SCOTOCRYPTUS. 81 
furnished on the underside with pilose, laminated processes, 3 long and slender; claws simple ; intermediate 
femora very short, broadly laminated on the inner side; tibie short, moderately dilated towards the apex, 
slightly recurved, armed with two apical spurs on the outside ; tarsi 3-jointed, 1 very large and long, 
pectinated on the sides with short spurs, and furnished on the underside with pilose laminated processes, 
2 small and bifid, 3 long and slender; claws simple ; posterior femora rather longer ; tibie slightly recurved, 
dilated on the inner side near the middle, and strongly corrugated on the inner surface in transverse lines, 
armed with apical spurs on both sides; tarsi 3-jointed, much longer than the intermediate pair, but 
simple. Coxe: anterior almost contingent, large, and very prominent ; intermediate not contingent, very 
large and prominent ; posterior separated by the metasternal process, very large, oblique, and pyriform. 
The basal articulation of the anterior tarsus in some positions indistinctly appears to be composed of 
two joints, of which the posterior is very short. 
This very distinct and interesting genus in some respects resembles Creagrophorus, 
especially in the shape of the prosternum with its doubly open coxal cavities, and in 
the broad smooth triangular space on each side of the first ventral segment, and also in 
the number and relative proportions of the joints of its antenne and five ventral 
segments ; but differs from that genus in its laminated and peculiarly formed anterior 
and intermediate tarsi, in the rounded front of the pronotum, and notably in the 
anatomy of its mouth. 
Like Creagrophorus, it seems to approach nearer to Cyrtusa than to any other genus 
of “ Anisotomina;” and from the general shape of its body and form of its antenne 
Scotocryptus should be placed in the vicinity of Cyrtusa. | 
The pclished and elevated plates on each side of the first ventral segment and the 
corrugated condition of the inner side of the posterior tibia might suggest the idea 
that Scotocryptus possesses the power of stridulation. It has been supposed that the 
well-known stridulation of Acherontia atropos assists that insect in plundering the hives 
of the Honey-Bee; and if this be true, it may reasonably be inferred that a similar 
faculty would be equally serviceable to Scotocryptus. 
The figure and description of Scotocryptus melipone given by Girard (Ann. Soc. Ent. 
Fr. 1874, pp. 574, 576, & 577, figs. 1-9) differ considerably from S. inguilinus. If 
Girard’s figure faithfully represents Scotocryptus, which is doubtful, it is not surprising 
that, as he there mentions, M. Ch. Brisout should have thought that it belonged to 
the “ Cholevina;” but such an idea could never have been suggested by the appearance 
of 8. inguilinus, whose affinity to Cyrtusa is strongly marked in every part of its body, 
and especially in the antenne and legs. 
Three species of Scotocryptus have been described, all from Brazil; a fourth is now 
recorded from Guatemala. These insects appear to live entirely in the nests of honey- 
making Bees of the genus Melipona. 
1. Scotocryptus inquilinus, sp.n. (Tab. IIL. fig. 4.) 
Omnino hemisphericus, pilis perbrevibus aureis remotissime indutus, rufus vel rufo-castaneus, vix nitidus ; 
capite permagno, lato, minute, sat confertim punctato, interstitiis alutaceis, ore haud prominenti, oculis 
nullis ; pronoto parvo, brevi, quam caput latiore haud longiore, ad basin latissimo, minute et confertim punc- 
tato, interstitiis sat profunde alutaccis, lateribus rotundatis et leviter marginatis, margine basali leviter 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I]. Pt. 1, Movember 1887. M* 
