PAUSSID BEETLES IN MEXICO* 
By P. J. Darlington, Jr. 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University 
In America, paussids are rare insects, strictly confined to the tropics. 
Only one individual has been recorded from Mexico (Pallister 1954), 
so far as I know. Six additional Mexican specimens that are now 
before me are therefore of special interest. They represent three 
distinct species. All three species have been known before from South 
America or at least from Panama. All three may therefore have spread 
northward comparatively recently, perhaps since the Central American 
isthmus was completed late in the Pliocene. The accompanying 
sketch-map of southern Mexico (Fig. 1) shows the localities of the 
specimens in question. The actual northernmost record for any 
American paussid is still that of Homopterus hondurensis from north- 
ern Yucatan (Pallister). The new record of H. (A.) praemonens 
from 22 miles southeast of Jalapa, Vera Cruz, represents the farthest 
known advance of any paussid onto the continent of North America. 
Although most or all paussids are probably myrmecophilous at 
least during some stage of their life history, the only actual record 
of an American species with ants is still apparently that of Homopterus 
steinbachi in a nest of Dolichoderus bispinosus (Darlington I95°> 
p. 48). Pallister’s (1954) specimen of H. hondurensis from Yucatan 
was “swept from weeds and vegetation, about two feet from the 
ground, bordering a trail through deep forested jungle.” Most or all 
other Mexican specimens, recorded now, were taken at light, including 
“black” light. They are of course all winged, and they evidently fly 
at night. 
The recent, useful review of American paussids by Luna de Car- 
valho ( 1963) makes it unnecessary for me to cite references or discuss 
species in detail. The present short paper is in fact little more than a 
supplement to Carvalho’s paper. 
I am indebted to the following persons for loan of specimens : Drs. 
Jerry A. Powell, John A. Chemsak, George W. Byers, and Henry 
F. Howden. 
Homopterus ( Artkropteropsis) praemonens Kolbe 
Previously known from Bolivia, Brazil, and San Salvador. New 
records: El Zapotal, 2 miles south of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, 
* Manuscript received by the editor May 31, 1964 
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