NEOMEDON. 557 
NEOMEDON. 
Corpus subdepressum. Mandibule mediocriter elongate, bidentate. Labrum breve, latum, medio haud vel 
vix emarginato, utrinque minute trituberculato. Tarsi posteriores, articulo basali quam secundus dimidio 
longiore, anteriores leviter dilatati. 
This genus is readily distinguished amongst its immediate allies by its possessing 
two large teeth on the mandibles, the usual basal tooth being quite absent. Compared 
with the European genus Medon, it differs in the structure of the mandibles and 
labrum, and also in having the neck broader. As in the European species the horny 
pieces of the prosternum are largely developed, so that the coxe are much enclosed ; 
the basal ventral segment is carinate. 
The genus, so far as I know, is peculiar to our region, though I have little doubt it 
will be found in other parts of Tropical America. Lithocharis gigantea, Fauv., from 
New Guinea, is somewhat similar in appearance, but has tridentate mandibles and 
different front and hind feet. Lypeticus has only two teeth to the mandibles, but in 
that genus the neck is very narrow, almost Scopwus-like, and the facies is very 
different. 
1. Neomedon princeps. (Tab. XIV. fig. 15.) 
Major, latiusculus, subdepressus, niger, elytris pedibusque rufis, antennis rufo-obscuris; capite, prothorace ely- 
trisque crebrius fortiter punctatis. 
Long. 8-10 millim. 
Hab. Guatemaua, Capetillo, San Gerénimo, San Joaquin, Panajachel (Champion). 
Antenne with very elongate third joint, quite twice as long as the second and three 
times as long as broad ; tenth joint rather longer than broad. Head large, closely and 
coarsely punctate, the punctuation absent from a very narrow space along the middle. 
Thorax more closely and finely punctured than the head, with a broader and more 
distinct smooth space along the middle. LElytra rather longer than the thorax, densely 
and rather coarsely punctate. The male has a slight emargination of the hind margin 
of the last ventral plate. 
Of this species a series of twelve examples was obtained. It lives under bark. 
2. Neomedon rufipennis. 
Latiusculus, subdepressus, niger, elytris, antennis pedibusque rufis ; capite, prothorace elytrisque crebrius fortiter 
punctatis. 
Long. 7 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Pinos Altos in Chihuahua (Buchan-Hepburn). 
This insect appears to be very closely allied to N. princeps, but is considerably 
smaller, and has shorter antenne, with a much less elongate third joint, this being 
only about twice as long as it is broad. The male characters of the two are 
similar. 
