[March, 



CRYPTOnTPNUS DER3IEST0IDES AND ITS ALLIES. 

 BY G. H. HORX, M.D. 



Cryptolnjpnus dermestoides, Herbst, O. g^uadriguttatus, Lap., and 

 the closely allied North American species form a little group, of which 

 G. dermestoides may be taken as the type. They all have a peculiar 

 sculpture of the thorax, rough in part, smooth behind. The species 

 may he distinguished thus : — 

 Prosternal sutures single, not grooved nor smooth. 



Elytra without spots ; ventral segments, (J $, simple gradarius. 



Elytra with four faint spots ; second ventral segment, $ , with a pubescent 



spot dispersus. 



Prosternal sutures double, grooved and smooth. 



First ventral segment with a small tubercle between the cox£e, and the anterior 



tibiae dilated, in the male qitadriguttatus. 



First ventral segment with a small tubercle on a flat space, and the anterior 



tibiae simple, in the male Melsheinieri. 



First ventral segment convex between the coxae and fimbriate posteriorly, and 



the anterior tibiae dilated, in the male dermestoides. 



First and second ventral segments each with a tubercle, and the anterior tibia? 

 simple, in the male concinnus. 



The first ventral segment of C. dermestoides {(^^ is somewhat 

 gibbous between the coxae and raised to a level with them, and the 

 fimbriae are directed backwards ; while in C. qiiadriguttafus (^) the 

 first ventral segment is rather flat between the coxae, and has a round 

 pubescent spot. I am only acquainted with two species (both North 

 American) with the prosternal sutures single, not grooved nor smooth ; 

 but I suspect that there are parallel forms in Europe, and that there 

 are one or two good species at present considered varieties of C. 

 dermestoides, with plain prosternal sutures. It is curious that in the 

 first series (prosternal sutures simple) the abdomen of the male is 

 simple, while in one of the species the female has a pubescent spot 

 on the second ventral segment. In two of our species with non- 

 striate elytra, C. pectoralis and C. ohliquatulus, the male has at the 

 middle of the presternum a small round spot with erect pubescence. 

 In none of our Gryptohypni is the male front tibia dilated, as it is in 

 the European C. quadrigiittattis and O. dermestoides. I am indebted 

 to Mr. Champion for examples of these last mentioned species for 

 examination. 



Philadelphia: January Zth., 1891. 



[C. dermestoides, Herbst, and C. qnadriguttatiis, Lap. (= tetra- 

 graplius, Germ.), considered by most recent authors as varieties of 



