40 
Psyche 
[March 
bases of parameres; basal piece relatively small, parameres fairly 
broad and straight, slightly expanded at apices. Total length: 2.87 — 
3.32 mm. 
distribution (Fig. 15) : South America (Brazil and Colombia). 
Fabrasia may be distinguished from the majority of ptinid genera 
by the body form, distinct humeral callosities, scutellum, metasternal 
suture, and fully developed hindwings. It differs from Ptinus and 
Niptinus by the clypeal structure, elytral constriction, glandular pores, 
and modifications of legs and antennae. It may be separated from 
Gnostus by the characters given under that genus. This genus, like 
Gnostus, seems to be related to Ptinus. 
Although the type species has not been collected with ants, both 
t . borgmeieri and F. wheeleri have been taken in the nests of species 
of Camponotus. It is interesting to note that the two ant hosts belong 
to the same subgenus ( Myrmothrix) , but more material will be 
needed to consider this anything but an accident of sampling. 
Camponotus bugnioni, the host of Fabrasia wheeleri , is known only 
from near the type locality in northern Colombia, while C. renggeri, 
the host of F . borgmeieri, is a common, widespread species, occurring 
from northern Argentina to northern Brazil. Nothing is known at 
present of the habits of these myrmecophiles ; a study of their be- 
havior might be particularly fruitful, considering the unique special- 
ized structures which they possess. 
Key to the species of Fabrasia 
1. Elytra with 8 lateral striae, 2 dorsal striae visible for their entire 
lengths ; discal tubercles of pronotum conical and sharp ; apices 
of elytra only slightly divergent; hind tibia without pencil of 
black hairs; elytral bristles very short; larger species (3.17 — 
3.30 mm.) ; Colombia wheeleri n. sp. 
— Elytra with 6 lateral striae, 2 dorsal striae obsolete except at 
base ; pronotal tubercles low and rounded ; apices of elytra 
strongly divergent ; hind tibia with 1 or 2 pencils of black 
hairs; elytral bristles longer; smaller species (2.87 — 
3.15 mm.) 2 
2. Hind tibia with a single pencil of hairs on outer side; clypeus 
distinctly swollen; antennal fossae joined by a transverse chan- 
nel; Brazil (Rio Grande do Norte) 
alvarengai Martinez and Viana 
— Hind tibia with 2 pencils of hairs, one on inner and one on outer 
side ; clypeus not swollen ; antennal fossae separated by a 
median carina; Brazil (Goias) borgmeieri n. sp. 
