Introduction S 



belief that the Euryophthalminae and the Pyrrhocorinae are each worthy 

 of elevation into distinct family rank, the two thus constituting the super- 

 family Pyrrhocoroidea. The suggestion made by Singh-Pruthi (1925), 

 to abolish this family entirely and to annex its subfamilies to different 

 groups of Hemiptera, is extremely ill-considered and can not be supported. 

 The two principal subdivisions of this family differ from one another 

 very markedly in genital structure. In this respect the Euryophthalminae 

 approach the Lygaeidae, while the Pyrrhocorinae show distinct evidence of 

 relationship with the Coreidae. This difference in the female genital 

 structure was used long ago by Stal (1866) to subdivide the family, but it 

 was only recently that a similar differential relationship was demonstrated 

 for the males by Singh-Pruthi (op. cit.). I shall not be surprised if future 

 workers find it necessary to divide the Pyrrhocoridae into two families, 

 whose lines of relationship lead respectively to the Lygaeidae on the one 

 hand, and to the Coreoidea on the other. 



For the present, however, I retain the family Pyrrhocoridae in its 

 standard sense, but the Euryophthalminae must be separated into two 

 tribes, one comprising the American and the other the Old World forms. 

 The basis for this was set forth by Stal (1870, Enum. Hem. I: 90), and the 

 major divisions of the Pyrrhocoridae may be characterized as follows: 

 Subfamily Euryopthalminae. Sixth ventral segment of female divided 

 on the median line. Male genitalia similar to those of Lygaeidae. 

 Tribe Euryophthalmini, nov. Lower surface of the head not sulcate 

 or grooved longitudinally behind the bucculae; anterior femora 

 terete or only very slightly sulcate beneath at base; orifices not 

 auriculate. American forms. 



Tribe Physopeltini, nov. Lower surface of head longitudinally 

 impressed behind the bucculae, the sulcus often reaching the base 

 of the head; anterior femora sulcate beneath for most or all of 

 their length; orifices auriculate. Old world forms. 

 Subfamily P3nThocorinae. Sixth ventral segment of female entire; male 

 genitalia constructed very much like those of Coreidae. 



The following new names are proposed in this Catalogue: 

 Dysdercus mimulus, for Dysdercus mimus Stal, auctt., nee Say. 

 var. tergiversans, for Dysdercus super stitiosus var. intermedius Schout., 



preoccupied, 

 var, vacillans, for Dysdercus poecilus var, simplex Bredd,, preoccupied. 



The following terminology has been used in referring to the type species 

 of the various genera: 



Orthotype — The species explicitly named as genotype by the founder of 



the genus, at the time of its description, when such designation has 



been made. 



