The ant-like flower beetles of north central Mexico collected on the David Rockefeller Mexican Expedition of 1947 : and other Mexican and Central American anthicids in the American Museum of Natural History (Coleoptera, Anthicidae)

Amencan Museum

Oovitates

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CENTRAL PARK WEST AT ‘79TH STREET, NEW YORK 24, N.Y.

NUMBER 1720 | APRIL 22, 1955

The Ant-like Flower Beetles of North Central
Mexico Collected on the David Rockefeller
Mexican Expedition of 1947, and Other
Mexican and Central American Anthicids
in the American Museum of Natural

History (Coleoptera, Anthicidae)

By JOHN C. PALLISTER?

This paper is based largely on material that was collected on the
David Rockefeller expedition of 1947 to the four north central states of
Mexico: Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, and Zacatecas (Spieth, 1950).
Included also are distributional records and taxonomic and biological
notes on all the species of Anthicidae from Mexico and the countries of
Central America in the American Museum of Natural History collec-
tions.

The Anthicidae as considered in this paper are restricted to the old
tribe Anthicini, and constitute a very homogeneous family. Other tribes
of the earlier family Anthicidae, such as the Eurygeniini, Pedilini, Macra-
triini, and Xylophilini, are found to have no very close relationship to the
family as presently understood. In fact, the first three tribes form the
present family Pedilidae, and the fourth tribe forms the family Euglenidae.

The Anthicidae are in general rather small beetles, usually under 5
mm., somewhat pilose, frequently densely so, and ant-like in appearance.
The name “flower beetles” probably refers to the habit of many of being

1 Research Associate, Department of Insects and Spiders, the American Museum
ef Natural History.

2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

in or around flowers, but the scientific name of the family comes from that
of the typical genus, Anthicus, which in Greek means variegated or
flower-like.

The Anthicidae are of the heteromerous group of beetles, that is: the
tarsi of the first and middle pair of legs have five segments, while those
of the hind pair have only four segments. Other characters of the family
are the deflexed or drooping head, which is suddenly and strongly con-
stricted at the base into a very small, slender neck; eyes small, entire,
oval or rounded, and generally coarsely faceted; antennae 11-segmented,
inserted at the side of the head in front of the eyes, mandibles emarginate
at tips, last segment of maxillary palpi moderately dilated. Prothorax
generally small, at base narrower than the elytra. Abdomen composed of
five free segments. Anterior coxae somewhat prominent, conical, coxal
cavities open behind, hind coxae not or only slightly prominent, cavities
distantly separated, tarsi (with the exception of those of Mecynotarsus),
with the next to the last segment lobed beneath, tarsal claws simple. The
two families Pedilidae and Euglenidae, which might be confused with
the Anthicidae, can be separated as follows: In the Pedilidae the eyes are
larger, finely faceted, generally emarginate, sometimes oval, and the neck
is usually wider. In the Euglenidae the abdomen is composed of four
free segments, the first or basal one formed of the first two firmly united,
but with the suture sometimes visible; tarsi with the second segment
from the last lobed beneath.

When compared with some of the larger beetle families, the family
Anthicidae with its approximately 1525 species (Pic, 1911) is com-
paratively small. While many of the names in Pic’s catalogue are syn-
onyms, which reduces this number somewhat, new species described
since 1911 undoubtedly augments this number considerably. It is an old
family, geologically speaking, and species are found in all parts of the
world, even in many remote islands. However, the greatest concentration
of species seems to be in the humid temperate regions rather than in the
tropics, where most beetle families are strongest. This apparent distri-
bution may be reversed when a more careful survey of the humid tropical
regions has been made, for anthicids are so small that they are easily
overlooked, and have not been especially collected.

There are nearly 200 species and a few subspecies of Anthicidae listed
from North America north of Mexico (Leng, 1920). Over 100 of these
were described by Casey (1895) in a single paper, but many are based
on uniques and must eventually be reduced to synonymy. Champion
(1890) lists 75 species from the Central American countries, of which
over 50 were described as new. Blackwelder (1945) for all of South and

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 3

Central America and the West Indies lists 260 species and 25 subspecies ;
of these 93 occur in Central America, with about 60 recorded from
Mexico.

In this paper 24 species are discussed, 16 of which are at present re-
stricted to Mexico or Central America. Five have been recorded from
both the United States and south of the border. Three, which previously
were recorded only from the United States, were taken by the expedition
from northern Mexico.

From a review of the distributional records of the 24 species of an-
thicids, it can readily be seen that in general they fall into two large and
distinctive geographical faunal zones in this Mexico-Central American
region. The first, by far the largest in area, richest in species, most dis-
tinctive, and undoubtedly the most homogeneous, is the humid tropical
fauna. This zone extends from southern Mexico south through Guatemala
and the other Central American countries into northern South America.
Its most northern limit is apparently a line extending approximately
from the states of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico to Guerrero on the
Pacific coast. Notoxus eximius, Formicilla gracilipes, Leptaleus al-
bicinctus, Anthicus dromedarius, A. punctipennis, A. asphaltinus, A.
bactrianus, A. championi, and A. spinicollis are representatives of this
zone.

The other distinctive faunal zone is the arid highland region of north-
ern Mexico. This extends roughly from north of Mexico City, at ap-
proximately the state of Guanajuato, north through the four states
covered by the expedition and across the United States border, including
the eastern part of Arizona, all of New Mexico, western Texas, and fre-
quently north into Colorado and other midwestern states.

Northeastern Mexico and eastern Texas seem to form a localized
faunal zone quite different from the arid highland region. To the west,
the state of Sonora and the western part of Arizona form another local-
ized zone with, however, rather close affinities to the highland area. The
limiting borders of the arid highland zone are not well marked. Some of
the species are restricted to a very small area in it, while others spread
out to the farthest limits. Some of the characteristic species of this arid
highland region are: Notoxus bifasciatus, N. apicalis, N. hirsutus, and
Anthicus confinis. Notoxus ventralis, N. fraternus, and N. cristatus ex-
tend south into the transition region between the arid highland and the
humid tropical zones, while Notoxus calcaratus and N. nuperus extend
westward into the Sonoran. One anthicid, Notoxus monodon, appears
not to be restricted by any barriers but ranges through all types of eco-
logical conditions from Canada to Argentina.

4 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

All that is known about the life cycle, early stages, and habits of these
beetles comes from a few scattered notes made by various observers.
Anthicids are usually collected by sweeping. In the spring and summer
they may be found on the flowers and foliage of various plants and trees ;
in the United States, oak, wild cherry, hickory, maple, dogwood, hazel-
nut, and many herbaceous plants and weeds are among those preferred.
The adults seem to be attracted to the pollen of the flowers or may be in
search of other small insect life, for it is thought that many species are
predaceous. It is well known that Notoxus monodon (Fabricius) is
predaceous on the pupae of Archips argyrospila Walker (Gill, 1913) the
fruit-tree leaf-roller, a lepidopterous insect. Some species are also at-
tracted to decaying fruit, both dried and fresh. Others are found under
leaves or decaying vegetation, drift along beaches, under stones, logs,
loose bark, and boards, especially those in damp places. It is in such re-
treats that species in the temperate regions pass the winter as adults.
The few species of larvae that are known are very small, whitish, elongate,
slender, and nearly cylindrical. On the caudal end is a small pair of non-
segmented, immovable, horn-like appendages. The legs are long, four-
segmented, and each is tipped with a claw. The tenth or terminal ab-
dominal segment is large, but located on the ventral side of the ninth
segment. The head is rather large, conspicuous, and has only one ocellus
on each side. No life cycle of any one species has been completely de-
scribed. As far as known, none are serious pests, although a few species
have been found in shipments of dried fruits.

I wish to thank Dr. Mont A. Cazier, Chairman of the Department of
Insects and Spiders, the American Museum of Natural History, also
leader of the David Rockefeller Mexican Expedition of 1947, for taking
time to read this paper and for helpful suggestions for its improvement.
Special thanks go to Dr. David Rockefeller not only for sponsoring the
1947 Mexican expedition, but also for his continued support of the work
necessary to publish the results.

In the arrangement of the genera, I have followed the order in Black-
welder (1945), which is the one more or less generally accepted at the
present time. No attempt has been made to arrange the species in the
genera phylogenetically, because in a paper of this sort, in which only a
few species out of a multitude from any particular genus are mentioned,
there is no necessity to show relationships.

KEY TO THE GENERA OF ANTHICIDAE OCCURRING OR LIKELY TO OCCUR IN
MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA

1. Pronotum with a large, anteriorly porrect process extending over the head

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 5

2. Tarsi shorter than the tibiae, the penultimate segment slightly dilated

; Notoxus

Tarsi longer than the ‘Ubiae., the penultimate segment cylindrical and not
thickened ...... .. . . Mecynotarsus

3. Anterior coxal cavities partly closed behind by the elimination of the posterior
emargination .. Ma Ree ae ts ee ee
Anterior coxal cavities broadly opel behind ne) Dele tes er Lote,

4, Head oval or subquadrate, the eyes large and submedian i in position, body
small and subglabrous. . . . . Formieilla
Head oblong, the eyes very small ‘and: antesion toed y densely and minutely
sculptured and pubescent . . . . . Dilandius

5. Penultimate tarsal segment not dilated and ‘Seatealy at all lobed, the last
joint subterminal in insertion; elytra more or less truncate at apex,
and frequently greatly abbreviated, eleventh antennal segment bilobed

oe Tanarthrus

Penultimate tarsal segment just ‘visibly dilated, deeply excavated or grooved
above, feebly lobed beneath, last joint inserted on top far from apex,
elytra entire or nearly so, rounded behind, eleventh segment of antennae

simple ... (Pt, a ee Pen as 5)

6. Antennae thick and Honilitorms ig SEY Be ee bot, me ou 2. - Lemoderus
Antennae more slender .. . ee a 7

7. Anterior portion of prothorax strongly gibbous Se ree al " Leptaleus

Anterior disc more or less transversely grooved behind, middle portion of
prothorax transversely convex, posterior portion cylindrical, disc not trans-
versely grooved behind middle. .........2... . .Anthicus

NOTOXUS GEOFFROY

This genus and the following one (Mecynotarsus) are remarkable
among the anthicids for a prothoracic horn extending forward over the
head. In general the horn is more prominent in Notorus. It is important
in the determination of various species. Its size and shape and the crest
that rises from it, together with the margins, serrations, and color, are
all specific characters. The horn shows some variation in individuals as
well as in the sexes but on the whole seems to be fairly constant for each
species. Of what use it may be to the beetles is not known. The markings
of the elytra in Notoxus are in general less stable and are perhaps useful
only in the division of species into groups. Notoxus may be distinguished
from Mecynotarsus by the shorter tarsi, with the next to last segment
dilated, and the densely and closely pilose upper parts.

Notoxus is a fairly large genus, with representatives in all parts of
the world, although the greatest number seem to be from the more
temperate regions, About 40 species are listed from North America north
of Mexico. Blackwelder (1945) catalogues 30 species from South and
Central America and the West Indies. Nineteen are from Mexico and
Central America ; of these 13 occur in Mexico. Twelve species are treated
in this paper.

6 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

Notoxus eximius Champion

Notoxus eximius CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 206, pl. 9, figs. 15, 15a.

Type Locarity: Central America (no specific location designated).

RECORDED CENTRAL AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION: Guatemala: near
Guatemala City ; Duefias ; Zapote. Nicaragua : Chinandega. Panama: Tole.

New ReEcorps FoR CENTRAL AMERICA: Honduras, La Ceiba, October
8, 1916 (F. J. Dyer), one.

Only one specimen of this very small but attractive species is in the
collections of the American Musuem of Natural History. It apparently
is restricted to the more tropical parts of the Central American region,
extending only as far north as Guatemala and south into Panama. Future
collecting may, however, show that it also occurs in the ecologically
similar states of Chiapas and Tabasco and adjoining regions.

Notoxus opacus Champion

Notoxus opacus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 207, pl. 9, figs. 16, 16a.

Type Locaity : Mexico: Cerro de Plumas.

REcoRDED Mexican DistriBuTIoN: Type locality.

New Recorps For Mexico: Jalisco: Two miles south of Tlaquepaque,
July 11, 1953 (C. and P. Vaurie, David Rockefeller Mexican expedition,
1953), one.

This is the only specimen of this apparently rare species in the collec-
tions of the American Museum of Natural History.

Notoxus bifasciatus (LeConte)

Monocerus bifasciatus LECoNTE, 1847, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
ser. 2, vol. 1, p. 89.

Type Locatity: Western states and the upper Mississippi Valley (no
specific locality designated ).

RECORDED MEXICAN DIsTRIBUTION: None.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: San Jose Babicora, July 5,
1947, one. Durango: Palos Colorados, August 5, 1947, 8000 feet, two.

The three specimens from two widely separated localities in Mexico
taken by the expedition extend the range of this species far to the south
of its previously known distribution. Because it is very widely distributed
throughout the eastern and central parts of Canada and the United States
from New England south to Arizona, and the above Mexican records
continue the range in a straight line through the states of Chihuahua into

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 7

the southern part of Durango, this insect will probably be found through-
out the entire Mexican highland area. Although the species, because of
its wide range through a variety of ecological environments, might be
expected to show considerable variation, it is very homogeneous. The
Mexican specimens, however, show some difference from material from
New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. The whitish areas are somewhat
larger, more diffused, and less sharply limited than in those from the
northeastern part of the range.

Notoxus talpa LaFerté

Notoxus talba LAFERTE, 1848, Monographie des Anthicus et genres voisins,
Coléoptéres Hétéroméres, p. 50.

Type Locatity: California, designated by LaFerté, based on speci-
mens collected by Piccolomini. Horn (1884) has shown that this locality
is incorrect, for specimens collected by Piccolomini were not taken in
California but probably in the middle western states.

RecorDED Mexican DistrisuTion: None.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Primavera, June 30, 1947,
5500-6000 feet, four; 12 miles northwest of Morelos, August 15, 1950
(Ray F. Smith), two.

Although widely distributed throughout the central United States from
eastern Montana, Illinois, and Indiana south through Colorado into
Texas, the present species seems to be nowhere common. The six speci-
mens from two localities in Mexico a short distance over the border from
Texas extend the range of this species farther to the south. It will un-
doubtedly be found in other places along the northern part of Mexico,
particularly in the states of Chihuahua and Coahuila.

This species approaches the central Mexican species, N. truncatipennis
Champion (1890), in having the elytra of the female more or less trun-
cate. It is also apparently allied with the central and southern Mexican
species fraternus Champion (1890), but differs in the truncate elytra of
the female. Specimens of N. talpa vary somewhat in the elytral markings.
The lighter forms may be confused in collections with monodon Fabricius,
while the darker forms tend to approach bifasciatus LeConte.

Notoxus ventralis Champion
Notoxus ventralis CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 207, pl. 9, figs. 17, 17a.
Type Locatity: Mexico (no specific location designated).
RecorpED Mexican DIstTRIBUTION: Guanajuato: Guanajuato. Vera-
cruz: Jalapa. Distrito Federal: Mexico City ; Chapultepec.

8 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Primavera, June 30, 1947,
5500-6000 feet, one; Valle de Olivos, July 20, 1947, 5500 feet, one;
Catarinas, July 26, 1947, 5800 feet, one.

The three specimens from three localities, all in the southern part of
the state of Chihuahua, extend the range of this species much farther to
the north than previously recorded. It appears not to be abundant but is
perhaps locally distributed throughout a large part of the southern and
central tropical regions of Mexico as well as the more arid highland area.

Notoxus fraternus Champion

Notoxus fraternus CHAMPION, 1850, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 208.

Type Locatity: Mexico (no specific location designated).

REcoRDED Mexican DIstrIBuTION: Guanajuato: Guanajuato. Vera-
crug: Jalapa.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Twenty miles southwest of
Camargo, July 13, 1947, 4500 feet, one; 25 miles southwest of Camargo,
July 14, 1947, nine; Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara district, July 18,
1947, 7500 feet, one.

The 11 specimens from three localities from near the southern part of
Chihuahua extend the range of this species much farther to the north
than previous records. The general pattern of distribution is the same as
that of the preceding species, which appears to be closely allied with NV.
ventralis, and both are apparently closely allied with the two North
American species N. bifasciatus and N. talpa.

Notoxus monodon (Fabricius)
Anthicus monodon Fasrictus, 1801, Systema eleutheratorum, vol. 1, p. 289.

Type Loca.ity: “America Borealis.”

RecorpED Mexican DistrisuTIon : Morelos: Cuernavaca. Guerrero:
Chilpancingo; Iguala; Acapulco. Veracruz: Jalapa; Veracruz.

Also British Honduras: Rio Hondo. Guatemala: Antiqua; Zapote;
Duefias; Guatemala City. Panama: Caldera; San Lorenzo in Chiriqui.
Venezuela: Cumana.

New ReEcorps For Mexico: Chihuahua: Delicias, July 11, 1947, 4150
feet, one; 10 miles south of Delicias, July 13, 1947, one; Catarinas, July
25, 1947, 5800 feet. Tamaulipas: Victoria, May 22, 1952 (M. Cazier, W.
Gertsch, R. Schrammel), eight. Morelos: Cuernavaca, April 15, 1946
(J. and D. Pallister), three.

The range of this species over almost the entire United States and
south through Mexico and Central America into northern South America

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 9

makes it one of the most widely distributed of Anthicidae. As is often the
case with widely distributed species, geographical variants have developed

on some of the outer fringes of the range; several of these have been
designated subspecies.

Notoxus apicalis LeConte

Notoxus apicalis LECONTE, 1852, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 6,
p. 93.

Type Locarity: Michigan: Detroit.

RecorpED Mexican DistrisuTion: Recorded, but no specific loca-
tions given.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Samalayuca, June 24, 1947,
37; August 6, 1950 (Ray F. Smith), three; Delicias, July 11, 1947,
4150 feet, 17; 10 miles south of Delicias, July 13, 1947, three; 20
miles southwest of Camargo, July 13, 1947, one; 25 miles southwest
of Camargo, July 14, 1947, nine. Coahuila: San Pedro de las Colonias,
August 20, 1947, 3700 feet, one.

This is a wide-ranging species throughout the middle and western
United States from Michigan and Kansas south into California and
Texas. It has also been reported from Mexico without exact data. How-
ever, the 71 specimens taken on the expedition from six localities in the
two northern states of Mexico show that the species is widely distributed
south of the Texas border.

Notoxus calcaratus Horn

Notoxus calcaratus Horn, 1884, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., vol. 2, p. 170.

Type Locatiry: Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Lower California. (No
specific locality designated. )

RECORDED MEXICAN DistTRIBUTION: Sonora: Northern Sonora.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Delicias, July 11, 1947, 4150
feet, two; 6 miles northeast of Meoqui, September 2, 1950 (Ray F.
Smith), one. Sonora: Rancha La Floresta, 8 miles east of Tastiota, July
16, 1952 (P. and C. Vaurie), one.

The new records extend the range of this species somewhat to the
south and east of its previously known distribution.

Notoxus nuperus Horn
Notoxus nuperus Horn, 1884, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., vol. 2, p. 168.
Type Locatity: Occurs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas. (No
specific locality designated. )
RECORDED MrxicaANn DISTRIBUTION : None.
New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Primavera, June 30, 1947,

10 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

5500-6000 feet, three; Delicias, July 11, 1947, 4150 feet, one; 25 miles
southwest of Camargo, July 14, 1947, three. Sonora: Hermosillo, July
19, 1952 (C. and P. Vaurie), one; Navojoa, August 3, 1952 (C. and P.
Vaurie), one.

Although this species has previously been recorded only from Kansas
and the two southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico, the nine
specimens from the five localities listed above indicate that it undoubtedly
is widely distributed throughout northern Mexico.

Notoxus hirsutus Champion

Notoxus hirsutus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 211, pl. 9, figs. 20, 20a.

Type Locatity: Mexico: Presidio de Mazatlan.

REcorDED Mexican DIstRIBUTION : Type locality.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Samalayuca, June 24, 1947,
six; Primavera, June 30, 1947, 5500-6000 feet, two; Valle de Olivos,
July 20, 1947, 5500 feet, one; Buena Vista, September 12, 1950 (Ray F.
Smith), one.

The 10 specimens from four localities, all in the state of Chihuahua,
seem to indicate that this species is somewhat localized in a rather
limited area in northern Mexico.

Notoxus cristatus Champion

Notoxus cristatus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 213, pl. 9, figs. 23, 23a.

Type Locatity: Mexico (no specific locality designated).

RECORDED MEXICAN DISTRIBUTION : Guanajuato: Guanajuato. More-
los: Cuernavaca. |

New Recorps For Mexico: Chihuahua: Catarinas, July 25, 1947,
5800 feet, three. Guanajuato: Silao, August 16, 1953 (C. and P. Vaurie,
David Rockefeller Mexican expedition, 1953), one.

The description of this species was based on three specimens from two
localities in central Mexico. One specimen in the American Museum
material comes from near one of these localities, but the other three come
from a locality much farther to the north in the state of Chihuahua.

MECYNOTARSUS LAFERTE

As does Notoxus, the species of this genus have a prothoracic horn,
but they differ in having the tarsi extremely long and filiform, with the
penultimate segment cylindrical. The body is small and of elegant form,

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 11

and the upper surface is devoid of erect tactile setae so characteristic of
Notoxrus.

The genus is limited in number of species, most of which occur in the
Eastern Hemisphere. Four are known from the United States; one is
from Central America, and one from South America. The Central Ameri-
can species has been found only on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, where,
however, it has been taken in abundance. None are mentioned in this

paper.
FORMICILLA LECONTE

A genus of small, polished, sparsely setose insects distinguished by
the structure of the mesosternum, which is in one large unbroken plate
extending to the sides of the body, the lateral edges ciliate and generally
visible from above, anterior coxal cavities closed behind by the extension
of the corneous base, with the median line produced behind in a slender
point.

The genus has few species which are restricted to the Western Hemi-
sphere. Five are recorded from the United States. Only three are known
from Mexico and Central America.

Formicilla gracilipes (Champion)

Formicomus gracilipes CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleop-
tera, vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 220, pl. 10, fig. 1.

Type Locatity: Mexico and Guatemala (no specific location desig-
nated).

RECORDED MEXICAN DIsTRIBUTION: Veracruz: Cordova; Veracruz.
Also Guatemala: Champerico ; Paso Antonio.

New Recorp For Mexico: Veracruz: La Buena Ventura, July, 1909,
one.

This very attractive and easily recognized species seems to be restricted
to the more humid areas of southern Mexico and Guatemala. Champion
records it as “found in abundance.” The expedition secured none from
northern Mexico. The above specimen and one from the material de-
scribed by Champion in the “Biologia” are the only ones in the collections
of the American Museum of Natural History.

DILANDIUS CASEY

A very small genus somewhat similar to Formicilla and separated
from it largely by the characters given in the key. Two species have been
taken in the United States, one in Costa Rica and one in Brazil. None is
treated in this paper.

12 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

TANARTHRUS LECONTE

A small and very curious genus having the eleventh antennal segment
bilobed ; the elytra are more or less truncate at the apex and frequently
are abbreviated. Next to the last tarsal segment not dilated and scarcely
lobed.

Ten species are listed from the United States, all from the far west.
None has been recorded from Central America. No species are treated in
this paper. I am including the genus because there is a possibility that
some of the species from the United States will be taken across the border,
for a number occur near it.

TOMODERUS LAFERTE

A medium-sized genus, the species of which very closely resemble one
another in appearance. They are robust and convex, with the prothorax
deeply constricted, constriction extending across the. dorsal surface.
Elytra subserially punctured. Antennae stout, moniliform, strongly in-
crassate, femora strongly clavate.

The species of the genus are more numerous in the tropics, with most
occurring in the Eastern Hemisphere. Three species are known from the
United States, all east of the Rocky Mountains. Seventeen are recorded
from South America, seven from Mexico and Central America, with
three of these occurring in Mexico. None has been recorded from the
West Indies. None is treated in this paper.

LEPTALEUS LAFERTE

A rather small genus closely related to Anthicus, from which it can be
distinguished by the strongly gibbous anterior portion of the prothorax
which is separated from the rest of the prothorax by the transverse groove
behind the middle.

The genus is represented largely in the Eastern Hemisphere. Eleven
species occur in South America, four in Central America, three of which
extend as far north as Mexico. None has been taken from north of the
border.

Leptaleus albicinctus (LaFerté)

Anthicus albicinctus LAFERTE, 1848, Monographie des Anthicus et genres
voisins, Coléoptéres Hétéroméres, p. 111.

Type Locauiry: Venezuela: Cumana.

REcoRDED Mexican DistRIBuTION: Veracruz: Atoyac.

Also Guatemala : Chacoj in the Polochic Valley. Nicaragua : Chontales.

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 13

Panama: Pefia Blanca. Colombia. Venezuela: Cumana; Caracas. Argen-
tina.

New Recorps For CENTRAL AMERICA: Honduras: Tegucigalpa, Feb-
ruary 6, 1918, November 13, 1917 (F. J. Dyer), two.

This very ant-resembling anthicid has an extremely wide distribution.
It ranges from southern Mexico south through Central America, into
Argentina, and across northern South America. It has not been recorded
from northern Mexico and none were secured by the expedition.

ANTHICUS PAYKULL

This numerically large genus has the anterior portion of the prothorax
transversely convex, the posterior part cylindrical, the disc not trans-
versely grooved behind the middle. This, the type genus of the family,
contains nearly two-thirds of the species in the Anthicidae and is ex-
tremely widely distributed. Since the species are so far ranging and there
are so many, there is of course considerable variation ; nevertheless on the
whole it is a very homogeneous group. Attempts have been made to
divide the genus into a number of genera, particularly by raising the
subgenera to generic rank. Casey (1895) tried this with the North
American species without much success. Unfortunately the so-called
subgenera have no clearly defined characters whereby they can stand
as distinct genera. I do not attempt here to separate any of the groups
but retain all the species under the genus Anthicus.

About 120 Anthicus are listed from North America north of Mexico.
A few of these cross over into Mexico and some range farther south.
Champion (1890) lists 50; many of these were described by him; Black-
welder (1945) lists from all of South and Central America and the West
Indies over 160 species. Sixty-two occur in Mexico and Central America,
of which 42 are recorded from Mexico.

Anthicus dromedarius LaFerté

Anthicus dromedarius LAFERTE, 1848, Monographie des Anthicus et genres
voisins, Coléoptéres Hétéromeres, p. 114.

Type Locatity: Venezuela: Cumana.

RECORDED MExicaAN DIstRIBUTION: Veracruz: Huatusco; Cordova;
Jalapa. Tabasco: Teapa.

Also Guatemala: El Tumbador ; Rio Naranjo ; Coatepeque ; Capetillo;
Zapote; San Geronimo; San Joaquin; Chacoj; Senahu. Nicaragua:
Chontales. Venezuela: Cumana.

New Recorp ror Mexico: Veracruz: Cordoba, May 15, 1946 (J. and
D. Pallister), one.

14 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

This is a rather common and widely distributed species that ranges
from southern Mexico throughout the humid tropical regions in northern
South America. Although the species is rather common, the specimen
recorded above is the only one in the American Museum of Natural His-
tory collections.

Anthicus punctipennis Champion

Anthicus punctipennis CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleop-
tera, vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 233, pl. 10, fig. 11.

Type Locarity: Mexico (no specific location designated).

RecorDED Mexican DistrisuTion : Nuevo Leon: Guajuco. Guerrero:
Chilpancingo. Guanajuato: Guanajuato. Veracruz: Cordova.

Also Guatemala: Guatemala City; Zapote; Duefias; San Gerdénimo.
Nicaragua: Chontales. Venezuela: Caracas.

New ReEcorpD FoR CENTRAL AMERICA: Honduras: Tegucigalpa, Feb-
ruary 3—-March 19, 1918, August 6-November 12, 1918 (F. J. Dyer), 31.

No specimens of this common and very widely distributed species
were taken in the four northern states of Mexico covered by the expedi-
tion. Because it has been recorded from Neuvo Leon, a neighboring state
to the east of Coahuila, it can probably be found in that state and also in
Durango and Zacatecas. The present known range of this species extends
from northern Mexico south through Central America into northern
South America. Apparently this species also has a long seasonal period,
because in the large series of 31 specimens from Honduras, specimens
were taken throughout February and a large part of March and from
August into November.

Anthicus asphaltinus Champion

Anthicus asphaltinus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleop-
tera, vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 233, pl. 10. fig. 12.

Type Locavity: Mexico; Guatemala. (No specific location desig-
nated. )

RECORDED MEXICAN DISTRIBUTION: Guerrero: Amula; Xucumanat-
lan; Chilpancingo. Veracruz: Cordova. Guanajuato: Guanajuato. Cerro
de Plumas (not located).

Also Guatemala: Guatemala City ; San Gerénimo.

New Recorp ror Mexico: Veracruz: Jalapa, May 19, 1946 (J. and
D. Pallister), one.

Described by Champion from “numerous examples.” Only the one
specimen listed above of this apparently common species is in the Ameri-
can Museum collections. The species is very close to A. punctipennis
Champion in appearance but can usually be separated by the more ovate

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 15

head, more shining surface, and less densely punctured and more sparse
pubescence. The two species range over much the same region, and it is
probable that they are frequently confused.

Anthicus bactrianus Champion

Anthicus bactrianus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleop-
tera, vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 234, pl. 10, figs. 13, 13a.

Type Locarity: Mexico; Guatemala. (No specific location desig-
nated. )

RecorDED Mexican DistriBuTIoN: Guanajuato: Guanajuato. Cerro
de Plumas (not located).

Also Guatemala: Quiche Mountains; Capetillo; Santa Rosa in Vera
Paz.

New Recorp ror Mexico: Veracruz: Jalapa, May 20, 1946 (J. and
D. Pallister), one.

This species is not common and from the few records available appears
to be confined to localized areas from central Mexico south into Guate-
mala. The one specimen recorded above is the only one in the collections
of the American Museum of Natural History. Champion described the
species of nine specimens.

Anthicus champion Pic

Anthicus concolor CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 236, pl. 10, fig. 15; name preoccupied.

Anthicus championi Pic, 1894, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique, vol. 38, p. 50.

Type Loca.ity: Guatemala: Rio Naranjo.

RECORDED CENTRAL AMERICAN DistriBuTIon : Type locality.

New REcorDs FOR CENTRAL AMERICA: Honduras: Tegucigalpa, Feb-
ruary 3, 1917 (F. J. Dyer), one.

Champion described this species on four female specimens captured by
himself on the sandy banks of the Rio Naranjo, in the Pacific coast
region of Guatemala. Because the name concolor was preoccupied by an
Australian species, Pic renamed it after the describer.

The only specimen in the collections of the American Museum of
Natural History extends the range of this small but striking species
somewhat to the south. It is evidently an inhabitant of the humid tropical
regions of Central America.

Anthicus spinicollis LaFerté

Anthicus (Ancanthinus) spinicollis LAFERTE, 1848, Monographie des Anthicus
et genres voisins, Coléoptéres Hétéroméres, p. 138, pl. 27, fig, 21.

Type Locatity: “Brasilia.”

16 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

RecorDep Mexican DistrisuTion: Colima: Colima City. Veracruz:
Veracruz; Atoyac. Tabasco: Teapa; Frontera.

Also British Honduras: Beliza; Rio Hondo. Guatemala; Cahabon ;
San Juan in Vera Paz; Zapote. Colombia. Brazil: Amazons.

NEw REcorRD FoR CENTRAL AMERICA: Honduras: Tegucigalpa, April
2, 1917 (F. J. Dyer), one.

No specimens of this widely distributed species were taken by the
expedition in northern Mexico. However, it may eventually be taken in
northern Mexico, as it is widespread from central and southern Mexico
south through Central America into northern South America. The one
specimen noted above is the only specimen in the collections of the Ameri-
can Museum of Natural History.

Anthicus lecontet Champion

Anthicus lecontei CHampion, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera,
vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 246, pl. 10, fig. 26. .

Type Locarity: Guatemala: Rio Naranjo.

RecorpED Mexican DistriIBuTIon: None.

New Recorps ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Catarinas, July 25, 1947,
5800 feet, three.

I am using Champion’s name for these three specimens. Champion
compared his specimen with one from Texas sent to him by M. Sallé,
and with one from Arizona under the name A. quadrilunatus LeConte
sent to him by Horn. He felt that his specimen was the same as the two
that he had received from the United States. LeConte (1852) based his
name quadrilunatus on a specimen from New Mexico, which Champion
uses for the very excellent picture of lecontei. Because the name quadri-
lunatus was preoccupied by LaFerté for another Mexican species, it is
necessary to use Champion’s name for this one. Although Champion
gives no description for Jecontei, a comparison of his plate with the three
specimens collected on the expedition convinces me that they are all of
the same species. Anthicus lecontet can be separated from quadrilunatus
LaFerté by the fact that the head has a very distinct occipital impression
and a smooth central line, the pubescence of the upper surface is shorter
and finer, the punctures are not nearly so coarse, the elytra are more
flattened on the disc, and the antennae and legs are testaceous. On one
of the specimens taken on the expedition the basal elytral spot is suf-
fused, covering the entire third of the elytra, except for a narrow line
along the margin and the humeral angles which are black; basal third of
the prothorax rufous, apical two-thirds piceous. Apparently the species

1955 PALLISTER: FLOWER BEETLES 17

is rare, although widely distributed over Mexico from the United States
into Guatemala.

Anthicus confinis LeConte

eats confinis LECONTE, 1851, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 5,
p. 153.

Type Locatity: California: San Diego.

RecorpED Mexican DistriBuTION: Sonora: Northern Sonora. Coa-
huila: San Pedro. Durango: Villa Lerdo.

New Recorp ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Samalayuca, June 24, 1947,
one.

Originally described from a single specimen, this species is now known
to be widely distributed along the southwestern border of the United
States from southern California to Louisiana and across the border
throughout a large part of northern Mexico.

Anthicus horridus LeConte

Anthicus horridus LECoNTE, 1851, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 5,
p. 154.

Type Locatity: Arizona: Gila River.

RecorDED Mexican DistrisuTion: Tamaulipas: Nuevo Laredo.

New Recorp For Mexico: Chihuahua: Catarinas, July 25, 1947, 5800
feet, three.

The present new record for Mexico is about halfway between, but a
little to the south of, the previous recorded locality and the type locality.
From the few distributional records available for this rather scarce species
it would seem that it is confined largely to northern Mexico, perhaps here
and there crossing over the border into the United States.

Anthicus macrocephalus Champion

Anthicus macrocephalus CHAMPION, 1890, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Cole-
optera, vol. 4, pt. 2, p. 244, pl. 10, fig. 24.

Type Locatity: Mexico (no specific location designated).

RecorDED Mexican DistRIBUTION : Tabasco: Teapa. Yucatan.

New Recorp ror Mexico: Chihuahua: Catarinas, July 25, 1947, one.

Champion described this species on two specimens from widely sepa-
rated localities in Mexico. The single specimen of this interesting beetle
taken on the expedition extends the range far to the northwest. From
what information is available the species appears to be widely distributed
throughout Mexico. The specimen listed above is the only one in the col-
lections of the American Museum of Natural History.

18 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 1720

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

BLACKWELDER, RICHARD E.
1945. Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America,
the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3, Anthicidae. Bull. U. S.
Natl. Mus., no. 185, pp. 432-435.
Casgy, THomas L.
1895. Coleopterological notices VI. Anthicini. Ann. New York Acad. Sci.,
vol. 8, pp. 639-772.
CHAMPION, GEORGE C.
1889-1893. Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera. Anthicides. London,
vol. 4, pt. 2, pp. 203-250, pls. 9-10.
Horn, GEorGE H.
1884. Synopsis of the United States species of Nofoxus and Mercynotarsus.
Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., vol. 11, pp. 165-176.
LAFERTE-SENECTERE, F. THIBAULTE DE
1848. Monographie des Anthicus et genres voisins, Coléoptéres Hétéroméres.
Paris, pp. 1-340, 16 pls.
LEConrTE, JOHN L.
1847. Fragmenta entomologica. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
vol. 1, pp. 71-93.
1852. Synopsis of the anthicites of the United States. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, vol. 6, pp. 91-104.
LENG, CHARLES W.
1920. Catalogue of Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico. Mt. Vernon,
New York, pp. 162-164.
Pic, MAURICE
1911. Anthicidae. In Junk, W., Coleopterorum catalogus. Berlin, vol. 17,
pt. 36, pp. 1-102.
SPIETH, HERMAN
1950. The David Rockefeller Mexican expedition of the American Museum
of Natural History, introductory account. Amer. Mus. Novitates,
no. 1454, pp. 1-67.