PSYCHE 
Vol. 72 September, 1965 No. 3 
A REDEFINITION OF ISCHYROPALPUS , AND 
SIX NEW SPECIES 
(COLEOPTERA: ANTHICIDAE) 1 
By Floyd G. Werner 
Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson 
The principal features that have been used to distinguish Lappus 
Casey from Ischyropalpus LaFerte are the generally smaller size, less 
densely sculptured forebody and lack of sharp margins on head and 
pronotum of the former. It has been evident for some time that the 
division is somewhat arbitrary. Some species are readily assignable to 
each genus; others don’t fit in either very well. One is faced with 
the choice of establishing a series of poorly defined genera to accom- 
modate the known species or of placing all of them in one. I believe 
that the second alternative is the better one. 
Genus Ischyropalpus LaFerte 
Anthicus ( Ischyropalpus ) LaFerte 1848, 106, 141, 314 (Type-species: 
Anthicus sericans Erichson 1834, designated by LaFerte on p. 106). 
Pic 1911, 30. Blackwelder 1945, 433. 
Ischyropalpus : Casey 1895, 656. Bonadona 1961, 150 (designates 
Anthicus perplexus LaFerte 1848 as type-species; designation invalid 
because of the original designation of sericans by LaFerte 1848.) 
Lappus Casey 1895, 656 (Type-species Anthicus nitidulus LeConte 
1851 NEW DESIGNATION — -NEW SYNONYMY. 
Anthicus (Lappus): Pic 1911, 30. Leng 1920, 163. Blackwelder 
1945 , 433 - 
As here redefined, Ischyropalpus is a very isolated genus in the 
family, with a number of features that are distinctive. The first of 
these is the form of the mesosternum, as shown in Fig. 1. This 
structure is slightly expanded, but not as greatly as in Acanthinus, 
BauliuSj Euvacusus, Formicilla and Vacusus in the New World 
fauna and some other groups in the Old World. The form of the 
hind angles is unique. The sides extend obliquely laterally and 
posteriorly to the level of the edges of the ventral portion of the 
mesepisterna, meeting the hind margin abruptly and at an acute 
angle well lateral to the middle coxae. The mesepisterna and mesepi- 
1 This study was supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-427. 
Agricultural Experiment Sta., Dept. Entomology, Journ. Art. (p 1068. 
