6 



KEPOET 102^ U. S. DEPAETMEA^T OF AGEICULTUEE. 



The old genus Bruchus erected by Linnaeus in 1767 (not Geoffroy, 

 1762) is a synonym of Mylabris Geoffroy, 1762, and of Laria Scopoli, 

 1763; hence the family name Mylabridse for the older names Bru- 

 chidse and Lariidse. There is no justification for clinging to a name 

 because it has been used a long time when that name is not only pre- 

 occupied but also twice superseded by valid names for the same type 

 species. As long as our rules of nomenclature exclude homonyms 

 and synonyms we have no right to use a name thrice ruled out; 

 hence the more or less unfortunate readjustment of family names. 



The old genus Bruchus is rapidly 

 % # and rightly being broken up 



into smaller and more coherent 

 genera and there will ultimately 

 not be many species requiring 

 the name Mylabris. 



Mylabris peruanus, new species. 



(Text figs. 1 and 2.) 



Described from one female 

 specimen from Piura, Peru, said 

 by Mr. Townsend to have come 

 from cotton squares and bearing 

 his number 25009. The present 

 species is a member of the sec- 

 ond stirps, first manipulus, sec- 

 ond part, in Schonherr's (1833) 

 treatment of the genus Bruchus 

 and comes nearest in general characters to leguminarius Gyllenhal of 

 Chile, differing also from testvdinarius Erichson, the only species in 

 the group described from Peru. It appears to belong in Sharp's sixth 

 group of Bruchus. 



Length, 2.5 mm; breadth, 1.6 mm. 



Integument piceous black, with much of the elytra and edges of pygidium reddish 

 piceous and the labrum, palpi, antennae (except toward apex where they are darker), 

 legs, and sides of abdomen reddish yellow. Pubescence above ochraceous; with 

 brownish spots on each elytron near base, apex, and middle of side, and median 

 striae brownish; yellowish pubescence in spots at base and apex of thorax on median 

 line, on each side of disk on thorax before middle, at posterior angles of thorax, scu- 

 tellum, just before middle on fifth strise of elytra, near apex on seventh striae, on 

 median line of pygidiima especially at base and also at basal angles, and on apical 

 margin. Pubescence of head, underparts, and a,ppendages yellowish cinereous. Eyes 

 large, globular, prominent; moderately finely faceted, very deeply and rather broadly 

 emarginate, leaving the inner lobe only about three rows of facets; separated in front 

 by a distance equal to the length of the first two antennal joints. Head narrower 

 behind eyes; surface punctate, pubescent, between eyes carinate. Labrum smooth, 

 glabrous. Antennae with fiirst five joints pale, all pubescent; first and third sub- 

 equal, longer than second; fourth shorter than second; fifth to tenth subequal in 



YiG.l.— Mylabris peruanus: Female. (Original.) 



