Clje Canadian (Jntawolapt 



VOL. XX. LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 1888. No. 9 



CATALOGUE OF THE MYRMOPHILOUS COLEOPTERA 

 WITH BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES. 



BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENY, PA. 



Quite a number of our Coleoptera are known to associate in their 

 imago or perfect state with the Formicarise — comprehensively, ants. Very 

 little, perhaps nothing, is known of the larval and pupal life of any of these 

 beetles. Some, like Batrisus bistridtus, probably never leave the ants ; 

 but others, like the species of Cremastochihis, desert them in the spring, 

 whether afterwards to return and propagate among them is an open 

 question. The association here referred to is common inhabitancy and 

 more or less mutual interdependency, and not mere accidental occurrences 

 under stones, bark and common shelters as seen frequently ; and it is 

 not always easy for the collector to avoid confusion of this kind. By 

 bringing together the most of what is recorded in American literature about 

 these interesting Coleoptera, with this as a basis it is hoped a stimulus 

 may be given to research, and collectors may be induced to search for 

 them more diligently, and make public their observations. It is no easy 

 matter to investigate properly an ant's nest, but patience and labour 

 intelligently directed may meet with ample reward. Larvse and pupae 

 should be diligently sought for in the formicariums. Only once or twice 

 is there mention of any larva of a Coleopter having occurred with ants, 

 and that of some Staphylinide that may have only been there as an 

 explorer. 



ABBREVIATIONS. 



Tr. — Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 

 Pr. — Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science, Phil. (2nd 

 series). 



An. — Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History, New York. 

 B. J. — Boston Journal of Natural History. 



