1966] 
Lawrence and Reichardt — Ptinidae 
35 
brasiliensis Mayr (W. W. Kempf det.) (2 exx., CDZ) ; Para, San- 
tarem, 54 63 (1$, BM) ; Villa Nova, 55 75 ( 1 cT , BM) ; Amazonas , 
Sao Paulo [de Olivenca] (1 ex., BM) ; “Amazon, Bates” (1$, BM). 
This species was previously known only from the several specimens 
examined by Westwood; the only available specimen which can be 
assumed to be from the original type series is designated as lectotype 
above. Four other specimens in the British Museum are apparently 
not from the Bates material examined by Westwood. Gnostus formi- 
cicola seems to have a fairly wide distribution south of the Rio 
Amazonas. It appears to be very closely related to the northern G. 
meinerti , and only a few minor characters separate them. Since the 
two species are allopatric on the basis of presently known material, 
it is quite possible that they represent geographical races. Because 
of the paucity of available specimens, the lack of intermediate forms, 
and the absence of noticeable variation within either population, we 
prefer to retain them as distinct species. The original series of G. 
formicicola was taken from the nests of Crematogaster victima Smith, 
but Lenko has recently collected it in the colony of a Crematogaster 
near brasiliensis Mayr. 
Gnostus meinerti Wasmann 
(Fig. 3) 
Gnostus meinerti Wasmann, 1894, Kritisch. Verzeich.: 121, 216. 
type data: “Ein Exemplar von Dr. F. Meinert am Rande des 
Weges von las Trincheras nach Valencia (Venezuela) im Nest von 
Cremastogaster limaia Sm. am 5. Nov. 1891 entdeckt.” According 
to Wasmann the type is deposited in “Collect. Mus. Univ. Hafn. 
not examined. 
Specimens Examined: panama: Canal Zone , Barro Colorado 
Island, vii.17.1924, G. C. Wheeler col., with Crematogaster limata 
dextella Santschi (Santschi det.) (2 exx., USNM, CNHM) ; same 
locality, vi.1923, R. C. Shannon col., ex stomach of anteater 
(T amandua tetradactyla chiriquensis) (2$$, USNM) ; Erwin Island, 
vi. 17. 1923, R. C. Shannon col. (1 ex., USNM); Gatun Lake, 
Barro Colorado Island, Wheeler col., with Coptotermes niger Snyder 
(1 ex. USNM). 
Although Wasmann’s type was not examined, specimens of the 
Panama population agree well enough with the description to be 
considered conspecific with meinerti from Venezeula. The species 
seems to be restricted to northern South America, but further rec- 
ords will be needed to ascertain the limits of its distribution. Both of 
the known populations of this beetle have been collected in associa- 
