1S13.] 3 



PhilontJmft ochromervs, Sharp, a common Central American insect not 

 previously recorded from Costa Rica, Orosi. Musicoderus, n. sp., 

 Pitahaya. Ophiomedon stipes. Sharp, two specimens, with the disc 

 of the elytra infuscate near the sutvire, Orosi ; the types were from 

 Guatemala and Nicaragua. Crytohium, n. sp., one specimen found by 

 Calvert, and now in the U. S. Nat. Museum, Juan Vinas. Colastus 

 ater, Murray, a Nitidulid, Orosi. Scaphidium variabile, Mattli., Orosi. 

 Thallisella crotchi, Gorham, an Erotylid (noted by Calvert), Pitahaya. 

 Troclioideus americanus, Buquet, one female ( = T. gondoti, Guer.) 

 (noted by Calvert as a new Endomychid gen vis), Juan Viiias ; both 

 sexes were found by the present writer in Chiriqui. Scirtes, n. sp.f 

 Metamasius dimidiatipennis, Jekel, Juan Vinas (noted by Calvert) ; 

 M. ciiicinnatus and M. ochreofasciatus, Champ., and M. hehetatus, 

 Gyll., Orosi, and a n. sp. of the same genus, La Estrella. Prof. Calvert 

 also records Alegoria dllatata, Cast., a Tenebrionid not hitherto noted 

 from Costa Eica, from Juan Vinas ; and the larvae mentioned by him 

 (op. cit.) ai'e said to belong to genera near Semiotus, Dolopius, and 

 Photuris. Mr. Scott, in the article above referred to, justly remarks 

 that " the fauna inhabiting the spaces between the bases of leaves 

 of Monocotyledouous plants in the tropics offers for investigation 

 a fascinating field, in which that of the Bromeliacex is pre-eminent 

 in its interest. The curious funnel-like form and closely fitting leaf- 

 bases of these plants adapting them for the holding of water and 

 organic detritus, their distribution throughout the. richest parts of the 

 Neotropical Region, their vast numbers of individuals and frequent 

 epiphytic habit, all lead to the expectation that they may contain a 

 rich and interesting series of animal forms." According to Ohaus, 

 the water in Bromeliads does not altogether disappear in the dry 

 season, even in places where sometimes rain does not fall for months. 

 From this it can be seen that the fauna is likely to be largely amphi- 

 bious or aquatic in nature. We now know that a Dytiscid, three 

 Hydrophilids, a Dascillid (Scirtes), the larvae of various Odonates, a 

 caddis-fly, a Stratiomyid, &c., live in the water collected in these plants ; 

 and the presence of five large Calandrids of the genus Metamasius in a 

 small collection made in Costa Rica clearly indicates that the larvae 

 of these weevils must (like those of the Elaterids mentioned by Calvert) 

 attack the leaf -bases of the Bromeliads. 



Some remarks on the Calandrids and descriptions of the new 

 Musicoderus (a genus very closely related to Philonthus) and Metamasius, 

 are appended below. A new Lygseid was also sent by M. Picado, and 

 a description of this insect is also given. 



t M. Picado informs me that }ie intends shortly to publish a description of this insect and its larva. 



