SCARAB BEETLE GENUS PSAMMODIUS — CARTWRIGHT 457 



Psanmtodiiis atopiis, new species 



Holotype elongate-parallel, convex, moderately shining, riifo- 

 piceoiis. Antennae rufotestaceoiis. Head moderately convex, closely 

 verrucose, with a band of close, moderate punctures above between 

 the eyes. Clypeus widely, shallowly emarginate with a small, trian- 

 gular tooth each side of the emargination, sides weakly arcuate, finely 

 refiexed; genae nearly right-angled, not fimbriate. Pronotum convex, 

 width 1.2 mm., length 0.9 mm., anterior angles rounded, posterior 

 angles very broadly rounded, finely margined, not fimbriate; surface 

 with close, very evenly spaced, moderate punctures separated by one 

 diameter, somewhat finer anteriorly and at extreme sides beyond 

 foveae. Elytra elongate, subparallel, not fimbriate, width 1.2 mm., 

 length 1.85 mm., base margined, striae moderately deep, finely cre- 

 nately punctured, sutural interval with a row of close, very moderate, 

 distinct punctures, other intervals with a row of similar but very 

 slightly smaller, more distant punctures along outside edge, inner 

 edge slightly semituberculate in front of marginal punctures, other- 

 wise finely alutaceous and weakly convex. Metasternum shining at 

 middle, with a few scattered punctures and a deep distinct midline, 

 anterior postcoxal line finely scabrous, extending outward to wide 

 similarly scabrous area at side, deepest part of the triangular depressed 

 area in front of the posterior coxal plates also scabrous and connected 

 to lateral area. Abdominal segments with transverse bands of 

 rather evenly spaced moderate punctures separated by one to two 

 diameters, very finely margined posteriorly, finely crenate in front, 

 more widely and deeply so at extreme sides and at middle of terminal 

 segment. Pygidium finely scabrous. Anterior femur margined, 

 shining and smoother in front, quite closely, roughly punctate 

 posteriorly. Middle and posterior femurs shining, with scattered 

 fine punctures, without setae or fimbriae, the middle femur about as 

 wide as the posterior femur. Posterior tibia three times as long as 

 wide at apex, spurs slender, first tarsal joint shorter than long spur, 

 about equal to length of following three combined, entire tarsus one- 

 ninth shorter than tibia, the joints not especially widened apically. 

 Length 3.0 mm., width 1.2 mm. 



Type: In collection of A. Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 



Type locality: ''S. F. del Chipiriri," Province of Chapare, State 

 of Cochabamba, Bolivia, 400 m., November 1953, A. Martinez. 



Specimens examined: Holotype and one paratype collected at same 

 time and place as type. Paratype is in collection of U. S. National 

 Museum. 



Remarks: This is another species that is very close to Ataenius 

 except for the distinctly verrucose head. 



