P. J. Darlington, Jr.
Paussid Beetles in Mexico.
Psyche 71(3):150-152, 1964.

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PAUSSID BEETLES IN MEXICO*
BY P. J. DARLINGTON, JR.
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University In America, paussids are rare insects, strictly confined to the tropics. Only one individual has been recorded from Mexico ( Pallister 1954), so far as I know. Six additional Mexican specimens that are now before me are therefore of special interest. They represent three distinct species. All three species have been known before from South America or at least from Panama. All three may therefore have spread northward comparatively recently, perhaps since the Central American isthmus was completed late in the Pliocene. The accompanying sketch-map of southern Mexico (Fig. I) shows the localities of the specimens in question. The actual northernmost record for any American paussid is still that of Homopterus hondurensis from north- ern Yucatan (Pallister). The new record of H. (A.) praemonens from 22 miles southeast of Jalapa, Vera Cruz, represents the farthest known advance of any paussid onto the continent of North America. Although most or all paussids are probably myrmecophi1ous at least during some stage of their life history, the only actual record of an American species with ants is still apparently that of Homopterus steinbachi in a nest of Dolichoderus bispinosus (Darlington 1950, p. 48). Pallister's (1954) specimen of H. hond,urensis from Yucatan was "swept from weeds and vegetation, about two feet from the ground, bordering a trail through deep forested jungle." Most or all other Mexican specimens, recorded now, were taken at light, including "black" light. They are of course all winged, and they evidently fly at night.
The recent, useful review of American paussids by Luna de Car- valho (1963) makes it unnecessary for me to cite references or discuss species in detail. The present short paper is in fact little more than a supplement to Carvalho's paper.
I am indebted to the following persons for loan of specimens: Drs. Jerry A. Powell, John A, Chemsak, George W. Byers, and Henry F. Howden.
Homopterus {Arthropteropsis) praemonens Kolbe Previously known from Bolivia, Brazil, and San Salvador. New
records: El Zapotal, 2 miles south of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, * Manuscript received by the editor May 31, 1964



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1 9 641 Darlington - Paussid bettles 151 MEXICO
Coatzacoalcos
Simojovel
Tuxtla Gutigrrez
- = 100 miles
Fig. 1.
Mexican localities at or near which paussids have been collected. July I, 1957, at light (J. A. Chemsak & B. J. Rannells, in collection of California Insect Survey, Berkeley) ; 22 miles southeast of Jalapa, Vera Cruz, I IOO ft., June 29, 1958 (University of Kansas Mexican Expedition).
Homopterus hondurensis Darlington
Previously known from Panama, Honduras, and about 40 miles east of Tizimh, nothern Yucatan (Pallister 1954). New records: El Zapotal, 2 miles south of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, July I, 1957, at light (J. A. Chemsak and B. J. Rannells, in collection of California Insect Survey) ; Santo Domingo,
I 5 miles southeast of Simojovel,
Chiapas, July 8-15, 1958, at light (J. A. Chemsak, 2 specimens, in collection of California Insect Survey and Canadian National Collec- tion).
Homopterus steinbachi Kolbe
Previously known only from South America: Bolivia (the type), Colombia (Darlington 1950, p. 48), French Guiana, and Brazil



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152 Psyche [September
(Luna de Carvalho 1963). New records: Camp Sibun, 200 m., Cayo District, British Honduras, July 23, 1960 (E. Willing, in collection of California Insect Survey) ; 10 miles south of Coatzacoal- cos, Vera Cruz, July 10, 1963, at black light (J. T. Doyen, in
collection of California Insect Survey). DARLINGTON, P. J., JR.
1950. Paussid beetles. Trans. American Ent. Soc. 76:47-142. LUNA DE CARVALHO, E.
1963. Paussideos americanos. Mem. e Estudos Mus. 2001. Univ. Coimbra, No. 283: 22 pp.
PALLISTER, J. C.
1954.
Homopterus hondurensis Darlington from Yucatan, Mexico. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 49 :27-28.




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