Description of Anapestus Kreusleri : a species of Coleopterous 

 Insect inhabiting Ants' Nests in South Australia ; by the 



Rev. R. L. King, B.A. 



[Eead March 5th, 1866.] 



One of the most remarkable of tlie forms of Coleoptera dis- 

 covered in the interior of ants' nests, has been described by Mr. 

 Westwood in the Ti-ansactions of the Entomological Society of 

 London (N.S : vol. iii., p. 9U) under the name Giiostus formicicola. 

 The insect so named was captm-ed by Mr. Bates in the year 

 1854, at Santarem, in the Brazils, in the nest of the ant Myrmica 

 {crematogastris) vicUmce, Smith. A single specimen (or at the 

 most two) was found in each nest. 



Gnostus formicicola is a minute pentamerous beetle, with very 

 remarkable three-jointed antennae. Its nearest allies, except as 

 regards the antennae, appear to be found among those Xylaphagi 

 of Latreille, which are pentamerous ; but to none — even of those 

 groups — does it bear a close relationship. Mr. Westwood there- 

 fore suggests that it should be considered as constituting a 

 distinct sub-family of its own. 



This opinion is much strengthened by the discovery of the 

 equally minute insect, which it is my good fortune to be per- 

 mitted now to describe. I received my specimens from my 

 valued correspondent, Mrs. Kreusler, of Gawler, S.A., who has 

 aheady dune so much, especially in the detection of the more 

 minute forms of the Entomology of that colony. 



The Gawler species very remarkably agrees with the 

 Brazilian in the character of the antennas, as well as in other 

 particulars. But at the same time it differs in so many important 

 respects from the elaborate description and figures of Gnostus, 

 given by Mr. Westwood, that I am obliged to place it in another 

 genus. My dissection of the specimens discovered by Mrs. 



