VOL. XI, PP. 105-107 MAY 13, 1897 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF SPH^EROMA* 

 BY HARRIET RICHARDSON. 



Mr. E. Ben Carter has sent to the U. S. National Museum a large 

 number of individuals of an undescribed species of Sphxroma, 

 found boring the piers on St. Johns River, at Palatka, Florida. 

 Sections of the wood received at the same time had been reduced, 

 during a period of eight years, from a diameter of 16 inches to 

 one of 7 } inches. The whole surface of the wood was bored with 

 holes averaging in size about 5 mm. in diameter and in an end 

 section arranged in concentric rings between the rings of annual 

 growth, showing the little animal's preference for the soft pine. 

 Very strong mandibles, projecting beyond the labrum in a most 

 conspicuous manner, provide a perfect equipment for this de 

 structive work. Spence Bate describes a species of Sphxroma 

 from the Indian Peninsula with similar habits, with which the 

 present species is compared. 



Sphaeroma destructor sp. nov. 



Head twice as broad as long, having a small median projection. Eyes 

 lateral and posteriorly situated. The first pair of an 

 tennae, with a flagellum containing eight articles, 

 reach the posterior margin of the head ; the second 

 pair of antennae extend to the post-lateral angle of 

 the first thoracic segment ; its flagellum is twelve 

 jointed. 



The first and fourth thoracic segments are of equal 

 length and are one and a half times longer than the 

 other thoracic segments. The epimeral parts are dis 

 tinct from the segments, are quite broad, and termi 

 nate laterally in acute angles, which point downward. FIG. 3. sph&roma 

 The seventh thoracic segment bears four tubercles destructor. 



situated in a transverse line. Dorsal view " x 3 ' 



* Published with the permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



24 Bior,. Soc. WASH., VOL. XI, 1807 (105) 



