22 PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 21, NO. 2, FEB., 1919 



7. No genus or larger group should be studied alone from the 

 standpoint of a single geographic region or subdivision. We must 

 take into account the occurrence of the group in other parts of 

 the world and the work done upon it elsewhere. Our American 

 classification has yet to be coordinated with the European. In 

 the present paper part of that coordination is attempted. 



The present paper is divided into several separate titles which 

 represent, one might say, building materials for the erection of the 

 structure of weevil classification. 



I. A SYNOPSIS OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE CURCTJLION- 



OIDEA. 



Superfamily Curculionoidea Hopkins (1911). 

 Table of families of Curculionoidea. 



1. Mandibles with deciduous tip, leaving a scar; mentum generally large 



and covering the maxillae ; beak more or less robust, never slender 

 and filiform; scrobes attaining, or almost so, the commissure of 



the mouth 1 PSALLIDIIDAE Pierce. 



Mandibles without deciduous piece; mentum often very small, 

 maxillae free 



2 . Prosternum not sulcate between the coxae, which are usually con- 



tiguous (Synmerida) 3 



Anterior coxae more or less distant (Apostasimerida) 7 



3 . Pygidium always covered by elytra; tarsal claws connate or free, never 



appendiculate 4 



Pygidium exposed, or in default, tarsal claws appendiculate (Py- 

 gidophora) 6 



4. Metasternum very short; metathoracic episternum narrow (Brachy- 



stetha) 



Metasternum more or less elongate; metathoracic episternum at 

 least moderately large (Macrostetha) 4 HYPERIDAE Pierce. 



5 . Submentum not pedunculate ; tibiae unarmed, very rarely and then 



briefly mucronate at apex 2 PSAUDURIDAE Pierce. 



Submentum pedunculate 3 LIPARIDAE, new family. 



6 . Abdominal segments not angulate at sides . . 5 CURCULIONIDAE Leach. 

 Abdominal segments angulate at sides b 1 CIONIDAE, new family. 



7. Antennal club articulated; third joint of tarsi bilobed (Aulacostetha) . 

 Antennal club compact; third joint of tarsi almost always entire 

 (Cyclopoda) 9 



8. Mesothoracic epimera not ascending 7 OROBITIDAE Pierce. 



Mesothoracic epimera ascending. . . .8 CRYPTORHYNCHIDAE Pierce. 



9 . Pygidium exposed 9 RYNCHOPHORIDAE Pierce. 



Pygidium covered 10 COSSONIDAE Shuckard. 



The classification thus proposed follows very closely that of 

 Lacordaire, differing principally by the higher rank of the groups 



