NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. lll^j 



Synopsis of North American TRICIIOPTKKYdtlDAi:. 



Bv Rev. A. Matthews, Gmuley, England. 



In tlic following synopsis I have included all the species which have 

 hitherto been discovered throughout the whole continent of North 

 Aiiiorica. Although the work has especial reference to the Trichop- 

 torygidto of the United States, yet it is very probable that mqny of the 

 tropical species will eventually occur in the more southern portions of 

 that extensive region, and if this should happen, their descriptions will 

 prove of much help to the student in recognizing his captures There 

 can be no doubt but that the present list represents but a small part of 

 the real number of American Trichopterygidaj, since seventy -six species 

 have been found in Great Britain and Ireland, ninety-one, the number 

 described in the following pages, can scarcely exceed a tenth part of those 

 which inhabit the vast continent of North America. 



The Trichopterygidae are probably the most extensive Family of the 

 whole Order of Coleoptera. In localities previously unexplored no one 

 has ever paid even a moderate attention to their pursuit without discov- 

 ering a multitude of unknown forms ; every collection received from 

 such quarters contains a vast majority of new species ; indeed, in the 

 aggregate of those which have come under my own notice, the average of 

 new species would probably amount to four-fifths of the whole number. 



To say, as has often been asserted, especially in the case of Col. Mot- 

 schulsky, that species have been multiplied without sufficient grounds of 

 distinction, is simply absurd, and only proves a total ignorance of the 

 subject in question. Their specific difference is sufficiently obvious to any 

 careful observer, even previously inexperienced in the investigation of 

 Trichopterygidae, to enable him to separate correctly, and arrange in spe- 

 cies any miscellaneous mass of specimens. The truth of what 1 have 

 just said was proved in a very striking manner not long ago. jMy lamented 

 friend, Mr. Crotch, an ardent and very successful collector of Trichop- 

 terygidae, left at his death a host of these insects, "rudis indigestaque 

 moles," in a state of utter confusion ; these were examined and arranged 

 /// species by Dr. LeConte and Dr. Horn, and subsequently transmitted 

 to me for determination. I found them most accurately separated, and 

 do not remember having detected a single error. 



Since the greater part of this essay was written, many species have 

 been added to the list by the recent discoveries of Messrs. Flke. Cham- 



TRANS. AMEIl. ENT. SOC. XI. (29j APRIL, 1884. 



