2 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.77 



primitive character in the weevils, and hence where possible the ar- 

 rangement of groups has been altered to place those with a distinct 

 pleural suture first. 



The subfamilies and families are also arranged to show the back- 

 ward and downward movement of the posttergite and postscutellum 

 which are represented by the area behind the transverse carina. I 

 shall call this carina the scutellar carina, as it often delineates three 

 sides of the scutellum. The posterior declivity behind this carina 

 often has another carina which may sometimes be basal. It sep- 

 arates the posttergite from the postscutellum and may be known as 

 the fostscutellar carina. 



NOMENCLATURE OF GROUP 



The group so long known as Anthribidae involves some diflScult 

 nomenclatorial problems. 



After a thorough search of the literature I have found the follow- 

 ing history applying to the nomenclature of the families: 



Anthrihus Geoffrot, 1762, Hist. Abr. des Ins., vol. 1, pp. 306-309. 



Only one species satisfies the binomial requirement. Species No. 4 

 is definitely referred to Linnaeus, Fauna Suecica (first edition) 

 No. 370, which is Dermestes puUcarius. This work is pre-Linnean 

 (1746), but its second edition aj^peared in 1761, and furthermore the 

 Systema Naturae, tenth edition (1758) , also contains this species. In 

 the twelfth edition (1767), p. 574, Linnaeus refers this species to 

 Silpha and quotes Anthnhus 4 Geoffroy as a synonym. Bradh 

 (1769) cites Anfhrihus as equal to Silpha. The obvious conclusion is 

 that puUcarius must become type of Antkribus and the genus must 

 pass out of the Rhynchophora. 



Hence Anthribus Geoffroy, 1762, with puUcarius Linnaeus as type, 

 takes the place of Brachypterolus Grouvelle (1913), the subfamily 

 Anthribinae takes the place of Cateretinae, and family Anthribidae 

 of Nitidulidae. 



The name Anthrihus was subsequently given other meanings. 



Anthribus MiHler, 1764, Fauna Insectorum Friedrichsdalina, is not 

 binomial. 



Anthrihus Forster, 1771 (Novae Spec. Insectorum, Centuria I). 

 Forster follows Geoffroy, but adds two new species, fasciatus and 

 nehulosus, neither of which can be made type of Anthribus, as they 

 were not originally included. Equals Brachytarsus Schonherr 

 (1833) not (1823). 



Anthribus DeGeer, (Mem. Hist. Ins., vol. 5). This genus is 

 monobasic, founded on ruber DeGeer, a synonym of Silpha rustica. 

 It equals Triplax Herbst (1793). 



