Description of Hiketes, a new genus of Formicicolous Coleopfera, 

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



[Read 22nd November, 1869. 



In my frequent inspection of ant's nests in tlie neighbourhood of 

 Liverpool, I have frequently met with an undescribed form in 

 some particulars strikingly anomalous. As a contribution to an 

 account of our numerous Coleoptera inhabiting the nests of ants, 

 I wish to describe it here. I have named the genus Hiketes, 

 and offer the following as the diagnosis. 



Hiketes. nov. gen. 



( 'iKeTTj^. a supplicant.) 



Mandibuhim truncatum parvum. 



Mentiim transversum, lobis lateralibus obtusis. 



Submentum elongatum, postice liberum. 



Palpi lahiales 2-articulati. 



Maxillares 3-articulati. 



Maxillce ? 



Oculi parvi. 



Antennce ante oculos positse 9-articulat£e, 1""° reliquis longiori, 



2 — 7 subgequalibus, 8 et 9 clavem formantibus. 

 Thorax subrotundus, lateribus serratis. 

 Elytra abdomen tegentia. 



Abdomen 5-articulatum, segmento primo majore. 

 Pedes priores et intermedii contigui — posteriores distantes ; 



femoribus magnis. 

 Tarsi pentameri, articulis rotundis, 4*° minori. 



The genus, which I have thus described, presents several very 

 remarkable peculiaiities. The parts of the mouth are very small, 

 almost rudimentary ; and are placed at the extremity of the head, 

 protected by the emarginate clypeus. The antennae are short 

 and stout, placed near the mouth, and far in advance of the eyes. 



