REVIEW OF THE MYRMECOPHILOUS PTOMAPHAGUS, SUBGENUS ECHINOCOLEUS (NEW STATUS), OF NORTH-AMERICA (COLEOPTERA, LEIODIDAE, CHOLEVINAE, PTOMAPHAGINI)

We here give Echinocoleus new ranking as a subgenus of Ptomaphagus. Pt omaphagus (Echinocoleus) acutus sp.nov. is described from the southeas tern United States (Alabama, Georgia, Florida). It is the most plesiot ypic member of a group in which all other species live in the western United States and (probably) adjacent Mexico. All are myrmecophilous w ith Pogonomyrmex and Aphaenogaster (= Novomessor) harvester ants. A ph ylogenetic analysis is given for the subgenus. The main synapomorphies of Echinocoleus, which are mostly interrelated with myrmecophily, are reduction of body length and broadening of elytra, reduction of anten nal length, verticalization of mesocoxal insertion, reduction of mesos ternal carina, body with a golden pubescense, and a pointed projection at the end of the spermatheca.