672 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 117 



Lexiphanes affinis (Haldeman, 1849), new combination 



Figures 4, 13, 18 



Monachus affinis Haldeman, 1849, p. 264. [Page precedence over M. auritus 



Haldenaan.] 

 Monachus auritus Haldeman, 1849, p. 264. 



Monachus thoracica [us] Crotch, 1873, p. 31. [New synonymy.] 

 Monachulus auritus (Haldeman), Leng, 1920, p. 290 (checklist). 

 Monachulus thoracicus (Crotch), Leng, 1920, p. 290 (checklist). 



Diagnostic description: Color piceous or black, the following 

 yellowish red: head, antennae, mouth parts, prothorax, and legs. 

 Shape oval, similar to L. seminulum, but more robust, especially the 

 pronotum. Elytra with deeply impressed submarginal striae and 

 distinct punctations. Female with a callus on either side of the fovea 

 on the last ventral abdominal segment. Male with punctures on the 

 last ventral abdominal segment. 



Variation: The observed size range, in millimeters, is 1.65 long 

 by 1.25 wide to 2.23 long by 1.67 wide. Color variation is quite 

 common in this species, the prothorax and legs ranging from com- 

 pletely yellowish red (this is the form most commonly collected) to 

 completely dark. Along the basal line of the pronotum, at times a 

 few punctuations can be noticed, but the species is primarily devoid 

 of the punctures at this location. 



Discussion: Haldeman (1849) designated as type an intergrade 

 specimen with a bicolored pronotum. Crotch (1873) correctly 

 synonymized Haldeman's two species (L. auritus with L. affinis) 

 but believed the latter to be the sexually dimorphic female. He 

 further described L. thoracica [us], a form with the pronotum largely 

 yellowish red. In 1885, Henshaw reversed the order of Crotch's 

 synonymy, making L. affinis a variety of L. auritus. Leng (1920) 

 continued this synonymy. (Holotypes and syntypes of the above 

 species were examined in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 

 Harvard College.) Chevrolat (1837) included L. thoracicus Dejean 

 in his newly established genus, but it appears that the Dejean name 

 was a nomen nudum. 



Male genitalia: The length of the aedeagus is 0.67 mm. and its 

 width is 0.24 mm. It is narrow in comparison to its length. The 

 ventral apical lobe is broad and scoop shaped and the lateral lobes 

 taper gradually in comparison to those of L. seminulum, which also 

 rise much higher. Ten specimens were dissected. 



Female genitalia : The spermatheca is of average size. It is nearly 

 uniformly thick and almost forms a right angle. The free end is 

 rounded and not pointed as in L. seminulum. One specimen was 

 dissected. 



