A REVISION OF THE NEARCTIC SPECIES OF 
TOMODERUS (COLEOPTERA: ANTHICIDAE) 
By F. G. Werner 
University of Arizona, Tucson 
The Nearctic species of Tomoderus are very similar to 
each other in general appearance and present a perplex- 
ing problem both taxonomically and nomenclatorially. 
When Say described the first species, constrictus, he men- 
tioned that the elytra had “regular series of impressed 
punctures.” La Ferte did not see any of Say’s specimens 
but did have a series in which the elytra were “finement 
et irregulierement ponctuees.” For this series he proposed 
the name interruptus. Casey segregated specimens in his 
series under the two names already in use on the basis 
of whether the punctures became “abruptly coarse and 
distinctly seriate in basal third or fourth” of the elytra or 
“very gradually coarse and confusedly subserial in ar- 
rangement toward base.” In addition he described a third 
species, impressulus, on the basis of a series with a broader 
anterior lobe of the prothorax, a feeble median canalicula- 
tion on this lobe and other differences. 
Subsequent students of the Anthicidae have used these 
three names and some have been able to identify three 
species by using Casey’s key. I have been unable to use 
it except to segregate specimens of impressulus. The iden- 
tified specimens I have seen of the other two are generally 
referred to constrictus if the elytra are markedly paler 
at the base and to interruptus if the pale area is more 
diffuse. Specimens with the elytra entirely pale do not 
fit either description very well but are most easily referred 
to constrictus. 
My own investigations have convinced me that the 
distinction in the arrangement of the elytral punctures 
does not exist. The punctures appear larger and deeper 
in pale areas but are no different from those in other speci- 
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