290 
Psyche 
[December 
through 1969. Because of their small size and generally uniform 
appearance, members of the genus are difficult to identify. Larvae of 
Staphylinidae are notoriously difficult to associate with adults except 
in rare circumstances such as the present one. They are not easy to 
rear, the larvae often being canabalistic when confined in close 
quarters. Only twice before have larvae of this genus been made 
known. Paulian (1941) described and illustrated the larva of the 
Holarctic species C. bilineatus Stephens and Kasule (1968) illus- 
trated parts of a British species (as Trogophloeus sp.). No pupa of 
the genus has been described. 
Larva of Carpelimus debilis Casey 
Length 3.25 mm. (largest spms.). Body elongate, somewhat con- 
vex, parallel, pale cream-colored with the sclerites pale piceus and 
the extremities somewhat darker. Head oval, about as wide as long; 
with three ocelli in an uneven row on each side ; epicranial suture 
about one-half the length of head. Labrum longer than wide, nar- 
rowed and truncate in front. Antennal fossae located at sides of 
head above bases of mandibles. Antennae three-segmented ; first seg- 
ment about as long as wide; second segment a little wider than first 
and about twice as long as wide with the modified acorn seta near 
the apex nearly as large as third segment, born at an obtuse angle ; 
third segment less than half as wide as second, about as long as wide, 
with a small modified acorn-like seta at apex. Mandibles arcuate, 
with three small equal teeth arranged in a triangle at apex. Maxil- 
lary palpi three-segmented ; first segment about twice as long as wide ; 
second segment a little narrower than first, narrowed from base to 
pointed apex. Lacinia triangular, widest at base, spinose or inner 
edge. Labial palpi two-segmented ; first segment longer than wide ; 
second segment narrower than first, about as long as wide. Pro- 
notum, mesonotum and metanotum wider than long, the last two 
each wider than preceding. Abdominal tergites each wider than 
metanotum, more than twice as wide as long, fifth tergite widest, 
pseudopod subcylindrincal, slightly longer than wide, slightly nar- 
rowed from base to apex. Urogomphus one-segmented, pointed, 
slightly longer than pseudopod. Many specimens, La Salina, Baja 
California Norte, Mexico, Salt Marsh, August 3, 1971, Ian Moore 
collector. 
The only noticeable difference between this larva and Paulian’s 
description of that of C. biliniatus is that in debilis the apex of the 
mandible is formed of three small teeth arranged in a small triangle 
whereas in biliniatus Paulian’s illustration shows two small subequal 
