WEST INDIAN APHODIINAE — CHAPIN 9 



Genus PSAMMODIUS Fallen, 1807 



Psammodius Faix^n, 1807, Observationes entomologicae, fasc. 3, p. 37. — 

 Gyllbnhal, 1808, Insecta Suecica . . . , Coleoptera, vol. 1, pt. 1, p. 6. — Ctjbtis, 

 1829, British entomology, vol. 6, No. 258. — Heeb, 1841, Fauna coleopterorum 

 Helvetica, vol. 1, fasc. 3, p. 532. 



PsammoMus Heeb, 1841, Fauna coleopterorum Helvetica, vol. 1, fasc. 3, p. 531. 



Type of genus: Aphodius sulcicollis Illiger (by subsequent desig- 

 nation of Curtis, 1829). 



This genus, usually credited to Gyllenhal, 1808, was originally 

 proposed by Fallen in the previous year. The originally included 

 species were seven in number as follows: Scarabaeus arenariiis 

 Paykull, Aphodius glohosus Illiger, A. elevatus Fallen, A. sabuleti 

 Fallen, A. porcatus Fallen, A. asper Fallen, and A. sulcicollis Illiger. 

 Curtis, 1829, choosing to preserve the name Psammodius free of con- 

 flict with Aegialia Latreille, 1807, selected the last species, A. 

 sulcicollis Illiger, as type. This action is strictly in accord with the 

 International Rules and must be accepted. There was therefore no 

 cause for Heer, 1841, to shift the type from A. sulcicollis Illiger to 

 A. sahuleti Fallen, thereby killing the name as a subjective synonym 

 of Aegialia, and to propose a new name, PsammoMus, to include A. 

 sulcicollis Illiger. 



The genus is included in the West Indian fauna by virtue of a 

 single specimen from Puerto Rico. It is possible that this represents 

 a recent importation from North America. 



PSAMMODIUS BIDENS Horn 



Psammodius bidens Horn, 1871, Trans. Amer. Ent, Soc, vol. 3, p. 293 ; 1887, loc. 



cit., vol. 14, p. 92. 

 PsammoMus cruentus Schmidt, 1922, Das Tierreich, pars 45, Aphodiinae, p. 478 



(incorrect synonymy). 



Dark castaneous above, head and pronotum slightly paler, under- 

 parts bright rufous. Anterior margin of head with a sharp triangular 

 tooth each side of the median shallow emargination, sides of head 

 gradually and evenly rounded to the genal lobes. Front coarsely and 

 rather densely verrucose, vertex polished and very finely and very 

 sparsely punctate. Pronotum strongly convex, with fine, short mar- 

 ginal setae, marginal groove fine, replaced across base by a series of 

 coarse punctures. Surface shining, ornamented with punctures of two 

 distinct sizes : The entire surface evenly, sparsely, and very finely punc- 

 tured, and in addition the disk is sparsely set with rather coarse 

 punctures. No trace of basal transverse impression, but each anterior 

 angle with a short, deep, strongly punctured groove. Elytral striae 

 deep, strial punctures coarse and well defined, intervals slightly con- 

 vex, very finely and irregularly punctured. Lateral margin blunt, 



