NEW SPECIES OF MEXISPHODRUS FROM MEXICAN 
CAVES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) 1 
By Thomas C. Barr, Jr. 
Department of Zoology, University of Kentucky 
The first true sphodrine known from North America was collected 
in a cave in Veracruz, Mexico, in 1964. I described it as Mexi- 
sphodrus veraecrucis (Barr, 1965), emphasizing the sharply truncate, 
triangular base of the prosternum, which appears to be the most 
reliable sphodrine character. Straneo (1957) had previously as- 
signed another interesting anchomenine genus, Bolivaridius Straneo, 
to the true sphodrines because of a superficial resemblance to Sphod- 
ropsis Seidlitz, but Bolivaridius lacks the characteristic prosternal 
feature so clearly exhibited in Mexisphodrus and the Palearctic 
sphodrines, and in my opinion does not belong in this group. 
Mr. James R. Reddell and the members of the Association for 
Mexican Cave Studies have recently sent me additional specimens 
referable to Mexisphodrus , rather obviously specifically distinct from 
M. veraecrucis. These insects were collected in deep pits in San 
Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas, respectively. I am indebted to Mr. 
Reddell and to Messrs. David McKenzie, John Fish, L. E. Gilbert, 
and Orion Knox for this unusual material. Holotypes of both species 
are deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Uni- 
versity. 
Mexisphodrus tlamayaensis Barr, new species 
Distinguished from M. veraecrucis Barr by smaller size, larger 
eyes, presence of functional wings, and other features. Length 11.3 
mm. Head and pronotum rufocastaneous, shining; elytra darker 
castaneous, slightly iridescent, shining, polished ; elytral disc with 
microsculpture finely transverse. Head as wide as long, not includ- 
ing outstretched mandibles; greatest width across eyes; eye diameter 
a little more than length of scape, eyes pale, very convex; antenna 
3/5 the total body length. Pronotum 7/8 as long as wide, width 
of apex and width of base subequal and about 3/4 the maximum 
width, which occurs at apical 1/3; anterior angles prominent; hind 
angles large and slightly obtuse, rather blunt; margin broadly re- 
This investigation was supported in part by a grant from the National 
Science Foundation (GB-2011). 
Manuscript received by ihe editor April 7 , 1966 
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