2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.86 



In 1877 the American species of this genus were monogi-aphed 

 by Horn, who listed eight names and considered four to be valid. 

 Since that time two new species have been described and one other 

 reported from this countrj^ Both the new species are now considered 

 synonyms, and three new species are described. 



In the original descriptions no genotypes of these genera are desig- 

 nated, and I have found no later designations. In order to fix the 

 names permanently I hereby designate Tachinus rutilus Erichson as 

 genotype of Copi'oporus Kraatz, and Erchomus sanguinolentus Mots- 

 choulsky as genotype of Ercliomus Motschoulsky. 



The material available includes approximately 775 specimens from 

 North America and a considerable series of species from other parts 

 of the New World. These comprise the United States National 

 Museum collections and my own. 



Genus COPROPORUS Kraatz 



1857. Coproporus Kraatz, Naturgeschichte dor Insecten Deutschlands, vol. 2, 



p. 399, footnote. {Genotype: Tachinus 7-ufilus Erichson, designated 

 here. ) 



1858. Erchomus Motschoui-skt, Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscoii, vol. 31. pt. 3, p. 218. 

 1869. Cilea Pandelle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, sor. 4, vol. 9, p. 277. (Not J. 



Duval, 1857.) 



Body broad; head inclined, not margined at the sides; antennae 

 11-segmented, feebly incrassate, inserted at the sides of the head ; 

 maxillary palpi filiform, last segment acuminate; labial palpi fili- 

 form, last segment longer; ligula bilobed; no ocelli; prosternmn 

 short; anterior tarsi 5-segmented, simple; anterior coxae conical, 

 prominent; elytra longer than pronotum, generally extended beneath 

 the body; mesosternum carinate; posterior coxae transverse, contigu- 

 ous, free ; first segment of hind tarsi moderate or short ; tibiae fim- 

 briate at tip with unequal spinules ; abdomen feebly margined. 



This is a large genus occurring throughout the world. In all, 181 

 species have been described from the New World, Europe, Africa, 

 India, Australia, and the Philippine Islands. 



KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF COPROPORUS ^ 



1. Pronotum punctate 2 



Pronotum not punctate 4 



2. Elytra with a concavity at sides 3 



Elytra without a concavity at sides lecontei 



3. Elytra coarsely punctate ventriculus 



Elytra exceedingly minutely punctate infimus 



» The punctation of the pronotum and elytra is sometimes very minute and requires a 

 high magnification to be vi.sible. Under low power the surface irregularities may appear 

 to be punctures. 



