1912] Fall — Myrmecophilous Coleoptcra 



FOUR NEW MYRMECOPHILOUS COLEOPTERA. 



By H. C. Fall, 

 Pasadena, California. 



The following brief paper is offered primarily for the purpose of 

 making known a most remarkable Rhyncophorous myrme- 

 cophile recently discovered in Arizona by Mr. Wm. M. Mann. 

 Opportunity is taken however to describe three other myrmecophil- 

 ous novelties, two sent me by Mr. Mann, the other found by myself 

 in California. Two of the four species are notable, in that new 

 genera must be erected for their reception. 



Liometophilus gen. nov. (Curculionidae) . 



Body narrow, costate, and clothed with non-contiguous appressed, and short 

 stout erect, scales. Head evenly convex; eyes small, coarsely granulated, com- 

 pletely uncovered and separated by five or six times their own width as seen from 

 the front. Beak shorter than the prothorax, subequal in length to the front thighs, 

 moderately stout, feebly evenly arcuate, gradually feebly narrowed to the antennal 

 insertion (as viewed from the front), the tip a little expanded. Antennae inserted 

 at apical 2/5, scrobes lateral, continued beyond the point of insertion to the apex, 

 scape not quite reaching the eye; funicle 6-jointed, first joint obconic; nearly twice 

 as long as wide, second narrower and a little shorter, 3-6 subequal in length, grad- 

 ually wider, each a little shorter than the second, the sixth as wide as long; entire 

 funicle and club pubescent, the latter ovate pointed, as long as the three preceeding 

 joints and feebly amiulate in outer half. Prothorax longer than wide, dorsum 

 strongly produced over the head, disk bicostate from the front margin to a strongly 

 elevated submedian transverse ridge which extends from side to side and is abruptly 

 almost vertically declivous behind. At the bottom of the decHvity is a transverse 

 impressed line each side, behind which the surface becomes convex. Elytra elongate, 

 wider than the thorax, sides broadly arcuate, humeri distinct, apices separately 

 rounded, disk with rows of rather coarse punctures, the second, third, fifth and 

 seventh interspaces costiform and bearing a series of stout erect scales. Pectoral 

 channel deep and wide, extending into the mesosternum, the margin of the recess 

 broadly flaring and prominent. Mesosternal epimera narrowly attaining the pro- 

 thorax, gradually wider posteriorly, the episterna not reaching the elytral margin. 

 Metasternum longer than the first ventral segment, side pieces narrowly exposed, 

 the suture indistinct because of the vestiture. First, second and fifth ventral 

 segments longer, third and fom-th equal, each a little shorter than the second; first 

 suture fine, broadly arcuate at middle; following sutures deep and straight. Legs 

 moderate; claws simple. 



