neotropicais. (involving 9 genera) Dusenia 7(l):45-64, 27 tigs, 2 pis.

Helodidae

Leech, H. B. 1955. A new genus for Cyphon robustus LeC. ( Sarabandus ) Pan-
Pac. Ent. 31 (1) :34.

JUN 101357

n

WEHSirif OF. ILLIltfiS

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume X October, 1956 No. 5

Published bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,
SAINT JOHN FISHER COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New York. Terms of subscription: $4.00 per
year, both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available.

general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr.. Head, Departm nt of Biology, St. Tohn
Fisher College; Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University; Dr. J. Go ion
Edwards, Professor of Entomology, San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc., Baltimore, Md. ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology, University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Yogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited
by Ross H. Arnett. Jr.

STUDIES ON NORTH AMERICAN APION: THE APION DISPARATUM

CROUP (CURCULIONIDAE)1

By D. G. Kissinger, University of Maryland, College Park

Eight species resembling A. disparatum Sharp comprise a group that
occurs from Southwestern United States to Venezuela. Nothing is known
regarding the host plants of these species. Three distinctive characters
of the group are the reddish or yellowish legs, the more or less evident
spot of pubescence at the base of the third elytral interval, and the yel¬
low beak of the male ; the female beak is black as is true of most Apion
species. The few species having yellow beaks, at least in the case of
the male, namely A. poeticum Shp., A. subauratum Shp., A. omissum
Wag., A. luteirostre Gerst., and A. perminutum Sm. may be distin¬
guished from the disparatum group by the basal lateral expansion of
the prothorax and/or the yellowish coxae. Additional characters are as
follows :

Moderately robust to ovate in form ; beak rather stout, nearly cylindri¬
cal, scarcely dilated at antennal insertion ; ocular interval narrow,
slightly narrower to slightly wider than dorsal tip of beak, eyes rather
large, not prominent; prothorax not expanded laterally at base; third
tarsal segment broadly bi-lobed ; claws with acute basal tooth ; tibiae and
tarsi of male simple.

The males of two new species herein described, A. schwarzi and A.
bickleyi, are distinct from all North and Central Apion because the mid¬
dle coxae of these species bear an acute tubercle on the posterior ventral
margin ; the females of these species lack tuberculate coxae.

iScientific art. No. A601, contribution No. 2777 of the Maryland Agricultural Ex¬
periment Station, Department of Entomology; based in part on a thesis submitted
to the Graduate School of the University of Maryland in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Science.

70

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 5

KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF A. DISPARATUM GROUP

1. Males - , - 2.

Females - - - 9.

2. Middle coxae tuberculate _ 3.

Middle coxae simple - 4.

3. Beak as long as prothorax; beyond basal fifth pubescence on third elytral interval

uniserial, size less than 1.75 mm.; Mexico. - schwarzi n. sp.

Beak one-fourth longer than prothorax; beyond basal fifth pubescence on third elytral
interval irregularly biserial; size greater than 2.00 mm.; Mexico. - bickleyi n. sp.

4. Beak as long as prothorax. _ id- - - - 5.

Beak distinctly longer than prothorax. - - - — -6.

5. Interspaces between punctures on dorsum of prothorax greater than diameter of punc¬

tures, finely alutaceous; pubescence of apical two-thirds of elytra extremely fine,

dust-like; Guatemala. _ seminudum Wagner2

Interspaces between punctures on dorsum of prothorax less than diameter of punc¬
tures; pubescence of elytra long, coarse, moderately dense and uniform; Mexico.
_ alloeum n. sp.

6. Antennae inserted at distance from eye greater than width of ocular interval; elytra

more elongate in form, about one-half longer than wide, as 3: 2. - 7.

Antennae inserted at distance from eye equal to width of ocular interval; elytra more
compact in form, not more than one-fourth longer than wide, as 9: 7 - - 8

7. Elytra with brassy luster; prothorax not expanded laterally at base; pubescence on

lateral surfaces slightly coarser and denser than that on dorsal surface, scutellum

with feeble median, longitudinal furrow; Southwestern U. S. to Guatemala -

_ disparatum Sharp

Elytra blue-black in color; prothorax noticeably expanded laterally at base; pubescence
on lateral surfaces squamiform, much coarser and denser than that on dorsal surface,
with more or less pearly luster; scutellum impressed transversely at apical third;
Mexico and Nicaragua _ _ setifrons Wagner

8. Beak one-third longer than prothorax; prothorax one-fourth to one-third wider at basal

third than long; pubescence of elytra longer and finer; South Central Mexico

_ hirtum Wagner

Beak one-fourth longer than prothorax; prothorax two-fifths to one-half wider at basal
third than long; pubescence of elytra shorter and coarser; extreme Southwestern
U. S. and Baja Calif. _ _ sectator n. sp.

9. (I) Beak distinctly shorter than head and prothorax _ _ _ _ _ 10.

Beak not shorter than head and prothorax _ 12

10. Beak as long as prothorax; elytral intervals with two rows of long, coarse scales;

elytral length to width as 9: 5.5; Mexico _ „ _ _ alloeum n. sp.

Beak distinctly longer thn prothorax _ II.

11. Prothorax on dorsum with superficial, fine, sparse punctures; elytral length to width

as 8.5: 5; Mexico _ schwarzi n. sp.

Prothorax on dorsum with deep, moderately dense punctures; elytral length to width
as 9: 7; extreme Southwestern U. S. and Baja Calif _ _ sectator n. sp.

12. Antennae inserted at basal fifth of beak; beak polished beyond antennal insertion,

sparsely finely punctuate beyond middle; South Central Mexico. _ hirtum Wagner

Antennae inserted at basal fourth of beak; beak dull in basal half, distinctly punctured

2Species placed in key from description.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

71

beyond middle _ _ „ _ I3_

13. Beak about as long as head and prothorax combined, inserted in head so that dorsal
margin from base of beak to vertex forms a nearly straight line; prothorax in side

view feebly, evenly convex; Southwestern U. S. to Guatemala _ disparatum Sharp

Beak distinctly longer than head and prothorax combined, inserted in head so that
dorsal margin forms an obtuse angle with head; prothorax in side view somewhat
gibbous anteriorly; Mexico. _ bickleyi n. sp.

Apion schwarzi new species
(Figure 12)

Holotype: male, Tampico, MEXICO, December 22, E. A. Schwarz collector, U. S.
N. M. Cat, No. 62813.

Length: 1.56 mm.; width: 0.68 mm.

Moderately robust. Black, beak from antennal insertion to near tip, antennae,
femora except for dark apical portion, and tibiae yellow; pubescence white, on dor¬
sum of prothorax and elytra very tine and sparse, coarse and dense at base of third
elytral interval, a few coarse scales at base of fourth through sixth intervals, sides
of meso- and meta-thorax densely covered with coarse scales. Beak moderately slender,
shorter than head and prothorax, equal in length to prothorax, very feebly curved,
nearly cylindrical; feebly sculptured, basal third moderately punctured, pubescent,
apical two-thirds bare, shining. Antennae inserted at basal two-sevenths of beak, at
distance from eye slightly greater than width of ocular interval; first segment as long
as next three; second segment stout, equal to next two; club 0.16 X 0.07 mm. Eyes
large, not prominent; ocular interval a little narrower than dorsal tip of beak, with
two rows of punctures separated by a narrow, flat interval. Prothorax at base one-
fifth wider than long, at middle as wide as base, apex five-sixths as wide as base ;
sides not distinctly expanded laterally at base, nearly parallel in basal one-half,
evenly rounding to apex, scarcely constricted at apex; feebly convex in profile;
punctuation very shallow, fine, 0.02 mm. in diameter, rather sparse, interspaces about
twice as great as diameter of punctures; basal fovea very shallow, short. Elytra at
humeri one-fourth wider than prothorax at base, about 2.5 times as long as prothorax,
length to width as 8.5 : 5 ; intervals feebly convex, more than twice as wide as striae,
nearly smooth, with a single row of fine punctures bearing very fine scales ; striae
moderately deep, fine. Front femora about three times as long as wide. Claws with
blunt, basal tooth.

Special secondary sex characters: beak yellow from antenal insertion to near
apex, middle coxae bear a small acute tubercle on posterior apex.

Allotype: female, same data as holotype, in (USNM).

Length: 1.66 mm.; width: 0.75 mm.

Beak black, slightly shorter than head and prothorax, one-fourth longer than pro¬
thorax, feebly curved, sparsely pubescent at base; first antennal segment as long as
next four; middle coxae simple.

Two paratypes, same data as type, female (USNM), male (DGK). Do not exhibit
any significant variation. Size range: 1.56 to 1.75 mm.

The small size and relatively short beak of both sexes and tuberculate
middle coxae of male will easily separate this species from its allies.

This species is named in memory of E. A. Schwarz, an ardent collec¬
tor and a keen student of the Coleoptera. His collection containing this

72

THE COLEOPTERISTS* BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 5

and many other interesting species of Apion is in the U. S. National
Museum.

Apion bickleyi new species
(Figures 2 and 9)

Holotype : male, Matamoros, MEXICO, May, A. Fenyes Collection, in California

Academy of Sciences.

Length: 2.18 mm.; width: 1.12 mm.

Moderately robust. Black, apical three-fifths of beak excepting tip, antennae,
femora, tibiae, and tarsi reddish-yellow; pubescence white, on dorsum of prothorax
and elytra fine, sparse, coarse and dense at base of third elytral interval, several
coarse scales at base of second, fourth and fifth intervals, coarse and dense on sides
of meso- and meta-thorax. Beak moderately slender, distinctly shorter than head and
prothorax, one-fourth longer than protliorax, moderately curved, basal two-fifths
parallel, stouter, feebly expanded at antennal inseration, attenuate to apical two-fifths,
thence nearly cylindrical to apex ; basal two-fifths punctured and pubescent, apical
three-fifths bare, feebly punctured. Antennae inserted slightly in front of basal
third, at distance from eye one-half greater than width of ocular interval; first seg¬
ment slightly longer than next three ; second segment stout, equal to next two ; club
0.18 X 0.08 mm. Eyes large, feebly prominent; ocular interval narrow, as wide as
dorsal tip of beak, with several rows of coarse punctures, no median sulcus or flat
area visible. Protliorax at base one-third wider than long, slightly wider at basal
fourth, apex three-fourths as wide as base; sides with no basal lateral expansion,
feebly expanded to basal fourth thence rounding to feebly constricted apex; profile
moderately arcuate ; punctuation moderately deep, 0.03 mm. in diameter, moderately
sparse, interspaces irregular, slightly narrower to wider than diameter of punctures ;
basal fovea shallow, short. Elytra at humeri one-tliird wider than protliorax at base,
2.9 times as long as protliorax, length to width as 11: 8; intervals flat, more than
twice as wide as striae, with one row of fine punctures bearing fine scales, third
interval with two rows of punctures ; striae moderately shallow, fine. Front femora
3.33 times as long as wide. Claws with acute basal tooth.

Special secondary sex characters : apical tliree-fifths of beak excepting tip yellow,
middle coxae bear a small acute tubercle on posterior apex.

Allotype: female, same data as holotype, in (CAS).

Length: 2.37 mm.; width: 1.18 mm.

Beak black, slender, longer than head and protliorax, tliree-fifths longer than pro¬
thorax, moderately strongly curved ; in dorsal view stouter and parallel in basal third
thence attenuate to basal four-sevenths, apex slightly expanded; lateral view stouter
in basal third thence feebly, irregularly attenuating to depressed apex; moderate
punctures arranged in irregular rows thoughout, median dosal line impunctate, basal
third finely, sparsely pubescent, surface rather dull, alutaceous, apex polished;
middle coxae simple.

The large size and tuberculate middle coxae will separate the male
from its allies ; the dense spot of pubescence on the base of the third
elytral interval contrasted by the very fine, scant pubescence on the re¬
mainder of the disc and the longer, slender, evenly arcuate beak set in
head so as to form an obtuse angle with the front of the head should

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

73

distinguish the female.

This species is named in honor of Dr. William E. Bickley as an expres¬
sion of my sincerest appreciation of his expert guidance so freely given
me during this study. TIis sound advice and suggestions have contribu¬
ted greatly to the completion of this paper.

Apion disparatum Sharp
(Figures 3 and 7)

Apion disparatum Sharp, 1890, Biol. Centrali- Americana, Col., 4 (pt. 3) ;
75 [type: Guatemala City, GUATEMALA; British. Mus. (N. H.)] ;
Fall, 1918, Jr. N. Y. Ent. Soc., 26 :222.

Apion nasutum Fall, 1898, Tr. American Ent. Soc., 25:161,, [type: male,
N. Mex. ; Museum of Comparative Zoology No. 25108]. New Sy¬
nonymy.

Length: 1.80 to 2.65 nun.; width: 0.88 to 1.25 mm. Moderately robust. Black,
elytra with brassy luster, apical two-thirds of male beak excepting tip, first antennal
segment, femora and tibiae except at base and apex yellow, remainder of antennae
piceous. Pubescence conspicuous, white, on disc of prothorax and elytra fine, sparse,
slightly coarser and denser at base of third elytral interval, coarse and dense on
sides of meso- and meta-thorax, coarse and conspicuous at base of male beak, female
beak more finely clothed at base. Beak moderately slender, feebly curved; of male
shorter than head and prothorax, one-fifth to one-third longer than prothorax ; in
side view slightly expanded ventrally at antennal insertion, ventrally attenuating to
middle thence nearly cylindrical to tip; dorsal view basal third nearly cylindrical,
thence attenuating slightly to beyond middle and neary parallel to tip ; base with
three fine rows of punctures bearing fine scales, shining, sparsely but distinctly punc¬
tured in apical two-thirds; of female black, as long as head and prothorax, three-
fifths longer than prothorax, shining, basal fifth dull, alutaceous, with minute pubes¬
cence, apical four-fifths bare, sides with strong punctures arranged in irregular rows,
becoming finer apically and dorsally except at base. Antennae inserted at distance
from eye one-half greater than width of ocular interval, basal third of male beak,
basal fourth of female; first segment equals next three; second segment stout, longer
than third, shorter than next two; club 0.20 X 0.07 mm. Eyes large, not prominent;
ocular interval narrow, about as wide as dorsal tip of beak, with two rows of punc¬
tures separated by a median, wide, shallow sulcus. Protliorax slightly wider at base
than long, widest at basal one-third, apex four-fifths as wide as base; sides rounded
to constricted apex; in profile noticeably convex, flatter apically and basally; punc¬
tures on dorsum 0.03 mm. in diameter, moderately deep, interspaces irregular but
usually narrower than diameter of punctures ; basal fovea linear, moderately deep,
extending one-fourth length of prothorax. Elytra at humeri about one-half wider
than protliorax at base, 2.6 times as long as prothorax, length to width as 10 : 7 ; in-
tervals flat, twice as wide as striae, with one or two irregular rows of fine punctures
bearing fine scales, transversely rugose; striae moderately deep. Front femora three
times as long as wide.

A series of both sexes from California and Arizona differ somewhat
due to the nearly straight beak, however the series from Santa Rita

74

THE COLEOPTERISTS1 BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 5

Mts., Ariz., is composed of the typical and nearly straight beak form.
In general there is considerable variation in the coarseness and density
of the pubescence. Information regarding the bionomics and observa¬
tions taken from reared series from areas throughout the range of the
species are necessary to determine whether this is a single variable spe¬
cies or a complex.

The lectotype of A. nasutum Fall is hereby designated as the male
specimen in the Fall Collection labeled N. Mex., M. C. Z. Cat. No. 25108.
Lectoparatypes are in the J. L. Leconte Collections, M. C. Z. Cat. No.
887, one male labeled with orange paper and the U. S. National Museum,
two males labeled Texas, Belfrage Collection, U. S. N. M. Cat. No. 4213.

Regarding the synonymy, the type of A. disparatum Sharp was not
available for study but two females from the type locality determined
by Sharp were compared with the type of A. nasutum Fall; they are
synonyms.

Material examined: 50 specimens; type of A. nasutum Fall, 2 females
of A. disparatum Sharp determined by Sharp.

Known distribution: UNITED STATES: Texas: Dallas (USNM),
College Station (USNM) (DGK) ; New Mexico: Elk (UK), Albuquerque
(USNM) (DGK); Arizona: Santa Rita Mts., 5 to 8,000 ft. (UK)
(DKG), Douglas (CIS), Huachuca Mts., Miller Canyon (DGK); Cali¬
fornia: Palmerlee (DGK); MEXICO Durango: Palos Colorados
(AMNH) ; Puebla: Puebla (CAS); Nayarit: Tepic (CAS) (DGK);
GUATEMALA: Guatemala City (BMNII).

The more elongate form will distinguish this species from A. hirtum
Wagner, the coarser and denser pubescence and aeneous luster of the
elytra dorsum will separate this from A. schwarzi n. sp. and A. biclclyi
n. sp.

Apion alloeum new species
(Figures 4 and 13)

Hollotype : male, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, Wickham collector, F. C. Bowditch

Collection, in Museum of Comparative Zoology; one paratype, same data (MCZ).

Length: 1.75 mm.; width: 0.69 mm.

Slender. Black, elytra faintly aeneous; beak from antennal insertion to near tip,
antennae, and femora and tibiae with exception of extreme apex pale reddish-yellow;
tarsi and claws light reddish-brown. Pubescence white with slight yellowish tinge,
conspicuous, long, fine, rather dense, nearly uniform throughout, a little denser on
anterior face of fore coxae and ventral surface of head. Male beak as long as
prothorax or slightly shorter; slightly, evenly curved; nearly Cylindrical, attenuate
slightly toward apex, not expanded laterally at antennal insertion ; basal third punc¬
tured and pubescent, apical third shining, nearly impunetate. Antennae inserted
slightly distad of basal fifth of beak, at distance from eye three-fourths as great

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

75

as width of ocular interval; first segment slightly shorter than next three, second
segment equals next two, club 0.18X 0.07 mm. Eyes slightly prominent; ocular
interval slightly wider than dorsal tip of beak, narrower than base of beak. Pro¬
thorax at base one-seventh wider than long, widest at basal third, apex three-

fourths as wide as base; sides beyond slight basal lateral expansion slightly diverg¬
ing to basal third thence rounding to feebly constricted apex; profile moderately con¬
vex; punctuation shallow, 0.02 mm. in diameter, interspaces less than width of punc¬
tures; basal fovea nearly lacking. Elytra at base one-fourth wider than prothorax
at base, 2.6 times as long as prothorax, length to width as 18: 11; intervals flat,
about three times as wide as striae ; striae moderately deep, fine. Scutellum triangu¬
lar, 0.04 X 0.04 mm., with moderate median basal impression. Front femora 3.2

times as long as wide. Claws with acute basal tooth.

Special male characters; beak yellow distad of antennal insertion with exception
of extreme apex.

Allotype: female, Real de Arriba, Temescaltepec, Mexico, MEXICO, 19 VII 1932,
H. E. Hinton, in California Academy of Sciences.

Beak of female equal to prothorax in length, feebly curved, scantily pubescent
behind antennal insertion, glabrous distally, in lateral view nearly parallel sided
throughout, in dorsal view tapering from antennal insertion to apex, distinctly de¬
pressed apically; moderately strongly and densely punctured, apical third polished,
imounctate.

The narrow form; long, fine, conspicuous pubescence; and short beak
will distinguish this species.

Apion setifrons Wagner
(Figures 1 and 8)

Apion setifrons Wagner, 1911, Mem. Soc. Ent. Belg., 19; 17.

Length: 2.46 mm.; width: 1.12 mm.

Moderately robust. Black, beak distad of antennal insertion with exception of ex¬
treme tip, first two antennal segments, and femora and tibiae except at extreme apex
pale reddish yellow; remainder of antennae browmish yellow. Pubescence conspicu¬
ous on dorsal surface, white, fine, not appreciably denser at base of 3d elytral inter¬
val; on sides of pro-, meso-, and metathorax; ventral abdominal segments; and ven¬
tral surface of head very dense, coarse, squamiform with faint pearly luster; on
lateral surface pubescence conceals derm, scales on elytra much finer than those on
ventral surfaces. Male beak shorter than head and protliorax, one-fourth longer
than prothorax ; slightly curved, somewhat deflexed at middle ; in lateral view nearly
parallel in basal half, feebly narrowed and somewhat deflexed, apical third nearly
parallel, two-thirds as wide as beak at antennal insertion ; in dorsal view nearly parallel,
throughout, feebly expanded at antennal insertion; basal two-fifths punctured in
rows, with evident pubescence; apical two-fifths more finely, shallowly punctured,
nearly glabrous. Antennae inserted at basal third of beak, at distance from eye one-
lialf greater than width of ocular interval; first segment slightly shorter than next
four, second segment equals next two; club 0.24 X 0.10 mm. Eyes large, feebly prom¬
inent; ocular interval slightly narrower than dorsal tip of beak, distinctly narrower
than base of beak. Prothorax one-fifth wider at base than long, middle narrower than
base; apex three-fourths as wide as base; sides beyond distinct basal lateral expan¬
sion feebly diverging to middle, rounded to constricted apex, widest at base ; profile

76

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 5

feebly arcuate ; punctuation moderately deep, 0.03 mm. in diameter, interspaces less
than diameter of punctures, alutaceous; basal fovea very shallow, narrow, short.
Elytra at humeri one-third wider than prothorax at base, 2.6 times as long- as pro¬
thorax, length to width as 4: 3; intervals flat, slightly more than twice as wide as
striae, with two rows of scales, alutaceous but not rugose; striae moderately deep,
moderately fine. Scutellum triangular, 0.08 mm. long X 0-06 mm. wide, apical third
divided from basal two-thirds by a deep, transverse groove, basal two-thirds with
broad, moderately deep, median longitudinal impression. Front femora 3.7 times
as long as wide. Claws with acute basal tooth.

Special male characters : beak distad of antennal insertion yellow with exception of
extreme apex.

The female of this species was not available for study. According
to the original description the beak of the female is as long as the head
and prothorax combined, moderately curved, cylindrical, from antennal
insertion to apex glabrous and shining; the narrow forehead (ocular
interval) with two rows of punctures, the middle carina extending as a
smooth line to distal third of beak ; the first segment of the antennae of
the female as long as segments two through six combined. Wagner gives
the length of this species as ranging from 2.3 to 2.5mm.

The determination of this species is based entirely on the original de¬
scription. The species was described from two pairs in the Solari Collec¬
tion. The single male available for study differed from the original de¬
scription in that the beak is longer than the prothorax (originally de¬
scribed as equal to prothorax in length) and the last segment of the
antennal funicle is as long as wide, not distinctly transverse as stated
in the description.

Known distribution :

Type locality : NICARAGUA : Managua.

MEXICO: Vera Cruz: Cordoba (CAS).

Apion hirtum Wagner
(Figures 6 and 11)

Apion hirtum Wagner, 1911, Mem. Soc. Ent. Belg., 19: 16.

Length: 1.70 to 2.00; width: 0.86 to 1.00 mm. Ovate, robust. Black, elytra with
faint brassy luster, femora and tibiae except at base and apex yellow, female anten¬
nae yellowish at base, remainder piceous, male beak from basal third to near tip
and first segment and club of antennae yellow, remainder of antennae dark reddish-
yellow; pubescence white, or dorsum of prothorax and elytra moderately fine, con¬
spicuous, sparse, coarser and denser at base of third elytral interval and on sides of
meso- and meta-thorax; male head and beak more conspicuously pubescent. Beak
moderately slender, feebly curved, feebly expanded laterally at antennal insertion ;
of male one-third longer than prothorax, shorter than head and prothorax, in dorsal
view attenuate from slight basal expansion to middle thence nearly parallel to tip ;
in lateral view nearly cylindrical beyond antennal insertion, tip about one-half as
wide as base; basal third with several rows of strong punctures bearing scales, apical

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

77

two-thirds glabrous, shining, sparsely, feebly punctured; of female slightly shorter
to slightly longer than head and prothorax, one-half to two-thirds longer than pro-
thorax, in dorsal and lateral view similar to male, somewhat depressed toward apex,
basal fourth dull, with several rows of strong punctures bearing fine scales, apical
three-fourths glabrous, polished, punctures laterally moderately dense, coarse, be¬
coming sparser and finer apically and dorsally, apical one-fourth nearly impunctate.
Antennae inserted at distance from eye equal to width of ocular interval, at basal
fifth of beak; first segment of male equal to next two, of female about equal to next
three; second segment of male shorter than next two, of female equal to next two;
club from 0.22 X 0.08 to 0.24 X 0.09 mm. Eyes rather large, not prominent; ocular
interval moderately wide, slightly wider in female, in both sexes distinctly wider
than dorsal tip of beak; with flat median area, sometimes with short, indistinct
median impressed line. Prothorax one-fourth to one-third wider at base than long,
Avidest at basal one-third, apex four-fifths as wide as base; sides with no basal lateral
expansion, moderately diverging to basal third, rounded and converging to con¬
stricted apex; in profile feebly convex, slightly more arcuate at basal third; puncta-
tion deep, moderate, 0.03 mm. in diameter, dense, interspaces less than diameter
of punctures, alutaceous; basal fovea narrow, short, deep. Elytra at humeri two-
fifths wider than prothorax at base, from 2.5 to 2.75 times as long as prothorax,
length to width as 9 : 7 ; inter\7als nearly flat, twise as wide as striae, transversely
rugose, with two irregular row's of fine punctures bearing fine scales, striae moderately
deep, fine. Fore femora three and one-half times as long as wide.

Material examined: 3 males, 3 females.

Known distribution: described from “Mexico.’ ’ MEXICO: Mexico:
37 mi. S. Mexico City. Puebla: 35 mi. S. Puebla. A pair in (BMNH)
(DGK) (USNM).

Apion sectator new species
(Figures 5 and 10)

Length: 1.56 to 1.80 mm.; width: 0.75 to 0.93 mm.

Robust. Black, elytra with more or less distinct aeneous luster ; antennae at base,
antennal club of male, femora with exception of extreme base and apex, and male
beak from antennal insertion to near tip pale reddish yellow, hind femora tend to
be darker, tibiae dark eastaneous. Pubescence white conspicuous, coarse, moderately
sparse, somewhat coarser and denser on sides of pro- meso- and metathorax. Male
beak one-fourth longer than prothorax, moderately, e\7enly curved; subcylindrical, in
dorsal view feebly expanded laterally at antennal insertion, tip as wide as ocular
interval, in lateral \deAv tip three-fourths as Avide as base ; basal two-thirds moder¬
ately densely, strongly punctured, pubescent behind antennal insertion, tip smooth,
impunctate. Female beak four-fifths as long as head and prothorax combined, two-
fifths longer than prothorax, nearly cylindrical throughout, slightly depressed toward
apex, polished beyond antennal insertion, rather coarsely punctured becoming finer
dorsally, tip smooth. Antennae inserted at distance from eye equal to width of
ocular interval, of male slightly distad of basal fourth of beak, of female at basal
fifth; first segment of male equals next tAvo, of female equals next three; second seg¬
ment of male shorter than next two, of female equal to next tAvo; club 0.18 X 0.08
mm. Eyes slightly prominent; ocular interval of female slightly Avider than dorsal
tip of beak, of male equal to dorsal tip of beak. Prothorax widest at basal third,

78

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 5

there from two-fifths to one-half wider than long, at base one -fourth wider than long,
middle narrower than base, apex about four-fifths as wide as base; sides beyond
slight basal lateral expansion diverge to basal third thence rounding to constricted
apex; in profile feebly arcuate; punctation deep, 0.03 mm. in diameter, interspaces
generally less than diameter of punctures, moderately strongly alutacous ; basal fovea
fine, deep extending about one-fourth length of prothorax. Elytra at humeri one-third
wider than prothorax at base, 2.4 times as long as protliorax, length to width as 9:
7; intervals flat, twice as wide as striae, interval somewhat wider, with one row of
scales, 3d with two rows, scales forming more or less distinct spot at base of 3d in¬
terval; striae moderately deep, moderately fine. Scutellum 0.06 X 0*66 mm., not fur¬
cate. Front femora about 3.4 times as long as wide. Claws with acute basal tooth.

Special male characters: beak in apical three-fourths with exception of extreme
apex reddish-yellow.

Holotype : male, 20 mi. N. Comonchi, Lower California, MEXICO,
July 23, 1938, Michelbacher and Ross Collectors, in California Academy
of Sciences. Allotype: female, same data as holotype (CAS). Forty-
four paratypes : same data as holotype 2 (BMNH), 2 (CNC), 8 (DGK),
2 (UK), 2 (UMD), 2 USNM), 7 (CAS); 2 Porto Ballandra, Carmen
Is., Gulf Calif., 21 V 1921, E. P. Van Duzee Collr. (CAS) ; 3 45 mi. N.
San Ignacio, L. Calif., 27 VII 1938 (CAS) ; 1 10 mi. S. Catavina, L.
Calif., 29 VII 1938, Michelbacher and Ross Collrs. (CAS) ; 1 15 mi. N.
El Refugio, L. Calif., 4 VII 1938, Michelbacher and Ross (CAS) ; 4 San
Felipe, L. Calif., Beyer, Fenyes Colin. (CAS) ; 1 San Francisquito Bay,
Gulf Cal., 10 V 1921 E. P. Van Duzee Collr. (CAS) ; 1 San Nicolas Bay,
Gulf Cal., 16 V 1921, E. P. Van Duzee Collr (CAS) ; 1 El Taste, L.
Calif. (MCZ #29527) ; 2 Cocospera Canyon, 8 mi. E. Imuris, Sonora,
MEXICO, 2 VII 1952, P. & C. Vaurie (AMNH) ; 1 Base of Pinal Mts.,
Gila Co., Arizona, D. K. Duncan, July, 1930, Edith W. Mank Colin.
(CU) ; 2 Chiric. Mts., 3 VIII 1932 (MCZ #29537).

Known distribution: UNITED STATES: Arizona: Chiricahua Mts.;
Gila Co. MEXICO: Sonora: 8 mi. E. Imuris. Baja California: Cata¬
vina, Comondu, San Felipe, San Francisquito Bay, San Ignacio, San
Nicolas Bay.

The short robust form of the prothorax and elytra; the coarser, more
uniform dorsal pubescence ; and the short beak, especially of the female,
distinguish this species from A. hirtum Wagner, to which it is very

Figure I dorsal view of male A. setifrons Wagner. Figure 2 the same of male A. bickleyi
new species. Figure 3 the same of male A. disparatum Sharp. Figure 4 the same of male
A. alloeum new species. Figure 5 the same of male A. sectator new species. Figure 6
the same of male A. hirtum Wagner. Figure 7 lateral view of head and prothorax of fe¬
male A. disparatum Sharp. Figure 8 the same of male A. setifrons Wagner. Figure 9 the
same of female A. bickleyi new species. Figure 10 the same of female A. sectator new
species. Figure II the same of female A. hirtum Wagner. Figure 12 the same of female
A. schwarzi new species. Figure 13 the same of male A. alloeum new species.

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

See p. 78 for explanation of figures.

80

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. S

closely related. The short beak of the female, the robust form and red¬
dish legs separate the female from Apion varicorne Smith with which it
ma}^ be confused.

Literature Cited

Fade, H. C. 1898. Revision of the species of Apion of America north of Mexico.
Trans. American Ent. Soc., 25:105-184, pi. 2-5.

- . 1918. New North American species of Apion. Jour. New York Ent.

Soc., 26:218-223.

Sharp, D. 1890-91. Biologia Centrali- Americana, Coleoptera, vol. 4, pt. 3, pp. 48-86,
pi. 2-3.

Wagner, H. 1911. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Apion fauna Central- und Sud-Amerikas.

Mem. Soc. Ent. Belg., 19:1-32, 3 pi.

OCTOTOMA CUNDLACHI MINING LANTANA LEAVES IN CUBA

By Patricia Vaurie1

The chrysomelid, Octotoma gundlachi Suffrian, a small, flat, shining,
purplish-black, heavily sculptured beetle of the subfamily Hispinae,
was found mining leaves of a Lantana plant on a hillside at Topes de
Collantes in the province of Las Villas, Cuba, on July 17, 1956. This
locality is 17 kilometers north of the old colonial town of Trinidad on
the southern coast, at about 3,000 feet of altitude. Ten individuals were
taken from the same plant, one of these being captured just as it was
emerging from its little brown pocket in the leaf. A few other plants
nearby were inspected but no beetles were seen on them. The other
specimens were taken a week earlier at the western tip of Cuba on the
Peninsula of Guanahacabibes, but I do not remember in what situation.
This is the only species of the genus reported in Cuba and probably
occurs all over the island although I have seen but one other specimen
(in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, New
York), which is from the eastern end of the island, from Cristo, north
of Santiago, in Oriente Province.

In some countries, notably Hawaii, the prettily flowered Lantana
bush becomes a noxious plant and means for its control have been sought
through parasites. Dr. N. L. H. Krauss has told me in a recent letter
that he had introduced into Hawaii, among other control insects of
various families, a Mexican species of the same genus, Octotoma scabrt-
pennis Guerin, which attacks Lantana in the same way as gundlachi. He
believes there may be other species of Octotoma that attack different
species of Lantana in tropical America. Dr. Krauss had also seen gund¬
lachi mining in Lantana in Cuba, at Bosque de Habana in Havana and
in Vinales Valley in Pinar del Rio Province, but he had not found it
numerous enough for his purposes.

1 American Museum of National History.

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF BEETLES

The Coleopterists’ Bulletin

Volume X

December, 1956

No. 6

_ . bimonthly beginning with February by the DEPARTMENT OF Tvrr>T nrv

SAINTi0I?N FI?HEK COLLEGE, Rochester 18, New' York. T?rms„i subscription *?00 o«
year both domestic and foreign, payable in advance. Back numbers are available. ' 1

, i ie . general policies of The Coleopterists’ Bulletin are determined on the recommendation of
the following Advisory Board: Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Jr., Head. Department of Biology St. John
Fisher College, Dr. Henry Dietrich, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University Dr J Gordon
Edwards, Professor of Entomology San Jose State College; Dr. Eugene J. GerbeJg, Insect Control
and Research, Inc Baltimore, Md ; Dr. Melville H. Hatch, Professor of Zoology University of
Washington, and Mr. George B. Vogt, Entomologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Edited

NOTES ON CLEONUS PICER (SCOP.) IN THE UNITED STATES

(COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

By D. M. Anderson1’2

Since Crosby and Blauvelt (1930) first reported the occurrence of this
large Palearctic weevil in the U. S., Brown (1940) and Hicks (1947,
1949) have reported it from Canada and the TJ. S., recording it at vari¬
ous points in Ontario, Quebec, and New York State. The attempt here
is to summarize some additional information gathered on the distribution
and biology of the weevil in the United States. For a very thorough de¬
scription of both the immature and adult stages of this insect, the reader
is referred to the work of La Ferla (1939).

Distribution

The following distribution records have been taken from material in
the Cornell University Collection and in the collection of the author.
NEW YORK: Allegany Co.— Belmont July 17 (D. Anderson); Catta¬
raugus Co. — Hinsdale June 10, June 18 & 29, July 1 & 17, Aug. 25 (D.
Anderson) ; Eiie Co. Buffalo Sept. 16; Herkimer Co. — Herkimer Sept.
17; Onondaga Co. Labrador Lake Sept. 19 (H. Dietrich) ; Ontario Co.
—Geneva June 5 (H. Glasgow) ; Oswego Co.— Minetto Apr. 25 (L. D.
Newsom), Oswego Apr. 28 (Z. P. Zoisch) ; Schoharie Co.— Cobleskill
June (L. P. Kelsey) ; Tompkins Co.— Ithaca Apr. 26 <G. E. Ball), May
21, July 30, Sept, 10 (D. Anderson), Sept. 12 (H. Dietrich), Sept. 20,

iDept. of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

2 The author wishes to express his thanks to Dr. C. E. Palm, Dept, of Entomology,
Cornell University, for his advice and for taking the photographs, and to Dr. J. G.
Franclemont, Dept, of Entomology, Cornell U., for suggestions concerning the
manuscript. The expense of publishing the illustrations in this paper was paid in
part by the Griswold Fund of the Dept, of Entomology, Cornell University.

82

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

Oet. 3, Nov. 3 (D. Anderson) ; Wayne Co. — Clyde Apr. 30; Yates Co. —
Penn Yan Nov. 15 (H. Dietrich). PENNSYLVANIA: McKean Co.—
Bradford July 17 (D. Anderson).

The earliest record known to the author is the Clyde N. Y. record —
Apr. 30, 1919. Field searches by the author have not revealed the pres¬
ence of C. piger in southern Pennsylvania, in southern New Jersey, or
in central Maryland.

Biology

Two plant species, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Canada thistle) and
Cirsium vulgare Airy-Shaw (bull thistle)3, have been found to serve as
hosts to Cleonus piger in the United States. Several other Composites
have been recorded as hosts in Europe by such workers as Bargagli
(1883) and Kleine (1910). According to Jablonowski (1909) the weevil
attacks Beta vulgaris L. to a limited extent. La Ferla (1939) describes
the infestation of the cultivated artichoke, Cynara cardunculus L., by
C. piger.

From field observations made during and since the summer of 1951
at Ithaca, N. Y. and at Hinsdale, N. Y., it appears that the general life-
history of the weevil, in New York State, is as related in this and sub¬
sequent paragraphs. The adult weevils, which overwinter in debris and
under various objects on the ground, become active sometime in May,
and by early June they may be found on the thistles. From early June
until late July, the adults, which feed on the foliage of the thistles, en¬
gage in copulation and oviposition. The female lays her eggs singly in
the lower portion of thistle stems by chewing a cavity in the stem, de¬
positing an egg in the cavity, and then plugging the hole with frass.
After hatching, the larva bores downward through the stem and into
the root, where it feeds on the internal tissues of the primary root, for
about 30 days in the few observed instances, until it is fully developed
and ready to pupate (see Figs, 2 & 3). The infested part of the root
usually undergoes a marked thickening and may resemble a spindle-
shaped gall, as described by van Leeuwen (1953).

The pupal cell is formed within the root by the cavity which results
from the feeding of the larva and which the larva packs at both ends
with frass and chewings (see Fig. 4). After an undetermined length of
time the transformation from the pupa to the adult form takes place, and
the adult weevil emerges sometime in August or September. It should
be noted here that the author has been unable to find any adult C. piger

3The identification of this species was affirmed by Dr. B. T. Clausen, Prof, of
Botany, Cornell University.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

83

Oil thistles during early August. Adults were found feeding on thistle
as late as Nov. 3 at Ithaca in 1953, and it is possible that most of these
had emerged in the late summer and early autumn of that year.

5.0 mm-*

Fig. I — Cleonus piger, female (dorsal view).

Pupae have been taken from thistle roots as early as July 21 at Hins¬
dale in 1952 and as late as August 13 at Ithaca in 1954.

Numerous larvae in various stages of maturity have been taken in the
field from late June until early August, but no information concerning
the number and duration of the larval instars has been obtained.

In a rearing experiment begun at Hinsdale on July 26, 1953, first-in¬
star larvae hatched from eggs laid by captive females were inserted
into the lower portions of the stems of nine young Canada thistle plants
which had been potted and carefully inspected for signs of infestation.

84

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

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THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

85

When the roots of the thistles were examined on August 30, two of the
plants each contained a pupa and a late-instar larva was discovered in
the root of a third plant. The roots of all three plants exhibited the
usual thickening in the infested region.

It. is hoped that future investigation will result in a more complete
understanding of the distribution and biology of C. piger as it occurs in
North America. Among other things, it is not known whether or not
the adults are able to fly. The wings appear to be fully developed, and

the elytra are not fused, but the writer has never observed the weevils
in flight.

Literature Cited

Bargagei, Piero. 1883. Rassegna Biologica di Rincofori Europei. Tipografia Cen-
niniana, Firenze.

Brown, W. J. 1940. Notes on the American distribution of some species of Coleop-

tera common to the European and American continents. Canadian Ent
72: 65-78.

Crosby, C. R. and W. E. Blauveet. 1930. A European beetle in N. Y. (Coleopt.
Curculionidae). Ent. News 41 (5): 164.

Hicks, S. D. 1947. Additional notes on Coleoptera taken in Essex County and
southern Ontario. Canadian Ent. 79: 117-119.

• 1949. A note on the occurrence of Cleonus piger, a European weevil
near Ottawa, Ontario. Coleopt. Bull. 3:7.

Jablonowski, J. 1909. Die Tierischen Feinde der Zuekerrube. Verlag des Landes-
veremes Ungariseher Zuckerindustriellen, Budapest.

Kleine, Richard. 1910. Die Lariiden und Rhynchophoren und ilire Nahrungspflan-
zen. Yerlag Friz Pfenninstorff, Berlin.

LaFerea, A. 1939. Contributo alia conosczenza del Cleono del Carc-iofo ( Cleonus
piger Scop.). Boll. Lab. Ent. Portici 3: 3-33.

Van Leeuwen, Docters. 1953. Niewe
Berichten d. 14, no. 335, p. 259.

Recently

A REVISION OF THE GYRINIDAE
(COLEOPTERA) OF THE
ETHIOPIAN REGION. I.

By Per Brinch. Kungl. Fysiografiska
Salliskapets Handlingar, N. F. Bd. 66,
No. 16, pp. 1-140, 52 text figs., many of
them compound. Lund, 1955. Price
kr. 14.

This first part deals with two of the
three subfamilies of Gyrinidae, the
Gyrininae and Enhydrinae. A new tribe,
Heterogyrini, is proposed for Ecterogy-
> us milloti Legros from Madagascar.
Four new subgenera are described in
Aulonogyrus : Paragyrus (monotypie, A.

gallen van Nederland. Entomologisclie

Published

goudoti Reg.), Lophogyrus (2 spp., type
A. carinipennis Reg.), Ptery gyrus (mono-
typic, A. elegant issimus Reg.), and Afro-
gyrus (many spp., type G. cajfer Aube).

Of interest to American workers is the
discussion of the subgenera of Dineutus,
with a new key to the subgenera of the
world. Of importance to all students of
the family are the sections on 1 1 Morpho¬
logical structures of taxonomic value”
(pp. 6-12, 4 figs.), and Brinck’s basic
restudy, “The gyrinid genitalia” (pp.
13-36, 17 figs.). — H. B. Leech, Califor¬
nia Academy of Sciences.

86

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

ATRACTOCERUS BRASI LIENSIS IN CUBA

Two recent references in the Bulletin attest to the interest of the peculiar genus
Atractocerus (Oct., 1955; Febr., 1956). The present note concerns the distribution
of the widespread species, A. brasiliensis Lepeletier and Serville, 1825, which occurs
from Mexico all the way to Argentina and Chile. Although it occurs also in the
West Indies, for some reason it is not given as occurring there in the Blaekwelder,
1945, Checklist (pt. 3, p. 408). It was recorded as “rare in Cuba,” by Gundlach in
1887, under the family Lymexylonidae ; from Cuba and Porto Rico by Leng and
Mutchler in 1914, in their preliminary list of the Coleoptera of the West Indies,
under the family Ptinidae ; and from Jamaica by the same author in their supplement
of 1917. R. B. Selander, ITrbana, Illinois, has seen a specimen from Barbados (in
lift).

On July 3, 1956, a dark female of this species came to a light on the Peninsula
of Guanahacabibes in extreme western Cuba, in the province of Pinar del Rio. The
tip of this peninsula is only about 100 miles distant from Yucatan, Mexico. The
specimen was taken near a bay called Ensenada de Corrientes in the dogtooth lime¬
stone area which i3 covered by a dense hardwood forest. The author was in the
company of Ing. Fernando de Zayas, chief of the Bureau of Plant Inspection of
Havana, who knew the species and had already collected it in many parts of the
island. He tells me (in litt.) that he has this species from Pan de Guajaibon and
Vinales in Pinar del Rio, from Gran Piedra and Sierra del Cristal in Oriente, from
Cumanayagua in Las Villas, and from Sierra de Cubitas in Camaguey; he believes
it occurs in all the provinces; he lias collected it at light only. Barber (1952, p. 165)
says that this genus “flies like a hawk moth, and in some species vertical and hori¬
zontal rudders have developed in the form of a large mid-ventral lamella and lateral
expansions of segments 8 and 9 of the very flexible abdomen. 5 ’

There are 17 specimens of A. brasiliensis in the collection of the American Museum
of Natural History, all being females except three. Lacordaire in 1830 remarked on
the much greater rarity of the males. It might be of interest to record here the
localities and dates of these specimens: Nova Teutonia and Corupa in Santa Catarina,
Brazil, December, November, January; Colombia, no locality; San Jose, Costa Rica,
August; Guanahacabibes Peninsula in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, July; Chiquimula in
Chiquimula, Guatemala, July; Tamazunchale in San Luis Potosi, May, and Rio
Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz, June, both in Mexico; El Volcan, Cliiriqui, Panama,
February, and Iquitos, Peru. Gorham in the Biologia Centrali-Americana (vol. 3,
pt. 2) had seen examples from Cordova, Tuxtla, and Isabal in Mexico; Duenas,
Pantaleon, and Torola in Guatemala; Chontales in Nicaragua, and the Volcan of
Cliiriqui in Panama.

The record from Tamazunchale appears to be the most northern one. The most
northern record for the genus is of A. gracilicornis Schenckling, 1914, based on an
insect taken in 1851 with the label “California,” if this is rightly a member of this
genus (it is not listed in Blaekwelder ’s Catalogue).

Blaekwelder lists three other species from the New World, procerus (French
Guiana, Brasil), termiticola (Brasil), and valdiviana (Chile). In 1941 Araujo
(Livro de Homenagem a R. F. d ’Almeida) described A. almeidai from Vila Nova,
Bahia, Brasil, which he suspected might be the male of procerus , a species he had not
seen. There are two excellent drawings and three photographs of almeidai. — Patricia
Vaurie, American Museum of Natural History.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

87

LAPPUS THICANIFORMIS, A NEW SPECIES FROM MICHOACAN

(ANTHICIDAE)

By Floyd G. Werner1-2-

The genus Lap pus Casey is limited to the continents of North and
South America. It has most recently been treated as a subgenus of An-
thicus but the distinctions from that genus are more than ample to war¬
rant generic recognition. The present species is one that is very distinct
from all North American species; the descriptions of the South Ameri¬
can species that could be included in the genus are not adequate to per¬
mit sure identification but there appears to be none with the head charac¬
ters of this one.

Lappus thicaniformis new species

This species is different from all described North American species
of Lappus in having a narrow head that is pointed and slightly retro-
salient at the vertex, much as in the genus Thicanus in North America or
Anthicus, subgenus Cyclodinus in Europe. From either of these it is
easily distinguished by the broadly triangular last segment of the maxil-
lar}r palpi and by the male genitalia, which are of normal Lappus form
(Fig. 2). The parameres are separate and there is a paired sclerotized
structure associated with the internal sac. This structure is present in
all the species of Lappus examined, as well as in Isychyropalpus Laf.,
a related genus that is best developed in South America. It is not pres¬
ent in any of the other genera of the family so far examined.

The anterior part of the body, including’ the base of the elytra to behind the
transverse impression, is ruf escent ; the rest of the body is piceous. Two specimens
have the fore part of the body almost as dark as the back part. Pubescence mod¬
erately sparse, decumbent, similar in color to the background.

Holotype male: Length 3.12 mm. Width: head behind eyes 0.51 mm., pronotum
at widest point 0.58 mm., elytra at widest 1.02 mm. Head 0.61 mm. long to base of
clypeus, 0.61 mm. wide across eyes, 0.51 mm. just behind eyes. Disc slightly swollen.
The sides curve evenly behind the eyes to an ogival point (Fig. 1), which is slightly
retrosalient. There is no sign of temporal angularity. Surface smooth, moderately
densely punctured, the punctures 0.03 to 0.04 mm. from center to center, small but
distinct, becoming crateriform below the level of the eyes. The eyes are moderately
small, 0.22 X 0.18 mm., prominent, located 0.27 mm. from the tip of the vertex to a
line connecting their hind margins. Frontoclypeal suture distinct. Antennae 1.64 mm.
long, rufescent, becoming darker apically, particularly on the last four segments.
Measurements (Length/Width in 0.01 mm.) : I 22/6, II 12/6, III 17/7, IV 15/7,
V 15/8, VI 14/8, VII 14/8, VIII 13/8, IX 13/9, X 10/9, XI 19/9. Segment I is
almost parallel-sided; segments VII-X are thickest apically. Palpi normal for the

1University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

2 Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 396.

88

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

genus, the last segment of the maxillary palpi 0.15 mm. long, 0.28 mm. wide across
apex, in the form of an isoceles triangle with the apex at the attachment.

Pronotum slightly swollen, evenly rounded in lateral profile, 0.72 mm. long, 0.58 mm.
wide at 0.46 mm. from base, 0.31 mm. wide at the contriction and 0.38 mm. wide at
base. Surface shiny, with punctures distinct and slightly denser than on the head.
Elytra widest at about the middle, slightly swollen, with a shallow but distinct
transverse impression. Length 1.79 mm., width at humeri 0.69 mm. and at widest
point 1.02 mm. Suture slightly elevated. Surface smooth, with punctures as on

Fig. I. Camera lucida drawing of head of holofype of Lappus thicaniformis in front
view. Length to base of clypeus 0.61 mm. Fig. 2. Drawing made from microprojection
of the genitalia of the holotype of Lappus thicaniformis, in ventral view as the genitalia
lie in the abdomen. Total length 1.18 mm.

pronotum but slightly smaller behind the transverse impression. Pubescence in an¬
terior part of transverse impression slightly oblique but not extremely so. Underside
rufescent, tibiae darker and abdomen piceous. Legs not modified except for a very
short subapical spine on the mesotrochanters and a trace of a spine on the pro¬
trochanters. Profemora 0.67 X 0.20 mm., metafemora 0.87 X 0.20 mm. Metatibiae
almost straight, just perceptibly arcuate beyond the middle.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

89

Allotype female: 3.12 mm. Differs from the holotype most notably in having the
trochanters simple, in addition to normal differences at the tip of the abdomen, the
male having a well-developed pygidium and truncate hypopygium.

Variation: Specimens range from 2.62 to 3.28 mm. long. The larger specimens
tend to have the surface of the anterior part of the head wrinkled between the
crateriform punctures. Two specimens, from 15 mi. E. of Morelia, are almost entirely
piceous-brown.

Holotype: male, Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, 1610 m., July 24, 1947, T. H.
Hubbell #126. Allotype: female, eutopotypical. Paratypes: 11 males, 18 females,
eutopotypical. 3 males, 1 female, 15 mi. E. of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, at Jet
of Hwy. 4 and Huetamo Rd., 2100 m., July 8, 1947, T. H. Hubbell #83. Holotype
and allotype in the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. Paratypes in the
Museum of Zoology and in the collection of the author.

In Casey’s key to the species of Lappus in North America north of
Mexico (Casey, 1895, p. 657) the best way to separate thicaniformis is
to insert a couplet at the very beginning of Group I :

Sides of head evenly rounded from the hind margins of the eyes to the vertex _

thicaniformis sp. n.

Sides of head not evenly rounded from the hind margins of the eyes to the vertex but with
distinct angulations at the tempora _ _ __

In Champion’s key to the genus Anthicus in Mexico and Central
America (Champion, 1890, p. 222) Species 12 through 19 belong to the
genus Lappus. Thicaniformis keys out to species 17, asphaltinus Champ.
A paratype of this species in the M. C. Z. collection differs from thicani¬
formis in having a normal Lappus head, slightly angulate at the tem¬
pora and broader than in thicaniformis, though the angularity is not
mentioned in the description nor shown in the figure. Judging by the
descriptions, asphaltinus has the narrowest head of any of the species
of Lappus seen by Champion.

Bibliography

Casey, T. L., 1895, Coleopterological Notices, VI, Anthicidae (s. lat.). Ann. New
York Acad. Sci., 8, pp. 624-809.

Champion, G. C., 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleop. 4 (2), Anthicidae,
pp. 190-250.

CURRENT LITERATURE SECTION

Compiled by J. Gordon Edwards

Histeridae

Wenzel, R. L. 1955. The histerid beetles of New Caledonia. Fieldiana: Zool.
37:601-37, illus.

Leptinidae

Parks, J. J. and J. W. Barnes 1955. Notes on the family Leptinidae including
a new record of Lepti/nillus validus (Horn) in N. Amer. (incl. larval characters)
Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 48(5) :417-21.

90

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

Limulodidae

Wilson, E. O. et al. 1954. Paralimulodes of N. Amer., with notes on morphology
and behavior, (no keys) Psyche 61(4) :154-61, illus.

Lymexylonidae

Palm, T. 1955. Notes on biology of Lymexylon navale. Opuscula Ent. 20(1):
10-34, illus.

Meloidae

Enns, W. R. 1956. A revision of N emognatlia, Zonitis, and Pseudozonitis in
Amer. north of Mexico, with a proposed new genus. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.
38(17) :685-909.

Nitidulidae

Easton, A. M. 1955. The palaearctic species of subgenus Acanthogethes of the
genus Meligethes Stephens, (key to 7 spp.) Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 8(87) :225-40,
illus.

Passalidae

Hincks, W. D. 1953. The Passalidae from El Salvador. Senckenberginana
34:29-35, illus. Roze, J. A. 1955. Los Passilidae colectados en las expediciones
de la Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle a la region de Perija, Zulia,
Venezuela. (4 spp.) Mem. Soc. Cienc. Nat. La Salle 15(40) : 63-68, illus.

Psephenidae

Bertrand, H. 1955. Nouvelle station dhm Eubriide afrieain. Les larves
psephenoides. (key to genera of larvae). Bull. Soc. Ent. France 60(7) :99-101.

Scarabaeidae

Ferreira, M. C. 1955. Catalogo dos Escarabideos existentes no Museu Dr.
Alvaro de Castro, (scarabs in this Mozambique collection). Mem. Mus. Alvaro
de Castro 3:55-86. Pereira, F. S. and A. Martinez 1956. Algumas notas sinonimicas
en Phanaeini. (key to tribes of Coprinae) Rev. Brasil. Ent. 5:229-39.

Scolytidae

Hansen, V. 1955. Notes on some spp. of Eylastes Er. and Trypophloens Fairm.
(key to 6 spp. Eylastes) Ent. Meddel. 27(3) : 169-76, illus.

Staphylinidae

Brundin, L. 1953. Neue palaearktische Arten der Gattung Atheta. Norsk Ent.
Tidsskr. 9:1-17, illus. Coffait, H. 1955. Contribution a la connaissance des Osoriini
anophthalmes. (without eyes) (key to 5 genera & 3 spp. of Cylindropsis) Rev.
Frang. Ent. 22(4) :262-69, illus. Kramer, S. 1955. Notes and observations on the
biology and rearing of CreopJiilus maxillosus (L.). Ann. Ent. Soc. America 48(5):
375-80. MOORE, I. 1956. A revision of the Pacific Coast Phytosi with a review
of the foreign genera. (Keys to spp.) Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 12(7):
103-52, illus. Scheerpeltz, O. 1950. Die palaarktischen Arten der Gattung
Anoyrophorus Kr. Norsk Ent. Tidsskr. 8(%):53-76, illus. Seevers, C. H. 1955.
A revision of the tribe Amblyopinini ; Staphylinid beetles parastic oil mammals.
Fieldiana: Zoll. 37:211-64, illus. Wendeler, H. 1956. Neue Staphyliniden aus
Brasilien. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Staphyliniden. (5 genera involved) Dusenia
7(1) :37-44.

Tenet) rionidae

Audoin, P. 1955. Diagnoses sommaires de Tenebrionides malgaches. (brief
review of tenebrionids from Madagascar, with 21 n. spp.) Bull. Soc. Ent. France
60(9) :149-62.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

91

UN CENERO Y DOS NUEVAS ESPECIES DE BUPRESTIDAE

DE NUEVA GUINEA

por A. Cobos1

Helferella, nov. gen. (Mastogeniinae)

(Figure 1)

Bordes oculares internos convergentes hacia el vertice cefalico.

Cavidades antenarias pequenas y redondas, no abiertas o prolongadas por encima
del bulbo del escapo.

Surco genal de las mejillas profundamente canaliculado y cortante en los bordes..

Antenas cortas y graciles, sin alcanzar apenas la base protoracica en el $ ;
dentadas desde el 5° artejo inclusive; artejos 4-10 triangulares; 3-4 obconicos,
pequenos, alargados, iguales entre si; pedicelo o artejo 2° grueso, moniliforme.
(Fig. 4).

Suturas prosternales completamente cerradas.

Pronoto provisto de una carlnula latero-superior suplementaria.

Propleuras con un surco antenario no limitado del lado interno, contra la carlnula
margino-lateral del pronoto en toda su longitud ; este surco esta constituldo en
realidad por un fuerte y brusco desnivel entre los costados pronotales y las proepi-
sternas, y es en el fondo ligeramente concavo para permitir el perfecto a juste de
las antenas en reposo.

Metacoxas mas dilatadas del lado interno que del externo.

Sutura entre los dos primeros esternitos neta en la parte media.

Epipleuras elitrales estrechas, pero distintas y bien limitada3 del lado superior,
desde el estrechamiento postmetacoxal ; surcadas desde aqul hasta el apiee.

Tarsos muy corto3, menos de la mitad mas cortos que las tibias correspondientes.
(Fig. 5).

Generotipo: E. dianae nov. sp.

Helferella constituye el septimo genero conocido de la subfamilia Mas¬
togeniinae, y uno de sus componentes mejor caracterizados. La presencia
de surcos propleurales para el alojamiento de las antenas en reposo y la
existencia de verdaderas epipleuras elitrales a todo lo largo del campo
abdominal de los elitros, permiten reconocer al genero inmediatamente
sin lngar a dudas, y a mayor abundamiento, la formula antenaria, es-
tructura de las cavidades genales, etc.

Este genera debe ser situado a lado de Mastogenius Sol., pero en mo-
do alguno pnede conceptuarse como un vieariante del mismo. AmboiS
estan aislados entre si por una mezcla de caracteres paleo y neogeneticos,
lo que hace pensar mas bien en un origen comun a partir de un tipo mas
primitivo.

Para distinguir entre si los 7 generos que actualmente integran la sub¬
familia, dare a continuacion y a titulo provisional, una clave, habien-
dose de tener en euenta que solo conozco in natura los generos precedidos

Tlnstituto de Aclimatacion, Seccio de Faunistica, Almeria (Espana).

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Volume X, No. 6

de un asterisco.2

I (2)

2 (I)

3 (10)

4 (5)

5 (4)

•6 (7)

7 (6)

■8 (9)

9 (8)

10 (3)

41 (12)

12 (II)

Suturas prosternales mas o menos excadadas para recibir las antenas en reposo;
este surco o cavidad siempre limitado de lado inferno de la Ifnea sutural por

un reborde o carfnula. — Centroamerica y zona sonoriense _ , , _ _

- Trigenogya Ch. Schaeffer

Suturas prosternales, como maximo, provistas de una muesca anterior sin reborde
(Micrasta, pars).

Ojos un poco oblicuos; sus bordes infernos mas o men,os convergentes hacia el
vertice cefalico.

Propleuras con surcos marginales externos para alojar las antenas replegadas. —
Nueva Guinea - - !i:Helferella nov. gen.

Propleuras normales; pianos de los costados del pronoto y de las proepisternas
formando un simple angulo obtuso.

Cuerpo, visto de perfil, casi regularmente arqueado por encima, recordando por
su forma el de un Attagenus ( Dermestidae ) . Antenas mucho mas largas que
el protorax, con los artejos alargodas (diferencias con Ankareus). — Madagascar

- Sicardia Thery

Curvatura dorsal del pronoto y de los elitros, vistas de perfil, netamente inde¬
pen, dientes una de la otra; cuerpo mas alargado.

Antenas aserradas desde el 4° artejo inclusive. Pronoto con una carfnula pre¬
marginal suplementaria en los costados. — America, Africa m., Australia _

- *Mastogenius Solier

Antenas aserrades desde solo el artejo 3° inclusive. Pronoto desprovisto de

carinula premarginal. — Madagascar, Mascarnas, Africa occ _

- - - *Ankareus Kerremans

Bordes oculares infernos paralelos entre sf.

Antenas con los artejos lobulados netamente triangulares. Aspecto de Phalacridae.

Region neotropical - . - *Micrasta Kerremans

Antenas con los artejos alargados, debilmente aserrados. Aspecto de Haplocnemus
(Dasytidae). Mejico - Exaesthetus Waterhouse

JE1 genero Sicardia, establecido por Thery, al principo para una sola especie ( S .
tristis Thery, Bull. Mus. Paris, 1909, 446-447) malgache, fue muy someramente des-
crito por su autor, el cual, disponiendo de un solo individuo pegado en una cartulina,
no se atrevio por entonces a examinar el insecto por debajo, reservandose, segun
decia, el hacerlo mas tarde con objeto de describirle mas largamente. Sin embargo,
que yo sepa, esto no se hizo nunca. Solo en una tabla de los Mastogenini de Madagas¬
car (Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. 1912, 25), dicho autor, expuso las diferencias de Sicardia
con respecto de Ankareus Kerr. ; las mismas, mas a menos, que pudieran haberse opu-
esto entre Ankareus y Mastogenius Sol. A pesar de todo, por mi parte estoy persua-
dido de que Sicardia es un genero valido, al que todavia hace falta caracterizar con-
Trenientemente.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS’ BULLETIN

93

Helferella dianae nov. sp.

(Fi g. 1).

()Aal alargado, subparalelo en medio, convexo por encima, completamente negro
salvo los palpos y tarsos, que son de un rojizo-tostado oscuro, bastante brillante,.
levestido de una cortisima pilosidad grisacea poco visible, espaeiada y reclinada sobre
los tegumentos de todo el cuerpo.

Cabeza estrecha, saliente; f rente fuertemente surcada en medio, casi bilobulada
vista por encima, no continuando la curvatura ocular; epistoma piano, escotado en
arco por delante, apenas mas largo que ancho, no limitado del area frontal; ojos
pequenos, muy poco convexos, bien visibles por encima. Escultura doble, formada por
gruesos puntos simples y poco profundos sobre un fondo mieroreticulado.

Pronoto transverso, 1,6 mas ancho que largo, muy convexo, bastante caido por los-
costados hacia los angulos anteriores ; estos un poco mas obtusos que los posteriores;
borde anterior truncado en linea recta, muy finamente rebordeado ; costados arqueados,
con la maxima anchura un poco antes de la mitad, mas atenuados y casi en linea recta
hacia adelante que hacia atras; reborde marginal de los mismos visible por encima
casi en los dos tercios posteriores; base ligeramente bisinuada; disco igual, ligera-
mente deprimido en sentido transversal hacia el borde anterior, sin vest.igios de
surco mediano ni de fosetas basales. Escultura constituida por una red de finas-
mallas irregulares y superficiales, incisas, concentrica3 hacia un punto situado sobre
el centro del primer tercio de la longitud, y pequenos puntos simples colocados contra
los bordes posteriores de estas celdillas.

E lit1 os un poco atenuados hacia atras desde casi la mitad de la longitud, truncado-
redondeados en el apice, un poco deprimidos contra el callo basal, contra la sutura en
los 4/5 posteriores, muy ligeramente despues de los hombros y de una manera mas
acusada en los costados de la mitad anteapical; sutura finamente careniforme; callos
humerales poco elevados ; bordes latero-posteriores inermes. Escultura formada por
puntos alargados, como picados oblicuamente por una aguja, sobre un fondo borro-
samente mieroreticulado; esta puntuacion poco densa, fuerte, no alineada o de una
manera muy vaga, mas fina y casi borrada hacia el apice.

Prosterno truncado por delante, deprimido en el tercio anterior, subconvexo, liso
y espaciadamente puntuado en el resto ; proceso intercoxal cuadrangular, rebordeado
en los lados y apice; la parte deprimida anterior groseramente esculpida y chagrinada
como las piopleuras y costados pronotales entre las dos carinulas. Mesosterno reducido
a dos pequenas piecesitas triangulares laterales. Metasterno piano, truncado por
delante. Metacoxas extranguladas en la mediacion del borde posterior; angulos latero-
posteriores subagudos, no salientes. Abdomen normal ; esternito apical truncado en
la extremidad.

Edeago (Fig. 3) ovalado, corto, subdeprimido ; extremidad de los parameros
terminada en puntas romas; lobulo basal ventral muy corto y muy estrechado en
arco por los costados, truncado en el apice ; sin lobulo dorsal a causa de ser libres los
bordes internos dorsales de los parameros en toda su extension ; pene corto, ancho,
bismuosamente estrechado hacia la extremidad, con la punta roma.

Long. 2,5 mm.

Holotipo: 1 $ (unico ejemplar conocido).

Localidad tipica: Bosnek, Biak I., Nueva Guinea, VI-1944 (J. Heifer coll.).

Asf como el notable genero Helferella es dedicado a mi excelente amigo
Mr. J. Heifer, especialista en Buprestidae, de Mendocino (California,.

-94

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Volume X, No. 6

U.S.A.), a qnien debo multiples atenciones, la especie lo es a su dis-
tinguida esposa y colaboradora.

El holotipo unico de la presente especie sera depositado por su dueno,
Mr. Heifer, en la Academy of Sciences de California.

Brachycoroebus helferi nov. sp.

(Fig. 2)

Ancho, robusto, subparalelo, casi tan atenuado por delante como por detras, de color
negro intenso, poco brillante a causa de la microescultura, revestido de pubescencia
<;orta, arqueada, poco densa y formando vagos dibujos sobre los elitros.

Cabeza ancha, corta. Ojos paralelos, convexos, bien visibles por encima, separados
del area frontal por un profundo surco marginal. Frente convexa, provista de un
fuerte surco mediano que la liace aparecer casi dividida por encima, separada del
epistoma por una profunda ranura ondulada, prolongacion de la incisiones supran-
tenarias y esculpida por una fina malla elevada de celulas subpoligonales bastante
grandes sobre un fondo borrosamante chagrinado. Epistoma estrecho, vez y media
mas alto que ancho, un poco concavo, ligeramente bisinuado en el borde anterior.

Antenas cortas, robustas; arteja 4° algo mas corto que el 3° y francamente
transverso; 5-10 triangulares, transversos, gruesos y romos.

Pronoto bastante transverso, 1,85 veces mas anclio que largo, muy convexo en el
disco, fuertemente caido hacia los angulos anteriores, que son invisibles por encima,
suavemente declives en cambio hacia los posteriores ; estos casi rectos ; borde anterior
en angulo muy obtuso, apenas distintamente marginado en medio; costados redon«
deados, con la maxima dilatacion cerca de la base, finamente crenulados en el borde;
lobulo mediano de la base truncado. Escultura formada por una delicada malla
grande, un tanto irregular sobre un fondo piano y borrosamente microreticulado, con
los puntos piligeros inapreciables. Costados revestidos de algunos pelitos blancos.

Escudete muy transverso, cordiforme con el borde anterior ligeramente arqueado,
subconvexo, lampino.

Elitros 1,61 veces mas largos que anclios, apenas sinuados despues de los hombros,
ntenuado-redondeados hacia los 2/5 posteriores, bastante regularmente convexos por
encima; hordes laterales, en la porcion humeral, finamente crenulado3 como los del
pronoto, despues y de una manera brusca, esta erenulacion resuelta en una denticula-
eion, muy fina y espaciada al principio, pero netamente aserrada ya hacia el apice.
Escultura formada por una gruesa puntuacidn superficial, grosera y densa, englobada
hacia la base por una suerte de reticulacion incisa muy fina, en general poco apre-
eiable. Ornamentos pilosos const.ituidos por cuatro o cinco fajas mas o menos flex-
uosas de pubescencia blanca mas condensada y mas larga que la de los interespacios,
•que es negra como la del disco del pronoto.

Prosterno provisto de una mentonera incipiente en forma de ancho reborde aquil-
lado, trisinuado en el borde, sinuosidad mediana muy ancha y mas pronunciada; placa
prosternal deprimida hacia adelante, muy convexa entre las procoxas, completamente
marginadas en toda la extension de los costados; estos convergentes en linea recta
liasta, la extremidad ; ; apice muy romo y declive.

Surcos antenarios propleurales, despues de la escotadura angular, en forma de
depresion mal limitada y esculpida como el resto.

Metacoxas ligeramente dilatadas del lado interno. Esternito apical truncado y
finamente denticulado en el borde.

1957

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

95

-ig. I, Helferella dianae nov. gen. et nov. sp.; fig. 2, siiueta de Brachycoroebus helferi nov. s p . ; fig. 3, edeago de Helferella dianae
qen et nov. sp. (vista dorsal); 4, siiueta de la antena derecha de H. dianae nov. sp.; fig. 5, pata posterior derecha de H. dianae

96

THE COLEOPTERISTS' BULLETIN

Volume X, No. 6

Parte inferior del cuerpo mas superficial y groseramente esculpida sobre un fondo
parcialmente cliagrinado. La pilosidad corta, espaciada y oscura, salvo algunos pelitos
blancos mas largos en los costados prosternales ye de los esternitos del abdomen.
Holotipo: 1 $ (ejemplar unico conocido).

Localidad tipica: Bosnek, Biak I., Nueva Guinea, VII-1954 (J. Heifer coll.).
Dedicada a su colector, que como la especie anterior, ha tenido a bien
confiarmela para su estudio. Bste holotipo sera depositado tambien en
la Academy of Sciences de California.

La nueva especie es la segunda conocida de Nueva Guinea, rico pais
que todavia ha de deparar numerosas sorpresas en Buprestidos. Las
dos especies, bien que yo solo conozco la de Kerremans por su descripcion
original, pueden ser separadas provisionalmente mediante la siguiente
clave :

1 (2) Coloracion dorsal bronceado-verdosa oscura; por debajo negro-verdosa. Pilosidad

unicolor, gris; en los elitros repartida de modo a dejar espacios redondeados
glabros: tres a lo largo de la sutura y cuatro a lo largo de los costados. Cabeza
esculpida por arruguitas sinuosas; pronoto densamente puntuado, sobre todo hacia
los costados; escultura de los elitros formada por rugosidades en forma de escamas.

Borde anterior del pronoto bisinuado. Escudete triangular. Long.: 5 mm _

- vicinus Kerremans

2 ( I ) Totalmente negro. Pilosidad bicolor: la del fondo negra, la de los ornamentos

pronoto-elitrales blanca; en los elitros formando fajas flexuosas. Escultura cefalo-
pronotal reticulada sobre el pronoto sin puntos apreciables; elitros esculpidos
por puntos groseros inclufdos en una reticulacion incisa mas o menos apreciable.
Borde anterior del pronoto en angulo simplemente muy obtuso. Escudete cordi-
forme. Long.: 3,5 mm. - helferi nov. $p.

Recently Published

A REVISION OF THE GYRINIDAE
(COLEOPTERA) OF THE
ETHIOPIAN REGION II.

By Peir Brinck. Loc. cit., Bd. 67, No.
14, pp. 1-189, 48 text figs., most of
them compound. Lund, 1956. Price
kr. 19.

This treats the subfamily Orectochili-
nae, and is a revision of the genus
Orectogyrus, with one page devoted to
the single Ethiopian species of Orecto-
chilus. Seven new subgenera are pro¬
posed in Orectogyrus.

The paper is of interest to American
students as a study in the handling of
a very difficult group which seems to be
actively speciating. Dr. Brinck writes:
“. . . compared to certain other adephag-
ous beetle groups which have been

worked out in recent times, ‘ Orectogyrus ’
should be regarded as a tribe, and I am
sure that there are authors who would
not hesitate to deal with the subgenera
described below as genera, and many
of the species-groups as subgenera. Per¬
sonally, I find it most useful from a
practical point of view (for identification
and for zoogeographical and phylogenetic
purposes) to retain a reasonable claim
to the structural characters of the genera
and not to lower the pretentions so far
as to accept as genera intimately related
groups of species. . . .”

We look forward to the special volume
to follow, on the classification and phy-
logeny of the Gyrinidae. — H. B. Leech,
California Academy of Sciences.

\

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