CACOTARPHIUS. 473 
Subfam. TARPHIINA. 
This group is separated from the Synchitine by the greater distance between the 
cox, and by the underside of the flanks of the prothorax being more or less hollowed 
for the reception of the antennal club in the position of repose. Each of these 
characters shows much gradation, so that it is sometimes almost optional to which of 
the two groups a genus should be referred: the great majority of the forms I have 
seen fall, however, readily into one or other of these divisions; and as there is a 
considerable difference between the two extremes, the recognition of the Tarphiine as 
a distinct group appears to be a useful course. No form of it that I have seen is, 
however, so uncertain as Cacotarphius, which has much in common with Coxelus, 
notwithstanding the difference in the club of the antenne. 
CACOTARPHIUS, gen. nov. 
Corpus breve, convexum, hispidum. Antenne decem-articulate, clava uni-articulata. Sulci antennarii breves, 
imperfecti. Coxe modice distantes. 
Allied to Cicones and Pseudotarphius; differs from the former by the short broad 
form and hispid tibie, and from the latter by its less widely separated coxe and 
slender legs. Epistome very slightly dilated, so that the base of the antenna is but little 
concealed. Eyes small, convex. Antennary grooves very short, formed almost as in 
Cicones. Anterior acetabula open. Metasternum rather short. Ventral segments 
very short, the basal one unusually so. Tibie slender, narrower towards the tip, 
armed outwardly with erect setae, but without apical spurs. Tarsi 4-jointed, with three 
short, subequal joints and an elongate terminal one. 
Although this insect has the facies of the Tarphiine rather than of the Synchitine 
yet the two characters that would justify its being considered a member of the former 
group are each of them very feebly pronounced ; the hind coxe are apparently a little 
more separated than is usual in the Synchitine, but the process of the prosternum 
between them is apparently acuminate and not truncate. The hollow or excavation of 
the prosternal flanks is certainly present though very feebly pronounced. Hence the 
position of the genus must be considered uncertain till further investigation can be 
made. 
1. Cacotarphius compressus, sp.n. (Tab. XV. fig. 6.) 
Brevis, convexus, niger, antennis tarsisque sordide testaceis ; granuloso-rugosus, supra undique setis tenuibus 
erectis ornatus. 
Lay: 
Long. 24 millim. 
Hab. Guatemaa, Cerro Zunil (Champion). 
Antenne short, joints 3-9 small, ninth transverse, tenth large, round, quite un- 
divided. Head very short, broad, but only half as broad as the thorax ; this latter 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. II. Pt. 1, November 1894. 3 P* 
