Cremastocheilus puncticollis

One of about thirty-five species of myrmecophilous Cremastocheilus. The host ant is Camponotus.

Identification
C. puncticollis is closely related to C. planta but differs from it by its reduced and sparse punctation throughout, by the shape of the pronotum which has the side margins angulate at apical third rather than evenly rounded as in planata. The apical angles are not as deeply incised before the nodes as in planata. In the available specimens of planata the clypeal-frontal tomentose area is absent. However, this may be variable. In puncticollis the third tarsal segment of the front legs is connected to the fourth at about the middle of the posterior margin of that segment and the fifth segment is rounded laterally, whereas in planta the third segment of the anterior tarsus in connected to the fourth at the extreme outer corner of the posterior margin of that segment and the fifth segment is laterally flattened proximally.

Distribution
Arizona (Navajo County, 15 miles NW Kayenta, 18 July 1933, Hall, CAS),(Tuba City, 8 July 1937, Mr. R.P. Allen), California (Inyo Co., Deep Springs Lake, 15 June 1937, Mr. J.W. Johnson)

Habitat
Common host is Camponotus.

Nomenclature
Holotype male in Cazier's collection, collected at Tuba City, Arizona, July 8, 1937 by Mr. R.P. Allen to whom the author is greatly indebted for the type specimen. One male paratype taken at Deep Springs Lake, Inyo Co., California, June 15, 1937 by Mr. J.W. Johnson and very kindly presented to the author.

Description
Large, robust, black; elytral disk nearly impunctate. Head sparsely punctate, punctures separated by two to three times their own widths, lateral carinae extending along inner margins of eyes, median carina extending to clypeal margin, reflexed portion of front and clypeus with a narrow patch of tomentum at base on either side of median carina, base of head with deep transverse impression; canthus inconspicuous, glabrous; clypeus unequal to width of head at eyes, rounded in front, prominently reflexed; mentum cupuliform, shallow, anterior margin evenly rounded, sides subangulate, posterior margin produced at middle into prominent point; antennae ten-segmented, scape large, dorsal surface flattened. Pronotum two-thirds as wide as elytra at base, side margins straight, divergent from base to apical third, then obtusely rounded to apical nodes, widest at apical third, basal angles noduliform, anterior median impression shallow, basal median impression deep, surface evenly convex, sparsely punctate, punctures shallow, separated by two to three times their own widths. Elytra widest at humeral angles, side margins flexed downward, sinuate behind umbone, subparallel to apical sixth and then evenly rounded to apex; disk smooth except for few irregular, small punctures and shallow scratches, side margins irregularly punctate, apical ubones prominent; scutellum extending to basal third, sharply pointed apically, surface with sparse lunate scratches; meso-episternum prominent, not flattened dorsally. Beneath sparsely punctate; femora and tibiae densely punctate, front tarsus with fourth and fifth segments enlarged, middle tarsi normal, hind legs missing, front tibiae bidentate distally; pygidium subcylindrical, sparsely, irregularly punctate. Length 14 mm., width 6 mm.