46 
Psyche 
[June-September 
of V ostox found in the United States is apparently very common over 
most of its range, though fairly numerous specimens of hrunneipennis 
have been seen from Florida and other southeastern states, where it 
occurs beneath loose bark of trees. Spongovostox apicedentatus (Cau- 
dell) is similar superficially to the new species and is one of the 
commonest earwigs native to the southwestern United States and 
northwestern Mexico. The following keys serve to distinguish the 
latter and the two United States species of V ostox, in spite of their 
general similarity in habitus, size, and coloration. 
Keys to Species of V ostox and Spongovostox Found in 
Continental United States 
(Males) 
1. Forceps armed with a conspicuous subapical tooth 
Spongovostox apicedentatus (Caudell) 
Forceps armed with at least one conspicuous tooth at or consider- 
ably anterior to middle (if tooth is absent, forceps are definitely 
concave internally on basal third) 2 
2. Forceps sparsely tuberculate beneath, not concave internally, 
typically bearing a prominent, rounded tooth considerably an- 
terior to middle (if two prominent teeth occur, the smaller, 
secondary tooth is at the middle) ; pygidium as in Figs, io or 
ii ; parameres with conspicuous preapical curvature, Fig. 9. 
V ostox hrunneipennis (Serville) 
Forceps smooth beneath, generally conspicuously concave internal- 
ly on basal third, larger specimens with tooth near middle; 
pygidium as in Figs. 2, 3 or 7 ; parameres less conspicuously 
curved, Fig. 8. V ostox excavatus , new species 
(Females) 
1. Forceps armed with a basal, quadrate tooth, projecting but little 
beyond dorso-internal margin; abdominal sterna moderately 
clothed with fine yellow-brown setae and bearing many long, 
brown setae on posterior margins (males and nymphs as well) ; 
suggestions of lateral folds on segments four, five, and some- 
times six (sometimes subtle but, when prominent, each fold 
bearing a long, light brown seta) ; pygidium much like Fig. 5. 
Spongovostox apicedentatus (Caudell) 
Forceps armed with a large, basal, quadrate tooth, projecting well 
beyond dorso-internal margin (Fig. 1) 2 
2. Dorsal surface of anal segment with a scattering of prominent 
tubercles over posterior third (Fig. 13) ; ventro-internal margin 
of forceps prominent and crenulate, dorso-internal margin 
