518 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. io8 



label, "Lectotypus Geotrupes cuniculus Fabr. Design. 1957 B.-O. 

 Landin." He states that the lectotype is "comparatively well pre- 

 served: both antennae, and left meso- and metatarses are unbroken." 

 He provided sketches of the clypeal teeth, foretibia, tip of the pro- 

 sternal process and the male genitalia. A male from St. Croix, Vhgin 

 Islands, sent for comparison with the type, was retm'ned with Dr. 

 Landin's statement that it agreed completely with the lectotype. 



Dr. Britton informs me that lectotypcs have not been officially 

 chosen for the Bates species, Ligyrus sallaei, L. laevicollis, and L. 

 latifovea, but that a specimen in each series bears the name label in 

 Bates' handwriting, also a red "Type" label, and that these have been 

 unofficial lectotypes for many years. I select these specimens as 

 lectotypes. Sex and localities for these lectotypes as given on the 

 labels are as follo^vs: 



sallaei: (?, Almolonga, Mexico. (Hoge.) 

 laevicollis: d*, Acapulco, Guerrero. (Hoge.) 

 latifovea: 9 , Teapa, Mexico. Salle Collection. 



Classification and Morpholoot 



The genus Ligyrus, here considered as a synonym of the true 

 Bothynus, was placed by Casey in the tribe Pentodontini of the sub- 

 family Dynastinae. Arrow (1937) placed the genus in the tribe 

 Oryctini, with all of Casey's genera listed above as subgenera. 



The species agree in the following characters: labial palpi inserted 

 at the sides of the men turn which is narrowed in front; mandibles 

 prominent and toothed externally; head with a strong transverse 

 carina, sometimes reduced to two widely spaced tubercles; clypeus 

 more or less triangular, reflexed, with two erect teeth at apex; prono- 

 tum frequently with an apical tubercle and anterior depression; elytra 

 with four pail's of oblique geminate striae, stridulating organs on inner 

 surface; the claws equal except on fore tarsi in males of a few species, 

 anterior tarsi not elongate in male; the anterior coxae transverse, not 

 prominent; posterior tibiae expanded apically, more or less truncate 

 and ciliate; aedeagi usually distinct but similar in structure. 



The genus is American, ranging from Canada to Argentina and 

 Chile. Arrow listed 52 species in the Junk catalog, but included 24 

 of the Case}^ species here considered synonyms. Probably 40 or more 

 species are to be found throughout the Western Hemisphere. 



A few species are of economic importance. Bothynus gibbosus 

 (DeGeer) is known as the carrot beetle in economic literature. Var- 

 ious species have been recorded as attacking carrot, celery, parsnip, 

 beet, potato, cabbage, com, cotton, sunflower, dahlia, amaranthus, 

 and other crops and weeds. 



