MONOGRAPH OF WEST INDIAN STAPHYLINIDAE 387 



posterior coxae approximate, "conical"; abdomen margined at sides, 

 first and second sternites absent, tiiird longitudinally carinate at base; 

 tarsi 6-segmented. 



Remarks. — This diagnosis was taken from the specimen of paroi- 

 fennis in m}' own collection. Otlier species were not available for 

 comparison. The genus is distinguished from Pinophilus only by the 

 absence of the large median tooth on the mandible. This seems to 

 be scarcel}'^ sufficient justification for the separation, but it will be fol- 

 lowed here until further studies are made. 



Only one species has so far been found in the West Indies. 



1. ARAEOCERUS PARVIPENNIS Bierig 



Aracocerus parvipeiDiis Bierig, 1935b, p. 30, pi. 3, figs. 2, 3. 



Description. — Black to ruf ocastaneous. Head quadrate ; eyes sepa- 

 rated from base by scarcely their length; labrum transverse, with a 

 deep rounded notch at middle ; with a few scattered very large and 

 deep punctures and with very fine and indistinct ground sculpture. 

 Pronotunfri with sides feebly curved, somewhat narrowed posteriorly, 

 with an indistinct smooth median line ; punctures relatively fine, irreg- 

 ular, the intervals usually about half their diameter; with ground 

 sculpture as on head. Elytra shorter than pronotum., narrower than 

 abdomen; with punctures a little larger than on pronotum and sepa- 

 rated usually by less than half their diameter ; without ground sculp- 

 ture. Ahdomen with moderately coarse and shallow excavated punc- 

 tures, the intervals with vague ground sculpture. Male., seventh ster- 

 nite broadly and feebly emarginate ; eighth with a rounded emargina- 

 tion over four times as wide as deep. Fern-ale., sternites not modified. 

 Length, 9 to 12 mm. 



Type locality. — Cuba. 



Types. — In the collection of Alexander Bierig. (One "cotype" is 

 in the collection of the writer.) 



Records. — The following are the records known to me : 



Cuba: Playa do Marianao (Bierig, 1935), El Rangel (Bierig, 19.35), La Lisa 

 (Bierig, 1935), Sierra Bonilla (Bierig, 1935), Aspiro (Bierig, in Blackwelder 

 collection), Rangel Mountains in Pinar del Rio (Darlington, in M.C.Z.), 

 Gran Piedra Range in Oriente (Darlington, in M.C.Z.), Loma del Gate in 

 Orieute (Darlington, in U.S.N.M.), Buenos Aire^^, Trinidad Mountains (Dar- 

 lington, in U.S.N.M). 



Specimens examined — I have seen only one example in my own col- 

 lection, received some years ago from Sr. Bierig, and four collected by 

 Dr. Darlington. 



Remarks. — This species is very distinct from the other West Indian 

 Pinophilini. It has a distinct subterranean habitus and an unusually 

 distinct ground sculpture. 



It was originally captured by sifting fallen leaves. 



