384 A Wew Genus of 



XVI. — A New Genus of Termitopliilous Stajphylinidce . 



BY THOS. L. CASEY. 

 Read February 11th, 1889. 



The careful and enthusiastic studies of Mr. J. Beaumont^ 

 Superintendent of Motive Power of the Panama Railroad, upon 

 the habits of the Termites of the Isthmus of Panama, have al- 

 ready been made known to the Academy through Mr. P. H. 

 Dudley, 



During the progress of these investigatio'j.s, Mr. Beaumont 

 had the good fortune to discover a very remarkable Staphylinide, 

 living in the nests of a species of Termes or allied genus, which 

 latter is at present in the hands of Dr. H. A. Hagen, of Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., for identification and description. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Dudley, I am enabled to present 

 the following diagnosis of this interesting addition to our Ter- 

 mitophilous fauna. 



TERMITOOASTER n. gen. (Aleocharini.) 



Head moderate in size, very slightly narrowed behind the eyes; sides 

 arcuate; neck wide. £'?/es weir developed, moderately convex, but 

 slightly prominent, finely faceted, rounded, subtruncate anteriorly, 

 more pointed behind; facets riot convex. AntennoR slender, anteriorly 

 and flexibly geniculate, inserted in rounded apertures on the upper sur- 

 face of the front, almost adjoining the antero-superior margin of the 

 eye, almost equal in diameter from base to apex; all the joints loosely 

 articulated and subcylindrical; basal joint elongate, almost as long as the 

 next three together; second distinctly longer than wide, a little shorter 

 than the third, and longer than the fourth; five to ten slightly shorter, 

 decreasing gradually in length, the latter about as long as wide; 

 eleventh as long as the two preceding together, conoidal and obtusely 

 pointed at apex. Front transversely truncate, short. Ldbrum trans- 

 verse, moderately strongly and broadly sinuate at apex, the apical por- 

 tions membranous and transversely foveate in the middle. Mentum 

 and submentum in a single piece without trace of suture, nearly flat, 

 thin, coriaceous, smooth and polished, large, broadly rounded at base, 



