512 BULLETIN 18 2, UNITED STATES NATIO-NAL MUSEUM 



Remarks. — This nearly cosmopolitan species is readily recognized 

 at a glance by its color pattern. The male characters also are dis- 

 tinctive among West Indian Tachyporinae. The specimens from 

 the islands show very little variation. 



My specimens were all taken in dung or manure. 



LXXXVI. Genus COPROPORUS Kraatz 



Coproporus Kraatz, 1857, p. 399. 



Erchomus Motschulsky, 1858, p. 218. 



Subgenus Paracoproporits BERNHAm^, 1917c, p. 41. 



Genotypes. — TacMnus rutiliis Erichson = 6'<9/>ro/?(9rws rufilus 

 (Erichson) (designated by Blackwelder, 1938). Of Erchomus., 

 Erchomus sanguinolentus Motschulsky (designated by Blackwelder, 

 1938) ; of Paracoproporus., Gopropoi^s [Paracoproporus) grandi- 

 collis Bernhauer (monobasic). 



Diagnosis. — Head very short, not distinctly margined beneath the 

 eyes; antennae inserted at the sides of the head close to the eyes, 

 11-segmented, outer segments densely pubescent from the fourth 

 joint; hypostomal suture complete, anterior part of coronal suture 

 present; labrum transverse; fourth segment of maxillary palpus 

 longer than the third, conical; gular sutures separated; anterior 

 coxal cavities open ; front coxae very large, exserted ; posterior coxae 

 contiguous, "transverse," expanded laterally and caudally under the 

 femora; first and second abdominal sternites absent; tarsi 5-seg- 

 mented, the first segment of posterior tarsi moderate or short. 



Remmks. — This rather large genus is distributed throughout the 

 world, but is especially developed in tropical regions. It is readily 

 recognizable by its convex form and triangular or retracted abdomen. 



I have examined 2,526 specimens from the West Indies. They 

 belong to 11 species, of which 4 are new. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SPECIES OF COPROPORUS 



1. Elytra more or less impressed at sides 2 



Elytra at most with margin recurved 7 



2. Pronotum relatively coarsely punctate 11. buscki 



Pronotum not or minutely punctate 3 



3. Elytra distinctly punctate 10. rutilus 



Elytra not or minutely punctate . 4 



4. Apex of elytra and sides of pronotum paler 5 



Not as above — 6 



6. Apical third of elytra and posterior margin of pronotum abruptly pale. 



9. pulchellus 

 Narrow margin of elytra indefinitely paler ; base of pronotum not paler. 



8. ebonus 



6. Pronotum testaceous, strigulose 7. flavicollis 



I'ronotum piceous, not strigulose 6. cacao 



