710 STAPHYLINIDA. 
Group PIESTINA. 
This group received the rank of subfamily from Erichson, and was considered to be 
differentiated from the ‘ Oxyteline” by the front coxze not being exserted ; this character 
is, however, variable, so that really at present a satisfactory line of demarcation between 
the two groups cannot be pointed out. 
The species of this group are subcortical in their habits, and chiefly found beneath 
sappy bark. 
HYPOTELUS. 
Hypotelus, Erichson, Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 840 (1840) ; Leconte, Tr. Am. Ent. Soc. vi. p. 249 
(1877). 
This genus comprises four species from Tropical America and one from Texas. 
These insects are very similar to one another; but I find the males possess some slight 
distinctive characters that greatly facilitate the determination of the species. 
1. Hypotelus hostilis. 
Hypotelus hostilis, Fauv. Bull. Soc. Linn. Normand. ix. p. 43’; Notices ent. i. p. 38’. 
Hab. Mexico, Teapa (Pilate1 2); GuateMata, Cerro Zunil, Zapote, Capetillo 
(Champion). 
In the male of this species and in that of H. pusillus the basal joint of the antenne 
is armed with an acute tooth, and the alternate joints, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, are armed with 
longer exserted setee: the tooth I presume is what Erichson alluded to in his description 
of the genus by saying “ medio introrsum subdentato ”; there is, however, no tooth at all 
in the other sex. Mr. Champion obtained a good series of H. hostilis at Zapote; the 
three examples from Cerro Zunil are all females, and have the elytra slightly longer, 
and may prove distinct when the male is known; the single example from Capetillo is 
also a female, and as it differs in some slight details may be a third species. I have not 
seen any Mexican example, and it is possible that the Guatemalan insect may not really 
be Fauvel’s H. hostilis. 
2. Hypotelus lucidus. 
Nigricans, nitidus; antennarum basi pedibusque testaceis ; elytris pallide flavis, sutura fuscescente, subtiliter 
punctatis. 
Long. 24 millim. 
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). 
This insect is almost exactly similar to H. hostilis, but is a little smaller, and the 
antenne in the male have only a very minute tubercle on the basal joint, and the sete 
on the alternate joints shorter. Six examples were obtained, two being males. The 
Amazonian H. micans again is very similar, but has the thorax rather more coarsely 
punctate, and the antenne entirely yellow. 
