THOMAS LINCOLN - ~~ CASEY LIBRARY 1925 » B IOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. INSECTA, CL COLEOPTERA. Vou. III. Parr 2. \ MALACODERMATA BY THE Rev. HENRY STEPHEN GORHAM, F.ZS., &c. 1880-1886. 4 » \ }) = 2 7aa th a Gib b bib v. LD INTRODUCTION. Tue Malacodermata are an assemblage of Coleoptera forming the second half of Latreille’s group “Serricornes,” and include (as adopted in this volume), in addition to the “‘Malacodermes” of M. Lacordaire’s ‘‘Genera des Coléoptéres,” the families Cleride, Lymexylonide, Ptinide, Bostrychide, and Cioide. Although, perhaps, some exception may be taken to the term Malacodermata as being inapplicable to these latter families, which have in general the integuments as hard as they are in most Coleoptera, there yet can, I think, be no doubt as to the propriety of uniting them all as one aggregate in a work which, like the present one, treats of a whole fauna. The most obvious character, which all possess in common with the other Serricorn Coleo- ptera, is the frequency with which the antenne have their joints developed on their inner sides in such a manner that their articulations become serrate or pectinate. This general character is, it is true, subject to much variation, but the variations are of degree; the antenne are sometimes flabellate on one or on both sides, or they are simply pectinate, or give rise to long filiform processes, or they are clavate, the three terminal joints being longer or altogether much larger than the rest, or rarely (as in Ptinus) they are simple; but the fact remains that in each of the families we find genera reproducing the typical form.- The authors of Monographs of the separate families, in dealing with their classification, appear often to have given undue import- ance to characters which do not hold good for more than two or three of the families, important though they are without doubt in characterizing these lesser associations. It has not been found necessary or useful here to adopt generalizations such as the “ Appendicitarses” of Spinola, or the ‘ Mollipennes,” “ Floricoles,” and “ Gibbicolles ” of Mulsant. ‘Two families, it will be noticed, are absent from our fauna, viz. the Drilide and the Cupeside, both of small extent; but of these, the latter, consisting of one abnormal a2 iv INTRODUCTION. genus, is represented in America north of Mexico by three species, and it would be _ premature to assume that both families may not be present. Perhaps no tribe of beetles has been more neglected than this one, and therefore deductions founded on mere numbers of species as given in our catalogues cannot be considered of great value. A reference to the proportion of species enumerated in this volume to those given in Gemminger and Harold’s Catalogue will make this obvious. Of all the families here united under the Malacodermata the known species amount to but 3530, while from Central America alone we here record 813 species, contained in 120 genera, of which no less than 535 species and 28 genera are now described, as it is believed, for the first time. | The only regions of which our knowledge of these insects was more complete than of Central America previous to the publication of this work were the United States portion of the Nearctic, and the Palearctic region, exclusive of Asia generally. It is now seen that the Tropical portions of the earth are as rich, or richer, in these groups than the cooler parts, not only from the collections which have come to the Editors, but from other evidence before me from other districts. Hence, if we simply calculate by the percentage of new species to those already described, and if we exclude from our calculation the European species (which numbered 1151 in Marseul’s Catalogue of 1866), and those of North America (508 in Crotch’s Check List of 1874), as having been better investigated, we shall find, in a rough way, that if the species of this tribe from the rest of the world were only collected and described to the same extent as is here done for Central America, the whole number could not amount to less than 9500. And considering the numbers that have been, and are still being yearly, added to the European and North-American lists, I think we shall be much within the mark in assuming that there exist not less than 12,000 species of this section of the Coleoptera. With respect to the distribution of the 120 genera to which the Central-American species are referred, any generalization drawn from the whole number would be very much invalidated by the consideration that the work of differentiation has at present only been fairly begun in the Lycide, the Telephoride, the Melyride, the Ptinide, and the Bostrychide (it is more advanced in the Lampyride and Cleride), and it is chiefly in these families that it has been found necessary to propose new genera. Of these I observe that, with three or four exceptions, the few species which can be associated with them from other parts are about in equal numbers from North and South America. But in the families in which I have not found it necessary to INTRODUCTION. Vv make many fresh genera, viz. in the Lampyride and Cleride, of the former five genera out of sixteen occur in the Nearctic region also, but twelve at least occur and are well represented by species in South America; of the latter there are 25 genera (omitting Necrobia which is universal); of these, four occur in the Nearctic, seven in the Nearctic and Tropical South American regions, and five are common to Central and South America. These facts show the preponderance of relationship between our fauna and that of Tropical South America over any community it possesses with that of America north of Mexico. But this conclusion is rendered even more apparent if we consider the relative | numbers of species in some of the larger genera. Calopteron is a genus of the Lycide eminently typical of Tropical South America, where 70 species at least are known to exist. Now, north of Mexico, only three species are known, but in Central America we have 42 species. To give another instance, from the Telephoride, Chauliognathus is represented in America north of Mexico by 8 species, in Central America by 45, in South America by 28 species; the latter figure by no means representing the actual number, as the species of that country have not been much worked at, while the North- American are nearly certainly known. On the other hand Podaérus, a Nearctic genus, especially abundant in North America, where it has 32 species, is barely represented by a solitary species in Northern Mexico and does not pass further south. More striking, however, is the marked peculiarity of the Central and South American genera as compared with the faunas of other parts of the globe. If it were true that similar conditions would produce similar forms, how is it that the specialized genera of os the Neotropical region are so dissimilar to those of the Athiopian and Indo-Malayan ? Of the few genera common to our district and to the Palearctic or Tropical regions of the Old World, I do not hesitate to affirm that there is not one which is not of the rank of feebly differentiated forms, or persistent forms of an earlier stage of development. The apparent exceptions in the Lycide of Lycus and Lycostomus, in the Telephoride of Silis, in the Ptinidee of Ptinus, and in the Cioide of Xylographus, being due to the imperfectly characterized condition of those genera; while the total absence of such widely distributed and well-marked forms as Erosand Calochromus, Luciola, Telephorus (proper), Malachius, Dasytes (proper), Henicopus, Melyris, Cylidrus, Opilo, and Trichodes . cannot be explained by any intrinsic dissimilarity in the conditions, which certainly do not differ more than they do in the wide areas over which these genera are dispersed, vl INTRODUCTION. but rather by the isolation from these other areas, contact with which is only effected through the northern portion of the globe. One further fact is worthy of notice, viz. that, to whatever cause it may be due, where a genus is common to Central or South America and other distant parts of the World, it is also the case that it is represented by a species also identical or nearly so in both districts. In this case its presence must either be due to transmission recently, through artificial means, or to the conditions having long remained practically similar under which it exists in places so far apart. The genera Plateros, Lycostomus, Meli-. tomma, Atractocerus, Necrobia, Apate, Dinoderus, and Cis, all afford examples of this. remarkable truth. Cylidrus, indeed, occurs in Brazil, but only in a species known to inhabit Madagascar and the eastern coast of Africa with very slight modification. Atractocerus, of which the distribution is remarkable, is represented by a species hardly differing from an African one. Dinoderus is a North American. genus but with one cosmopolitan species. C%s has one species with difficulty to be distinguished from the common C. boleti of Europe. | . A few words as to the materials which have been at my disposal may be useful. It is probable that (thanks to the liberality of the Editors, who have spared no trouble or expense to obtain for the purpose of the work all the large collections that were available) such a mass of specimens in this group were never brought together before. These were very largely increased by their own collectors, especially by Mr. Champion, who paid a very great deal of attention to this group, more especially to the Lycide, Lampyride, and Cleridee—all numerous in species and individuals in the humid forest- regions of Central America—and sent home large and beautiful series often amounting to 100 specimens of a species. Roughly speaking I do not think that less than 10,000 specimens have passed through my hands, and been separately examined during the progress of the volume. | The northern portion of Mexico (including the large State of Yucatan), and Costa Rica, still remain, comparatively speaking, unexplored. H.S. G. May 1886. He, ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA. Page Line 14 2 for Exvos read Eros 15 28 for II. read I. 26 3 after puniceus insert’ (Tab. IV. fig. 1, 3.) 27 34 for Calodadon read Calocladon 28, 29 several places for Calodadon read Calocladon 29 12 for pectinicornis read pectinicorne. (Tab. IV. fig. 2.) 96 1 for 4 read 3 124 27 erase (Tab. VII. fig. 10.) 129 1 for 1 read 2 3 129 36 after (?) insert (Tab. IX. fig. 1.) 129 39 after “The” insert male: and after “ Chacoj,” the female (?) - from Pantaleon 178 18 for histrica read histrio 180 5 for C. read J. 187 6 for Pelonia read Pelonium 208 9 before “ about” insert is 215 13 for muricata read muricatum 217 16 for pusillus read pusilla 217 21 The word “ GuaremaLa”’ is wrongly placed; it should precede “San Gerénimo” in line 22, 222 5 insert Cis before bilimeki LIST OF PLATES. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III. Pt. 2, May 1886. - 6b Plate. | Fig. Page. Plate. | Fig. Page Lycus schonherri, ¢ .......... I, 3 2 | Calopteron tricostatum, 2 .... Il. 6 17 carmelitus, ¢ .......... I. 1 2 notatulum .............. XI. 5) 235 godmani, d ........655- I. 2 3 decipiens .............. XI. 7 235 fuliginosus, ¢*.......... I. 5 4 imitator...0.... 0.00000 XI. 6 236 Lycostomus lineicollis .... ... I. 4 4 || Ceenia cardinalis, Q .......... I. 24 17 sordidus, Q .......--6.- I. 6 5, 225 scapularis, Q .......... I. 23 18 championi, Q .......... oO. 7 5 interrupta ............4- I. 22 18 bucolicus, G ........006- XI. 1 226 || Plateros seminiger, Q ........ . I. 15 19 loripes, Ow... cece eee .. I. 8 6, 226 bourgeoisi, Q ........6- I. 20 | 19, 238 sommeri,,Q ......+2.08- IT.: 2 6, 226 bourgeoisi, ¢ ......6- {IL 10 | 19, 228 semiustus, 2 ............ I. 9 6 letourneuri§ ............ Il. 7 20 Lygistopterus amabilis ........ JOL 10 7 apicalis, Q 1.6... eee XI. 9 | 20, 288 hematopterus .......... II. 1 8 lateritius, Q ............ IT. 16 | 21, 239 leetus, Sw. cece ee ee eee XI. 2 227 bogotensis ...........5. II. 18 21 Lucaina marginata............ XII. 8 229 forreranus ...........25. XI. 8 239 Calopteron bifasciatum ........ I, 11 8, 229 parallelus .............. IT. 19 22 bifasciatum, var......... I. 12 8, 229 || Calleros puniceus, ¢ .......... IV. 1 26 corrugatum ............ II. 3 9 || Calolycus calanticatus ........ IV. 3 27 pallidum, 9 ............ I. 14 9, 229 || Calocladon testaceum, g ...... Il. 20 | 28, 244 affine, Q ww... eee eee I. 13 10 rubidum, ¢ ........-4.. XI. 13 246 —— melanopterum .......... I. 15 10 rubidum, 2 .........+.- XI. 14 246 reticulatum ............ I. 17 10 pectinicorne ............ IV. 2| 29, 246 flavipes, Q. .......04... I. 18 | 11,230 ephippium, ¢ .......... XI. 10 247 divergens, d........008. II. 4 11 ephippium, Q .......... XI. 11 247 scapulare, Q.........06- OL 25 12 || Linoptes imbrex, ¢ .......... XI. 12 247 scapulare, d.........0-- II. 5 12 || Lycinella opaca .............. XI. | 15 249 juvenile.............00. I. 16 | 12, 230 parvula ..........00 008 XI. | 16 249 triste, Q oe... eee ee eee OL, 21 | 18, 231 || Lamprocera picta, g .......... III. 1] 30,249 rufulum, df.......-.4.. II. 8 | 18,231 picta, var, d ......00e. XI. 17 249 rufulum, Q ............ II. 9 13, 231 || Hyas rhomboidea, g .......... TII. 2 30 pennatum, Q .......... II. 11 13 || Cladodes plumosa ............ III. | 21 31 pennatum, G ........-. IL. 12 13 || Pheenolis laciniatus, gd ........ II. 22 31 obliquum ..... .....--. II. 13 | 14, 232 || Athra despecta .............. IIT. 3 | 382, 251 rubrotestaceum, Q ...... XI. 3 — 233 brunnipennis............ XI. 19 251 lineare ........0- eee eee IT. 14 |} 14,233 || Drilolampadius stolatus........ III. 20 | 33, 251 —— lineare, var.t .......... IV. 5 233 scutellaris, var., d ...... XI. 20 33, 252 ichnoides, G .....-+eeee- II. 21 | 15, 234 || Megalophthalmus collaris ...... XI. 24 253 ——— mimicum .............. . IL. 22 | 15, 234 || Lucidota bella .............. III. 4 35 simulator, dG... ee eee eee XI. 4 234 apicalis, ¢ .........2.. Il. 3) 36 beltii, Q .. eee eee eee ee I. 19 15 diaphanura ............ IV. 22 36 matutinum .......+..6-. II. 7 16 discolor, Q ..........-. III. 6 37 rubricolle, 9 ........606- IV. “4 234 discolor, var............. XI. 23. 258 * Lycostomus fuliginosus on the Plate. + Calopteron tenue on the Plate. | + The sexes are erroneously marked on the Plate; see text. § Plateros latourneurt on the Plate. Lucidota lugens, ¢ incompta, ¢ xanthopleura. . Photinus congruus, ¢ meteoralis —— gliscens nigridorsis, 2 ovatus, ¢ perelegans, 3 extensus, 2 productus, ¢ consanguineus, cinctellus, 9 cinctellus, ¢ —— (?) brevicornis sturmli, 2 ——— salvini, 2 montanus guatemale lunicollis sanguinicollis aurora armatus, 3 perlucens purulanus coo ee oe oa ee oeaeee Pyrectomena angulata, ¢ vexillaria, 3 striatella, ¢ ee rm ee eewe oe eee eeceee ed eee eee ee oe Pr ee vat wb esas tondbaw and arenes Qveeeeees wou deveuer ce sew widen bese eeses bounvauees bd istesees Saw eee cee eee naw sue biaesnead; ee bie usb yess Lekaacebes oo rere Cratomorphus picipennis, 2 .... altivolans concolor ovatus, 3 fasciatus, ¢ Aspidosoma egrotum depictum —— pulchellum bilineatum, 2 bilineatum, ¢ costatum —— elianum —— physonotum, ¢ (?) (larva) eevee ee ee ee ee Photuris discicollis, 2 collaris, 2 lucidicollis.... mollis, ¢ crassa, ¢ crassa, var., 2 lucidicollis, var. sordida oe ee eee eee LIST OF PLATES. . Plate. | Fig Page. Plate. | Fig Page. IV. 18 37 || Phengodes bimaculata ........ III. | 28] 63, 276 XI. 22 253 bipennifera, var. ........ V. 1 65 XI. 21 254 || Daiphron lyciforme, Q ........ V. 2 66 IV. 12 88 || - crassicorne, 9 .......... V. 24 67> : V i“ 38, _ — proteum, var., 2 ........ V. { i 68, 277 IV. 17 39 proteum, var., d ........ V. 16 | 68,277 IV. 16 40 || Chauliognathus dimidiatus, ¢ .. V. 3. 69 III. 12 | 40, 260 faustUS ...........0 eee XII. | 14 278 IV. 11 41 sodalis, Q..........000. V. 8 69 IV. 10 41 sodalis, var., Q.......... V. 9 69 IV. 25 42 || —— jucundus, 2 ............ V. 5 70 IV. 23 42 tricolor, Q ............ V. 6 70 LY. 24 42 || -—— Janus, var., d ........-. V. 4 yet a o 20 togatus, var., .....4.- V. { | a } 71, 278 IV. 6 44 || —— nigrocinctus ...........-. V. 12 72 XII. | 10 263 || —— bilineatus .............. V. 13 | 72,279 III. 10 | 44, 2638 bilineatus, var., d ...... XII. 16 279 III. 9 | 44, 264 submarginatus, Q ...... VI. 16 279 TIT. 8 45 emaciatus ...........06- V. “17 75 III. 7 | 45, 264 obliquus ............4.. XII. | 15 281 XII. 2 265 hastatus, Q .........05. Vv. 7 TT III. 11 46 || Diseodon normale, 9* ........ V. 20 | 82, 287 “XII. 1 267 -normale, 5 .........0.. VI. 20 | 82,287 IV. 19 50 cleroides, Qf .......05. V. 18 | 84, 287 IV. 20 50 || —— photinoides, Qf ........ Vv. 19 | 84, 288 Il. 13 | 51, 269 serricorne, Q .......... VI. 18 288 IV. 7 52 | —— histrio, ¢ § ............ V. 22 86, 288 XII. 3 270 difficile, Q|| ............ VI. 19 | 86, 288 XII. 5 270 purpurascens, QQ ...... V. 23 87 XI. 18 271 lampyroides, 9**........ VI. 15 | 89, 288 XII. 4 271 || Silis lycoides, 9 .............. V. 21} 91,290 OE o4, e —— serrigeraTT ........5... VI. 1 { 92, ae IV. 15 54 || —— premorsa, d............) VIL 2 93 IV. 8 | 55; 272 || —— eroidestt .............. VI. 6 | 94, 296 IV. 9 | 55,272 chalybeipennis .......... XIt. | 18 300 TI. 18 | 55,272 || —— dilacerata, g............ VI. 3 96 XII 6 272 || ——albicincta, S$$.......... VI. 5 96 XII. 7 272 laticollis, ¢ .....e eee ee VI. 17 97 XII. | 26 271 || Trypherus forficulinus ........ VI. 7 98 IV. 26 57 || Lobetus mirabilis, ¢ .......... VI. 10 99 IIT. 15 58 -mirabilis, 9 ...........4. VI. 11 99 III. 14 | 58,275 | Belotus abdominalis .......... VI. 8 | 99, 308 XII. | 11 275 || Maronius dichrous, g ........ VI. 9 | 100, 309 III. 19 61 dichrous, var. .........- XII. | 17 309 XII. | 12 274 || Thinalmus pectinicornis, ¢ VI. 13 | 101, 309 XII. | 13 274 || Malthinus laticeps ............ VI. 14 103 * Telephorus normalis on the Plate. + Telephorus cleroides on the Plate. t Telephorus photinoides on the Plate. § Telephorus histrio on the Plate. || Telephorus photurinus on the Plate. { Silis (?) purpurascens on the Plate. ** Telephorus lampyroides on the Plate. +t Stlis varians, var., on the Plate. tt Euryopa eroides on the Plate. $$ Euryopa albicincta on the Plate. LIST OF PLATES. xi Plate Fig. Page. — Plate Fig Page. Ptorthodius ramosus, d......-. VI. 12 | 107, 812 || Phonius sanguinipennist ...... VII. | 24 145 Euryopa singularis, ¢ ?.......s} VI. 4 | 109, 312 || Peecilochroa plumbea.......... XIII. | 11 337 Melitomma brasiliense, 2 ...... VII. 3 | 110, 313 || Aulicus monticola ......-..... VIII. | 18 146 Atractocerus brasiliensis ...... VII. 7 | 112,313 || Clerus quadrinodosus.......... VIII. | 19 151 Collops aulicus, d ..........-. VI. 21 113 quadrinodosus, var. ...... VIII of 151 aulicus, 2 ...... eee eee VI. 22 113 || —— x-album .............. VIII. | 22 151 tricolor ... 2... cee ee eee XITI 1 | 113,313 CINETEUS ... 2... eee ee eee Vil 5 152 vittatus, var., Q. ......-- VI. 23 | 114, 316 tubercularis .... ......| VIII. | 20 153 Anthocomus maculosus ......-- VII. 1 115 CONCINNUS. ... 6. eee eee ee VIII. | 12 153 pusillus ..........00065- VI. 24 116 contractus .........---6- VIII. | 13 154 ____ hasalis, var. rufipennis* . VI. | 25 116 beatus .......... ee eee VIII. .| 23 154 Attalus (?) calearatus.......... XIII 3 319 PictuSs ...... eee ee eee Vill 7 155 subfasciatus ............ XIII 2 320 || —— opifex ...........0008- VITL 3 156 carinatus, G .... see eee XIII. 4 320 || —— cylindricus.............. VIII 6 157 Ebeeus eeneovirens .........--- VIL. 2 121 || —— recurvatus .........-... VIII. | 17 158 Lemphus serricornis .......... XIII 5 321 || —— esopius ..........60-0-, VIII 8 160 -| Dromanthus nitidicollis........ XIII 6 322 || —— cuneatus ...........4.. VIII. | 16 160 decipiens .........eeeee VII. 5 122 || —— plagiatus .............. XII. | 21 339 quadrimaculatus ........ VII. 4 122 || —— atriceps................ VIII. | 21 | 161,340 jucundus ...........06- VIL | 6] 123,323 . 9,10, Cymbolus rufopiceus ..-....... xt. | 12 304 || imeonstans§ ....-..+..-. VIEL. yyy 163 Listrus cupreonitens+ ........ VII. 8 125 || Salleea necrobioides............ VIII. | 15 164 Astylus vittatus ......0...665, VII. 9 | 127, 330 || Blaxima rubripennis|| ........ VIII. | 14 165 octopustulatus, g.......- XII. | 25 330 || Epiphloeus setulosus .......... VIII. | 24 166 Antixoon eribripenne.......... XIII. | 13 3832 PYINCePS...... ce eee eee XII. 19 340 Tillus occidentalis, ¢.......... IX. 2 129 || —— erythrocephalus.......... VIII. | 25 167 occidentalis, 9? ........ IX. 1 129 || Hydnocera guatemale ........ IX. 3 168 collaris ..........00000- XIII. 7 332 subulata .........-2000. IX. a 169 Cymatodera sallai ............ VII. | 13 130 nitidicollis.............. IX. 9 171 discoidalis ............-- VII. | 10 131 || —— trichroa..............4. IX. 5 171 discoidalis, var........... VII. | 15 131 furcata ........ 0. eee ee XIII. | 14 342 — championi, gd .......... VII. | 12 131 || —— corticina, 9 ............ IX, 6 173 saturata....... 0. eee eee XIII. 8 334 Cincta «1... eee eee ees IX. 8 175 bipunctata.............. VII. | 16 | 135,334 | —— impressa .............. IX. 7 176° ——— marmorata.............. VII. | 14 136. || —— cylindricollis............ XIII. | 16 343 valida... 2c... eee eee eee VIL. | 11 137 VityiNa 6... eee eee eee XIII. | (15 343 Priocera stictica............-. VII. | 17 | 140,335 || Ichnea histrio................ X. 1 178 clavipes ..........ee eee. XIIT. 9 | 140, 335 mexicana, G....--.eeeee IX. 18 179 Colyphus ventralis ............ VIL. | 18 141 mexicana, Q........ sees IX. 19 179 quadrilineatus .......... VII. | 20 141 || —— mexicana, var., d........ IX. 21 179 —— quadrilineatus, var. ...... VII. | 21 141 || —— panamensis ............ X. 2 179 —— mutabilis .............. Vil. | 23 142 || —— religiosa...........-..4. IX. 20 180 —— mutabilis, var. .......... VII. 1 142 || —— disjuncta .............. IX. 23 180 —— bilineatus ...........4.. XIII. | 10 335 disjuncta, var. .......... IX. 24 180 floralis .......... eee ee VIL. | 25 142 enoplioides ..........4- IX. 22 180 distinctus ............5- VIL. | 19 143 vitticollis ...........0.4. XIT. | 24 345 signaticollis ............ VII. | 22 143 || Platynoptera mexicana ........ IX. 11 183 —— relucenS...........e eee XII. | 22 336 || Pyticera championi .......... IX. 10 184 criocerides.........+.065 VIII 2 144 || Orthopleura purpurea ........ IX. 17 186 Colyphus gracilis ...........- XIII. | 19 337 || Chariessa elegans ..........-. XII. | 23 346 * Anthocomus rufipennis on the Plate. + Listrus cupronitens on the Plate. t Colyphus sanguinipennis on the Plate. § Clerus nitidus, var., on the Plate. || Clerus rubripennis on the Plate. Xil LIST OF PLATES. Plate. | Fig Page. Plate. | Fig Page Pelonium luridum ............ XII. | 20 346 || Thaptor throscoides .......... X. 12 206 amabile .............06- IX. 15 189 | Cathorama seminulum ........ X. 13 | 207, 349 metallescens .......... IX. 16 189 || Mirosternus brunneivillis ...... XIII. | 18 349 bilineicolle.............- IX. 12 190 || Dorcatoma tomentosa.......... X. 16 | 208, 350 octonotatum ............ IX. 13 191 | Priotoma quadrimaculata + X. 17 | 209, 351 lineolatum .............. IX. 14 191 || Polycaon exesus, 2 .......... X. 18 210 Lebasiella pallipes ............ IX. 25 192 CXESUS, SD wee eee ee eee X. 19 210 bisbinotata ............ IX. 26 192 || Bostrychus verrucosus ........ X. 22 | 214, 353 Ptinus latefasciatus .......... X. 5 194 || Xylopertha sericans .......... X. 21 | 215, 353 lateralis...........-04.. X. 6 195 || Dinoderus perfoliatus.......... XIII. | 25 353 Trigonogenius niveus.......... X. 3 197 || Tetrapriocera longicornis ...... X. 20 218 niveus, Val. 1... 2.22000. X. = 197 || Xylographus suillus .......... XIII. | 21 354 arcuatuS .....0...e0eee XIII. | 20 847 latirostris, G............ XIII. | 23 355 Pitnus pygmeus.............. X. 8 198 latirostris, Q............ XIII. | 24 355 Trichodesma imperator ........ X. 9 199 || Macrocis taurus, ¢ .......... X. 25 219 albina ..........eceeeee X. 10 199 || Cis fasciatus, G we... eee eee X. 23 220 albistolata * ............ X. 7 200 bisbidens, d .......-..-- X. 24 921, Anobium sericatum? .......... XIII. | 17 | 201, 347 ~tetracentrum, g ........ XIII. | 22 356 Micranobium pulicarium ...... X. 14 202 || Ceracis militaris, ¢ .......... X. 26 | 223, 358 Lidolius punctatus ............ X. 15 203 tricornis, ¢ we... eee eee X. 27 224 Thaptor pupatus.............. Xx. 11 205 * Trichodesma albistolatus on the Plate. ft Dorcatoma quadrimaculata on the Plate. BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. ZOOLOGIA. Class INSECTA. Order COLEOPTERA. Tribe MALACODERMATA. - Fam. LYCIDZ. Subfam. LYCINA. Of the three recognized subfamilies of Lycide this is the only one represented on the American continents, the Calochromine and Homalisine being absent. It is, how- ever, in the Tropical regions of the New World that the species of the family appear to reach their highest development ; and in Central America, accordingly, the number of species seems far from being exhausted at present. ‘The genera, on the other hand, are few, and are not capable of very distinct division. This being so, it would be unwise to generalize upon the distribution of particular genera. The family, as a whole, is rather uniformly distributed, and takes three prin- cipal forms—Lycus, Calopteron, and Metriorrhynchus. The first the typical form of Africa, the second of America, the last of the east (represented by Hros in the northern temperate zone). The association of species from the other regions with these typical genera must be considered a temporary expedient. We are not able, however, in the present state of our knowledge, to separate them. LYCUS. Lycus, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. i. p. 163 (1787). Reserving this genus for those species which have the head rostrate, and which also show any considerable inflation of the elytra, there are seven species known in Central America. BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, December 1880. B 2 MALACODERMATA. 1. Lycus schonherri. (Tab. I. fig. 3, ¢ .) Lycus schénherri, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fase. vi. 147. Hab. Mexico (Hoge), Puebla (Sallé). Varies in size from 10 millim. to 18 millim.(¢). The body beneath is sometimes yellow ; but the legs are constantly black, except the trochanters. The figure is taken from a small male captured by Hége. In M. Sallé’s collection there were specimens as fully developed as the following species. 2. Lycus carmelitus. (Tab. I. fig. 1, ¢.) Niger, femorum basi abdominisque apice flavis ; elytris prothoraceque ochraceis, hoc vitta mediana, illis apice oblique nigris. Mas elytris infra humeros rotundato-ampliatis. Long. 18 millim., lat. 15 millim. Femina oblonga, elytris infra humeros paululum dilatatis. Long 15 millim., lat. 6 millim. Hab. Mexico (Hoge, 3 ), Guanajuato (Sallé, 3 ¢ ). This species differs from L. schénherri in having the femora with the basal half yellow, and the black of the apex of the elytra not so wide, especially at the suture ; its inner margin is thus more oblique. In the male the seventh or penultimate segment is acutely lobed at the sides; the centre is bisinuate, angularly emarginate in the middle. The rostrum is as long as the thorax, with the antenne and rest of the head entirely black. The second joint of the antennz is so short as not to be easily seen, the third as long as the fourth and fifth united, compressed ; the remaining joints with their inner apical angles acute, the inner edge sinuate. ‘The prothorax is about, or nearly, as long as wide, prominent, and elevated into a small carina in front; a shallow, but widened, channel in the middle; the hinder angles are acute, but not much produced in either sex. The elytra show the usual four nervures distinct, the humeral or outer one most so; between them are indistinct indications of transverse reticulation and longitudinal cost, with intricate confluent punctures ; in repose the elytra overlap at the apex. The figure is taken from Hége’s male specimen. 3. Lycus fernandezi. Lycus fernandezi, Dugés, La Naturaleza, iv. p. 175, t. 6. fig. 5 ¢, fig. 6 9. Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Sallé, 3 @ ). This species is undoubtedly very closely allied to the one preceding, and may possibly be only a local variation of it. The most constant differences are :—that the abdomen is wholly yellow; the femora are yellow, except at their apexes ; the prothorax is often entirely yellow, but in some specimens has a black vitta on the dorsal channel; the black of the apex of the elytra is more extended in the disk, and is emarginate where the humeral nervure cuts it; the subapical segment in the male is less acutely emarginate. LYCUS. 3 4. Lycus godmani. (Tab. I. fig. 2, ¢.) Niger, thorace ochraceo; elytris rubricatis, basi ochraceis, his sutura usque ad medium, illo vitta mediana nigricantibus. Mas elytris infra humeros rotundato-ampliatis ; prothorace lateribus subparallelis, angulis posticis fere rectis, paulo productis. Long. 15 millim., lat. 10 millim. Femina elytris magis ovalibus, minus ampliatis; prothorace basi latiore, anigulia posticis acutis, lateribus explanato-elevatis. Long. 14-18 millim., lat. 7-10 millim. Hab. Mexico, Misantla (Hoge, 3 2 ), Cordova (Sallé, 2 ). This distinct and beautiful species forms a transition to the Lycostomi, while retaining in a considerable degree the inflated form of typical Lyct. The abdominal segments are of the normal structure; the seventh segment in the male is acutely cut out in the middle. In some specimens the abdomen has the sides yellow, but is usually black, with the head and limbs of the same colour. ‘The elytra are brick-red, shading into ochreous at the base; the third nervure is but little raised, the sculpture between very intricate ; while intermediate longitudinal nervures can be traced, there are no trans- verse cells, but confluent and rugose punctuation. The females have the sides of the prothorax more expanded and reflexed than the male (possibly owing to their being larger specimens) ; it is carinate in front, obsoletely channelled in the centre of the disk. A central vitta, the scutellum, and suture as far as the middle of the elytra are black. The figure is from the Misantla specimen. 5. Lycus scutellatus. Niger, prothorace elytrisque rubris, his circa scutellum et ad apicem late, illo vitta mediana nigris. Mas elytris apicem versus dilatatis, segmento ventrali septimo apice haud exciso. Long. 15 millim. Femina elytris minus dilatatis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, 3 @ ). This appears to be a variable species. Of the three examples in M. Sallé’s collection the two males have almost half of the elytra black, while one wants the black scutellar patch; and this example is of paler yellow, and has the base of the femora, the rostrum, and sides of the abdomen yellow. The female has only the apical third and the scutellar region black. The legs are black; but the anterior two pairs at the extreme base and the sides of the abdomen are yellow. The elytra are strongly costate, with subrugose interstices, the third nervure less raised than the others. The black apex of the elytra sufficiently distinguishes it from L. godmani, to which it is clearly allied. 6. Lycus sallzi. Niger, femorum basi et abdominis lateribus flavis, prothorace elytrisque ochraceis, his basi ac tertia parte apicali, illo vitta mediana nigris; elytris postice paulo ampliatis, interstitiis lineis transversis nonnullis reticulatis. Long. 18 millim., lat. 10 millim. 9°. Hab. Mexico, Puebla (Sallé, ¢ ). B 2 4 MALACODERMATA. Thorax transversely quadrate, the front angularly prominent and carinate, the disk obscurely channelled, the lateral margins irregularly rounded, parallel near the base ; hind angles right. Scutellum black, margined with fuscous at the apex, foveolate. Elytra with about one fifth at the base and one third at the apex black; punctuation very obsolete ; distinct transverse and indistinct intercostal lines. A single female is in M. Sallé’s collection. 7. Lycus fuliginosus. (Lycostomus fuliginosus, Tab. I. fig. 5, 3.) Nigro-fuscus, opacus, thorace elytrorumque basi (sutura excepta) sordide testaceis, illo vitta mediana fusca. Mas elytris infra humeros medice ampliatis ovalibus, segmento septimo ventrali exciso. Long. 14-16 millim., lat. 10 millim. Femina latet. Hab. GuateMALA, Calderas (Champion). In form and size allied to L. godmani, but differing in its obscure coloration, and in the elytra being a trifle less expanded. The tibie are nearly straight, the anterior pair very slightly curved. This character will prevent its being confounded with L. sordidus, in which they are strongly curved at the base in the male. LYCOSTOMUS. Lycostomus, Motschulsky, Bull. Mose. 1861, i. p. 186. This genus is simply an artificial division of Zycus, founded on an Asiatic form, and only differing in the less expansion of the elytra in the males. The American species, which agree in this respect, present nothing by which we can separate them from typical Lycostomi. Indeed one species (L. lineicollis, Chevr.) is so like the Indian Lycostomus thoracicus, Waterh., that it might readily be confounded with it. Nine species from Central America seem properly associable with this type. 1. Lycostomus lineicollis. (Tab. I. fig. 4.) Lycus lineicollis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fase. vii. 149. Hab. Mexico, Perote, Coatepec, Esperanza (Hége), Cordova (Sailé). In the male the tibie are very little bent, and when closed upon the femora no space is left between them; the seventh segment is excised, and, with the preceding ventral plates, is acutely lobed at the sides. The figure represents a specimen from Coatepec. 2. Lycostomus tabidus. Niger, abdominis apice, prothoracis lateribus, elytrisque pallide flavis. Long. 15-18 millim. 9°. Hab. Mexico, Peras, Oaxaca (Sallé, 2 ). A species nearly allied to L. lineicollis, and of which I have as yet seen only four females. LYCOSTOMUS. 5 These, however, differ in the following particulars from females of that species :—In large specimens the thorax (though variable) is wider; the black portion of the disk is wider at the base; the colour of the thorax and elytra is quite different, being a dirty horn-colour. The apex of the abdomen is pale. 3. Lycostomus sordidus. (Tab. I. fig. 6, 2.) Nigro-piceus, subnitidus, prothoracis lateribus elytrorumque margine humerali testaceis. Mas elytris vix ampliatis, segmento septimo ventrali haud exciso, tibiis omnibus basi fortiter curvatis. Long. 14 millim., lat. 7 millim. Femina elytris angustioribus, tibiis leviter curvatis. flab. Guatemata, Calderas (Champion, 3 2); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson, 2 ); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers, 2, var.). A Calderas specimen is figured. 4. Lycostomus championi. (Tab. I. fig. 7, 2.) Nigro-piceus, nitidus, prothoracis limbo elytrisque vitta humerali lata, ante apicem desinente, testaceis. Mas elytris dilutioribus, infra humeros modice ampliatis ; femoribus (apicibus exceptis) et abdominis margine rufo-testaceis, tibiis basi fortiter curvatis. Long. 10 millim., lat. 6 millim. Femina elytris minus ampliatis, femoribus nigris vel basi extrema testaceis, abdomine margine apicali piceo. Long. 11-12 millim., lat. 5-6 millim. Hab. GuaTEMALA, Duefias, Capetillo (Champion). A long series of specimens of this species were sent by Mr. Champion. It varies some- what in the extent of the yellow marginal stripe; in some few cases the entire base of the elytra is yellow. It is allied to ZL. sordidus; but the difference of colour in the The seventh abdominal segment of the male is not acutely excised, but simply with a very shallow wide emargi- nation, and has, as well as the sixth, a lancet-shaped lobe at the hind angles. femora of the sexes will prevent their being confounded. ‘ peci gured is from Duefas. 5. Lycostomus deustus. Nigro-fumosus, prothorace elytrisque ad basin late sed indeterminate sordide testaceis, his subparallelis, infra humeros paulo ampliatis, illo disco plus minusve infuscato, subquadrato, lateribus sinuatis. ¢ 9. Long. 9-11 millim. Mas tibiis intermediis et posticis fortiter curvatis. Hab. Panama, Matachin (Thieme). A beautiful series of specimens of this distinct species was obtained by Dr. O. Thieme, and obligingly placed at my disposal by M. R. Oberthiir. In form it resembles species of the Z. loripes group. The males are not usually more widened behind than the females, The rostrum is of moderate length. The thorax has the sides converging only slightly till they meet the sinuate front. The yellow basal portion of the elytra shades off gradually into the smoky-black opaque apical part, which is more than half of their whole length. | 6 MALACODERMATA. 6. Lycostomus loripes. (Tab. I. fig. 8, 3.) Lycus loripes, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fase. vil. p. 148°. Lycus testaceus, Dej. Cat. . Hab. Mexico’, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Teapa (Sallé), Almolonga (Hége) ; GuaTEMALA (Sallé). I have examined a ‘considerable series of specimens in M. Sallé’s collection, by whom this species was originally discovered, and can only come to the conclusion that it varies in size and colour, but that they are not specifically distinct. In the Guanajuato speci- mens the thorax has the front bisinuate, with prominent anterior angles, and the whole insect is rather more shining and ferruginous red. In HOge’s specimens, one of which is figured, the scutellum is yellow; and I have seen one specimen with the tibie yellow. 7. Lycostomus sommeri. (Tab. II. fig. 2.) Pallide testaceus, antennis (basi excepta), tibiis, tarsis elytrorumque apice nigris ; thorace antice elevato vix carinato, postice canaliculato, angulis posticis acutis. 9. Long. 11 millim. Hab. Mexico, Teapa (Sallé) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). Allied to Z. loripes, but distinct by the black apical third of the elytra &c. The Teapa specimen is figured. : 8. Lycostomus semiustus. (Tab. I. fig. 9, 9.) Lycostomus semiustus, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fase. v. 105. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, 3 2), Jalapa (Hoge, ¢ ). The tibie of the male, especially the hind pair, are much bent, and the posterior femora thickened ; the trochanters subdentate. A variety taken by Hoge at Jalapa, whence the specimen figured was obtained, is paler in colour than the type, and has the underside of the body partly yellow; but, from the shrivelling of the elytra, this I think is due to immaturity. 9. Lycostomus carnifex. Niger, prothoracis lateribus elytrisque sanguineo-rufis, his circa scutellum nigris, lineis octo leviter elevatis ; prothorace transverso, antice carinato, medio canaliculato, angulis posticis acutis productis. Rostro in utroque sexu perbrevi. ¢ 2. Long. 11 millim.: Mas elytris leviter ampliatis, segmento septimo inciso. Hab. Mexico, Jacale (Sal/é). This insect may profitably be compared with Lygistopterus sanguineus (L.), which it resembles in size and colour, as illustrating the differences between the genera. ‘The rostrum is as short as in that species; the second joint of the antenne, however, is much shorter. The thorax has the usual carina in front. In L. sanguineus the channel LYGISTOPTERUS. a is continued to the front, the hind angles are acute and turned outwards, and the disk lacks the oblique ridge from the hind angle so characteristic of Lygistopterus. Both of these species also closely resemble Plateros lateritiws, which of course is known by its having no rostrum. LYGISTOPTERUS. Lygistopterus, Mulsant, Ann. Soc. Agr. Lyon, 1888, p. 39. A genus not hitherto recorded from the northern continent, if we except one species from the United States, which probably belongs to it (Z. perfaceta, Say), and having for its type the European Dictyoptera sanguinea. It is, however, well represented in South America by fine species of elongate parallel form, with the elytra blue or blackish at the apex, with the base more or less red. ; It may perhaps be best known by the deep irregular sculpture of its thorax, which consists of a central channel, continued to thé apex, of which the sides are often raised, and from the front of which an oblique carina proceeds to near the hind angles. The central channel is often angularly widened in the middle. The rostrum is variable in length, often very short. The antenne have the second joint short, but not so short as in the preceding genera. The elytra usually have three or four raised lines, the surface covered with very close intricate puncturing, partly concealed by fine close pubescence. Four species have at present been seen by me from Central America. 1. Lygistopterus nobilis. Niger, nitidus, prothoracis margine laterali elytrisque flavis, his dimidio apicali nigro-ceruleis, sutura juxta scutellum nigra. Long. 15 millim. Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson). While superficially very much resembling L. eximius, Bourg., this species cannot be confounded with it if the following characters are observed :—the thorax has the width of the elytra at the base, is narrowed towards the front, the sides are much more widely yellow; and the elytra have a black patch round the scutellum, extending a little way down the suture. The rostrum is also of an average length, instead of being very short. 2. Lygistopterus amabilis. (Tab. I. fig. 10.) Niger, nitidus, prothorace et elytris flavo-testaceis, his post medium nigro-cyaneis, illo vitta mediana nigra, angulis posticis late rotundatis. Long. 15-16 millim. Hab. Nicaraeua, Chontales (Le/t). Thorax disciform, the central channel rather linear and narrow, and, in one specimen, not distinct in front. Both the specimens are females; they have the apical segment with an acute incision, which is continued as a deep fovea to its base. 8 MALACODERMATA. 3. Lygistopterus sulcicollis. Niger, rostro tibiis anticis longitudine equali; elytris sordide flavis, circa scutellum usque ad medium infu- scatis ; thorace ineequali, sulco profundo in medio dilatato, lateribus flavis. 2. Long. 16 millim. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Sallé). This peculiar species is in the colour of the elytra unlike any which are yet described ; yet its characters are entirely those of a Lygistopterus. The thorax has the central channel wide and deep, its sides and the oblique carina very strongly raised, the former terminating in a tubercle near the base, which, with the sides, is reflexed. It is unique. 4, Lygistopterus hematopterus. (Tab. II. fig. 1.) Nigro-cyaneus, elytris rubris, prothorace inequali, sulco mediano dilatato, rostro brevi. ¢ 2. Long. 12-138 millim. Hab. Mexico, Jacale (Salé). Blue-black, shining beneath ; antenne scarcely half the body’s length, compressed, not serrate ; the joints scarcely widened more internally than outwards ; rostrum short. Thorax as wide as long, the usual parts raised, and very evident blue-black rather shining. Elytra bright brick-red, clothed with very close pubescence, with not distinct raised lines. ‘The male has the penultimate segment not excised. CALOPTERON. Calopteron, Guérin, Voyage Coquille, p. 72 (18380). Upward of a hundred species have now been described, and nearly all from South America. Calopteron appears to be the characteristic genus of the Lycide in America ; I have not seen any species from other parts of the world which can properly be referred to it. It extends as far north as the United States; its limits in the southern direction are not well ascertained. At present the genus contains both species with very inflated elytra and very narrow linear insects, and is no doubt capable of subdivision. Hitherto but one species (C. cor- rugatum, Candéze) has been recorded, in any systematic work, from Central America ; recent exploration has shown that they are as abundant there as in South America. We have now to record twenty-seven species. Section A i. Elytra widened posteriorly ; thorax with a simple carina ; antenne at most only serrate. 1, Calopteron bifasciatum. (Tab. I. figg. 11, 12 var.) Niger, thorace subquadrato lateribus luteis ; elytris ad apicem dilatatis et convexis, lete caxruleis, basi et fascia pone medium flavis. ¢. Long. 14-20 millim. CALOPTERON. 9 Var. a. Elytris pallide flavis, fascia subbasilari marginem non attingente et apice late ceruleis. Long. 13-15 millim. Var. 6. Thorace et elytris flavis, his apice late violaceo, illo linea mediana nigra. Long. 14-20 millim. (Tab. I. fig. 12.) Hab. Type: Mexico, Jalapa (Hége), Vera Cruz (Sallé); Guatemana, Zapote, San Gerdnimo, Pancina, San Joaquin, Vera Paz (Champion); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). ° Var. a: Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sallé); Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). Var. 6: Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sallé); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica (Mus. Gorham). Very nearly allied to dasale, Kirsch. The elytra are clathrate, reticulate ; there are four principal nervures; the intervals are divided by longitudinal costules below the middle; the outer interval (7.¢. that next the outer margin) is not divided till just before the apical blue portion; but individual cells are frequently divided, or the transverse lines branch ; towards the apex itself the cellular formation is very irregular ; the first, second, and fourth nervures are continued. The portion of the elytra imme- diately before the apical blue part is much depressed transversely ; the suture is sinuous ; and the elytra in repose overlap. This species has been identified by M. Bourgeois with the C. bifasciatum of Dejean’s Catalogue. The figure 11 is of a specimen from Zapote ; the figure 12 of var. 6 from a Chontales specimen. 2. Calopteron corrugatum. (Tab. II. fig. 3.) Calopteron corrugatum, Candéze, Mém. Liége, 1867, p. 357, t. 3. fig. 1. Hab, Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, type) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt), San Juan (Sailé). This species resembles the var. 0 of C. bifasciatum in colour, but is essentially distinct ; the elytra are very slightly depressed, their suture is not sinuous, nor do they overlap; the first four interstices are not divided, but single cells are so occasionally. The transverse lines vary in the degree of closeness in different specimens. The figure is of a Cordova specimen. 3. Calopteron pallidum. (Tab. I. fig. 14, 2.) Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus et elytris pallide flavis, his fascia ante medium indeterminata fusca, illo linea mediana nigra; elytris postice spathulato-dilatatis, nervulis quatuor elevatis, interstitiis transversim reticulatis, interstitio extimo ad apicem diviso. Long. 16-17 millim. Hab. Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). The elytra are very much more dilated before the apex than in the variety of palpale, which has a dark fascia; and, as a consequence, the fifth or exterior interstice is wider ; and the cells are here divided by a distinct line. BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIT., Pt. 2, December 1880. C 10 MALACODERMATA. 4, Calopteron palpale. Calopieron palpale, Kirsch, Berl. Zeit. 1865, p. 58°. Hab. Guaremaua, San Juan, Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson) ; | Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers).—CotomBia!; BRaziu. Var. a. Elytris fascia parum distincta nigrescente. Hab. Nicaraeva, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). Var. 6. Corpore flavescente ; antennis nigris, basi flavis; tarsis fuscis. Hab. Panama, Chiriqui. Var. c. Flavum, antennis, tibiis, tarsis et elytrorum apice nigris. Hab. Nicaragua (Belt). Var. d. Flavum, antennis nigris, basi testaceis ; elytris fascia interrupta nigrescente. Hab. GuateMata, Zapote (Champion). Although Kirsch does not appear to have seen varieties of this species, I have no doubt they are all referable to one type; indeed it is probable that many of the allied species, including the following one, are only forms, inseparable except by colour, though tolerably constant as races where they occur. 5. Calopteron affine. (Tab. I. fig. 13, 2.) Calopteron affine, Lucas, Voy. Casteln. 1859, p. 80}. Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sallé) ; Guatemata, San Gerénimo, Cubilguitz (Champion) ; Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt, Janson).—Braziu 1. A Chontales specimen, collected by Mr. Belt, is figured. 6. Calopteron melanopterum. (Tab. I. fig. 15.) Calopteron melanopterum, Lucas, Voy. Casteln. 1859, p. 81}. Hab. GuateMata, San Gerénimo ( Champion).—Braziu}. A specimen from Rio Janeiro, in my collection, shows faint indications of the pale spots which are conspicuous in the single specimen which has at present come from Central America. 7. Calopteron reticulatum. (Tab. I. fig. 17.) Lycus reticulatus, Fab. Syst. Ent. p. 203}. Lycus reticulatus, Ol. Ent. 11. 29, t. 1. fig. 7°. Calopteron typicum, Newman, Ent. Mag. v. p. 380. Calopteron duplicatum, Fald. Proc. Ac. Phil. i. p. 3038. Hab. Nort Americal?, New York, Texas (Belfrage).—Muexico, Jalapa (Hége), Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, Puebla (Sadlé); Guaremata, San Gerdénimo, Duefias, Zapote (Champion) ; Costa Rica (v. Patten). CALOPTERON. 11 A widely dispersed and very variable species, with which very probably one or two more of the following forms will have to be united. The figure is of a specimen from San Gerénimo. 8. Calopteron serratum. Lycus serratus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 2, p. 649°. Lycus serratus, Ol. Ent. ii. 29, t. 1. fig. 5. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion); Nicaracua, Granada (Sallé), Chontales (Janson, Belt)—Souta America, Cayenne}. Apparently the only distinction between this species and C. reticulatwm is the com- bination of a yellow body with a black scutellar patch, and the greater or less inden- tation of the black apical portion at the first costal nervure. 9. Calopteron jimenezi. Calopteron jimenezi, Duges, La Naturaleza, 1878, iv. p. 181, t. 6. fig. 8. Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Sallé). 10. Calopteron flavipes. (Tab. I. fig. 18, 2 .) Calopteron flavipes, Blanch. Voy. d’Orb. Ent. p. 126°. Hab. Guarema.a, Zapote (Champion).—Bo.tvia'. The body, scutellum, legs, thorax, and base of the antenne are yellow; the sides of the abdomen, tarsi, and disk of the thorax are slightly infuscate. This species and the three preceding it agree closely in form and sculpture; they differ in characters which, though tolerably constant when specimens from one locality are examined, will, I believe, prove illusive when tested by series from intermediate places. | 11. Calopteron divergens. (Tab. II. fig. 4, 3.) Nigrum, trochanteribus, femoribus basi, prothorace (linea mediana excepta), elytrorum basi et fascia in medio, postice dentata, flavis ; elytris obcordiformibus, ad apicem valde expansis divergentibus. ¢ 2. Mas brevior, elytris ad apicem fortiter distantibus. Long. 10-12 millim., lat. max. 10 millim. Femina elytris minus expansis vix distantibus. Long. 15 millim., lat. max. 9 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). A species or race differing so remarkably from all other forms of reticulatum in the short obcordate form of the elytra, and in their divergence at the sutural angle, that it seems more worthy of a specific name than some others. In addition to this character, the black portion of the thorax is reduced to a narrow line, its margins are very much yeflexed, and its posterior angles acute. The elytra have no scutellar patch ; the hind margin of the yellow fascia is dentate on the second nervure and produced a little on C2 12 MALACODERMATA. the suture. The second and fourth nervures are costate, the first and third lie in the valley between. The black fascia shows a tendency to become obsolete, in the females especially, in one specimen of which it is reduced to two spots. ‘The underwings are ample. | 12. Calopteron scapulare. (Tab. I. fig. 25; Tab. II. fig. 5, ¢ .) Nigrum, prothorace (disco excepto) elytrisque ad humeros plus minusve sordide rufis. Long. 6-9 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sallé); Guatemaua, Zapote, La Tinta, San Juan, and Vera Paz (Champion). The small size, moderately dilated form, obscure blackish colour, with shoulders more or less yellowish red, and thorax transverse, with acute hind angles and well-marked carina, will enable one to recognize this species. The elytra are more suddenly dilated, and more rounded at the apex in the male. The second and fourth nervures are costate. This little Calopteron was taken in considerable numbers by Mr. Champion at Zapote. It stands in Parisian collections under the name C. scapularis, and was so named for me by M. Bourgeois. The figures are from Zapote specimens. 13. Calopteron posticum. Calopteron posticum, Kirsch, Berl. Zeit. 1870, p. 8378; Bourg. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 291. Nigro-piceum, capite, prothorace, pectore, pedibus anticis elytrisque testaceis, his fascia ante medium, ad suturam latiore, apiceque nigro-fuscis; prothorace subquadrato, valde carinato, angulis posticis acutis, productis. Long. 7-8 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Matachin (Thieme).—Co.omBta’. A few specimens only of this have been received from Chontales. It is rather more depressed than C. scapulare; the head is frequently infuscate on the crown, as are also the tips of the palpi. All the tarsi, and often the anterior legs, are dark, excepting at the base. The dark fascia of the elytra is usually interrupted by the yellow suture and costate nervures, and is often nearly obliterated. It is very nearly allied to the following species; but the antenne appear to me to be longer. Mr. Oberthir has communicated to me a fine series of this species taken by Dr. Thieme in Panama. 14. Calopteron juvenile. (Tab. I. fig. 16.) Calopteron juvenile, Bourg. Comptes Rendus Soc. Ent. Belgique, 1879, p. xvi. Hab. Costa Rica (v. Patten), Caché (Rogers). Very like the last species, but darker in colour, the antennz scarcely so long as the elytra, and with only a shoulder-spot of yellow at the base. The central yellow fascia is usually neatly and distinctly defined. The thorax is similar in form to that of C. posticum, with acute produced hind angles. CALOPTERON. 13 Section A ii. Thorax with a simple carina; antenne pectinate in the male, acutely serrate in the female ; three raised lines on the elytra. 15. Calopteron triste. (Tab. I. fig. 21, 2.) Nigrum, elongatum, elytris lineis tribus elevatis, intervallis transversim reticulatis; prothorace carinato, lateribus flavis sinuatis. Mas antennis flabellato-pectinatis, abdominis segmento penultimo profunde exciso. Long. 10 millim. Femina antennis acute serratis, abdominis segmento apicali integro. Long. 11 millim. Hab. GUATEMALA, Calderas, Duefias (Champion). The elytra are very thin, and usually shrivelled when dry; but it is a very easily recognized species if the three raised nervures are noticed, together with the entirely black elytra (which are gradually widened to the middle of their length), the thorax with yellow sides, and the undivided carina. C. tristis, Waterh. (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, pp. 99 & 106; Illust. of Typ. Col. in Coll. B. M. p. 24, t. vi. fig. 5), is a different species, for which he has made a genus, Hurrhacus, allied to Emplectus. The figure represents a Calderas specimen. 16. Calopteron rufulum. (Tab. II. figg. 8 3,9 2.) Rufo-testaceum, abdomine, pedibus (basi excepta), antennis, prothoracis carina et scutello nigris ; elytris tricos- tatis, intervallis scalariformibus ; prothoracis lateribus fortiter bisinuatis. ¢ 9. Mas antennis flabellato-pectinatis. Long. 6-9 millim. Femina antennis acute serratis. Long. 9-11 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Guaremaua, Zapote, San Gerdénimo, Cubulco, Cubil- guitz (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). M. Bourgeois has informed me that this is the C. rufulum of Dejean’s Catalogue ; and I adopt the name for convenience. It must not be inferred that I have myself com- pared it, nor that I have seen specimens from the locality there given, viz. Carthagena. Two specimens in Sallé’s collection have a minute black spot at the apex of the elytza. The peculiar form of the thorax is well shown in our figure of the female ; but it is fre- quently as strongly indented in the male. The male figure is a Zapote specimen; the female from Cordova. Section A iii. Elytra parallel, with four raised lines; thorax with a simple carina ; antenne often pectinate, at least in the male. 17. Calopteron pennatum. (Tab. II. figg. 11 2,12 ¢.) Calopteron pennatum, Bourgeois, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 32°. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé!); GuateMata, Chiacam, Cahabon (Champion); Nica- racua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica (v. Patten). The male, fig. 12, is from San Gerénimo; figure 11 is of a female from Guatemala. Var. Minor, elytris triente basali tantum flavo, intervallis ad apicem irregulariter clathratis subrugosis. Hab. GuateMaLa, San Gerénimo, Balheu (Champion). 14 MALACODERMATA. 18. Calopteron obliquum. (Tab. II. fig. 13.) Ezxos obliquus, Say, Boston Journ. i. p. 154". Lineare, nigrum, prothoracis lateribus et elytrorum dimidio basali, sutura excepta, rufo-ferrugineis ; elytris lineis quatuor, secunda et quarta fortiter elevatis ; pedibus longis, trochanteribus pallidis. ¢ 9. Mas minor, magis linearis, segmento ventrali septimo angulariter exciso tantum distinctum. Long. 53-7 millim Femina major. Long. 9-10 millim. Hab. Merxico1, Cordova (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge); Guatemata, San Gerénimo, San Juan, Senahu, Sabo, Cahabon, Balheu, Chiacam, Cubilguitz (Champion); Nicaraceua, Chontales (Janson). This seems to be a common species in Mexico and Vera Paz. The thorax is narrowed from the base to the front ; its sides are a little sinuate, and the hind angles very acute and produced. ‘The carina is entire, and is usually pale with the disk black on each side. The elytra have the second and fourth coste strongly raised; and the black of the apical portion extends, as usual, further up the intervals, the outer margin and the fourth costa being continued as yellow lines further than the second. The suture is black as far as the end of the first interval. A Sabo specimen is figured. 19. Calopteron lineare. (Tab. II. fig. 14.) Lineare, nigrum, prothorace elytrisque rufo-testaceis; his 4-costatis, intervallis plus minusve nigrescentibus, regulariter clathrato-punctatis ; illo disco nigro, carinato carina flava ; pedibus longis, basi flavis ; antennis utroque sexu serratis. Long. 7-8 millim. Hab. GuatEMALA, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu, alt. 6000-7000 feet (Rogers). The extremely linear form, and evenly costate elytra, with square punctures regularly disposed in the interstices, and their disposition to be dark, leaving in some examples only the alternate costee pale, will cause this elegant insect to be recognized among its allies. The thorax is narrowed from the base to the front, which is round; the hind angles are acute, the basal margin bisinuate, with the middle very finely cut out where the carina ends; but this is not clearly visible in all examples. The figure is of a large specimen from Irazu. 20. Calopteron terminale. Lineare, nigrum, prothorace elytrisque testaceis; illo disco fusco, carinato, lateribus fortiter bisinuatis; antennis serratis, articulo ultimo flavo; pedibus longis, basi flavis; elytris squamulis minutis vestitis, 4-costatis, costis secunda et quarta elevatis. Long. 54-73 millim. Hab. GuatTeMALA, San Juan (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). The smallest species of the genus I have yet seen, and very like C. dineare, but clearly distinct by the yellow terminal joint of the antenne, the indented, sinuate sides, and prominent front of the thorax (which has the carina entire and the base without the least appearance of a notch), and the entirely pale elytra. CALOPTERON. 15 21. Calopteron ichnoides. (Tab. II. fig. 21, 3.) Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus maculaque humerali late flavis; elytris postice paullo dilatatis, lineis quatuor, secunda et quarta elevatis, intervallis irregulariter reticulatis ; antennis acute serratis, fere pectinatis. ¢ 9. Long. 73-11 millim. Mas elytris postice modice ampliatis, antennis subpectinatis. Femina elytris subparallelis, antennis acute serratis. Hab. Guatemata, Capetillo, Duefias, Purula (Champion). This and the following species closely resemble each other ; and their determination can scarcely be effected unless both are studied together. They have a considerable likeness to Ichnea mexicana, a species of Cleride. The figure represents a Capetillo specimen. 92. Calopteron mimicum. (Tab. II. fig. 22.) Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus angustius strigaque humerali in callo per costam paululum provecta flavis ; elytris subparallelis, lineis quatuor, secunda et quarta magis elevatis, intervallis reticulatis, areolis sub- quadratis; antennis serratis, articulis tertio usque ad decimum angulis internis subrectis. Long. 7-9 millim. Mas minor et angustior, antennis articulis interne subacutis. Hab. GuateMaLa, Capetillo, Duefas, Senahu (Champion). When this species is compared with C. ichnoides, it will be seen to be more parallel ; and the humeral striga is narrower, but continued further along the humeral costa. The most important difference is in the antennex of the males. In C. mimicum the fourth to the tenth joints are serrate, their apical internal angles are nearly right angles; in C. ichnoides they are produced into an acute flat “ramus,” which is longer than the joint itself. It appears to be a commoner species. Our figure represents an example from Capetillo. Section B. Thorax with the carina divided behind ; elytra moderately widened, with four raised lines, areolets irregular. 23. Calopteron beltii. (Tab. IT. fig. 19, 2 .) Nigrum, pectore, pedibus basi, prothorace elytrisque rufo-testaceis, his macula magna subrotundata paulo post medium, illo carina postice canaliculata et vitta mediana nigris. ¢ 9. Long. 10-15 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Bel?). The species of this section of Calopteron are easily recognized by their rather soft, somewhat convex elytra, with four nervures, two or three of which are more strongly raised, with irregular areolets, and by the divided carina of the thorax, which thus has a narrow channel in its basal half, which is sometimes open at the base, at others closed. Several species thus characterized have been described from Colombia and New Granada. C. beltit is subelongate, rather less so in the male; the thorax is narrowed in front, the sides scarcely sinuate, the hind angles acute. The elytra are sometimes a 16 MALACODERMATA. little infuscate round the scutellum, which is black. The black patch is not so wide either at the suture or outer margin as in the centre. The abdomen is occasionally yellow in its centre to near its apex. Very few specimens have yet been sent. 94. Calopteron miniatum. Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus elytrisque miniatis ; his lineis quatuor, tertia subobsoleta, sutura basi nigricante. Long. 10 millim. 9°. Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio, Caché (Rogers). The thorax has the sides evenly narrowed to the front in the female. In a specimen which is probably the male the sides are subsinuate. The body is wholly black, the antenne a little acutely serrate; the sides of the thorax and elytra vermilion-red, with the exception of the suture for about one quarter at the base. 25. Calopteron matutinum. (Tab. II. fig. 7.) Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus et elytrorum triente basali (sutura excepta) late ferrugineis; elytris lineis quatuor elevatis, tertia obsolescente ; antennis latis, utriusque sexus serratis. ¢ 9. Long. 5-12 millim. Mas multo minor, segmento penultimo exciso. Femina major, segmento apicali in medio diviso. Hab. Muxtco, Toxpam (Sallé); Guatemata, Cubilguitz, Cahabon, Chiacam, La Tinta, San Juan (Champion). : This and the two following species present an instance of almost complete similarity in colouring and form. The fowr nervures will distinguish the present one from C. tricostatum, the black suture from C. difficile. The thorax has the carina divided from the middle to the base, which, where it ter- minates, is divided by a fineincision. The form of the thorax is trapezoidal, with acute hinder angles. The specimen figured is from La Tinta, the department of Vera Paz. 26. Calopteron difficile. Nigrum, prothorace (vitta mediana excepta) elytrorumque dimidio basali flavis ; elytris lineis quatuor elevatis, tertia minus distincta, areolis irregularibus, lineis transversis haud rugosis; antennis serratis. oQ. Long. 5-12 millim. Mas multo minor, segmento penultimo exciso. Femina major. Hab. Guatemata, Teleman (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). Closely allied to C. matutinum; it, however, differs, not only in colour (being rather yellow than rusty red) and in not having the basal part of the suture black, but the transverse divisions of the interstices are not so numerous nor so strongly raised. The difference in size of the sexes is sometimes very remarkable—a male of the smallest size being found still attached to a female of the largest, after their transmission to this country. CALOPTERON.—CANIA. 17 Section B ii. Thorax with the carina divided at the base; elytra moderately widened, with three raised lines. 27. Calopteron tricostatum. (Tab. II. fig. 6, 2.) Nigrum, prothoracis lateribus elytrorumque dimidio basali ferrugineis ; elytris lineis tribus elevatis, intervallis. irregulariter areolatis. Long. 6-10 millim. ¢ Q. Mas minor, segmento penultimo exciso. Femina major, segmento apicali medio minute diviso. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé) ; GuaTeMaLa, Pancina (Champion). The disparity in size between the sexes is not so great asin C. matutinum or C. difficile. The thorax is more evenly rounded in front; and the hind angles are rather more acutely produced. ‘The carina is divided and open at the base, as in the preceding species. This species also resembles C. xanthomelas, Kirsch. The divided carina of the thorax, and the antenne not pectinate in either sex, will enable them to be easily separated. C/AENIA. Cenia, Newman, Ent. Mag. v. p. 381 (1838). The species given in the Munich Catalogue as belonging to this genus, from Mada- gascar, Ceylon, and Mamuku, do not agree in typical characters; and I do not consider that the genus is found out of the North-American Region. It is best characterized by the expanded oval elytra with three strongly raised and six subsidiary nervures, the deeply indented sides of the thorax, and its complete simple carina. ‘There are known at present four species in Central America. 1. Cenia cardinalis. (Tab. I. fig. 24,9.) Nigra, prothorace elytrisque sanguineis, his lineis tribus sat fortiter elevatis, ad apicem conjunctis, et sex alteris haud distinctis ; illo carinato, disco infuscato, lateribus fortiter bisinuatis ; antennis flabellato-pectinatis. Long. 15 millim, Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). The whole of the body, with the antenne, palpi, and legs, is black; the thorax is orange-red, with the centre infuscate; the carina is complete, dark in the middle. The elytra are vermilion, with the base of the suture very narrowly black. Three lines are strongly marked—one subsutural, one discoidal, and the humeral one; these unite near the apex; six finer lines are present, one in each interstice, excepting that three intervene between the discoidal and the humeral nervure ; of these three the middle one appears to represent the ordinary third raised line where four are found; it is rather stronger than those on each side of it, and is much raised at the base. The transverse lines are remarkably regular, and divide the area into nearly square meshes; they BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, December 1880. D 18 MALACODERMATA. rarely “break joint; ” but.where they do so the reticulation is “ honeycomb ”-shaped. This naturally takes place at the apex of the elytron. This description of the sculpture will in a general way apply to all the other species of the genus known to me, and will therefore only be referred to when any difference presents itself. The thorax is also of the same structure in other species ; that is to say, the front and each side are prominent in the middle, the hind angles acute and produced, the base bisinuate. Only three specimens, all females, have been found. 2. Cenia scapularis. (Tab. I. fig. 23, 9.) Cenia scapularis, Newman, Ent. Mag. v. p. 881’; C. O. Waterh. Ill. Typ. Col. B. M. i. p. 23, t. vi. f. 67. Hab. Nort America! ?.—Muextco, Oaxaca (Sallé); GuatTemaua, Capetillo, Purula (Champion). This agrees sufficiently with the figure of Newman’s type given by Mr. C. Waterhouse, as well as with his description, except that the thorax has the sides broadly yellow. On what grounds it is given as a synonym of C. dimidiata (Fabr.) by Lacordaire, Genera Col. iv. p. 299, and in the Munich Catalogue, I am not aware. The Fabrician de- scription would apply better to the next species. The central nervure ‘of the three intermediate between the discoidal and humeral, is only slightly raised at the base. The male of this species is smaller, and has the flabellate branches of the antenne much finer at their base, and longer than those of the female. 3. Cenia sinuata. Cenia sinuata, Kirsch, Mittheilungen aus dem kon. zool. Mus. Dresd. Nigra, prothoracis lateribus elytrorumque dimidio basali flavis, elytris sutura anguste et circa scutellum nigris. Long. 10-15 millim. ¢ 9. Mas minor, antennis flabellato-pectinatis. Femina antennis articulis latioribus flabellatis. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Cordova, Cosamaloapam (Sallé); Guatemata (Sallé), var. sutura concolori; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). 4, Cxnia interrupta. (Tab. I. fig. 22.) Nigra, prothoracis lateribus fasciaque elytrorum, ad suturam et in medio interrupta, flavis, antennis maris longe flabellatis, angulis posticis thoracis acute productis. Long. 13 millim. ¢ 9. Mas antennis longe flabellatis, ramis articulis triplo fere longioribus. Femina antennarum articulis basi latioribus compressis, interne flabellatis. Hab. Guatemata (Sallé, 2 ), San Gerdénimo (Champion, ¢ ). Only two specimens of this very elegant insect have been seen by me. The thorax has the sides and front very prominent, the disk strongly carinate; the hind angles are more acutely produced than in either of the other species; the base has a small notch where the carina terminates. PLATEROS. 19 PLATEROS. Plateros, Bourgeois, Comptes-rendus, Soc. Ent. Belg. 1879, p. 16; Waterh. Ill. Typical Col. B. M.1. p. 25 (1879). This genus, in the wide sense given to it by Mr. Waterhouse, is distributed over nearly all the world. I have a species from Lake Nyassa, in Africa, which does not differ essentially from the species from Asia attributed to it by him. It would be very difficult to point out characters which would separate the Eastern species into a homo- geneous group. The species here treated agree in having the antenne simply serrate in both sexes, the thorax rounded in front, the base bisinuate, often notched in the centre, with acute, somewhat depressed hind angles, the disk carinate, or a little raised in front and channelled behind, and the elytra with about ten rows of closely packed punctures, the alternate interstices being rather more costate than the others. 1. Plateros seminiger. (Tab. II. fig. 15, 9 .) Niger, prothorace elytrisque a basi pone medium aurantiacis; his pube brevi vestitis, lineis quatuor elovatis, intervallis seriebus duplicibus punctorum, sutura basi nigra; illo vitta mediana equaliter lata nigra, antice indistincte carinato, postice canaliculato. Long. 13-19 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Santécomapan (Sal/é). The thorax narrowed from the base, with acute hind angles, the central black vitta, and suture black at the base, and the brick-red or orange elytra with rather more than the apical third black, render this an easy species to recognize among its congeners. The elytra of this and cognate species are described as having nine costate nervures ; but they are more correctly crenate striate, with the alternate interstices raised. This species is known in French collections by the name I have adopted; it is also sometimes called “ mécheli, Petit ;’ but I cannot find that either name has ever been published. I have only seen it from Mexico as yet. 2. Plateros bourgeoisi. (Tab. I. fig. 20 2, II. fig. 10 ¢.) Ater, prothoracis lateribus, disci carinula antica et canaliculo postico, elytrorumque humeris late rubris ; his lineis quatuor elevatis, intervallis biareolatis. Long. 8-12 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Britisn Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GuaTeMALA (Sallé), Capetillo, Dueias (Champion). The body and appendages are deep black, except that in some specimens the anterior and middle coxe, trochanters, and a small pectoral space is pale. The antenne are broadly but not acutely serrate ; and there is no important difference between the sexes. The abdominal structure is normal, the seventh segment in the male being deeply cut out; the apical one in the female bears a very minute notch. ‘The disk of the thorax is black and shining; but the carina and the channel are both yellow, the former well marked; and the disk is slightly rugose on each side of it. D 2 20 MALACODERMATA. 3. Plateros letourneuri. (Tab. II. fig. 17.) Niger, prothorace elytrisque ochraceis, his sutura basi infuscata; illo disco utrinque nigro-vittato, angulis posticis acutis, parum productis. Long. 10-11 millim. ¢ 2. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); British Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaus) ; GUATEMALA (Sallé). In one example the crown of the head and the mouth are ochraceous. The sides of the thorax contract slightly from the base; the central yellow line is characteristic ; and the alternate interstices are more strongly raised than in the species which are nearly allied. A Guatemala specimen is shown in the Plate. 4, Plateros evanidus. Niger, prothorace elytrisque ochraceis, his sutura basi, illo vitta mediana nigris, lateribus subsinuatis, angulis posticis acutis, productis. Long. 10-11 millim. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Sallé); Guatemaa, Chacoj, Pancina, Teleman (Champion) ; NicaraGua, Chontales (Belt) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten). Closely allied to P. letourneuri, and only differing in having the hind angles of the thorax more turned outwards, the elytra evenly striate with the four alternate inter- stices scarcely more raised, and the carina of the thorax black. The Costa-Rica specimens are darker ; and the angles of the thorax in them are less prominent. 5. Plateros apicalis. Niger, prothoracis lateribus, elytrorum dimidio basali, ore, antennarum articulo apicali pedibusque basi interne flavis; elytris interdum linea brevi basali prope suturam nigra. Long. 63-10 millim. Hab. Nicaraeua, Chontales (Lelé). Only two specimens of this species have been sent at present; and they seem very distinct from any other. The apical joint of the antenne is yellow; the yellow sides of the thorax join in front, leaving a black vitta occupying the disk, in one specimen reaching neither base nor front margin. The sculpture of the thorax is irregular, that of the elytra close, with slightly raised alternate coste. 6. Plateros luridus. Nigro-fuscus, capite, antennarum articulo apicali, prothorace, elytris, scutello, pedibus basi et pectore ochraceis ; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis alternis elevatis ; vitta thoracica, sutura ad basin vel linea subsuturali interdum nigro-fuscis. Long. 9-10 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt) ; Panama, var.?, Matachin (Thieme). Extremely close to P. evanidus, and hardly to be distinguished, except by the antenne, of which the joints are more acutely serrate, their internal apical angles being produced, and the apical joint yellow. This, however, does not seem to be the case with some specimens lent me by M. R. Oberthiir, which have acutely serrate PLATEROS. 21 antennee and the elytra adorned with obscure dark dashes in the intervals of the coste. 7. Plateros lateritius. (Tab. II. fig. 16, ¢ .) Niger, prothoracis lateribus elytrisque sanguineis; illo basi profunde sulcato, antice carinato; his punctato- striatis, interstitiis parum elevatis. Long. 9-113 millim. ¢ 2. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Oaxaca (Sailé). Head, antenne, body, legs, scutellum, and the disk of the thorax black. The elytra and sides of the thorax of a fine brick-red, the former sometimes with the base of the suture black, the latter inclining to orange-red. The antenne are compressed, serrate, the joints from the third to the tenth a little longer than wide, but decreasing in width towards the apex ; the apical joint much narrower than the tenth. The rows of punc- tures are ten in number, the alternate interstices a little more raised than the others. According to Sallé’s collection this is Cenia sanguinipennis, Say. I think, however, that will prove to be a different insect, the present species having nothing to do with the genus Cenia. 8. Plateros bogotensis. (Tab. II. fig. 18.) Eros bogotensis, Kirsch, Berl. Zeits. 1865, p. 67°. Hab. Guatemara (Sallé).—Soutn America, Bogota 1. A specimen of this species in M. Sallé’s collection, since acquired by Messrs. Godman and Salvin, agrees with one which was thus named by M. Bourgeois in my own cabinet. 9. Plateros thoracicus. Nigro-piceus, capite, prothorace (disco excepto), elytrorum vitta humerali cum fascia ad suturam et marginem latiore conjuncta, pedibusque basi flavescentibus ; thorace subquadrato, antice prominulo ; elytris parallelis, punctato-striatis. Long. 8-9 millim. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Matachin (Thieme).—Sovtu America, Colombia. Very near to P. bogotensis, but apparently distinct, being smaller, with the yellow portions of the elytra frequently more extended, occupying almost the whole base. There is usually a large basal blotch common to both elytra, of a trapezoid form, and with about a third of its apex smoky black. The thorax exhibits an angle on each side in front; the front itself is prominent, but truncate; the carina in front is minutely divided or channelled. 10. Plateros isthmianus. Nigro-fumosus, prothorace elytrorumque humeris, pedibus basi et pectore plus minusve flavescentibus ; thorace subquadrato, fronte emarginata basi canaliculata; elytris substriatis, coriaceis, lineis quatuor elevatioribus. Long. 74-83 millim. ¢ Q. 22 MALACODERMATA. Hab. Guareaana, Zapote (Champion) ; Panama, Matachin (Thieme). Not only differs from P. thoracicus by the absence of the fascia, but is also slightly more parallel; the front of the thorax is often emarginate, sometimes with a small notch ; the carina is very obsolete, scarcely ever to be traced, and, when present, not divided. There is a fine series in M. R. Oberthiir’s collection. I have only seen one from Guatemala. 11. Plateros terminalis. Nigro-fumosus, subparallelus, opacus, prothoracis lateribus, striga humerali, et antennarum apice flavis, elytris punctato-striatis. Long. 63 millim. Hab. Guatemaua, San Juan, Vera Paz (Champion) ; NIcaRracua, Chontales (Belt). Only three specimens have come under my notice of this very distinct insect. ‘The head, antennz, legs, and body are black, with the exception of from one to three joints at the apex of the antenne (the number seems variable): the antenne are serrate, the width of each joint increasing towards the middle. The thorax has the disk black from base to front, the carina visible, the basal channel short; the front is rounded, the sides are sinuate, the base notched. The elytra are evenly and strongly crenate-striate. 12. Plateros parallelus. (Tab. IT. fig. 19.) Niger, nitidus, elongatus, parallelus, prothoracis marginibus lateralibus et frontali rufo-testaceis, basi in medio elevata et excisa; elytris coriaceis, substriatis. Long. 6-9 millim. ¢ 2. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Oaxaca (Sallé); British Honpuras, Rio Hondo (blan- caneauz); GUATEMALA, San Gerdnimo, Zapote (Champion) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). The elongate parallel form of this insect will cause it to be recognized. The antenne have the second small joint yellow, and the basal one tinged with yellow and pitchy. The elevated and notched centre of the basal margin is a character which obtains in other species of the genus, as P. isthmianus, but in a less degree. The Zapote examples are usually smaller and have yellow shoulder-stripes ; but they agree too nearly with those from San Gerdénimo for me to attempt their separation. It 1s, moreover, one of the latter variety that M. Bourgeois has returned to me with the name here adopted. 13. Plateros striatus. Niger, prothoracis lateribus rufis, elytris crenato-striatis. Long. 53-6 millim. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Sallé); Guatemaua, Capetillo, Duenhas (Champion). Var, Elytris linea minuta humerali rufa. (P. marginellus, Macleay.) Hab. GUATEMALA, Zapote (Champion) ; Panama, Matachin (Zhieme). PLATEROS. 23 Antenne serrate, the joints narrowing towards the apex. Head black, with rather prominent eyes. Thorax round in front; hind angles acute, produced ; base divided in the centre, but not much elevated, nor truncate as in P. parallelus. Elytra gradually widening towards their apex, strongly crenate-striate, with a greyish look; the striz with distinct punctures. Among many Lycide obtained by me from the late Mr. Norris’s collection were two or three of the variety with a humeral stripe of this species ; these were named for me by M. Bourgeois “ P. marginellus, Macleay.” It would be impossible from the description alone to identify it with the Fabrician Lycus marginellus, which, indeed, would apply equally to other small species of other genera. There are at least four species of Calopteron so closely resembling this as to require careful study for their separation. 14. Plateros flavicollis. Niger, prothorace, femoribus intermediis et posticis basi, scutello, humeris et sutura juxta scutellum flave- scentibus. Long. 5-53 millim. Hab. GUATEMALA, Zapote (Champion). It is with some hesitation I give this specific rank ; but even if it be only a variety of P. striatus, it is necessary to notice it. 15. Plateros nicaraguensis. Niger, oblongus, parallelus; prothorace transverso, antice angustato, lateribus sinuatis, angulis posticis acutis, productis, ochraceo, vitta lata in medio nigra; elytris ochraceis, apice nigris, interstitiis alternis eleva- tioribus ; antennarum articulo primo et ore rufo-piceis. Long. 10 millim. 9. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). The form of this insect is not that of any of the species hitherto described. The antennee are compressed and narrow towards the apex; they are scarcely serrate. The prothorax is rather trapezoidal, with the base sinuate, much wider than the front, not notched in the middle; the front and the sides form an obtuse angle, the former being a little produced over the head; the basal channel is well defined, but the carina hardly traceable. The elytra are rather wide and flattish, with the usual ten series of punctures, which are, however, scarcely visible, owing to the fine yellow pubescence with which they are covered. The apical segment of the abdomen appears not to be divided in the middle. Only a single specimen was sent by Mr. Belt. 16. Plateros ochraceus. Niger, prothorace elytrisque ochraceis, his striga subsuturali juxta scutellum nigra, illo transverso, antice angustato, basi canaliculato, utrinque subtuberculato, disco plus minusve nigro, canaliculo tamen flayo, angulis posticis acutis productis. Long. 7-9 millim. Hab. Guatemaua, Cubilguitz (Champion). 24 . MALACODERMATA. At first sight this is very similar to P. letowrnewri. The following points of dif- ference indicate, I believe, specific rank:—The thorax is shorter and has a less even surface ; it is not so evenly rounded in front; the head is reddish between the eyes; and the antenne are longer; the scutellum is red, and the suture itself not black at the base; but there is a short black streak on each side of it from the scutellum; the elytra are more convex, and their alternate interstices not raised, excepting the humeral and discoidal ones at the base. In some specimens the thorax exhibits transverse oblique rugosities, one of which forms a sulcus united with the channel of the disk near the base. 17. Plateros rubricatus. Ochraceo-rufus, antennis, palpis, abdomine pedibusque (basi excepta) nigris, elytris interstitiis alternis eleva- tioribus. Long. 10 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Chacoj, La Tinta, Pancina (Champion). This species is also a very close ally of P. letowrneuri, and is, indeed, still nearer to it in form than is P. ochraceus. It is, however, clearly a distinct species. The head, thorax, and scutellum are entirely of the brick-red colour of the thorax ; and the whole of the sterna, with the coxe, trochanters, base of the femora, and even the first segment of the abdomen are also red. The thorax, moreover, is not so even as in letourneuri; it exhibits six depressions in addition to the basal channel—two on each side, and one on each side of the channel, somewhat suggesting an approach to a true Lros. 18. Plateros mexicanus. Nigro-fumosus, prothoracis margine laterali et frontali elytrorumque humeris ochraceo-rubris vel roseis ; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis alternis elevatioribus. Long. 63-8 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, Hoge). This species belongs to the first division of the genus, in which the elytra are moderately widened behind. ‘The only species yet described which it resembles is P. bourgeoisi.. It is scarcely more than half the size of that species; the elytra are not so black, and the red portions are more nearly pink; the disk is black, but never reaching the front margin, nor is there any central red line. The thoracic channel is open behind, and the base elevated, but not strongly in the middle. The antenne are more pubescent than in P. bourgeoisi; and the head is sometimes reddish above the mandibles, which are red. 19. Plateros roseicollis. Niger, prothorace elytrorumque humeris tenuiter roseis, his interstitiis alternis modice elevatis. Long. 8-10 millim. ¢. Hab. Mexico, Jacale (Sallé). PLATEROS.—CALLEROS. 25 Fasily distinguished from P. mexicanus, which it otherwise rather closely resembles, by its quite red thorax. The red shoulder-stripe extends a little way down the humeral costa ; but the margins of the elytra are black to close to the base ; the alternate interstices are more sharply raised, in which respect this species rather resembles P. bourgeoisi. From that species the much shorter thorax, as well as its rosy-red colour, separates it. There are four female specimens in M. Sallé’s collection. 20. Plateros patiens. Niger, prothorace elytrorumque dimidio basali testaceis, his interstitiis alternis regulariter elevatioribus, illo margine basali paulo elevato et exciso; antennis serratis ; femoribus basi flavis. Long. 9 millim. Hab. GuatEMALa, Zapote (Champion). A species very much resembling P. apicalis, from which it may be distinguished by the apical joint of the antenne being black, the thorax quite unicolorous, yellow, with the base elevated in the middle, so as to form a short double carina, on each side of the central channel. The scutellum is yellow; the yellow of the elytra continues along the margin further than at the suture. Only a single specimen appears to me to belong to this species. 21. Plateros stramineus. Pallide testaceus, corpore, antennis pedibusque nigris, his basi testaceis, thoracis disco interdum fusco, breviter canaliculato, basi sinuata, integra, angulis posticis acutis, productis. Long. 54-6 millim. g 9. Hab. GuaTemMaa, San Gerénimo, San Juan (Champion). One of the smallest Platerotes, about the size of P. striatus, but readily distinguished by its yellow colour above. The elytra are very evenly striate, without elevated lines. The disk of the thorax is either marked with pitchy or is of the same colour as the rest of the upper surface. The central channel is wide, but vanishes in front and behind. Three specimens, collected by Mr. Champion. CALLEROS, Genus Plateroti affine, antennis gracilioribus, prothorace plerumque angustiore quam elytra, sulco basin vix attingente, et angulis posticis minus acute productis, mox distinguendum. Caput haud rostratum, oculis sat magnis, antennis subfiliformibus, vix serratis, parum compressis. Prothorax elytris plerumque basi angustior, disco inzequali ad basin canaliculato vel fossulato, angulis posticis subrectis vel muticis, margine basali integro. Scutellum apice fissum. Elytra postice paulo ampliata vel parallela, regulariter substriata, intervallis subtiliter rugosis vel crenulatis, pubescentia, interstitiis alternis vix vel haud elevatioribus. Abdominis segmentum penultimum maris ventrale emarginatum, dorsale oblique truncatum ; feminz ventrale conicum, apice fissum. A genus proposed to receive some small Lycide which are allied to Plateros, but differ considerably both in general appearance and, especially, in the long thin antenne. They are species of moderate size, with brightly coloured red thoraces and elytra, sometimes purplish or cochineal. I have taken the first species described below BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, February 1881. iE 26 | MALACODERMATA. (C. puniceus) as my type; the genus, however, will include Eros phenicurus of Kirsch | (Berl. Zeit. 1865, p. 68), a species which is found in Colombia. | 1. Calleros puniceus. Niger, prothorace elytrisque lete rufis (puniceis), his retrorsum modice expansis, striatis, illo disco infuseato, leviter canaliculato et foveolato, antice obsolete punctato; scutello nigro; antennis subfiliformibus, dimidium corporis superantibus. Long. 8-9 millim. g 2. Hab. GuatemMata, Tactic (Champion). The head, body, antennz, and legs are black; the mouth a little pale. The elytra are of a bright velvety-looking crimson-red ; the thorax a little more of a brick-red, with its disk blackish in parts. The elytra are very evenly striate. The sexes do not exhibit any difference in form or length of the antenne, or in the structure of their joints. This is perhaps the most vividly coloured of the family which I have seen from Central America. 2. Calleros rufobrunneus. Niger, prothorace rufo, angulis posticis subrotundatis; elytris rufo-brunneis, velutinis, intervallis alternis elevatioribus, preesertim prope humeros, retrorsum modice expansis. Long. 7-9 millim. ¢ @. Hab. Guatemata, Sinanja valley, Cubilguitz (Champion). Very closely allied to C. puniceus; it is, however, differently coloured, being of a rich reddish brown, with brighter pubescence. The antenne of the male are as long‘as the body, and have the third joint much longer than in the female, in which the same joint is obconic, not much longer than the second, and the whole antenna half the length of the body. The angles of the thorax of the male are acute and a little produced ; those of the female are blunt and round. The scutellum is of the brownish-red colour of the elytra. 8. Calleros militaris. Niger, elytris sanguineis velutinis, obsoletius striatis; scutello nigro; prothoracis disco antice indistincte carinato, postice leviter canaliculato ac foveolato, angulis posticis subrectis; antennis subcompressis, vix serratis. Long. 73-9 millim. Hab. Guatema.a, Sinanja valley (Champion). Only two specimens of this have come under my notice. It is very easily recognized by the black thorax and rich red elytra; the former has the hind angles in one specimen very narrowly edged with yellowish. The elytra are moderately expanded towards their apex. 4. Calleros sinanje. Niger, parallelus, prothorace sanguineo, nitido, postice foveolato, scutello nigro; elytris basi brunneis, apicem versus infuscatis, distincte striatis, interstitiis alternis leviter elevatioribus ; antennarum articulo ultimo brunneo. Long. 63—7 millim. 9°. Hab. GvuaTEMALA, Sinanja valley (Champion). CALLEROS.—CALODADON. 27 This so far differs from the three preceding species as to give rise to reasonable doubts whether it should really be associated with them. It agrees, however, in having very slightly compressed hardly serrate antenne. The prothorax has acute hind angles, they are a little produced backwards; it is as long as wide, round in front, with parallel sides. In one specimen the scutellum is brown. CALOLYCUS. Genus Plateroti affine, thorace latiore lateribus explanatis reflexis, elytrisque magis ampliatis, ovalibus, differt. Caput haud rostratum, antennis utroque sexu subfiliformibus, compressis, apicem versus attenuatis. Thorax maris transversim subquadratus; femine latior, lunaris, angulis posticis productis acutis; antice carinatus, postice canaliculatus. Elytra areolarum seriebus novem, interstitiis quarto et octavo costatis. The form of the prothorax and of the elytra are the principal characters which separate this genus from Plateros,—the former being expanded, especially in the female, at the sides, so as to remind one of Lycostomus; the latter being oval, as in Cenia. I have not at present seen any other species than the one now described, which I should associate with it. 1. Calolycus calanticatus. Tab. IV. fig. 3.) Niger, opacus; prothorace roseo, medio nigro-vittato, transverso, angulis posticis acutis, disco antice leviter a > p ? & b] b] oO 2 carinato, postice canaliculato basi integro; elytris ovatis ampliatis, humeris costatis, striga minuta rufa ornatis. Long. 8-10 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé). The head, antennee, legs, and body are entirely black. The thorax wide, with the hind angles produced backwards ; the front rounded, not prominent, the base sinuate and not notched in the centre, but with a reflexed margin a little more raised there; the central vitta is widest at the base, not very distinct in one specimen (male), in another (female) distinct, and in front only as wide as the carina. The elytra have ten rows of squarish areole, not very deep; the humeral callus strongly raised and con- tinued as a costate interstice to near the apex. The portion of the elytron external to this is widened much as in Cenia, and contains two rows of cells; the margin itself is thickened a little. This is a very elegant insect, the black elytra contrasting strongly with the red thorax. It cannot be well placed in the genus Plateros, while it differs from Eros, which has the thorax divided into seven areole, in having its disk sculptured as in the former of those genera. CALODADON. Caput haud rostratum; oculi magni prominentes; antenne corpore breviores, longe flabellata (fcemine serrate). Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo subsecuriformi, obliquiter truncato. Pronotum pileiforme, disco antice carinato, in medio usque ad basin, carina duplici inter se suleum angustum formante, basi medio prominente, haud exciso. -Elytra seriebus punctorum decem, interstitiis alternis elevatioribus. Pedes longi, femoribus et tibiis compressis et sulcatis. Abdominis segmentum apicale ventrali, maris acuminatum, penultimum rotundato-emarginatum ; foeminee ventrali apicale rotundatum, haud fissum aut excisum. Et 2 28 - MALACODERMATA. A new genus is necessary for the reception of four species of Lycide from Central America. They are allied to Plateros by the sculpture of the elytra, and to the Caloptera of Section A iii. by their beautifully flabellate antenne. But the sculpture of the thorax, consisting of a neat central groove not reaching the hind margin, with carinate edges, a frontal carina, and its head with large round prominent eyes remove it from either. The species are of moderate size only. Calopteron letum, Kirsch (Berl. ent. Zeit. 1865, p. 43), is referable to this genus. M. Bourgeois has referred it to Emplectus, Er. (Wiegm. Arch. 1847, p. 82); but Mr. C. Waterhouse says the type of Erichson’s genus has simple antenne. Cladocerus of Kirsch has biflabellate antenne. 1. Calodadon testaceum. (Tab. II. fig. 20, ¢.) Testaceum, antennis, palpis basi excepta, femoribus apice, tibiis, tarsis, abdomineque nigris; prothorace elongato, basi sinuata angulis posticis acutis, antice rotundato, lateribus a basi angustatis ; disco antice carinato, carina postice divisa. Long. 8-9 milim. ¢ @. Mas antennarum articulis 3°-10° longe fiabellatis. Femina antennis acute serratis. Hab. Guaremata, San Gerénimo, Zapote (Champion, 2? ); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belé, Janson, & ). The figure represents one of the largest male specimens from Chontales. The head is yellow ; but the eyes are so large as to occupy a large portion of it. The antenne are entirely fuscous-black. The thorax narrows considerably from the base to the front, which shows a slight angle where the rounded part meets the sides. The elytra have four neatly raised lines, the intervals of which have double rows of small areolets or punctures; these are square, but are partly hidden by the fine squamosity which covers them. The Guatemala specimens are rather doubtfully the female of the same species. The thorax is shorter and smaller, and the abdomen yellow. 2. Calodadon oculatum. Nigrum, prothorace (vitta mediana excepta) elytrisque ochraceis, his apicali triente nigro, sutura etiam basi nonunquam nigra. Long. 9 millim. ¢ 9. Mas oculis magnis, antennis longe flabellatis. Femina oculis mediocribus, antennis acute serratis. Hab. Guatemaua, Teleman, Chacoj (Champion) ; Nicaraaua, Chontales (Belt). In form and sculpture much resembling C. testaceum, this species is amply distin- guished by its colour. The antenne of the male have their joints above the second (which in this genus is very short) much longer than wide, as in C. testaceum; but the corresponding joints of the female are widely triangular, being, to the acute internal angle, wider than long. CALODADON.—LAMPROCERA. 29 8. Calodadon fusculum. Piceum, prothoracis margine antico et laterali femoribusque basi pallide testaceis, elytris fuscis basi dilutioribus, thoracis disco canaliculato et foveola postice impressa. Long. 8 millim. ¢. Mas oculis magnis, antennis longe flabellatis. Hab. Nicaraeua, Chontales (Belt). The thorax of this species is shorter and more nearly semicircular than that of C. testaceum ; and the disk is not carinate in front; it has a rather obsolete channel, terminating in a fovea near the base. The eyes, antenne, and elytra, however, so completely agree with those of the males of the two preceding, that I feel no hesitation in associating it with them. The description is from a single male specimen sent by the late Mr. Belt. 4, Calodadon pectinicornis. Nigrum, prothorace (elytrorum basi latitudine quali) vitta mediana excepta ferrugineo, elytris ferrugincis, apice late nigris, versus apicem paulo latioribus, lineis duabus elevatis; thoracis disco antice carinato, medio elevato ac canaliculato, basi in medio elevata haud excisa. Long. 10-11 millim. g 2. Mas antennis longe flabellatis. Femina antennis compressis, acute serratis. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). This species almost exactly resembles Calopteron pectinatum in size, form, and colour, but is at once separated by the channelled thorax, and the number of series of punctures of the elytra. The thorax is wider but of similar sculpture to that of C. testaceum. The eyes of the males are only of ordinary bulk; and the elytra are flatter than in my typical species. Iam not able, however, to point out any other genus into which it could be so well introduced. Fam. LAMPYRIDA. Subfam. LUCIDOTIDES. This family comprises the Glow-worms of the temperate, and the greater part of the Fire-flies of tropical latitudes. It is in Central and South America that these beetles attain their highest development, both in size and number of species. The subfamily includes the genera with plumose or dentate antenne ; and these are, with one exception (viz. the genus Vesta, which is found in India and Java), peculiar to Tropical America, a few species only of Lucidota extending into Temperate America and Eastern Asia. LAMPROCERA. Lamprocera, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. ii. p. 129 (1833). This fine genus appears almost confined to the tropical parts of the southern continent 30 MALACODERMATA. of America. The males have wide lamelle springing from each side of the joints of the antenne at their apices: in the typical species (L. latreillec) these are equal; but in other species they are much shorter on the side which is outermost when the antenna is extended. The males only are luminous. One species has been found north of the isthmus. 1. Lamprocera picta. (Tab. III. fig. 1, ¢.) Lamprocera picta, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 5°. Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt); Guatemata, Teleman (Champion). The figure is that of a male from Nicaragua. HYAS. Hyas, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. i. p. 1384 (1838). The species composing this genus retain the wide shield-like shape of Lamprocera ; but the lamellze are only developed on one side of the antenne, and the species are smaller. Important distinctions exist in the structure of the abdomen, which are noticed in the Transactions of the Entomological Society for 1880, part 1. The species seem evenly distributed in Tropical America. Four species are given in the Munich Catalogue, which probably are only varieties of two; but there are some undescribed in collections. Four species have been recently sent from our district. 1. Hyas rhomboidea. (Tab. ITI. fig. 2, ¢.) Hyas rhomboidea, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 6. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). The single specimen of this species at present received is a male; it is more parallel in form than the other known species. 2. Hyas angularis. Hyas angularis, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 7, t. i. f. 19%. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Playa Vicente (Sallé) ; GuaremaLa, San Gerdénimo, Calderas (Champion). 3 @. Some of the specimens differ from the type in not having black angles to the thorax ; the other specimens quite accord with it, the antenne, however, are entirely black, acutely serrate in the g. In the male the pygidium and apical segment are pale, the latter deeply excised and forming an opening. The female has the apical ventral plate pale alone, and has the thorax longer and with the sides therefore less oblique. 8. Hyas lugubris. Ovalis, depressa, aterrima, opaca, scutello thoracisque disco nitidis, hoc carinato, utrinque plagis duabus fulvis marginem anticum vix attingentibus. Long. 9-11 millim. Q. HYAS.—PHANOLIS. 31 Hab. Guatemata, Sabo, Senahu (Champion). Differs from H. angularis chiefly by its much smaller size, narrower, more elongate form, and the greater extent of black upon the thorax. The antenne are acutely serrate. The apical segment in one specimen has a small ochreous spot on each side, which, I conclude, is the luminous part. The pygidium is fuscous, nearly black. 4. Hyas semifusca. Late ovalis, depressa, fusca, subopaca ; prothorace, pectore, scutello, pedibus anticis et intermediis (tibiis tarsisque exceptis), coxis posterioribus, elytris ad basin indeterminate abdominisque apice fulvis ; thoracis disco carinato, margine antico reflexo; antennis acute serratis, articulis duobus basi flavis. Long.12 millim. g. Hab. Guatemaa, Zapote (Champion). A single specimen of this distinct species is all that I have seen; and I think it is a male. The antenne are rather more than half as long as the whole insect, if the prothorax is included ; they are simply serrate, without any tendency to pectination ; and this is so in the males of other Central-American species of Hyas. CLADODES. Cladodes, Blanchard in Gay’s Hist. Chili, Zool. iv. p. 444 (1849). This genus was only known from South America. Mr. E. Janson, however, has found one species in Nicaragua. It appears as if the females were unknown ; all the specimens I have examined have the normal structure of males of this family. They are rare in collections ; and it is probable that the females are not only rarer, but more sluggish, than the males. 1. Cladodes plumosa. (Tab. III. fig. 21.) Cladodes plumosa, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 9. Hab. Nicaraava, Chontales (Janson, Belt). PHANOLIS. Phenolis, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 10. This genus was designed to receive three species from Central Ameria which differ from Cladodes in having the antenne with lamelle on each side, nearly equal in length. All the specimens I have seen appear to be males, the specimen of P. ochraceus referred to in my description as possibly a female being very doubtfully assignable to that sex. 1. Phenolis laciniatus. (Tab. III. fig. 22, ¢.) Phenolis laciniatus, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 10. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica (Rogers). 32 MALACODERMATA. 2. Phenolis ustulatus. Phenolis ustulatus (Chevr.), Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 11°. Hab. Mexico1, Cordova (Sallé); Guatemata, Zapote1, Purula, Senahu, Cubilguitz (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). 8. Pheenolis ochraceus. Phenolis ochraceus, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 11". Hab. Guaremaa, Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt!). 3 2 4, Phenolis nigricollis. Niger, opacus, elytris basi ultra medium pallide testaceis, pube brevi dense vestitis. Long.15 millim. $? Hab. Mexico, Tepansacualco, Oaxaca (Sallé). This highly interesting species scarcely differs in form from P. ustulatus. ‘The thorax is transverse, constricted at the base, a little less produced in front. The expanded sides form a nearly straight channel with the disk, where they commence to be reflexed. The scutellum is black and opaque. ‘The elytra are of a very pale yellow for rather more than half their length at the base; and this colour extends a little way down the suture. Three or four nervures are just visible, but only indistinctly so. The apical ventral segment is cleft and bilobed, the pygidial plate broadly bisinuate. A single specimen only has come under my notice. JETHRA. 4Ethra, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. i. p. 133 (18338). Neither the limits of distribution nor approximate number of species in this section are yet well ascertained. The typical species are Brazilian, and are distinguished by the great length of the lamelle of the antenne, which sometimes equal half their whole length. In the Central-American species, on the contrary, the antenne are scarcely pectinate; yet the general construction is the same; and they more nearly resemble the species of the Eastern genus Vesta. But one sex (6?) is known to me. 1. Aithra despecta. (Tab. III. fig. 3.) Aithra despecta, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 121. Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt!) ; Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers).—Cotomsta |, The Central-American specimens agree in not having the disk of the thorax infuscate. 2. Aithra concolor. Aithra concolor, Gorh. loc. cit. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). DRILOLAMPADTUS. 33 DRILOLAMPADIUS, g. n. Aithre affinis, antennis autem serie duplici ramorum pectinatis sat distinctus. Caput prothorace valde receptum. Oculi maris sat magni. Antenne 11-articulate, articulo primo ad apicem robusto, secundo perbrevi, tertio ad decimum sequentibus subsqualibus ; basi ramo vel filamento pilifero duplici munita. Prothorax semicircularis vel antice paululum angustatus, plerumque canaliculatus. Elytra subcostata. Abdomen haud lobatum, maris segmentibus octo, septimo emarginato. There are not many genera of Lampyride with bipectinate or biflabellate antenne ; and it is necessary to found a new genus for the reception of a few species which differ from all other species known to me, in having the antenne with eleven joints, and the third to the tenth joints with branches equal in length and filamentary. The general form is that of the small species of Zthra; the species very closely resemble Lycide from the same district. Three species are known to me—two from Central America, one from Colombia, at present undescribed. | 1. Drilolampadius stolatus. (Tab. III. fig. 20.) Niger, prothoracis lateribus late, elytrorum margine humerali tenuiter flavis; elytris sutura costisque duabus paulo elevatis, ad apicem evanescentibus. Long. 6-7 millim. ¢. Var. Elytris plaga latiore humerali et sutura basin versus flavis. Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); GuatemaLa, Zapote, Chiacam (Champion). Var. Guatemaa, Senahu, San Juan (Champion); Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt). The specimen figured is from Zapote. Prothorax transversely lunate, narrowed from the acute hind angles to the front, with large irregular punctures, the disk tumid, uneven, deeply channelled in the middle. Elytra subopaque, coarsely, confluently punctate, with two distinct, and externally a third abbreviated costa. Those specimens in which the bases of the elytra are more yellow appear more distinctly costate ; but I do not see sufficient ground for separating them. ‘The fifth and sixth segments of the abdomen beneath show a small diaphanous spot. Obs. The figure in our Plate shows nine branches on each side of the antenna. Iam satisfied that there really exist but eight, the eleventh or terminal joint being simple. 2. Drilolampadius scutellaris. Niger, prothorace (disco excepto) elytrisque (plaga brevi subscutellari nigra) ferrugineis. Long. 7-84 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Cubilguitz (Champion); Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers). Rather larger than D. stolatus, and with the thorax not so decidedly narrowed in front, but transversely lunate. The disk is black; but this colour does not extend to the front; the suture and two coste are moderately raised ; the scutellum is black, except at its apex; and the’elytra have a short black streak at the base. ‘The body beneath BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, February 1881. F 34 MALACODERMATA. and legs are black; only the fifth segment has a small white spot; and even this is apparent in one alone of the three specimens which have been sent. MEGALOPHTHALMUS. Megalophthalmus, Gray, Griffith’s An. Kingd. Ins. 1. p. 871 (1882). The separation of this genus from others with strongly pectinate antenne, small eyes, and with a very small portion of the abdomen luminous, on the ground of the head being scarcely covered by the very short pronotum, is unnatural. In the Central- American species even this character is not maintained. The females of this genus seem unknown, so that its position is still provisional; but I think that it is best placed in this subfamily. . Four species of Megalophthalmus have been described from South America. The genus is also said, but incorrectly, to be found in Chili. 1. Megalophthalmus guatemale. Megalophthalmus guatemale, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 98°. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Guatema.a, Zapote (Champion }). 2. Megalophthalmus godmani. Niger, prothorace, coxis et femoribus intermediis basi elytrisque ferrugineis, abdominis segmento quinto (maris?) apice albo; elytris tricostatis ; antennis late pectinatis. Long. 8-9 millim. ¢? Hab. GuateMaa, Cubilguitz (Champion). Rather larger than IZ. guatemale, and with the antenne a little more widely pecti- nate, but otherwise resembling it in form. The second and third coste are not so evidently united at the apex; and the apical branch is only just visible. LUCIDOTA. Lucidota, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. i. p. 186 (1833). This genus is not well defined at present; two types of species are included in it, as will be seen by reference to my figures of the ventral apical segments of the males (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, pl. i. figs. 8, 10,11). The first division consists of species, often of large size, from Tropical South America. The second division are more mode- rate in size; but both agree in having the antenne pectinate or serrate, often long, the prothorax usually short and its disk channelled, and the abdomen not lobed. LIucidota is distributed in America from Chili to the United States, and is even represented in Japan. | LUCIDOTA. 35 1. Lucidota silphoides. Lucidota silphoides, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 18’. Hab. British Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneausx !); Guatemata (Sallé). The specimen described is a female, and, with the exception of one in Sallé’s collec- tion (which has lost the abdomen and has the filamentary pectination abraded from the antenne), is all I have yet seen of this species. The pectination is double, a pair of short rami springing from each side of the base of the third to the tenth one. It is therefore not improbable that this species may have to be referred to Drilo- lampadius. 2. Lucidota bella. (Tab. III. fig. 4.) Lucidota bella, Gorh. loc. cit." Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Tuxtla, Teapa; GuatEMALa, Zapote!, San Gerénimo, Cubulco, San Juan, Senahu (Champion) ; Honpuras (Sad/é); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). The specimen figured is one from Zapote. In M. Sallé’s collection this species is named “ ¢horacica, Oliv.” It is true that Photinus thoracicus, Oliv. (Ent. ii. p. 27, t. 3. f. 29), is probably a Lucidota; I have, however, no reason at present for thinking it to be identical with this species, and have not as yet seen L. bella from South America. 3. Lucidota rubricollis. Lucidota rubricollis, Gorh. tom. cit. p. 19°. Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Sallé); Guaremana, La Tinta (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales! (Janson, Belt). 4. Lucidota apicicornis. Lucidota apicicornis, Gorh. tom. cit. p. 20. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). Species of Zucidota, Photinus, and Photuris are so frequentiy similarly coloured as to suggest that mimicry has affected them, as well as that it explains the singular resem- blances of many species of this tribe to those of Lycide, Telephoride, Cleride, Longicornia, Hispide, &c., and even to insects of other orders, as Blattide. This species is superficially very like Photuris lucidicollts, Gorh. The much longer compressed antenne with white apical joints may serve for a ready distinction. | 5. Lucidota osculatii. Lucidota osculatii, Guérin, Wiener Verz. v. 1855, p. 580°; Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 207. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales ? (Belt, Janson).—Sovutu America, Colombia}. F 2 36 MALACODERMATA. The type of coloration of this species (bone-yellow, with elytra and disk of the thorax pitchy, with yellow margins) is very common throughout the Lampyride. There are both Photini and Photwrides very closely like this species; and the study of the generic characters is necessary to avoid their being confused. L. osculatit has long compressed antenne with serrate joints. 6. Lucidota limbata. Lucidota limbata, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 20. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). 7. Lucidota apicalis. (Tab. III. fig. 5.) Lucidota apicalis, Gorh. tom. cit. p. 19, t. i. f. 10°. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). ¢. This is like LZ. apicicornis in having white apical joints to the antenne; but the elytra are wholly black, and the thorax whitish and immaculate. The lengthened pygidial plate 1 may indicate a section of the genus of which it will form the type. 8. Lucidota diaphanura, (Tab. IV. fig. 22.) Nigro-fumosa, obscura, elytris opacis, prothorace subnitido, disco obsolete canaliculato, utrinque miniato, lateribus albidis, extus subinfuscatis; antennis compressis, haud serratis, corporis dimidio longitudine equalibus. Long. 12-15 millim. 9. Mas abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto ventralibus ad apices, septimo toto et pygidio albis; hoc latiore, conyexo, superne carinato, diaphano. Femina pygidio angustiore, apice rotundato albo, basi infuscata; segmento ventrali apicali apice triangulariter exciso, et (cum penultimi margine) albo. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé). A species of Lucidota somewhat resembling and allied to LZ. atra, but larger than that species, and at once to be separated by the white apical segments of the abdomen. ‘The thorax varies a little in the proportion of its width; and this is in reference to the size of the specimens and not to their sex, the larger individuals having the thorax more fully developed. The sides narrow ina sinuous manner towards the front, which is rather prominent. The disk has a pitchy-black vitta from base to apex. The elytra show very indistinct traces of one or two nervures. ‘The head, mouth, palpi, antenne, legs, and underside are entirely pitchy black, with the exception of the apical segments. In the majority of the males before me the genital or eighth segment is not visible ; the seventh is broad, but not equal in width to the pygidium. In two other males separated in M. Sallé’s collection the genital plate is visible as usual; the antenne are longer, they have the basal joint fuscous. But I do not think they belong to a different species. LUCIDOTA. 37 9. Lucidota atra.: Lucidota atra, Olivier, Ent. ii. p. 28, t. 8. f. 28; Fabr. Ent. Syst. i. 2, p. 101. Lampyris laticornis, Fabr. tom. cit. p. 99; Cast. Hist. Nat. i. p. 268. Hab. Norrn America, United States—Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). I have only seen two specimens, from Chontales, which I think referable to this species. 10. Lucidota discolor. (Tab. III. fig. 6, 2.) Rufo-ferruginea ; antennis, palpis, tibiis, tarsis, abdomine (apice excepto) elytrorumque dimidio apicali nigris ; thorace transverso, disco foveolato, elytris nervulis tribus parum distinctis. Long. 12-15 millim. ¢ 9. Mas segmento ventrali apicali, apice producto, genitale superante, rufo. Femina latior, segmentis quinto et sexto ventralibus puncto rufo, apicali acute exciso. Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente, Cordova, Santecomapan (Sal/é); British Honpuras, Rio Hondo (Blancaneaux); GuatemMata, Vera Paz, San Juan, Chacoj,; Senahu (Champion, 3); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson).—Soutn America, Colombia. Head small, received into the thorax, rufous or pitchy; antenne two thirds as long as the body, a little compressed but scarcely serrate; breast and femora rufous—the latter, especially the posterior pair, tinged with black at their apex. Abdomen black, with the exception of the apical segment in the male and two punctiform spots on the fifth and sixth plates in the female. Prothorax with disk very convex, the margins rather broadly reflexed. Elytra obsoletely pubescent, the apical half smoky black; the division of this from the rufous basal half is indeterminate and variable. The apical segments of the male are figured in Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, pl. i. fig. 11. 11. Lucidota lugens. (Tab. IV. fig. 18, ¢.) Aterrima, subopaca, prothoracis lateribus modice reflexis, disco in medio obsolete canaliculato fere levi, angulis posticis subrectis; antennis compressis vix serratis, elytris vix costatis. Long. 14 millim, ¢ 9. Mas abdominis segmento septimo ventrali fortiter exciso, maculis duabus flavis; pygidio longe, apice leviter emarginato et elevato. Femina segmento ventrali apicali, apice minute exciso, maculis duabus obscure flavis. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Parada, Peras (Sal/é). The figure is drawn from a male from Peras. This species is totally black, with the exception of the two luminiferous spots; and in two or three examples the pleural portion of the prosternum enclosing the head is brown. ‘The thorax is as long as wide, its disk a little shining, and sometimes with a faint longitudinal impression in the middle. The antenne of the male are about half as long as the body; of the female shorter; they have the second joint very short. The abdomen has the dorsal segments with projecting angles, but hardly lobed. There is no other species to which this black obscure insect can be compared among 38 MALACODERMATA. the Lampyride but Alychnus xanthorrhaphus, which, however, has shortened elytra in the female and is non-luminous, or apparently so. The yellow spots at the apex of the abdomen of this insect are no doubt luminiferous, though they can scarcely emit a vivid light. The habits of these black and either little- or non-luminous species require investigation. One would have anticipated that the more obscurely-coloured species were of very retired habits, and would, at least in one sex, have been more luminous than some others. The eyes of the males are scarcely, if at all, larger than those of the females. | PHOTINUS. Photinus, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. ii. p. 141 (1833). This genus as it stands in Lacordaire (Genera des Col. iv. p. 321), and in the sense in which it is here adopted, includes no less than ten genera proposed by Motschulsky and two by Leconte, and is the most extensive among the Lampyride. In the Munich Catalogue 116 species are recorded and referred to it. Some restriction, however, is necessary; and I have retained Leconte’s genus Pyrectomena, which is there united with it. It appears to be exclusively an American genus, ranging from Canada to Buenos Ayres, and probably further south. * Species are indeed referred to it from China and the Pacific Islands; but their systematic location needs confirmation. The number of species inhabiting Central America is doubtless large. We here record between thirty and forty species. The Photini include species of the smallest and also of large size, and may generally be known by their oblong, rather depressed form, their simple antenne, and abdomen without lobes to the dorsal segments. The females have the apical and often the two preceding ventral plates notched. 1. Photinus congruus. (Tab. IV. fig. 12, 3.) Photinus congruus, Chevrolat, Col. Mex. Cent. i. no. 8. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tuxtla (Sallé). One of the largest species, 17-21 millims. in length. Thorax with the disk dark, the margins pale bone-colour. Elytra fuscous, with the suture, a central vitta along the discoidal nerve, and the fold pale. There is a variety in M. Sallé’s collection from Oaxaca paler, the thorax with the disk brick-red, with a large pitchy-black spot; the vittee, especially the discoidal one, wider; the female with the thorax narrowed from the base as in P. meteoralis. The specimen figured is from Puebla. 2. Photinus meteoralis. (Tab. IV. fig. 14.) Nigro-fuscus, latus, opacus, thorace sordide albido, disco et limbo toto nigro, angulis posticis acutis ; abdominis segmentibus quatuor primis apicibus albis, quinto et sexto diaphanis totis albis. Long. 19-21 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. GuaTEMALA, San Gerdnimo, Sinanja valley (Champion). PHOTINUS. 39 Equal in size to P. congruus; the form of the prothorax is different, being longer, more narrowed in front, and not so wide at the base, from which the sides begin to contract at once, forming acute angles with the base. There is a rather indistinct carina on the front half of the disk. ‘The elytra are much darker and more ovate than in P. congruus, the pale vittz are only a little visible in paler specimens, they have the lateral margin expanded, two nervures a little visible near the base, and are clothed with a grey, but very short pubescence. The pygidium in the male is truncate, the seventh ventral plate with a round emargination, fuscous in the middle, diaphanous at the sides. In the female the apical plate is dark fuscous, notched, the penultimate dark at its base. 3. Photinus gliscens. (Tab. IV. fig. 13.) Pallide testaceus; capite, antennis, palpis, genibus tarsisque nigro-fuscis; prothoracis disco aurantiaco, macula obconica picea, obsolete longitudinaliter impressa; elytris subparallelis, fuscis, margine externo, sutura et vitta discoidali sat lata pallide testaceis. Long. 18 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Muxico, Tuxtla (Saldé). This is one of the most conspicuously marked and handsomest of the Photini, and is very distinct from any other known to me. ‘The head is fuscous, excepting the mouth and antenniferous tubercles. ‘The antenne and palpi fuscous. ‘The whole of the underside in the male is pale, excepting the base of the first four ventral plates, which are irregularly blotched with fuscous. In the female, as usual, the breast and all the segments are more or less of the darker colour, the paler parts being the margins of the first four, the middle of the fifth, and the whole of the apical one. The thorax is nearly semicircular; but the base is a little contracted; the disk bears a rather long triangular spot, the apex of which is towards the base. The elytra are dark fuscous, with conspicuously pale margins and central vitta. The male has the pygidium with a double notch. The female the same, very slightly sinuate; the ventral plate rounded, and with a minute emargination in the centre. 4, Photinus nigridorsis. (Tab. IV. fig. 17, 2.) Nigro-fumosus, elytris subopacis, oblongo-ovalis, prothorace antice angustato lateribus late testaceis, elytris marginibus et apice indeterminate late testaceis. Long. 13-15 millim. g 9. Hab. Mexico, Istapan, Juquila (Sallé, Mus. J. Sturm). A female specimen from Juquila is figured in the Plate. Body beneath, legs, and antenne smoky black ; in the male the seventh and apical ventral plates and the apical half and margins of the pygidium are pale; in the female the apex only. The antenne are subfiliform, longer in the male and a little com- pressed ; the eyes of moderate size, larger in the males than the females. The thorax is wider at the base than long, the sides sinuous and not much reflexed. The disk is almost smooth, in some a faintly impressed channel, in others a very fine carina may 40) MALACODERMATA. be seen on the centre, while at other times it is even, or shows a circular depression. The elytra are opaque, the discoidal nervure visible, the expanded margin and usually the apical quarter testaceous; the discoidal portion is fuscous or smoky black, and ends somewhat indefinitely, sometimes leaving only the apical margin and part of the suture pale. In the male the margins of the fifth and sixth, the seventh and apical segments, and apex of the pygidium are pale yellow. In the female the apex alone is diaphanous. I have adopted the MS. name attached to a specimen of this species from Sturm’s collection. 5. Photinus ovatus. (Tab. IV. fig. 16.) Nigro-fumosus; prothorace subnitido, lateribus late elytrisque triente basali testaceis, his subcostatis. Long. 13 millim. ¢. Mas segmentis ventralibus septimo et apicali pallidis, pygidio fusco. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Sallé). Nearly related to P. nigridorsis, but differing so far in coloration that I do not think it can be considered a mere variety. The disk of the thorax is rather distinctly channelled, the black central vitta is bordered with red on each side in the middle, which colour may be seen on the prosternal surface above the front coxe. The pygidium is not pale. A single specimen only has come under my notice. 6. Photinus perelegans. (Tab. III. fig. 12.) Photinus perelegans, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 31. Hab. British Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaur); Guatemaua, Calderas (Champion).—ANTIGUA. The figure is of a male from Calderas. This species is the first of a series pertaining to Motschulsky’s genus Macrolampis, which agree in having the fifth and sixth ventral plates longer than those preceding them and clear ivory-white or yellow, with a lateral impression on each, somewhat like breathing stigmata (the true stigmata being of course hidden in the folded membrane connecting the dorsal and ventral plates). The females have a portion of the abdomen luminous, usually the centre of the fifth segment, but are obviously less brilliant than the males. In some cases they also have the elytra abbreviated. I have only as yet observed this in two species (J. longipennis, Mots., and M. extensus, Gorh.). The female of P. perelegans has the fifth segment broadly whitish yellow, with fuscous spots on each side of its base, the sixth and seventh plates being fuscous. Small examples are a little like P. cinctellus, but are always much narrower, and the thorax is particularly elongate. PHOTINUS. Al 7. Photinus extensus. (Tab. IV. fig. 11, 2.) Plumbeo-niger, elongatus, parallelus, thorace albido-flavo, macula oblonga picea, utrinque miniato punctoque parvo subbasali. Long. 13-15 millim. ¢ Q. Mas abdominis segmentis ventralibus quinto et sexto albis, marginibus leviter emarginatis, medio bicarinatis, utrinque impressis, pygidio plus minusve infuscato apice truncato. Femina elytris abbreviatis, abdominis dimidium vix tegentibus, abdomine lato, ad apicem acuminato, segmento ventrali quinto macula magna flava. Hab. Mexico (Hoge, Salle). Though somewhat resembling P. longipennis, Mots., this species differs from it in not having the elytra margined with white. The head, antennz, legs, breast, first four segments of the abdomen, scutellum, and elytra are fuscous black and dull; the disk of the thorax is a little shining and channelled, the pitchy spot is straight at its sides, longer than wide, it does not touch the reflexed basal margin, nor does it reach the front. The little dark punctiform spot on each side seems characteristic. It is very closely allied indeed to the next species. ‘The female figured is from Sallé’s collection. 8. Photinus productus. (Tab. IV. fig. 10, ¢.) Plumbeo-niger vel fumosus, elongatus, parallelus, thorace flavo, macula quadrata picea. Long. 15-18 millim. SQ? Mas abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto macula magna flava, apice et pygidio totis flavis, hoc apice utrinque exciso. Hab. Mexico, Puebla, Parada (Sallé), Chiapas, ? ? This is very closely allied to P. extensus. It differs in having the ventral segments in the male luminous only in the middle, the pygidium entirely pale and diaphanous, the antennee one third shorter. Minor points of difference are that the thoracic spot is square and the basal dots are absent. | The female (which, I think, may be that of this species) is fully winged, with very narrow pale margins to the elytra and suture. In this specimen the fifth ventral plate alone is yellow in the middle. Being from another locality, Ido not feel that sufficient evidence exists of its being the same species to justify me in giving the characters of this female in the diagnosis. The male figured is from Puebla. 9, Photinus attenuatus. Elongatus, nigro-fuscus, prothorace fulvo, antice rotundato, postice paululum angustato, angulis posticis acutis, prominentibus, disco longitudinaliter impresso, elytris quintuplo longioribus quam thorax, parum nitidis, plumbeo-fuscis, coxis et femoribus anticis testaceis. Long. 13-15 millim. ¢. Mas abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto flavis, marginibus sinuatis, eburatis; septimo flavo, profunde exciso. Femina latet. Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Sa//é). The peculiarly long attenuated form renders this an easy species to recognize. It belongs to the longipennis group of Photinus, which Motschulsky separated under the BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIL., Pt. 2, Aprid 1881. G 42 MALACODERMATA, generic name Macrolampis. These species have the males with two ventral plates (the fifth and sixth) very long and diaphanous, and are evidently highly luminous. The females are heavy insects with short elytra, and, I conceive, are no less luminous than their males. The present species has the head fuscous, with large, prominent eyes; the antenne are not perfect in any of the three specimens before me; but sufficient remains to show them to be filiform and of moderate length. The thorax is of a form unusual in this genus, having the hind angles a little turned out; this and its totally red colour will amply distinguish it from P. extensus. 10. Photinus consanguineus. (Tab. IV. fig. 25, 2.) Oblongus, subparallelus, flavo-testaceus, capite, antennis, palpis, pectore ex parte, tibiis, abdominis basi et elytris nigro-fuscis, his sutura margineque testaceis; thoracis disco miniato, macula parum distincta picea. Long. 13-14 millim. ¢ 9. Mas abdominis segmentis ventralibus quarto ad apicem, quinto, sexto septimo et apice pallide flavis. Femina segmento sexto partim, apicali toto infuscato. Hab. Mexico, Tuxtla (Saillé). _ This species agrees very closely with specimens in my collection from Norris bearing the above name ; and it may be assumed to be the P. consanguineus of Dejean’s Catalogue. I have not been able to see an authentic specimen of Leconte’s species of the same name ; and as there are several allied species, I cannot feel sure that it will prove to be the same. It is rather larger and more parallel than the species here referred to as cinctellus, and has the thorax much less distinctly marked with pitchy; in one example at least the spot is quite absent. From the species referred to by me as pyralis, Linn. (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 23), it differs in being smaller, with a less distinct thoracic spot. The section to which it belongs presents the greatest difficulties, both in separating the species and in their identification with the Linnean and Fabrician types. 11. Photinus cinctellus, (Tab. IV. figg. 232, 242.) Photinus cinctellus (Chev. MS.*), Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 24°. Hab. Mexico!, Cordova, Tuxtla, Panistlahuca (Sallé); GuaTEMALA, Zapote 2, Chacoj department of Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). 12. Photinus simplex. Fumeo-niger, oblongo-ovatus, prothorace flavo, disco nigro nitido utrinque miniato, elytris fumosis conco- loribus, femoribus et coxis pallidis, abdominis segmento quinto albo, sexto etiam interdum albescente. Long. 11 millim. 9°. Hab. Muxico, Parada (Sallé); Guaremata, Chacoj (Champion). Another species of the cinctellus group, and very closely allied to that species and to PHOTINUS. 43 P.reichei. The difference between it and the former consists in its average larger size, the more brightly coloured thorax, and wholly black elytra, and in its having only the fifth, or fifth and sixth segments white, whereas in cinctellus the last three plates (and often the whole abdomen) of the female is pale. From P. reichei, the shape of the thorax (which is the same as that of cinctellus), the absence of the slightest tendency to a pale suture, the colour of the ventral segments, and pale femora distinguish it. I have only seen a few female specimens which I think belong to this species. | 13. Photinus reichei. Photinus reichei (Deyrolle, Sallé’s collection). Oblongo-ovalis, nigro-fuscus ; prothorace (disco excepto) flavo, disco convexo, nitido, late fusco utrinque miniato, obsolete canaliculato, basi lata; elytris nigro-fuscis, sutura tenuissime flava; abdomine segmentis tribus ultimis ventralibus et dorsalibus flavis. Long. 11-14 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Parada (Sallé). A species with the closest affinity to P. cinctellus, yet probably distinct—the characters upon which I should place most reliance being its average larger size, the greater width of the thorax at the base, the nearly uniform width of the marginal yellow of the sides and front, the dark, almost unicolorous elytra, and the pale dorsal apical segments (in P. cinctellus these are often, but not always, fuscous, including the pygi- dium). The base of the legs is darker than in any cinctel/us I have examined. 14. Photinus sturmii. (Tab. IV. fig. 21,2.) Ater, opacus, oblongo-ovatus, prothoracis lateribus reflexis, late albidis, nigro limbatis, disco tenuiter carinato, elytris tricostatis. Long. 14-17 millim. 9°. Hab. Mexico, Puebla (Sallé, coll. Sturm). Entirely dull opaque black, with the exception of a broad vitta occupying the reflexed portion of the sides of the thorax, which is almost pure white. The extreme margin, both lateral and of the base, is narrowly black, and bears a row of punctures. The disk is dull black, widest at the base, with a very fine but distinct carina (in one specimen, however, this is posteriorly converted into a very fine channel). The elytra have three distinct coste, the discoidal one prolonged to near the apex, the other two vanishing before the middle. The underside is..a little smoother, but scarcely shining. Se Four specimens, all females, in Sallé’s collection (one of which is labelled P. lucifera in Sturm’s writing), and one in the British Museum, are all I have seen of this species. I have not adopted the name /ucifera, as it has been used for a species of Pyrectomena, and might thus produce confusion. G2 44. | MALACODERMATA. 15. Photinus salvini. (Tab. IV. fig. 6.) Ater, opacus, subtus subnitidus, prothorace sanguineo, medio late nigro-vittato, elytris obsoletius costatis. Long. 15 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Durasnal, Parada (Sallé). This is perhaps the most beautiful of the Lampyride, the blood-red colour of the thorax contrasting with the opaque black elytra. It is allied to P. stwrmiz, but is more oblong than that species; the thorax is formed much as in the genus Phenolis, prominent in front, much rounded at the sides, and contracting to the hind angles, which are acute. The front and lateral margins incline to yellow, especially under- neath. The disk has a clearly defined black vitta from the base, where it is widest, to to the front; it is hardly carinate in front, and very obsoletely channelled in the middle. The antenne are compressed, widest in the middle, their second joint distinct, only half as long as the third. In neither sex is there the slightest trace of luminous spots. The male has the eighth or genital plate distinct, the seventh nearly as long as the sixth, and only little emarginate. The female has the apical plate notched, but neither of the preceding ones. There are two specimens of this in the British Museum; and these, with the male and female in M. Sallé’s collection, are all I have seen. The figure represents the female from Durasnal. 16. Photinus guatemale. (Tab. III. fig. 10.) Photinus guatemale, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 26. Hab. GuateMALA, Calderas, Duefias (Champion). 17. Photinus lunicollis. (Tab. III. fig. 9.) Photinus lunicollis, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 27°. Hab. Mexico, Puebla, Yolos (Sadlé); Guatnmata, Capetillo, Duefias (Champion). About twelve specimens of this pretty species have been received from Capetillo. I have only seen one from Duefas. The figure is that of a female from Capetillo. 18. Photinus ruficollis. Photinus ruficollis, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 27°. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca (Sturm, coll. Sallé); GuateMaLa, Zapote (Champion) !. Similar in coloration to Lucidota bella, Photuris collaris, and other species; it may, however, be known by its /eaden-black depressed elytra, as well as by the almost totally pale abdomen. The specimens in M. Sallé’s collection, three in number, from Mexico, are much larger than the type, and are named awranticollis, Sturm. They are two males and a female, 14-16 millimetres in length; the former have the base of the fourth, the fifth, PHOTINUS. 45 and sixth segments and apex entirely clear yellow and smooth. The two subapical ventral plates are notched triangularly in their centre; the seventh very short, only just visible. The female has the same abdominal plates yellow, the structure being as usual in this genus, the two subapical being emarginate, and the apical (seventh) plate notched. 19. Photinus sanguinicollis. (Tab. III. fig. 8.) Photinus sanguinicollis, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 30. Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers). The specimen figured is a female, and at present remains unique. I have only seen one other specimen, which may possibly belong to the same species, but which differs from it both in having the sides of the thorax more widely fuscous, and also in having the abdomen wholly black. This specimen is from Vera Paz, Cubilguitz. In the present state of our knowledge of these most interesting insects it would be absolutely impossible to decide upon their identity or otherwise on single specimens from different localities. When they are inuch more fully known it is probable that long series of closely allied species will be found. I am also inclined to think the same species may present a luminous and a non-luminous form at different times, or under varying circumstances. 20. Photinus aurora. (Tab. III. fig. 7.) Photinus aurora, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 30. Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu, Rio Sucio (Rogers). 21. Photinus cordove. Nigro-fumosus, subopacus, thorace flavo, disco miniato, in medio et ad basin infuscato, antennis compressis. Long. 9-10 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Corduva (Sallé). Very similar in size and general appearance to P. ruficollis. It is distinguished, however, by permanent characters. The thorax has the disk with a dark vitta widening at the base; even its whole edge is sometimes slightly infuscate. The scutellum is black, as well as the whole of the abdomen—it being therefore doubtful whether this species is capable of emitting light. In paler examples the front femora and central parts of the sterna are pitchy. The only species with which this could be confounded is P. fumigatus. It is, how- ever, much larger and wider, and has the thorax brighter red, with only a narrow and rather indistinctly fuscous vitta. 46 MALACODERMATA. 22. Photinus albicauda. | Niger, opacus, elytris subfuscis; thorace roseo, limbo toto et vitta sat lata mediana nigro-fuscis, lateribus sinuatis, antice angustatis. Long. 10-13 millim. ¢. Mas pygidio apice sinuatim truncato, hoc cum segmento septimo et apicali ventralibus albis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé). This is not very like any other with which I am acquainted. The sinuate sides and rather projecting front of the thorax, together with its colour and reflexed lateral margins, give it very much the appearance of a Pyrectomena. The centre of the thorax presents a deep but rough channel. The front and middle femora are pale, excepting at the knees. The antenne are nearly half as long as the body, and this, together with the channelled thorax and a little expanded elytra, sufficiently distinguish it from any Pyrectomena. Four males are all I have seen. 23. Photinus latiusculus. Ovatus, fumeo-niger, prothorace albo, medio nigro-vittato, utrinque roseo obsolete canaliculato, elytris opacis subpubescentibus. Long. 74-8 millim. ¢ 2. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Tuxtla (Sallé). The antenne are rather long, reaching to the middle of the abdomen, and are very thin; the mouth and palpi are pale, except at their tips, as are the base of the legs indistinctly. The abdomen is whitish at the apex, but not very distinctly, excepting the pygidium and last two ventral segments in the male, and last ventral and dorsal plate only in the female. The thorax is widish at the base, and rather strongly nar- rowed to the front. . This is a species evidently with very soft integuments; the elytra, though black, are semitransparent. It has the facies of a small Hyas, and somewhat resembles Aspido- soma pulchellum. 24. Photinus perlucens. (Tab. III. fig. 11.) Photinus perlucens, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 297. Hab. GuareMaa, Calderas 1, Duefias, Capetillo (Champion). 3 @. A Calderas specimen is figured. When I drew up the description of this species I had only seen two males; among three or four more specimens since sent is a female, which only differs in having the apical ventral segment black. 25. Photinus fumigatus. Photinus fumigatus, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 28. Hab. GuateMaa, Zapote (Champion). PHOTINUS. AT Very like P. exstinctus, and, like it, apparently incapable of emitting light; this, however, can hardly be determined from dead examples only. It may be distinguished from it by being wider and less linear. 26. Photinus affinis. Photinus affinis, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 28. Hab. Muxico, Capulalpam (Sai/é) ; Guarumata, Calderas, Capetillo (Champion). 27. Photinus plumbeus. Photinus plumbeus, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 29. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). Very nearly allied to both fumigatus and affinis; smaller, with the elytra of a more leaden black, and with the abdomen almost entirely white. | 28. Photinus pulchellus. Photinus pulchellus, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 29°. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote 1 (Champion); Nicaraeua, Chontales (Janson). The Chontales specimens differ a little from the type; they are less brightly coloured, and in the male the fifth and sixth segments are eburated, yellowish; the fourth plate (much shorter than these) is also whitish. 29. Photinus concinnus. Photinus concinnus, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 30°. Hab. Guatemaua, Zapote }, Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). Very nearly allied to pulchellus, smaller and more slightly built, and with the suture scarcely paler. | 30. Photinus parvulus. Griseo-niger, prothoracis margine albo, disco nigro, levi, abdominis apice albescente. Long. 43-5 millim. g 9. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). Var. a. Prothoracis disco nigro-vittato utrinque maculata miniata. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé). Var. 6. Prothorace magis elongato, disco fusco utrinque miniato, elytrorum sutura et margine tenuissime albis. Hab. Guaremata, Zapote, San Gerdnimo (Champion). This little Photinus, the smallest species of the whole family yet noticed, is certainly very near to P. minutus, Say. I observe the following points, however, in which it diverges. The thorax is more shining and rather longer in proportion to its width; AS. | MALACODERMATA. its sides are always more or less whitish (in my types of minutus the red predominates) ; the abdomen is whitish ; the antenne are longer, reaching to about the fourth seg- ment of the abdomen, or in male specimens even further. In some specimens there is an oblong impression on the disk of the thorax, but it 1s not channelled. 81. Photinus picticollis. Nigro-fumosus, prothorace nitido, disco nigro-vittato utrinque macula sanguinea, margine fusco alboque varie- gato; femoribus anterioribus basi subalbidis. Long. 8-93 millim. ¢ @. Mas oculis majoribus, abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto albis vel flavis, eburatis, medio sinuatim emargi- natis, subapicali brevi albo, pygidio apice fusco. Femina abdomine fusco, segmento quinto subdiaphano sordide albo. Hab. Guatemaa, San Gerénimo, Chiacam (Champion). Although this species presents a superficial resemblance to P. californicus, the white luminous abdominal segments of the male remove it to another section, it being, in fact, as I think, allied to species of the extensus group. The thorax is more vividly marked with carmine or blood-red than that of P. sobrinus, but is not margined so distinctly with black, the white and fuscous running into each other. The disk is usually somewhat tumid on each side of a short groove, and has often two or four tubercular swellings there. In front and at the sides it is punctured very closely and subrugosely. The elytra are quite sooty black. This species must be highly luminous, at all events in the male sex; and accordingly we find the eyes of that sex very large and spherical, much more so than in the other small Photini, which, though luminous, have not these ivory-white long fifth and sixth ventral plates in the males. 32. Photinus exstinctus. Lucidota exstincta, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 17. Hab. Mexico, San Luis Potosi (Dr. Palmer), Cordova, Oaxaca (Sallé) ; GUATEMALA, near the city, Duefias, San Gerénimo (Champion). This species and the following one were at first referred by me to Lucidota, with some species of which they have some affinity; but they are so closely allied to nigricans, Say, a species found in the United States, that it will be better to place them here at present. Indeed this species is named “ nigricans, Say,” in Sallé’s collection ; but the representatives of that species, which I have received from Massachusetts, have the sides of the thorax of the same dark fuscous colour as the disk, whereas among a good series taken by Mr. Champion, and another in Sallé’s collection, none is even inclining to be dark. I therefore still think it will prove distinct. This is one of those few species occurring in various genera which apparently have no portion of the body translucent, and are therefore presumably not luminous; the supposition, however, requires confirmation by observation of the living insect. PHOTINUS. 49 33. Photinus sobrinus. Photinus sobrinus, Dugés (ined., coll. Sallé). Lucidota californica, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 17', nec Mots. Etud. Ent. ii. p. 3 (Ellychnia). Hab. Cattrornia } (coll. Chevrolat).— Mexico, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Puebla (Sallé). Apparently distinct from the last species; the margin of the thorax is fuscous, leaving (in some cases) only two rosy spots between it and the central vitta. The whole insect is usually broader and more robustly built. 34. Photinus mexicanus. Ellychnia mexicana, Motsch. Etud. Ent. ii. 1853, p. 3. Hab. Mexico. According to the description, this and Ellychnia californica, Mots., resemble P. co- ruscus, L., but are much larger; I have not, however, been able to identify any of the species I have seen with them. 35. Photinus coruscus. Lampyris coruscus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 644. Photinus autumnalis, Melsh. Proc. Ac. Phil. i. p. 308. Photinus opacus, Sturm coll. Hab. Nortu Americd, United States, California—Mexico, Oaxaca, Puebla (Sallé). This is one of those species which seem to defy all attempts at definition, its form being modified in distant parts of the North-American continent. I had not seen it before from Central America; but three specimens from Sallé’s collection so closely resemble P. autwmnalis from New York that I am convinced nothing but the study of the living insects can settle the question of their specific identity or distinctness. These specimens appear a little longer and browner; and the red thoracic vitte are a little wider, and not continued quite to the front margin. 36. Photinus ater. Photinus ater, Dugés (ined., coll. Sallé). Ater, oblongo-ovalis, prothorace subnitido, medio breviter obsolete canaliculato; elytris subopacis, callo humerali parum elevato, confertim punctatis, margine antice paulo explanato. Long. 7-9 millim. ¢ 9. Mas segmento septimo angulariter exciso lateribus flavis, apicali sat magno. Femina segmento apicali ventrali apice fisso maculis tribus minutis flavis. Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato, Puebla, Oaxaca (Sallé). This curious little Lampyrid is wholly black, with the exception of the small luminous spots on the apical segment in the female, and on the sides of the subapical plate in the male. It is of the form of P. coruscus, but smaller than the smallest examples of that species or of P. autwmnalis. The upperside is a little shining; the BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, Aprid 1881. H 50 MALACODERMATA. thorax is nearly semicircular, but with the length not much shorter than the breadth at the base. PYRECTOMENA. Pyrectomena (Dejean), Motschulsky, Etud. Ent. 1852, p. 37; Leconte, Synops. 3836; Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 32. This is the only one of Motschulsky’s divisions of Photinus I have felt able to retain. It is a natural genus, composed of species with, on the whole, a very uniform and distinct aspect. The shape of the thorax and the shortness of the antenne are especially characteristic. About nine species are now known to me, all from North America or the West Indies. Cuba has one, St. Domingo one or two; the remainder from the United States as far north as Lake Superior to Texas. I have seen as yet only three species from Central America. 1. Pyrectomena angulata. (Tab. IV. fig. 19, ¢.) Photinus angulatus, Say, Journ. Ac. Phil. v. p. 162. Hab. Nortu America, Texas (Belfrage).—MeExico, Puebla (Sailé). I cannot find sufficient difference between a single specimen in Sallé’s collection and a representative pair of this species sent me by Mr. Belfrage, to warrant their separa- tion. The Mexican specimen which we figure has less fuscous marking at the sides of the thorax; the seventh or subapical ventral plate of the abdomen is pitchy in the middle; and the whole specimen is larger. The thorax is somewhat foreshortened in the plate. . 2. Pyrectomena vexillaria. (Tab. IV. tig. 20.) Oblongo-parallela, antice et postice angustata, fusca, capite, antennis basi, prothorace, coxis, femoribus basi, scutello, elytrorum margine et sutura abdominisque segmentis ventralibus, quarto excepto, flavis. Thorace lateribus parallelis, antice producto, disco macula pallide fusca, angulis posticis acutis, carinula subintegra antice minus distincta flava. Long. 15 millim. ¢. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sailé). This has more the form of the very few specimens of this genus I have seen from the West-India Islands than of those from the United States; that is, the thorax is more advanced in front, and the elytra are more sharply acuminate behind. The underside is generally yellow; but the antenne from the fourth joint, the breast, the tibi, tarsi, and part of the thighs, the fourth ventral plate and sides of the first three are more or less pale fuscous. The pronotum is very long, rather roof-shaped, the ridge being a delicate but distinct carina. The basal margin slopes away on each side from the centre, meeting the straight sides acutely, and forming a “gable” when viewed horizontally. The elytra are fuscous, margined entirely (narrowly at their base) with yellow. ‘Two nervures are distinct, but are scarcely visible at the base, and vanish before the apex. The antenne are shorter than the thorax. A single specimen only is in Sallé’s collection. PYRECTOMENA.—CRATOMORPHUS. 51 3. Pyrectomena, striatella. (Tab. III. fig. 13, ¢.) Pyrectomena striatella, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p 33. Hab. GuateMata, Duefias, Zapote (Champion, Salvin). Var.—Panzos, province of Vera Paz (Champion). The variety is rather more shining and has concolorous coste to the elytra. A specimen from Duefias is figured. CRATOMORPHUS. Cratomorphus, Motschulsky, Etud. Ent. i. p. 35 (1852). Photinus, Castelnau (pars). Cratomorphus includes some of the largest species of the Lampyride, rivalling in size Lamprocera latreillei; and at the same time they are highly luminous insects. The males have large globular eyes; and in both sexes the antenne are simple. The thorax has usually two transparent portions near the front margin above the eyes. In this genus the apical segments of the abdomen exhibit peculiarities of form varying in each species. The distribution of Cratomorphus is very much the same as that of Photinus; but it has not occurred so far north, no species having yet been found above the tropic of Cancer. On the other hand, it occurs as far south as Buenos Ayres; so that South America must be regarded as the home of these insects. The species are not numerous, nor do they appear to occur in such numbers where they are found ; yet, owing to their large size, they must add considerably to the brilliancy of the night scene of a tropical forest. At present I have only seen three species, represented by seven specimens from the northern continent. 1. Cratomorphus fuscipennis. Cratomorphus fuscipennis, Mots. Etud. Ent. ii. p. 33‘; Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 34. Cratomorphus latus, Kirsch, Berl. Zeit. 1865, p. 72. Cratomorphus albomarginatus, Guérin coll. (ined.).?, Late ovatus; testaceus, antennis nigris, articulo primo flavo, fusco variegato, secundo brevi flavo, tibiis tarsisque infuscatis. Long. 27-29 millim., lat. 14-15 millim. ¢.° Mas abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto marginibus medio sinuatis, septimo late emarginato, pygidio truncato. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Bel¢).—Braziu!. This fine insect is the largest species of ‘“ glow-worm” yet found in Central America ; and four males sent by the late Mr. Belt are all that have yet occurred. I have little doubt of its identity with the C. /atus of Kirsch; the reference to Motschulsky’s species is more doubtful, his description consisting merely of a state- ment that his insect resembled C. fabricii (giganteus, Drury), but was without the H 2 52 MALACODERMATA. pale vitta. I have seen, however, specimens of an insect I cannot distinguish from this one which were labelled “ Brazil” and ‘Buenos Ayres.” The upperside is entirely of an ochreous yellow; the prothorax has a very faint carina, and is scarcely at all transparent in front. The palpi are fuscous; the eyes of course black, being with the antenne almost the only dark parts; and, owing to its entirely yellow colour, the luminous portions are not clearly distinguishable. 2. Cratomorphus dorsalis. Cratomorphus dorsalis, Gyll. in Schonh. Syn. Ins. ii. App. p. 24?; Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 36. Nec Cratomorphus dorsalis, Mots. Etud. Ent. ii. p. 34. Oblongo-ovatus ; fuscus, prothoracis disco basi piceo, lineolis duabus rufis; antennis, palpis, tibiis, tarsis, abdominis segmentibus quatuor primis macula utrinque piceis; elytris costatis, ad margines dilutioribus. Long. 22 millim. ¢. Hab. Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson).—ANTILLES. The thorax is not so much narrowed towards the front as in C. fuscipennis, so that the hind angles are more nearly right angles; and there are two lunate clear patches in the valley of the reflexed front margin. The central carina is very fine indeed, almost obsolete, The underside is variegated with fuscous and yellow, the pitchy spots on the abdominal plates being conspicuous. I have a female without locality which I refer to this species, the underside of which is nearly wholly fuscous, with the exception of the fifth and sixth segments. ‘The apical ventral and dorsal plates are nearly similar in form, not truncate, the ventral one notched in the female. 8. Cratomorphus picipennis. (Tab. IV. fig. 7.) Breviter oblongus, nigro-fuscus vel piceus; prothorace pallido, antice diaphano, medio subcarinato, pedibus basi dilutioribus. Long. 138-16 millim. 9°. Mas l\atet. Femina abdominis segmentis quinto et sexto (marginibus exceptis) albis, diaphanis, apicali triangulari, apice fisso, pygidio apice rotundato integro. Hab. Muxico, Cordova (Sallé), GUATEMALA, San Juan (Champion). The figure represents the specimen from San Juan. Head, with the antenne and palpi, pitchy, mouth paler; prothorax pale yellowish white. In the smaller of the two specimens before me the disk is pitchy near the base ; the depressed portion immediately before the front margin is transparent, so that the antennee can be seen through from above; the carina divides this clear portion into two lunate spots. ‘The length of the thorax is about equal to the width at the base; the hinder angles are right angles, but the corners are rounded off. The scutellum is pale. ‘The elytra in the larger specimen, which is from San Juan, are pitchy, paler towards the apical half of the margin; in the smaller specimen they are dark fuscous, narrowly margined with pale yellow, as well as the suture. CRATOMORPHUS.—ASPIDOSOMA. 53 The underside (with the exception of the prothorax, the margins of the sternal plates, the legs, and two luminous segments) is pitchy. The tarsi and greater part of the tibiee are also pitchy. ‘The elytral costee are but little pronounced. The smaller specimen is the smallest Cratomorphus that I have seen, and has large eyes like those of a male; the apical segment, however, is divided by a small notch like that of females of other species, and is the seventh plate; so that I cannot doubt the sex. Excepting in the points specified, the description is that of the specimen figured, in which the head is retracted within the thoracic cavity, and the eyes appear to be of normal size. ASPIDOSOMA. Aspidosoma, Gemminger and Harold, Cat. Col. p. 1645. Aspisoma, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1833, p. 145. Nyctophanes, Motsch. Etud. Ent. i. p. 34 (1852). This is one of the best-defined genera among the Lampyride. ‘The upper surface is shield-shaped, depressed, and expanded; the integuments are rather firm, so that they are not so often shrunken as in other genera. They do not attain the size of the Cratomorphi, but they are apparently strongly luminous in both sexes, the males being most developed in this respect; some of the species are quite small, and then resemble small Photint. Others of moderate size remind one a good deal of Casside of the genera Physonota or Aspidomorpha. The distribution of Aspidosoma is confined to Tropical America. A species has been recorded from Buenos Ayres; and it is probable that the genus extends rather further south than the tropic of Capricorn. It is also found in the West-Indian Islands. 1. Aspidosoma laterale. Lampyris lateralis, Faby. Syst. El. ii. p. 106°; Voet, Col. i. t. 48. f. 3. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten).—SoutH AMERIcAl. The determination of the species of this genus is a matter of great difficulty, even with fresh, bright specimens; unfortunately the few specimens of this in the Central- American collections are not sufficiently fresh for me to feel very confident about them. They are 15-17 millims. in length, acuminate in front and behind, of an obscure dirty horn-colour. None of the markings are distinct; those which in these specimens accord with others in my collection referred to L. lateralis, Fabr., are a subhumeral patch on the expanded margin, and a narrow spot a little beyond the middle of the margin, leaving an oblique pale space between them, not exceeding in length one quarter of the elytral length. Two slightly raised nervures are very little paler than the ground-colour. The discoidal patch of the thorax is divided by two distinct red lines. 54 MALACODERMATA. 2. Aspidosoma zgrotum. (Tab. III. fig. 16.) Aspidosoma egrotum, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 84. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Sallé); Guatemaa (Sallé), near the city, Capetillo, Purula, San Gerénimo (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). 3. Aspidosoma diaphanum. Aspidosoma diaphana, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 86. Hab. Muxico, Tuxtla (Sailé); Britis Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneauz) ; Gvuatemata, Purula, Cubilguitz, Sabo (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). Very close to A. wgrotwim ; separated chiefly on account of its smaller size and more distinct markings. 4. Aspidosoma depictum. (Tab. III. fig. 17.) Aspidosoma depictum, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 85. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). A pretty and very distinctly marked species; the specimens of A. diaphanum from Purula are very much like it. The basal subhumeral spot is more distinct; and the posterior lateral fuscous spot is longer and more irregular in shape. 5. Aspidosoma pulchellum. (Tab. IV. fig. 15.) Aspidosoma pulchellum, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 86. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Santecomapan (Sal/é); Brrrish Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaus) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). The elytral margin is pale, without lateral spots; sometimes, however, it is fuscous; and this species then very much resembles a small Hyas angularis. The fifth ventral segment, or fifth and sixth, are luminous in the female. 6. Aspidosoma lepidum. Aspidosoma lepida (Chevy. ined. coll. Sallé). Ovale, piceum, nitidum, prothorace flavo, macula laterali et disco piceis, elytris sutura tenuiter, margine in medio, apiceque extremo testaceis. Long. 7-8 millim. ¢ 9. Mas abdominis segmentis ventralibus quinto et sexto lete flavis, eburatis. Femina segmento quinto medio albido-flavo. Hab. Mexico, Campeche (Sad/é); Guatemaua, San Gerénimo (Champion). This little Aspidosoma is easily recognized by its very small size, and the rather distinct markings. The head and two or three basal joints of the antenne are pale, pitchy fuscous in the male, but dark in the female, as is also most of the body, excepting the luminous portion, which, especially in the male, is very clear yellowish white and shining. The thorax is rather coarsely punctured, the discoidal patch ASPIDOSOMA. 5d angular in front, not reaching the margin; the lateral spots are in the middle of the sides, and do not touch the hind angles, but are connected with the central mark. The elytra are dark pitchy with paler markings, shining, and distinctly but closely punctured. 7. Aspidosoma ignitum. Lampyris ignita, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 6451; Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 201°; De Geer, Ins. iv. p. 49, t. 17. f. 2. Nyctophanes ignita, Mots. Etud. Ent. i. p. 11. Aspisoma polyzona, Chevr. Col. du Mexique Cent. i. fasc. 3 (1834)’. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz?, Cordova (Sallé); Brrriso Honpuras, river Hondo (Blan- caneaux).—SovuTu AMERICA, Cayenne?. I can see no difference between examples from Mexico and those in my collection labelled Cayenne, except that they are rather larger, and have the humeral spot trapezium-shaped and generally detached from the ground-colour, the pale lines on the elytra a little more distinct, and the apical half of the margin pale. The male has the fifth and sixth segments clear yellow, the female only the middle of those plates pale: sometimes the sixth plate has only a very small luminous spot in this sex. 8. Aspidosoma bilineatum. (Tab. IV. fige. 89,9 ¢.) Aspidosoma bilineatum, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 86. Hab. Mexico (Boucard), Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, Vera Cruz (Sallé); GUATEMALA, Capetillo (Champion). The specimens figured are from Oaxaca. This appears to be a common species in Mexico. I have seen it in many collections. The female has only the sides of the two segments before the last one luminous. 9, Aspidosoma costatum. (Tab. III. fig. 18.) Aspidosoma costatum, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 87. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Britisn Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneauz) ; GuaTEMALA, Sinanja valley, San Gerénimo, Zapote, (Var.?) Cerro Zunil, Las ‘Mercedes (Champion); Ntcaracua, Chontales (Janson); PANAMA. | The figure is taken from a British-Honduras specimen. The variety, which I think will prove not to be a distinct species, is pale lemon- yellow, with the dark parts only of a pale fuscous colour, but with a bright vermilion patch on each side of the thoracic spot on the disk. I suspect they were less matured than other examples when captured. It is observable that these specimens were also captured at a high elevation. 56 MALACODERMATA. Subfam. PHOTURIDES. Placed by Lacordaire as a subordinate group of the Luciolides. The true Lampyrides with apterous or subapterous females and the true Luciolides are both absent from the New World; and, independently of this, the importance of the wide prominent head with the labrum very much reduced warrants our adopting this as a subfamily. PHOTURIS. Photuris, Leconte, Proc. Ac. Phil. v. p. 337 (1851); Lacord. Genera des Col. iv. p. 388. Photuris, as it is adopted here and by Lacordaire, includes all those species which have the head when extended partly uncovered, thin filiform antennz, and the claws either simple or divided. In addition to these characters, the males have the seventh segment produced into a narrow lamellar lobe in the middle, a character which is useful in determining the place of some species which much resemble Photini. The structure of the claws affords a means of dividing the genus into sections which appear sufficiently natural. The Photurides are peculiar to North and South America, but have an extended range, being distributed from Canada to the south of Brazil; and one species is even attributed to Patagonia. Section I. Claws simple. 1. Photuris fasciata. Nigro-picea, nitida; pectore, pedibus basi et capite vertice excepto rufis; prothorace flavo, nigro vittato ; elytris nigris, macula humerali fasciaque lata pone medium flavis. Long. 12 millim. Mas latet. Femina segmento quinto ventrali macula parva rotunda, et sexto basi albis. Hab. GUATEMALA, Sinanja valley (Champion). Head yellow, with the crown and some marks between the eyes pitchy; antenne fine, fuscous, the underside of the basal joints alone reddish ; palpi fuscous, paler at their bases. Thorax nearly semicircular, hind angles acute, not so much produced as in P. telephorina, Perty, which this species very much resembles; the disk with a short but deep furrow near the base. Elytra with the humeral callus and three nervures distinct, narrower than in P. telephorina; the yellow fascia is placed further back. The suture is narrowly yellow near the base, so that a black spot is almost detached between it and the humeral mark. This species is of the same size and coloured so exactly like a Telephorid from other parts of Vera Paz as to be at first sight undistinguishable. PHOTURIS. 57 Section II... Male with both claws split, and notched on the inner side ; female with the claws simple. 2. Photuris discicollis. (Tab. IV. fig. 26.) Nigra, prothorace flavo, vitta discoidali nigra basi latiore, angulis posticis peracutis productis. Long. 13-15 millim. ¢ 9. Mas abdominis segmentis tribus apicalibus et pygidio pallide flavis. Femina segmento quinto in medio, sexto toto et apicali cum pygidio pallidis. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca, Tuxtla, Panistlahuca, Parada (Sallé); GuATEMALA, Panima, Teleman, Sinanja valley, Zapote (Champion). The figure is of a female from Panima. Very closely allied to, but, I think, amply distinct from, P. collaris, Gorh. It is to be distinguished by its usually larger size, by the black vitta on the thorax, and by the still longer form of the latter and its very acute angles, by the apical segment being pale in the male, and by the legs being entirely black. The head has some very small yellowish marks about the insertion of the antennee ; these at the base and the palpi are fuscous black. The thorax has a short impressed channel, foveolate at its base. The elytra are entirely deep black, not shining; three nervures are visible, but not raised; and the humeral callus is only prominent at the shoulder. 8. Photuris cyathigera. Preecedenti similis at minor; nigra, prothorace flavo, vitta discoidali ad basin latiore, marginem anticum non attingente, angulis posticis subacutis retrorsum productis. Long. 9-10 millim. ¢ @. Mas abdominis segmento septimo fusco, medio roseo-tincto, apicali maculis minutis utrinque roseis. Femina segmento apicali basi roseo. Hab. Muxtco, Parada (Sallé). Three specimens in Sallé’s collection differ as above; the form of the thoracic vitta is something like an inverted cup, which has suggested to me the name. Although there are specimens of a species which I am disposed to refer to P. collaris, which have a black vitta of rather similar shape, yet none of them has the luminous segments so much infuscate, and I think on the whole that these will prove to be a distinct species. It is also allied to the species described by me as P. mexicana. 4, Photuris mexicana. Photuris mexicana, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 108. 3 2. Hab. Mexico (Boucard, Sallé). There is a series of specimens in Sallé’s collection which, though differing a little from my types of the above-named species, are hardly more than local varieties. In them the thorax is sometimes wholly or nearly entirely red, and the apical segment in the male dark; the elytra are also blacker, but yet are more fuscous than in P. collaris. BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, Aprid 1881. IT 58 MALACODERMATA. 5. Photuris collaris. (Tab. III. fig. 15.) Photuris collaris, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 107. 3 a: Hab. Muxico, Cuernavaca (Sallé); Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). The figure is that of a Zapote specimen, a rather small female. The thorax is wholly orange-red and shining; the genital segment of the abdomen and the produced lamella of the plate preceding are black, the fifth and sixth segments wholly yellow and eburate. Very few specimens have been sent. 6. Photuris lucidicollis. (Tab. III. fig. 14.) Photuris lucidicollis, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 107. Hab. Guatemaua, Duefias, San Gerdénimo, Capetillo (Champion).—Var. MeExico, Cordova, ,Panistlahuca, Cuernavaca (Sal/é); GUATEMALA, Panima, San Gerdnimo, Capetillo, Duefias (Champion); Costa Rica. The specimen figured is from Duefias. A variable species, both as regards size and coloration, the latter being either quite dark fuscous, with paler margins to the elytra, or pale with a central obscure pale vitta ; this form has only occurred as yet at Duefias. The luminous portion of the abdomen, however, seems constant, the apical excised segment in the female being usually infus- cate, but sometimes quite yellow. The pale specimens resemble Lucidota apicicornis, and the darker ones Photinus cinctellus; but the generic characters, especially the form of the thorax, the structure of the abdomen in the male, and of the claws, will always suffice to prevent their being confounded. Section II. 8. Male with external claw split; female with the claws simple. 7. Photuris amena. Photuris amena, Gorh. loc. cit. p. 108’. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz, Tepansacualco, Cordova (Sallé); GuatTEMALA, near the city, San Gerénimo! (Champion); Nicaragua (Sallé). A species with a very Photinoid aspect, and placed in that genus in M. Sallé’s and, no doubt, in most collections; the external claw, however, is split in the male; and although in the female the head is not more exserted than in many Photini, in the male it is incapable of being withdrawn and is visible from above. The elytra are almost parallel, and the thorax of nearly the same width, with acute hind angles, the head black, the antenne dark to the base. The body beneath is pale, excepting the basal segments of the abdomen. ‘The series of specimens in Sallé’s collection are paler than those from Guatemala. Apparently a very common species and widely distributed. PHOTURIS. 59 8. Photuris facialis. Fumeo-nigra, opaca, capite piceo, facie et infra testaceo, macula frontali minuta; antennis palpisque fuscis ; prothorace rufo-brunneo, vitta mediana antice et postice latiore nigra, lateribus flavis ; elytrorum margine, femoribus infra abdominisque segmentis tribus ultimis pallidis. Long. 8-9 millim. ¢ 9. Mas unguiculis externis fissis, segmento ventrali septimo apice producto, genitali magno, fusco. Femina unguiculis simplicibus, segmentis ventralibus tribus apicalibus flavis, pygidio fusco. Hab. GuatEMaLa, Vera Paz, Sinanja valley, Senahu, Panima (Champion). Nearly of the same size and not unlike P. amwna; distinguished, however, by the form of the thorax, of which the sides are here narrowed towards the front, by its colour, which is of a deep red-brown on the disk, and by the general dark fuscous- black opaque body and elytra. The head is black above, face below the insertion of the antennz yellow, with a linear spot in front above the labrum. The basal joint of the antenne is sometimes pale beneath. ‘The thorax is punctured rather coarsely all over and opaque; a short obsolete channel on the basal half of the disk. The elytra are opaque, with pale margins not reaching their apex; in one specimen the suture is slightly paler; scutellum black, a character which will always separate this species from P. amena. Section III. External claw split in both sexes. 9. Photuris pennsylvanica. Photuris pennsylvanica, De Geer, Ins. iv. p. 52, t. 17. f. 8; Cast. Hist. Nat. i. p. 268; Leconte, Synopsis, p. 337. Lampyris versicolor, Fabr. Ent. Syst. Supp. p. 123. Telephoroides vittigera, Mots. Etud. Ent. 11. p. 60. Var. Telephoroides lineatocollis (Dej.), Mots. loc. cit. p. 59. Hab. Norta America, Canada, United States—Mexico, Tuxtla, Cordova; Guats- MALA, Capetillo, Zapote, Sinanja valley, Purula, Sabo, Chacoj, Cubilguitz (Champion). Var. latior, pallidior, elytris striga pallida inter vittam humeralem et suturam, alteraque ante marginem.— Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 110 (6). Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Puebla, Oaxaca (Sal/é) ; Guatemaa (Sal/é), San Juan, Chacoj, Purula, Panima, Zapote (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). Var. tota fere pallida.—Gorh. loc. cit. (e). Hab. Costa Rica; Panama; South AMERICA; GUIANA. Var. Gorh. loc. cit. (y et 6). Hab. ANTILLES. One of the most abundant and widely dispersed of the Lampyride, distributed over the whole of the northern continent below latitude 45° north, and even reaching the southern continent. It is probably chiefly to this species that those brilliant appear- I2 60 MALACODERMATA. ances described by travellers on the Pacific railway, in passing damp savannas, as “showers of light ” are to be attributed. In a species of such wide range a good deal of allowance must be made for variation ; and among the great number of specimens which I have examined there are several tolerably well-marked forms, mainly differing in the amount of pigment in the body and elytra. The varieties 6 and ¢ are more robustly built than others, and do not seem to occur in the colder regions. 10. Photuris fruticola, Photuris fruticola (Eschscholtz), Mots. Etud. Ent. iii. p. 60. Photuris trivialis, Bohem. Res. Eugen. p. 77 (1858). Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Guatemata, Aceytuno, (Salvin), Zapote, Sinanja valley, Senahu, Sabo, Purula (Champion).—Sovrn America, Brazil, Monte Video. Var. a. Elytris vitta ab humero ad apicem fere producta, pallida. Hab. GuatemMaua, Cerro Zunil, Las Mercedes, San Gerénimo, Zapote. Var. 3. Capite testaceo, corpore paulo minore. Hab. Mxxico, Cordova (Sailé). Head black, or slightly tinged with pitchy upon the crown ; thorax pale horny yellow, rather shining, very rarely darker on the disk, scarcely punctured ; elytra dark fuscous, with the suture and lateral margin pale, clothed with a fine yellow pubescence ; scutellum yellow; coxe, trochanters, and thighs (excepting their apices) pale testaceous, the remainder of the legs dark. Breast and first four segments of the abdomen dark fuscous, the apex of the third, and often nearly the whole of the fourth, are pale; in the male the fifth and six plates are long and eburated, with their margins widely emarginate in an angular manner. The seventh plate in the male has a lanceolate lobe, covering entirely the genital eighth plate, and is always pale. ‘The antenne and palpi are dark. In fine specimens the underside of the bilobed fourth joint of the tarsi is golden-haired. The variety 3, with the head yellow, is scarcely different from P. frontalis, Leconte, which occurs in Texas. The thorax, however, is not coarsely punctate, as in my examples of that species. At present I have only seen one example with a dark disk to the thorax, which is from Sabo. In colour this species is very like Lucidota osculati and L. limbata. Photuris brunnipennis, Jacq. Duval (in Sagra’s Hist. Cuba, vil. p. 39; Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 111), may be only a variety of the same. PHOTURIS. 61 11. Photuris mollis. (Tab. III. fig. 19, .) Photuris mollis, Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 111. Hab. GuatEMALA, Chacoj, Zapote (Champion). Var. capite testaceo, prothorace fortius sparsim punctato. Hab. Mexico, Tuxtla (Sallé). The specimen figured is a male from Zapote. Smaller than P. fruticola, and with the disk of the thorax infuscate; the scutellum also fuscous. The specimens in Sallé’s collection are like P. frontalis in the yellow head and punc- tuation, but smaller in size, and with the disk of the thorax infuscate. 12. Photuris lugubris. Elongata, aterrima, subopaca, prothorace flavo nitido. Long. 11-14 millim. ¢ @. Mas segmentis ventralibus tribus ultimis flavis, quinto et sexto longis eburatis. Femina segmentis tribus ultimis flavis. Var. a femoribus testaceis, coxis anterioribus et intermediis pallidis. Var. B capite, scutello et mesosterno flavis, pedibus brunneis basi testaceis. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Juquila (Sallé).—Var. a. GuatemaLa, Purula (Champion).— Var. 6. Mexico (Sallé, coll. Sturm). The coloration of this species is common to several Coleoptera from the same region, and is so precisely repeated in a species of Telephoride that they are usually confounded. It is also almost exactly that of P. funestis, Gorham, a species occurring in Colombia and Ecuador; from the latter the three luminous segments at once distinguish it, P. funestis belonging to a section in which one segment (the fifth) in the female and two in the male are white. I should have been inclined to give specific value to the variety B, but that the variety « is as nearly as possible intermediate, and would in that case have also to be separated. In the male the fifth and sixth segments are angularly emarginate, but not always conspicuously so; the apical segment is cut out on each side, so as to form a lanceolate lobe in the middle; but this is not often very distinct, so that the best distinction is the large eyes and the lengthened, and smooth, shining yellow fifth and sixth plates. A further point of distinction between this and my P. funestis is that the thorax here is more elongate, narrowing to the front, while in the latter it is almost semicircular. 13. Photuris simplex. Flava; antennis, palpis, ore, tibiis tarsisque infuscatis, prothorace nitido vix punctato. Long. 13 millim. 9. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Ivazu, Rio Sucio (Rogers). The plain ochraceous-yellow colour of this species sufficiently distinguishes it, the only 62 MALACODERMATA. parts which are dark being the antenne (of which, however, the basal joint is partly yellow), the mouth-organs, which are dark pitchy, the tarsi, which are always fuscous, and the tibie, which, however, are sometimes yellow. At present I have only seen four examples, all females. A fifth specimen differs in having the head black on the crown and the breast fuscous, and may possibly belong to another species. 14. Photuris scapularis. Flava; capite, elytrorum angulo humerali, tiblis tarsisque nigris, antennis et palpis fuscis. Long. 10-11 milliim. ¢ Q. Mas segmentis ventralibus quinto et sexto emarginatis, albis, septimo apice acuto. Femina mari simillima, capite et oculis minoribus segmentoque apicali obconico mox distinguenda. Hab. Guatremaa, Cerro Zunil, (Champion). Allied to P. simplex, but readily separated by the black head and shoulders. The thorax is shining, obsoletely punctured; the elytra are also punctured, and more roughly so at the shoulders. The tarsi have the fourth joint, and the others sparingly, clothed with yellow velvety pile. Only two specimens have yet been sent by Mr. Champion. AMYTHETES. Amythetes, Gemm. Munich Cat. p. 1649; Gorh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 97. Amydetes, Hoffmansegg, Illiger’s Mag. vi. p. 842; Mots. Etud. Ent. 1853, p. 49. One of the most remarkable genera in the family, having the extraordinary number of thirty-five to forty joints to the antennz, with those from the third to the last but one bearing each a flabellate branch. The three apical segments are evidently highly luminous in the two species I have seen. It is a New-world genus, the species at present recorded being five or six in number, from Brazil and Peru. It has only been met with on one occasion in Central America. | 1. Amythetes plumicornis. Lampyretes plumicornis, Latr. in Humb. et Bonpl. Rec. d’Obs. Zool. i. p. 186, t. 16. f. 4 (1811). Amydetes plumicornis, Cast. Hist. Nat. i. p. 264. Hab. Mexico. A single specimen taken near the town of Valladolid. Subfam. PHENGODINTI. The very singular and anomalous insects which form this section have been placed by most authors among the Lampyride. Lacordaire, it is true, places them at the head PHENGODES. 63 of the Telephoride, without, however, as I think, sufficient reason. Leconte (Class. of Col. of N. Am. i. p. 185) casts some doubt upon their reputed luminosity, but admits he had never seen a living specimen. The two species known to him have the body wholly yellow; but in some other species which have dark bodies, e. g. Phengodes pulchella, Guérin, the two penultimate segments have in their centre a spot, white, shining, and as obviously luminous as in any of the Lampyride. Phengodes is the representative of a family which combines the characters of the Lampyride with those of the Lymexylonide, and slightly with those of the Telephoride. The head, the eyes, and thorax and elytra show affinity with those remarkable genera Dioptoma and Ochotyra, Pascoe, and with some allied species from China, of which the true position is not determined, and, taken in combination with those which are inter- mediate in form, with Atractocerus. There is not so much diversity from Luciola or Amythetes as from any of the true Telephoride ; and in a synthetic type such as this is, I do not think too much weight st should be attached to the form of the palpi or the insertion of the antenne. PHENGODES. Phengodes, Hoffmansegg, Ill. Mag. vi. p. 341 (1807). 1. Phengodes bimaculata. (Tab. III. fig. 23.) Nigro-fusca ; prothorace, scutello et elytris ferrugineis, his obsolete bicostatis, macula subscutellari fusca, thoracis disco profunde canaliculato, sparsim sat fortiter punctulato; alis fuscis, nervulo marginali subferrugineo. Long. corporis 17-20 millim. Hab. Nicaraaua, Chontales (Belt). This fine Phengodes is larger than my specimens of either P. plumosa or P. fusciceps, Lec., and differs from both in the colour of the body and appendages, as well as by the puncturing and channel of the thorax. Head black, except the front between the base of the antenne and underside and the apices of the mandibles, which are pitchy red. Antenne fuscous; basal joint of the same dark colour as the rest. Thorax transverse, the lateral margins compressed and thin, and hence paler in colour than the central part; the latter distinctly but sparingly punctured, with a deep channel, reaching neither the front nor the base, and with a shallow wide fovea on each side at the base, and a second nearer the front; scutellum punctured, shining, with its apex roundly truncate. Elytra meeting round the scutellum, thence narrowed and recurved, their total length being about a quarter of the length from their base to the apex of the abdomen. Two raised nervures, one passing through the fuscous spot, the other bordering it externally. Excepting the spot, they are, with the anterior cox and base of the femora and centre of the metasternum, ferruginous. The posterior legs are quite black. The abdomen is dark fuscous, and shows no trace of any luminous portion. I cannot ascertain the sex of either of the two specimens, which are all that have 64 MALACODERMATA. been captured. The seventh ventral plate is wide, subtruncate, raised in the middle, from which proceed, between it and the dorsal plate, both a superior and an inferior short styliform lobe or plate. This insect is, perhaps, not luminous. 2. Phengodes fusca. Nigra; ore pedibusque basi piceis ; capite, prothorace et scutello rugose crebre punctatis ; abdominis segmentis sexto et septimo ventralibus medio albis, nitidis. Long. 14 millim. Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio (Rogers). This species is altogether more like the species which I have identified with P. pulchelia, Guérin. It differs from that in being darker and more roughly punctured ; the thorax is narrower, and without the thin expanded margin of the last species ; the elytra are longer in proportion and not so reduced at their tips. The antenn are more like those of P. pulchella (though broken in the unique specimen sent by Rogers) ; that is to say, the filaments, which are longer than in P. bimaculata, curl at their ends in a similar way, probably after death. But it is more especially in its apparent lumi- nosity that this species shows affinity to the Colombian insect; and of this I feel no doubt after examining the diaphanous segments. 3. Phengodes nigricornis. Ferruginea ; antennis, palpis, pectore pedibusque nigris ; prothorace crebre sat fortiter punctato, nigro variegato, medio obsolete breviter canaliculato, scutello nigro apice ferrugineo ; abdominis segmentis singulis supra et infra nigro maculatis. Long. corp. 13-14 millim. Hab. Mexico, Parada (Sallé). Head dark rusty red, coarsely and confluently punctured, its base with irregular ruge ; eyes of moderate size; mandibles pitchy. Antenne almost as long as the body, entirely black, as well as the palpi. Thorax as long as wide, with rounded sides, a little constricted in front, subopaque owing to the very close puncturing ; the marginal edge very little expanded, and the hind angles acute but not much produced. The disk bears a fine longitudinal impression deep in the centre. The elytra are entirely red. The legs black, only the anterior coxe and the femora are marked with red at their bases. The abdomen is not so prolonged in either of the two specimens which I refer to this as in P. plumosa or P. bimaculata; but each segment has the central portion of the base black; on the dorsal surface this marking is reduced to two spots, excepting on the apical and subapical plates. The species of this genus are evidently variable in the colour of most of their organs. The basal joint of the antenne and the elytra seem to be fairly constant; and the form of the thorax and its puncturing seem to justify me in separating this species from the one which follows. PHENGODES. 65 4. Phengodes bipennifera. (Tab. V. fig. 1, var. «.) Ferruginea, nitida; antennis, articulis duobus basalibus exceptis, elytrorumque apicibus fuscis ; prothorace disco nitido, obsolete canaliculato, subtiliter punctulato, angulis posticis acutis, productis. Long. 13 millim. Var. a, occipite, prothoracis disco, pectore et scutello, abdomine etiam maculis nigris. Var. B, palpis et pedibus, basi excepta, nigris. Hab. Mexico, Durasnal, Tuxtla, Cordova (Sallé); GuatemaLa, Chiacam, Senahu, Chacoj (Champion). The figure represents the specimen from Durasnal. Allied to P. plumosa, but, in addition to its smaller size, distinguished by the longer and darker antenne, the channel on the disk of the thorax, and by the latter being distinctly punctured. It is evidently variable in colour; but the yellow predominates. In the five specimens which I assign to this species, one has the head and thorax and body partly infuscate (var. 3); this is from Senahu; while one from Durasnal has the palpi and legs black, excepting the coxe and femora (var. a), the body in this one being wholly ferruginous. The wings are fuscous, with darker marginal nervures, and are as long as the body. The apices of the elytra, and in some specimens the inner margins, are blackish. The thoracic channel is usually divided into two portions, one near the front margin, one on the disk; but these are at other times connected by a very fine impressed line. 5. Phengodes minor. Nigra, capite et prothorace rufo-ferrugineis, pedibus basi pallidis. Long. 84-9 millim. Var. capite prothoracisque lateribus nigris. Hab. Guatemata, Purulaw—Var. Cerro Zunil, Senahu (Champion). This is the smallest Phengodes I have yet seen; and it is very easily distinguished by its dark colour, excepting the head and thorax, which are usually clear, dark, rusty red. In one specimen captured on Cerro Zunil, and which has the head and sides of the thorax black, the basal joint of the antenne is reddish ; but in all the other specimens of a considerable series taken by Mr. Champion it is black. They are nearly equal in length to the body. The maxillary palpi seem more acuminate than in other species of this genus. The thorax is punctulate, shining, and has a longitudinal impression, obsolete in front and behind. Fam. TELEPHORID. The establishment of this as a separate family is due to Lacordaire—previous authors, . and, indeed, many still (including Leconte in his ‘ Classification of the Coleoptera of North America’), regarding it, with the Lycide and true Lampyride, as only of subordinate rank. In addition, however, to the manifest unsuitableness of the term Lampyride for the three sections taken together, the characters which separate these insects are trenchant, and entitle them to the rank of a family equally with the Melyride and BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIT., Pt. 2, June 1881. K 66 MALACODERMATA. Cleride. These are the different modes of insertion of the antenne, which are always separated by a space at their bases, and the absence of luminosity. Taken as a whole, the Telephoride are pretty uniformly distributed over the whole globe, but may be subdivided into groups which are more or less characteristic of the latitude they inhabit. Thus the Chauliognathini, which have the males furnished with a clasping anal segment largely developed, are confined to the tropics of America; while the Telephorini proper are essentially the form of the northern temperate zone. The Silini are the most widely spread of the subfamilies, some remarks upon which will be found in their proper place under the genus Si/is. Subfam. CHAULIOGNATHINTI. DAIPHRON. Genus Ohauliognatho affine; antennis latis, interne serratis, articulo tertio obeonico, quarto multo breviore et minore plerumque distinctum. Caput antice productum ; antenne compress, basi et apice minus late, articulo primo valido, secundo perbrevi ut in Chauliognatho, tertio obconico quam quartus duplo minore. Palpi ut in Chauliognatho. Prothorax subquadratus, limbo vix reflexo. LElytra aut postice ampliata, aut parallela. Abdomen maris segmentis septem, septimo ventrali elongato, fortiter convexo; femine transverso, inequali, medio exciso. Tarsorum articulus primus secundo paulo longior. Two types of insects are included in the group for which I propose this genus; in the first the elytra are widened posteriorly, giving the species a very Lycus-looking form, which their ochreous colouring relieved by black fascize or apices enhances. In the second the elytra are parallel, much as in Chauliognathus, but the wide antenne and almost unmargined thorax give them a peculiar facies; in these species the head is not so much produced, and it is always black ornamented with three yellow lines The genus is almost peculiar to Central America. I have, however, one species from Santa Catharina and one from Ecuador, both, I think, undescribed; but one is labelled “jugeletii,” a name from Dejean’s Catalogue. Section I. Elytra expanded towards the apex. 1. Daiphron lyciforme. (Tab. V. fig. 2.) Ferrugineum ; occipite, antennis, palpis, thoracis vitta, scutello, pedibus (basi excepta), pectore, abdominis lateribus et segmento apicali, elytrorumque apice nigris. Long. 17 millim. ¢ @. Hab. Guatemata, Cubilguitz (Champion), Chinantla (Sallé); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). The figure is drawn from a Chontales female. Head yellow in front and beneath, crown black, opaque; antennez of the male rather more than half as long as the body, flat and a little serrate. Thorax rather wider than long, not punctured, but opaque with a waxy look ; hind angles distinct, front angles obtuse and not distinct; central vitta narrow. FElytra almost twice the width of the thorax at the humeral callus, which is distinct, and continued as a fold to the middle of the elytra; the sides widen till the DAIPHRON. 67 commencement of the black part, from which point they are rounded to the suture. About one third of the elytron at the apex is black ; but this is subject to variation, the Cubilguitz specimen having less black, and the division between this and the ochreous part not so sharply defined. The structure of the apical segment in the male is similar to that of Chauliognathus ; the seventh segment forms a convex valve-like clasper, the pygidial plate being’ laterally compressed. The colour of the ventral plate affords good specific distinctions. The female has the sixth plate wide, with its apical margin sinuous and acutely excised in the middle, a small seventh segment being also present. Four specimens are all that I have seen. 2. Daiphron ochraceum. Ochraceum vel ferrugineum ; macula occipitali, antennis, palpis, tibiis et tarsis, scutello, abdominis lateribus et apice nigris, femoribus apice infuscatis. Long. 17-20 millim. ¢ Q. Hab. GuateMALa, Cubilguitz, San Juan, Teleman, Senahu (Champion). Of the same size and similar in form to D. lyciforme. The antenne are in the male almost equal to the body in length. The thorax has no vitta; but a small double fossa in front of the scutellum is infuscate. Both the front and basal margin both in this species and in D. lyciforme are sinuous and faintly emarginate in the centre. 3. Daiphron crassicorne. (Tab. V. fig. 24.) Nigrum ; prothoracis lateribus, elytrorum basi et capite ante antennas rufis; antennis latis, ad apicem attenuatis, serratis. Long. 10 millim. 9°. Var. Pedibus basi, pectore, capite et prothorace rufis, hoc antice nigro-notato. Long. 9 millim. ¢. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). The male is the paler of two specimens taken by Mr. Champion, the one shown in our Plate being the female. In the former the head is entirely yellow beneath, the crown infuscate; the thorax is subquadrate, a little narrowed in front, with a shallow wide impression near the base, which is pale fuscous, and a dark spot near the front margin. The elytra widen from the base to the apex, the black portion occupying half their length in the male and rather more in the female; in the latter the suture and scutellum are fuscous. The edge of the black is indented in both specimens. The antenne are formed as in other species of this genus, but are wider, and their middle joints are more triangular than in any; the third joint is very much smaller than the fourth, not being half as long and much less expanded ; joints 4-8 are wide, somewhat cup-shaped; joints 9, 10, and 11 gradually decreasing in width. ‘The legs in the male are yellow below the apices of the femora; in the female they are quite black. A species of Longicorn of Mr. Bates’s genus Tethlimmena so precisely resembles this insect as readily to escape detection, both the colour, size, and general form (including that of the antennze) being similar; even the projecting point on the edge of the black apical part is the same in each. They were not, however, taken in company. K 2 68 MALACODERMATA. Section II. Elytra with the sides parallel or narrowed towards the apex. 4. Daiphron proteum. (Tab. V. figg. 14, 15, 16.) Nigrum ; capite infra rufo, supra vittis tribus rufis ; prothorace quadrato angulis rotundatis, rufo, plerumque nigro-vittato ; elytris rufis vel nigris, vel nigro rufoque fasciatis vel dimidiatis; pedibus nigris, basi sepe rufis. Long. 10-14 millim. Var. a. Elytris rufis, pedibus nigris. Var. (3. Elytris rufis, pedibus basi rufis. Var. y. Elytris rufis fascia lata apiceque nigris, pedibus nigris, basi rufis. Var. 5. Elytris nigris, humeris et fascia mediana rufis, pedibus vel nigris vel basi rufis. Var. e. Elytris basi rufis, sutura prope scutellum et apice late nigris, pedibus vel nigris vel basi rufis. Var. ¢. Elytris nigris, humeris tantum rufis, vel totis nigris, pedibus nigris. Var. n. Prothorace lete rufo, haud vittato, elytris totis nigris, pedibus vel nigris vel basi rufis. Hab. Var. a. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); GUATEMALA, Capetillo, San Gerdnimo, Panzos, Cahabon, Cubulco, Teleman.—Var. B. Mexico, Oaxaca, Cordova (Sallé) ; Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).—Var. y. Mexico, Oaxaca, Cordova (Sallé, Boucard); Guaremana, Capetillo, Chacoj, Senahu, Teleman (Champion).—Var. 64. Mexico, Cordova, Vera Cruz, Tuxtla (Sal/é) ; GuaTemaLa, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion). —Var. ¢«. Muxico, Cordova, Tuxtla (Sallé); GUATEMALA, Capetillo, Duefas, Chiacam (Champion).—Var. ¢. Mexico, Orizaba (Sallé); GUATEMALA, Capetillo, San Geronimo, Senahu, San Isidro (Champion).—Var. 7. Mexico, Tuxtla (Sal/é) ; British Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); GUATEMALA, Panzos, Teleman, San Geronimo (Champion). Figure 14 of the Plate represents a female of var. y, from Capetillo ; figure 15, a female of var. «, from San Gerdnimo ; figure 16, a male of var. ¢, from Capetillo. | A singularly variable or polymorphic species. The head is very constant in colour, as is the black body. Some of the varieties appear to be tolerably distinct segregated forms, such as var. n. Var. y is the form mimicked by Photuris fasciata, mentioned at page 06 of this volume. CH AULIOGNATHUS. Chauliognathus, Hentz, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. new ser. i. p. 460 (1830). Chauliognathus is peculiarly a new-world genus of Telephoride. It is pretty evenly distributed over the whole of both North and South America; but the species found in the temperate parts are more feebly developed than those of the tropics. The genus is remarkable for the possession of a thread-like lobe to the maxille, which, according to Leconte, can be protruded from the mouth when alive. Between thirty and forty species have been already described. Section I. Elytra ample, covering the abdomen. 1. Chauliognathus rex. Niger; prothorace elytrisque ochraceis, his triente apicali, illo puncto discoidali, nigris ; abdominis limbo laterali, segmentis dorsalibus apiceque flavis. Long. 20-23 millim. ¢ Q. CHAULIOGNATHUS. 69 Hab. Mexico, Capulalpam (Sad/é) ; Guaremata, Purula, Sabo (Champion). Allied to C. heros, Guérin, from which it differs in being larger in average size, rather more shining ; the yellow parts are orange-red instead of pale yellow; the black portion of the elytra does not exceed the apical third in any of the specimens from Central America. The ventral portion of the abdomen is blacker; only the margins of the segments externally and laterally, and the apical valvular plate in the male with the short preceding segment (which is only present as a lobe on each side), and in the female the two apical segments, are yellow. The dorsal surface is yellow, whereas in C. heros this part is for the most part black. About a dozen specimens were taken by Mr. Champion. | | 2. Chauliognathus nitidicollis. Niger ; prothorace elytrisque flavis, illo nitido, puncto discoidali sat magno nigro ; abdominis segmentis singulis marginibus lateralibus et apicalibus flavis, apice ipso flavo. Long. 18-20 millim. ¢ @. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu, Cache, Rio Sucio (Rogers). This species is more parallel (the elytra not being widened behind) than the last. The head, breast, basal six segments of the abdomen, and appendages are black, only the margins of the abdominal ventral plates and its apical segments being yellow. The thorax is very smooth and shining; it is quadrate, inclined to be transverse. The elytra are somewhat rounded at their apices, leaving the sutural angle open. 3. Chauliognathus dimidiatus. (Tab. V. fig. 3.) Chauliognathus dimidiatus, C. Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 330. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sadlé); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). The figure is taken from a male specimen from Chontales. This species is liable to vary in the form of the thorax, which is more oblong in some specimens: in one from the Volcan de Irazu the disk of the thorax is infuscate ; and in two males taken by Mr. Belt at Chontales the valvular apical segment of the abdomen, as well as the oth, is nearly black. In other specimens the abdomen is nearly black beneath, with the apical plate in the male yellow and very smooth and shining. 4, Chauliognathus sodalis. (Tab. V. figg. 8, 9.) Chauliognathus sodalis, C. Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 326°. Callianthia grandis (Sturm coll.). Hab. Mexico (Sallé), Oaxaca! (B.M..). The figures are from specimens from Sallé’s collection, both females ; fig. 9 represents the var. 2 of Mr. Waterhouse’s description. There were also specimens of his var. 1, taken by Sallé; but I do not observe that they differ materially in form. The abdomen 70 MALACODERMATA, is wholly black beneath in all these specimens; the pygidial plate, which is very narrow, and the apical margins of some of the preceding segments on the dorsal surface are yellow. It is one of the largest species of Telephoride, being sometimes an inch in length. 5. Chauliognathus jucundus. (Tab. V. fig. 5, 2). Niger ; subopacus, prothoracis margine elytrorumque plaga humerali ochraceis ; abdominis segmentis ventralibus marginibus apicalibus tenuissime flavis. Long. 14-17 millim. ¢ Q. Hab. Guatemaa, San Geronimo, Cubulco (Champion). The figure represents a female from San Gerénimo. Head and thorax scarcely shining, the latter as wide as long or rather wider, all the angles rounded, the base sinuous and narrowly yellow, the sides and front more widely so. Elytra dull black, finely alutaceous ; a sharply defined yellow splash occupies the shoulder, and extends nearly or quite half- way down the elytron, but is then suddenly reduced to the extreme limb or thickened margin ; and this is sometimes, with the apex itself, very finely yellow. The underside is entirely black, with the exception of the apices of the ventral plate, which are narrowly pale. Among a very considerable series of specimens taken by Mr. Champion, all, with one exception, are females. The single male does not differ much in colour or size from many females, nor are the antenne perceptibly longer; the apical ventral segment is black, the apical dorsal yellow in both sexes. 6. Chauliognathus tricolor. (Tab. V. fig. 6.) Niger ; prothoracis margine elytrorumque plaga humerali rufis, sordide carmineis, apice late flavo, limbo miniato. Long. 15-17 millim. 9°. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson). Evidently allied to C. jucundus, but to be distinguished by its peculiar coloration ; the humeral stripe and thoracic margin are of a rosy red; and this colour on the elytra merges on the margin into the pale apical portion, leaving as it were the discoidal part of the united elytra fuscous black. The form of the insect is almost the same as that of C. yucundus: the elytra are of the same width as the thorax at the base, thence they widen gradually to the middle, and are then narrowed towards the apex. When closed, the sutural angle of the elytra would be a little open, each elytron having its apex rounded. Only three specimens have been sent. 7. Chauliognathus tabulatus. Niger ; prothorace elytrisque testaceis, his macula scutellari alteraque magna communi pone medium, illo disco nigris ; abdominis segmentis ventralibus flavo marginatis. Long. 15-17 millim. ¢ 9. Hab. Costa Rica (coll. Gorham); Nicaragua, Chontales (Lel¢). CHAULIOGNATHUS. 71 Of the same form as the two preceding species; the elytra are of a uniform straw- yellow, with the discoidal black portion broken into a scutellar spot, and a large irre- gular and varying patch usually behind the middle, but sometimes produced forward so as nearly to join the scutellar spot. The posterior patch or spot is more or less qua- drangular in form; it does not reach the margin. In the male the valvular apical plate is black at the base and yellow at its apex. This may be an extreme form of C. éricolor, the specimen from Nicaragua being in some respects intermediate. Till any better characters are found I rely upon the dull yellow colour of the elytra, and the divided colour of the male apical segment. 8. Chauliognathus janus. (Tab. V. fig. 4, 3.) Chaulhognathus janus, C. Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 829°. Hab. Mexico, Panistlahuaca (Sallé) ; Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion).—Sovutu America ; Ecuapor}, Sarayacu (Buckley). The figure represents a male from San Gerénimo. This species is very variable in the ex- tent of the yellow fascia, which is occasionally wanting, or interrupted at the suture ; while at other times it occupies the whole base excepting a very narrow portion, and then affords grounds for doubt whether the species can be separated from C. tripartitus, Chevrolat. The abdomen is yellow, each segment before the apical one with a black spot on each side, sometimes united ; in the female the fifth segment is sometimes quite black. 9. Chauliognathus tripartitus. Chauliognathus tripartitus, Chevrol. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fasc. 5, no. 1067; Waterh. loc. cit. p. 8277. Hab. Mexico 4, Cordova (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge); GuaTemata 2, San Gerénimo (Cham- pion). The abdomen in this species is similar to that of C. janus; in the male the ventral segments are often entirely yellow, or only the two before the valvular plate are spotted. 10. Chauliognathus distinguendus. Chauliognathus distinguendus, C. Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 328. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (var. B.M.); Guaremana.~- 11. Chauliognathus togatus. (Tab. V. figg. 10,11.) Chauliognathus togatus, C. Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 3267. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca! (B.M.), Guanajuato (Dugeés, coll. Sallé). The figures represent both males in Sallé’s collection from Guanajuato. This very singular species is of a rich brick-red above; and usually the head, breast, 72 MALACODERMATA. and appendages are black. It is, however, variable. The breast and base of the thighs and coxe are red in some examples. The black on the thorax varies from the entire disk to three spots arranged transversely in a row, and that on the elytra from two large spots to an entire fascia, while in one example the apical third is black, with a minute red spot at the sutural angle. The valvular plate of the male is always black. Two examples from Sturm’s collec- tion have the elytra entirely red. 12. Chauliognathus signatus. Chauliognathus distinguendus, var.?, C. Waterh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 328. Callianthia signata (Sturm coll.). Niger ; C. togato latior et preesertim brevior; prothorace elytrisque pallide flavis, his. basi et macula magna rotunda pone medium nigris, illo punctis tribus ; abdominis segmentis flavo marginatis. Long.17millim. °. Hab. Mexico (coll. Sturm). The different form and colour, and the black base of the elytra and differently coloured abdomen, indicate a distinct species from C. togatus, to which it is allied. It is very near to C. distinguendus, var.?, Waterh. The number of spots on the thorax seems liable to vary: one specimen has only two. 13. Chauliognathus nigrocinctus. (Tab. V. fig. 12.) Niger ; ore, abdomine (segmentis basi nigris), metasterni pleuris et thorace flavis ; elytris stramineis, his fascia tenui, illo macula discoidali transversa nigris. Long. 13-15 millim. g¢ 9. Var. elytris basi nigris (coll. Sturm, @ ). Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Duges, coll. Sallé). The larger examples of this species only equal in size the smaller of C. togatus. It is of the same parallel form as that ; and the thorax isof similar shape. The transverse mark on the disk is not separated into spots in any one of the six specimens before me; but in the variety there is a punctiform spot at each end of it. The valvular plate in the male is blackish at the base, fading into testaceous at the apex. ‘The abdominal ventral plates are yellow, with black bases. The antenne are inserted in yellow spots; and the mandibles are yellow. 14. Chauliognathus bilineatus. (Tab. V. fig. 13.) Flavus; capitis basi et macula transversa occipitali, prothorace lineis duabus, elytris puncto pone medium, antennis, palpis, parapleuris, segmentis ventralibus singulis maculis quatuor, tibiis tarsisque nigris, Long. 17-19 millim. 9°. Var. abdomine segmentis ventralibus immaculatis, puncto elytrorum majore. Long.14 millim. g. Hab. Mexico (coll. Sturm). This species may be well recognized by its elongate form and general ochraceous- . yellow colour. The yellow head with only the gular portion and a curved mark between CHAULIOGNATHUS: 73 the eyes is also characteristic. The elytral spot is very small, and in the specimen figured is obsolete. The extreme apex of the femora is black. The antenne are half as long as the body in the female, rather more in the male. ' There are four specimens only of this in Sallé’s collection. . Section II. a. Elytra more or less shortened, or lancet-shaped at their extremity. 15. Chauliognathus pallidus. Chauliognathus pallidus, C. Waterh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 330. | Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); Guatemaa, Sinanja valley, Panima, Zapote (Cham- pion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). | With this species we commence a section of the genus characterized by their long legs and frequently shortened elytra. In the present species these are shorter than the abdomen by about one fifth of their total length; their apex is lancet-shaped, and the underwings are exposed. The antenne are as long as the body, black. The legs are black, with the exception of the cox, trochanters, and a very small portion of the base. The valvular plate in the male is, with the whole of the underside, yellow. Mr. Waterhouse’s type has the femora not so fully black as those now before me, but, I think, does not differ from them specifically. His variety is, I think, a distinct species. 16. Chauliognathus cdemeroides. Flavus; elytris macula basali, antennis, palpis, femorum apicibus, tibiis tarsisque nigricantibus ; elytris corpore vix brevioribus. Long. 15-17 millim. 6 @. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); British Honpuras, Rio Hondo (Blancaneaus) ; GUATEMALA, near the city, Aceituno, Cahabon, Chaco}, Panzos, San Geronimo, Purula (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson), Chiriqui. Head moderately long, but not so produced as in C. pallidus. Palpi black, with pale articulations. Thorax elongate quadrate ; margins little reflexed. lytra pale yellow or ochraceous, usually opaque, not so conspicuously shortened as in C. pallidus, and with at least a portion, generally the whole, of their base black. This is a smaller and less robustly made species than C. pallidus, the femora are constantly paler, the elytra longer and of a softer texture. It scarcely differs from C. discus, Leconte, except in not having the thorax so orbiculate and in the black base of the elytra. 17. Chauliognathus fuscescens. Pallide testaceus vel ochraceus ; antennis, palpis, tibiis tarsisque fuscis; capite et thorace etiam interdum infus- catis. Long. 12-15 millim. dg Q. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Oaxaca, Toxpam (Sallé); GuaTemaLa, Sinanja valley (Cham- pion); Nicaracua (Sallé). BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, Tune 1881. L 74 MALACODERMATA. Head with the eyes very prominent, not much produced, but constricted behind ; antenne frequently as long as the body. Thorax with three impressions—two lateral, one in the centre near the base, divided by a short and somewhat obsolete keel ; it is more quadrate than in C. easanguis, which it otherwise very much resembles. The elytra nearly conceal the wings; they have rarely any trace of black at their bases. The valvular plate in the male is often fuscescent, but only faintly so. In one specimen only the whole thorax is fuscous. 18. Chauliognathus exsanguis. Pallide testaceus ; antennis palpis et ore nigris, tibiis et tarsis plus minusve infuscatis. Long. 10-11 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Cubilguitz, Lanquin, Panima, Panzos (Champion). Smaller than C. fuscescens, and with the elytra more abbreviated ; the thorax is also narrower and not uneven, although there are faint indications of a basal depression. The legs are paler, in some examples only showing a tendency to become fuscous. The antenne hardly exceed half the body’s length. 19. Chauliognathus lituratus. Pallide testaceus vel sordide fuscus ; capite et thorace nigro-signatis ; antennis, genibus, tibiis tarsisque fuscis ; elytris abbreviatis. Long. 10 millim. Hab. Mexico, Panistlahuca, Toxpam, Cordova (Sallé); Nicaraeua, Chontales (Belt). Very variable in colour, either pale dirty yellow or fuscous, with paler margins to the elytra. The head is pale, more or less spotted or clouded with fuscous at the base or between the eyes. The thorax has sometimes a transverse irregular mark formed of several smaller united spots, or is quite yellow, or has a horseshoe mark. The knees and tibiee, with the tarsi, seem constantly infuscate. The elytra are shortened so as to leave about one quarter of the abdomen uncovered. 20. Chauliognathus nigriceps. Flavus, opacus ; capite subnitido nigro, epistomate flavo-maculato, antennis, pedibus, abdominis segmento ultimo maris ventrali, dorsalibus utriusque sexus et scutello nigris; alis fuscis; elytris abbreviatis, postice acumi- natis. Long. 10 millim. ¢ 9. Var. elytris nigro marginatis. Hab. Mxxico, Cordova (Sallé); British Honpvuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaua) ; GuATEMALA, Sinanja valley, Senahu (Champion). This is very distinct from C. lituratus by the black head and scutellum. The side of the head in front of the eye is pale yellow; and the mandibles are of this colour at their base. The thorax is quadrate and rather smooth, the hind margin narrowly raised. The coxe are black externally, but yellow on their internal side. The variety with the elytra margined with black laterally is a male, and has the valvular plate black. It is from Mexico. CHAULIOGNATHUS. : 75 21. Chauliognathus apicalis. Niger; mandibulis basi maculisque duabus ad antennarum insertionem albis; prothorace elytrorumque apicibus flavis, illo puncto mediano fusco, elytris abbreviatis. Long. 9 millim. gd. Hab. GuateMaLa, Senahu (Champion). The head of this species is of the same shape and marked as in C. nagriceps, the sides of the head in front of the eyes being whitish, and the colour extending into two spots, from which the antenne take their origin. The thorax is scarcely so wide as the head, and is, on the average, a little longer than wide, ochreous yellow, with an indistinct or well-marked central spot. The mesosternum is, for the most part, white. The ventral plates are broadly margined with yellow, excepting the anal valve of the male, which is black. It is rather nearly allied to C. nigriceps, but well distinguished by the black elytra, with only the tip yellow. 22. Chauliognathus emaciatus.. (Tab. V. fig. 17.) Pallide lividus; capite nigro, infra et antice flavo; antennis, palpis, prothoracis disco, femoribus externe, tibiis et tarsis nigris ; elytris paullulum abbreviatis. Long. 12millim. ¢ 2. Hab. Guatemata, Capetillo, San Gerénimo (Champion). The head is rather large, and as wide or wider across the eyes.than the thorax: some- times the whole front is yellow; but more often the space immediately above the mouth is black. The disk of the thorax is wholly black, but is indented by a yellow spot in the centre of the base ; the margin is entirely yellow. ‘The scutellum is black. The underside is wholly yellow in both sexes. A Capetillo specimen is figured in the Plate. 23. Chauliognathus histrio. Callianthia histrio, Dej. Cat. 8rd ed. p. 118 (sec. Sallé coll.). Flavus; occipite, antennis, elytris (limbo toto excepto), alis, femorum apicibus, tibiis tarsisque nigro-fuscis ; elytris abbreviatis. Long..10-11 millim. ¢ 9. | Var. thoracis disco nigro-fusco. 9. Hab. Mexico, Cordova,. Tuxtla (Sad/é). Head yellow beneath and in front, the crown dull black ; prothorax im the male a little longer than wide, usually with a wide depression in the centre of the base, some- times with small discoidal spots; in the female quadrate, and with the disk sometimes black, at other times yellow with the lateral depressions infuscate. Scutellum brownish, with yellow apex.. Elytra short and acuminate, leaving quite one third of the apex uncovered; the suture and margin yellow, the apex more widely so, their bases some- times yellow, but rarely so. The apical valve in the male slightly infuscate. This species is very like what I have received from Texas as “marginatus, Fab.,” L 2 76 ‘ MALACODERMATA. but has not the breast fuscous, nor the narrow, even thorax, with a broad black vitta, of that species. Section II. b. Elytra parallel or narrowed towards the apex ; not shortened, nor lancet-shaped. 24. Chauliognathus terminalis. Niger ; pectore, abdominis basi, prosterno, prothoracis angulis posticis, et elytris (triente apicali excepto) flavis. Long. 12-14 millim. 6 9. Hab. Nicdracva, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers). Somewhat resembling C. dimidiatus, but narrower and more parallel. The head is very long, black, piceous beneath. Thorax with the upperside of the pronotum black, but more or less indeterminately fulvous at the base. Breast and first three segments of the abdomen yellow; but the centre of the metasternum is black in some examples, and in one the underside has all the paler parts fuscous, possibly owing to dis- coloration. | I have only seen three specimens, with the exception of an old one in my own | collection. 25. Chauliognathus collaris. Niger; prothorace rufo, suborbiculari, nitido, punctis duobus nigris; antennis corporis longitudine. Long. 12 milliim. ¢. Hab. Muxico, Cordova (Sal/é). Readily distinguished from any other species of the genus by the nearly totally black colour, with the exception of the thorax the only parts which are not so being the lateral edges of the ventral segments, which are yellow, especially the ones near the base and their margins, which are extremely narrowly yellow. ‘The legs are long, and the tarsi are longer than usual; the claws are yellow. A single specimen in Sallé’s collection is all that I have seen. 26. Chauliognathus aterrimus. Ater; tuberculis antenniferis, maculis minutis singulis in coxis anterioribus, et limbo ventrali anguste flavis. Long. 11 millim. ¢. Hab. Muxico, Puebla (Sailé). A narrow parallel species, with the head moderately elongate, black, with the exception of the spot at the insertion of the antennew. The thorax has the sides and base margined and a little reflexed, the front nearly plain; in the two male examples before me it is a little longer than wide, the margin scarcely shining. Flytra dull deep black. Underside and legs totally black, the lateral margins of the abdominal plates alone excepted ; the apical valvular one is quite black. CHAULIOGNATHUS. 77 27. Chauliognathus scapularis. Callianthia scapulata, Sturm coll. Nigro-fuscus ; prothorace (punctis duobus nigris), plaga humerali, femoribus ad apicem, tibiisque flavis, abdo- mine segmentis singulis basi fuscis flavo marginatis. Long.11 millim. @Q. Hab. Muxico (Sturm, coll. Sallé). - The coloration of the elytra of this species is common to a great number of Mexican beetles both of this and of other families ; but this is not liable to be confounded with any other ; for the shining yellow thorax with two black round dots placed one on each side of the disk is only common to it and to C. collaris. The shoulder-stripe extends rather more than a third of their length down the elytra, and includes the whole callus and reflexed margin of the shoulder. ‘The antenne are wanting in the single female specimen, with the exception of the first two joints, which are black. ‘The apex of the elytra is very narrowly yellow; and they probably vary, as other species of the genus do, in the amount of the black and yellow colours. 28. Chauliognathus morio. Callianthia morio, Sturm coll. Statura omnino Photini perelegantis, at aliquid major. Nigro-fuscus, opacus ; capite maculis duabus lateralibus ante oculos, prothoracis limbo frontali et laterali et margine reflexo, elytris sutura et margine tenuissime flavis ; antennis compressis, serratis. Long. 15 miliim. Q. Hab. Mexico (Sturm, coll. Sallé). Remarkably resembling some Photini, perhaps most an undescribed species of the eroup to which my Photinus perelegans belongs. The head is as long as in typical Chauliognathi; but the antenne are rather those of Daiphron. I should not be willing to admit it into that genus, however, at present, because the elytra are very parallel, and are long even for the present genus. The thorax is subquadrate, with a well-marked central channel in the centre of the disk. The scutellum and base of the elytra are fuscous. The pale margin begins immediately below the humerus; it is faint at the apex. The suture is entirely pale. ‘The elytra are finely coriaceous, rather more coarsely so at the base. The antenne are not more than half the length of the body. A single example only in Sallé’s collection, from that of Sturm. 29. Chauliognathus hastatus. (Tab. V. fig. 7.) Nigro-fuscus ; prothoracis limbo elytrisque testaceis, his sutura latius post scutellum maculaque magna apicali marginem vix attingente nigris ; abdomine segmentibus singulis (maris apicali excepto) flavo marginatis, Long. 11-14 millim. SQ. Var. elytris fuscis, plaga lata humerali ad medium vel ultra provecta testacea. Hab. Mzxico, Capulalpam, Guanajuato, Orizaba, Puebla (Saldé), Alvarez Mountains, San Luis Potosi, Hacienda de Bleados (Dr. Palmer), Jalapa (Hoge); GuaTemaLa, San Gerénimo, Panima (Champion). | 78 MALACODERMATA. The figure represents a female specimen from Guanajuato. Head black, moderately elongate; antenne of the male nearly as long as the body ; the head at their insertion has a yellow ring, but not completed in front. Thorax quadrate, but narrowed towards the front, the entire margin reflexed, more distinctly at the base and sides, and yellow, the base usually very narrowly so; disk opaque, with a square shallow impression behind. Scutellum black, the apex sometimes yellow. Elytra variable, sometimes fuscous black, with the shoulders. as far as the middle, and the margin for two thirds, yellow, or with the suture broadly black near the scutellum, narrowing to a point before or near the middle, where an apical spot commences, leaving only the suture and margin narrowly yellow, the apex more widely so. The ventral plates are yellow, spotted or banded with black at the base. The apical convex segment in the male is black. This appears to be one of the commonest species, at least in those localities where it occurs in Mexico and Guatemala. It is represented in Texas by C. lambatus, Leconte, from which it differs in its average larger size, the abdomen spotted or ringed with black, &c. Out of a very large series of C. hastatus which I have seen there is none with a quite yellow base to the abdomen, as my exponent of C. limbatus has. Subfam. THZLEPHORINT. DISCODON. Unguiculi externi maris fissi. Caput postice constrictum ; oculi mediocres, subglobosi, prominentes ; antennarum articulus secundus tertio multo brevior. Prothorax margine haud integro, maris lateraliter minute inciso, feminze ante angulos posticos sinuato-emarginato. Abdominis segmentum ventrale apicale maris bilobatum, subapicale angulariter emarginatum ; pygidium convexum. This genus is allied to Podabrus in the form of the head and in the general appear- ance; but the notching of the sides of the thorax is a character I have not seen in any species of that genus, and, taken with the division of the apical segment of the male, indicates some affinity with the Silini. The notch is very small, and is not situated in the same position in the different species: in D. erosum it is below the middle, and viewed from above appears only as a small indentation in the acute edge of the margin ; but in D. plicatum the notch appears to be due to the flattening and extension of the margin where it commences to be slightly reflexed in front. The apical segment of the abdomen of the male is also very different in structure from that of Podabrus and Telephorus. This plate, which appears to be the seventh, is divided for its whole length, thus having two lobes slightly inclined to each other, the segment preceding it being angularly gable-shaped and cut out. The fission of the claw is analogous to that of Podabrus; but it is here only the external claw, and that only in the males, that is divided. DISCODON. 79 1. Discodon erosum. Nigro-fuscum ; capite, pedibus basi, prothorace et scutello flavis ; genubus, tibiis et tarsis fuscis. Long. 10-11 millim. ¢ Q. Var. capite nigro, ore et epistomate flavis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Toxpam, Cuernavaca (Sai/é). Head and thorax clear yellow and spotless; the antenne about two thirds of the length of the body, fuscous, the extreme base sometimes reddish ; palpi pale at the base, the apical joints of the maxillary pair elongate hatchet-shaped, of the labial triangular. Thorax shining, as wide as, or, in the female, wider than long, rounded in front; the basal margin slightly raised: on each side in the male is a minute notch or interruption of the margin. The elytra are greyish fuscous. The centre of the sterna, the cox, trochanters, and femora, excepting only their extreme tips, are reddish yellow. The abdomen is dark fuscous black ; in some specimens only the angles of the ventral segments are marked with ochreous. 2. Discodon plicatum. Nigrum, nitidum, ore flavo ; prothorace glabro, aurantiaco, macula oblonga discoidali nigro-picea. Long. 10-11 milliim. gQ. Hab. Muxico, Cuernavaca, Guanajuato (Sallé); GuaremaLa, Cerro Zunil, Panima, Duefias, and near the city (Champion). A species in its general appearance very much resembling rather small specimens of the European Telephorus rusticus, also not unlike T. picticollis (described hereafter) and other species. It may, however, be recognized by the shining head and thorax, by the oblong black spot on the latter, which in the Mexican specimens is continued till it becomes a complete vitta from the front to the base, by the black legs and underside, and, of course, by the generic characters. The claws are red; the anterior pair are furnished with a triangular membranous lobe on the inner side, and are not split; the intermediate and posterior ones have the outer claw of the male split, and with its outer division shorter and more bent than the inner one. 3. Discodon incisum. -.. Flavum ; antennis, palpis pedibusque (basi exceptis) nigris. Long.11 millim. ¢ 9. . .. Var. femoribus fere totis, tibiisque testaceis. Hab. Guatemata, Duefias, San Gerénimo, Cerro Zunil (Champion). Very much of the size and colour of Telephorus bicolor, Fab. Body entirely testa- ceous; antenne fuscous or black, the basal joint usually in part yellow. ‘Thorax subquadrate, in the male a little narrower at the base than above the notch, the latter situated about one third from the hind angles, which are acute ; base finely reflexed ; disk with a shallow double impression. Underside, with the coxe, trochanters, and 80 MALACODERMATA. base of the femora yellow. The pygidial plate is strongly dome-shaped, with its margin reflexed so as to meet the bifid ventral segment which closes the anal aperture. This structure is not so much developed in D. plicatum, where the pygidium is flatter. In the female the apical ventral plate is broad and angularly notched on each side of the middle, the thorax is wider behind than in front; the sides are only very slightly sinuate; and this sex may, of course, be distinguished by the claws being all simple. The specimens from Cerro Zunil have the sides of the thorax in the male with a wider and deeper excision ; the elytra have the middle of their margins narrowly black ; and the legs are paler. 4, Discodon nigripes. Nigrum ; capite, prothorace, scutello elytrisque flavis. Long. 93-11 millim. dQ. Hab. Guatemata, Las Mercedes (Champion). Head yellow, a little clouded above, shining ; antenne and palpi black; tips of the mandibles pitchy. Thorax shining, disk uneven; lateral notch in the: male small, obliquely directed forwards in the middle; the margin in the female only a little sinuate. Mesosternum yellow. Legs, postpectus, and abdomen black. Pygidium of the male a little convex ; apical ventral segment of the female rounded, not notched at the apex. 5. Discodon carbonarium. Atrum ; capite et prothorace nitidis, ore obscure piceo. Long. 8-8} millim. ¢ Q. Mas prothorace medio lateraliter constricto, segmento apicali ventrali fisso. Hab. GuateMata, Quiche Mountains (Champion). The almost totally black colour of this species will distinguish it from any other of the genus except D. melancholicum, the only parts which are not black being the mouth, which is obscurely pitchy, and the membranous portions exposed between the prosternum and breast, which are yellowish. The head, as in many of the species of the genus, is more contracted behind in the male than in the female; but the thorax covers nearly all but the crown. The constriction of the thorax in the male is similar to that of D. inciswm and D. marginatum, in which the margin is not distinctly notched. About eight specimens, of which two are males, have been captured by Mr. Champion. 6. Discodon marginatum. Testaceum, subnitidum; prothorace disco infuscato, foveola lata impresso; elytris fusco-piceis, marginibus, sutura strigaque humerali rufis; antennis fuscis, articulo primo rufo. Long. 10 millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothoracis limbo laterali ante angulos posticos contracto vix edentato, segmento apicali ventrali fisso. Hab. Guatemaua, Calderas, Duefias, San Gerdénimo (Champion). Easily separable by its colour from any other of the genus, and also differing in being of a soft texture, as shown by the shallow depression in the centre of the thorax, which DISCODON. 81 is, I think, due to shrinkage and the tendency to shrivel in the elytra. The head has usually a dark spot on the crown in the female. The thoracic spot is oblong. The elytra widen a little towards the apex; the humeral vitta is not very distinctly separated from the pale margin, but sometimes runs down the discoidal nervure ; the softness of the elytra does not admit of the darker and pale portions being ever very distinctly marked. Seven specimens have been sent, three of them males. 7. Discodon vitticolle. Fuscum ; capite nigro, ore pedibusque piceis, prothorace lete rufo, nigro-vittato ; elytris piceis, apud humeros et externe dilutioribus. Long. 7-8 millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali plicato-interrupto; unguiculis anticis internis lobo triangulari ad basin instructis, intermediis et posticis externis fissis ; abdominis segmento ventrali apicali fisso, apice exciso. Hab. Guatemaua, Purula, Tamahu, Chacoj (Champion). Var. elytris nigro-fuscis, vitta pallida ab humero usque ad apicem fere provecta. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé), Cordova (Hége); GuateMALA, Zapote (Champion); Costa Rica (van Patten). Variable in the depth of colour of the elytra, and in the more or less vividly tinted thorax, this insect in all its forms resembles species of the genera Photinus and Photuris. It is perhaps best distinguished by the bright red thorax, with a narrow black vitta from the base to the front, or nearly reaching it. The head is black, with the chin and mouth pitchy. The bifid apical segment of the male is more deeply cut out at the apex than in other species of the genus. 8. Discodon flavicolle. Atrum ; epistomate, ore et prothorace albido-flavescentibus ; capitis basi picea. Long.11-12millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothorace margine laterali tenuiter oblique inciso; unguiculis anticis lobatis, intermediis et posticis fissis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, Hoge), Jalapa (Hoge). Smoky black, a little shining above. Head pitchy or rufous at the base, crown black, front and underside yellow ; antenne and palpi fuscous. Thorax shining, pale yellow; lateral margin obliquely and finely notched in the middle in the male. Scu- tellum and humeral callus yellow. This insect almost precisely resembles Photuris lugubris, already described. The absence of any white abdominal segments will afford a ready distinction. 9. Discodon melancholicum. Aterrimum ; prothorace nitido, quadrato suborbiculari; elytris rugose coriaceis. Long. 9-10 millim. g¢ 9. Hab. Mexico, Leon, Guanajuato (Dugés, coll. Sallé), Parada (Boucard, coll. Sallé). Entirely black, excepting that in one example the thorax has the sides pitchy red. The head is less constricted behind than is usual in the genus; and the insect has very much the appearance of a true Telephorus, being, indeed, of the size and colour of the BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, August 1881. M 82 MALACODERMATA. European 7’. tristis. The male, however, has the sides of the thorax notched near the middle, and the apical segment divided ; the external claws are also split, though only at their extreme apex, and the fission is not easily seen with an ordinary lens. The coriaceous sculpture of the elytra is a good distinctive character. From D. carbonarium the thorax hardly narrower in the male than in the female, with a central notch, will at once separate it. 10. Discodon triste. Atrum, subopacum ; capite et prothorace nitidis, hoc lateribus latius albido-flavis (maris medio) tenuiter oblique incisis; elytris rugose subcoriaceis. Long. 63-8 millim. 3. Mas prothoracis margine laterali tenuiter plicato-interrupto ; unguiculis anticis internis lobo subtriangulari, intermediis et posticis externis fissis. Hab. Mexico, San Luis Potosi, Hacienda de Bleados (Dr. Palmer), Guanajuato (Dugés, coll. Sallé); GuateMALA, Duefias, Capetillo (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). Var. Prothoracis lateribus rufis. | Hab. GuatTEMALA, Quiche Mountains (Champion). Entirely black, with the exception of the thorax, which has its sides broadly pale yellow, inclining to red near the middle. The disk is very shining and black; this discoidal patch increases in width towards the base, so as sometimes to form a triangle ; or it is widened behind, with an indistinct spot on each side near the hind angles, which is less intense. The angles and base itself are often pale; but the black usually extends to the base and front in the middle. The mandibles are pitchy, lighter in colour at their bases, and darker at the tips ; the rest of the head, body, and legs is entirely black. The elytra are almost rugose, with very obsolete indications of strie. This species is evidently a very near ally of D. melancholicum, and perhaps ‘not specifically distinct. ‘Some specimens which I think belong to the same species are pitchy; and some of those from Chontales have the legs partly pitchy red; this is probably due to their having been captured soon after having quitted the pupal state. 11. Discodon normale. (Tab. V. fig. 20, 2 Telephorus; Tab. VI. fig. 20, ¢ .) Nigrum, opacum ; capite et prothorace subnitidis, hoc lateribus late flavis, puncto subdiscoidali utrinque haud distincto, illo fronte flava, ore fusco. Long. 10-11 millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothoracis disco infra medium incisura sat profunda fere recta; unguiculis anticis internis et intermediis externis lobo membranaceo instructis, posticis externis fissis. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, Capulalpam, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé), Mexico city (Dr. Palmer), Jalapa, Cordova, Cerro de Plumas (Hoge); GuatEma.a, Capetillo (Champion). Var. elytris sutura margineque flavis. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé). The figure on Plate V. represents a female specimen from Capetillo; that on Plate VI. a male from Mexico. DISCODON. 83 Rather variable both in comparative width and colour, but generally distinguished among the Central-American Telephoride by the broad thoracic vitta, with a short lateral transverse branch below the middle of the disk, which at times appears like a spot in the broad yellow margin, united to the black of the disk. In most of the specimens which I refer to this species the hind angles of the thorax are distinct and nearly right angles; in some, however, they are more obtuse and rounded. The external resemblance to the European Telephorus obscurus, Linn., is rather striking. This species, with several others which I at first referred to Telephorus, has the middle claws of the male not finely split, but with a lobe very similar to that of the front pair, while the hind pair have the claws with the lobe produced so as to give the idea of their being bifid. The apical segment of the abdomen iscleft as in other species ; the two lobes have their suture somewhat open at the base. In the specimens with pale margins to the elytra the sides and apex of the abdomen are often yellow. In some specimens from Juquila the elytra are ampler than usual, and the hind claws of the male are less distinctly lobed; but I do not think they pertain to a distinct species. In some remarkably stout and robustly-built female specimens from Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, and other parts of Mexico the apical segment is apparently contracted at the apex, and with the pygidial plate longitudinally compressed (perhaps only in drying), so as to form a sort of gutter. There is a variety of this stout form which has the thorax and base of the legs and greater part of the abnomen, and in one example even the elytra, yellow. This latter is a single specimen taken at Cerro de Plumas by Hoge. 12. Discodon perplexum. Nigrum ; elytris subopacis, ampliatis; prothorace aurantiaco, nigro-vittato; abdomine flavo, basi fusca. Long. 15 millim. 4. Mas prothoracis margine juxta angulos posticos incisura sat profunda ; unguiculis internis anticis et externis intermediis lobatis, posticis externis fissis. Hab. Mexico, Misantla (Hége). There being only two male specimens which, at present, I can refer to this species, I think it may possibly prove to be the male of the species described by me as Telephorus picticollis. It is larger, and the elytra especially: wider, than any Discodon at present described. sab: The head is yellowish in front; but the apex of the mandibles, the palpi, and mouth are dark fuscous. The thorax has no angles in front, the margin being rounded to meet the sides; the hind angles are distinct, but not sharp, and, in the male, are detached from the lateral margin by a rather deep incision. The abdomen has all the seements margined, and the three last entirely yellow, the apical one being divided, the lobes being closely joined, a little open at the apex. The elytra are finely coriaceous, M 2 84 MALACODERMATA. more inclined to be granulose than in the female specimens which I refer to Telephorus picticollis. 13. Discodon cleroides. (Tab. V. fig. 18, Telephorus.) Atrum ; elytris subopacis, capite margine frontali et mandibulis basi albidis; prothorace transverso, subqua- drato, limbo toto et plaga discoidali subtriangulari nigris; antennis corporis vix dimidio longitudine eequalibus, leviter serratis. Long. 9-10 millim. g 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali medio incisura sat profunda, unguiculis posticis externis fissis. Hab. GuateMaua, Duefias, Purula (Champion). The general appearance of this insect is almost exactly that of a species of Cleride ; the form, evenly narrowed before and behind, the short serrate antenne, the colour of the thorax (black, with an oblique red vitta on each side, which leaves the margins black), are all repeated, and are similar to the general features of several species of Photinus as well, so that the deception in nature must be perfect. The species appears to vary a little in size and in the width and form of the black discoidal patch of the thorax. Thus one variety will resemble some one species of Photinus, while another may be more close in general facies to another. The abdomen has one or two apical segments, and the margin of some of those preceding, whitish. ‘The anterior internal claw of the male has a lobe at the base; but while the middle pair seem to have the same claw thickened, it is not so widened. The hind claw is thickened and finely bifid. The figure in the Plate is taken from a female from Duefas. 14. Discodon photinoides. (Tab. V. fig. 19, Telephorus.) Nigro-fuscum ; capite nigro, epistomate flavo ; prothorace flavo, plaga discoidali subtriangulari nigra; elytris fuscis, margine laterali et sutura tenuiter flavis. Long. 9-11 millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali tenuissime plicato-interrupto; unguiculis anticis internis basi lobatis, intermediis et posticis externis basi incrassatis haud fissis. Hab. Guatemaua, San Gerdénimo, Duefias (Champion). Var. elytris totis nigro-fuscis. Hab. GuateMALa, Duefias (Champion). There appear to be several species closely resembling the present one, and whose discrimination depends on the observation of differences in the structure of the claws of the males. Nevertheless, if these are attended to, there will, I think, be found other minute differences in the average size, the more or less parallel form, the shape of the thoracic discoidal patch, and the form of the male ventral segments and their colour. This species has the extreme front of the head yellow. The thorax is smooth and even, with a somewhat triangular patch on the disk. The elytra are rather parallel, a little widened in the female, and attenuated towards the apex. The abdomen is wholly dark fuscous; in only one example is it at all paler towards the apex. DISCODON. 85 In the male the ségment preceding the apical one is angularly emarginate, the apical cleft (as it is, indeed, in all species of Discodon) not much raised. The absence of fission in the hind claw is not of generic importance, being but a secondary character ; but it will, I think, indicate a separate section. ‘The inner point where the claw appears to be divided is, I think, an independent structure, analogous to the “ membranous lobe ” on the front or middle pair, which is sometimes of a tooth-like shape, and reaches in some cases near to the tip of the claw. The figure represents a female from San Geronimo. 15. Discodon dubium. Nigro-fuscum ; capite nigro, epistomate flavo ; prothorace flavo macula oblonga vel disco toto nigro-piceo ; elytrorum marginibus et sutura abdominisque margine tenuiter flavis. Long. 9-11 millim. dQ. Mas prothoracis margine laterali infra medium incisura tenui sat profunde fere recta; unguiculis posticis externis fissis. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé). The principal points in which this species shows any difference from D. photinoides (apart from the male characters) are that the thorax is not so evenly convex and the discoidal patch is rather of an oblong shape. The abdomen is margined ; and sometimes the angularly excised subapical plate has its apical margin whitish yellow. 16. Discodon luridum. Nigro-fuscum ; capite, antennis, tibiis tarsisque nigris, epistomate flavo ; prothorace et elytris sordide flavis, his amplis, illo disco piceo; abdominis margine et maris segmento apicali pallidis, Long. 11-12 millim. dQ. Mas prothoracis margine laterali incisura sat profunda paullo ante angulos posticos; unguiculis externis basi lobatis, posticis vix fissis. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé, Hoge). The section to which this species belongs have the elytra soft, considerably widened below the middle, and generally shrivelled in drying; but their form is quite recogni- zable. ‘The females have the elytra as wide as the males. The external claws of the male in D. luridum are all furnished with the usual membrane at their base; but in the hinder pair this projects as a tooth-like plate nearly to the length of the claw; thus the claw when viewed from its back appears bifid. ‘The present species is easily recognized by its brownish-yellow elytra and pale yellow thorax, with a broad pitchy- black vitta, narrowing towards and not often meeting the front margin. The apical ventral plate in the male has its two lobes inclined to each other, and much raised where they meet at the apex. 17. Discodon lugubre. Aterrimum, opacum ; elytris amplis; capitis fronte prothoracisque epipleuris lete flavis; antennis basi lati- usculis serratis, ad apicem attenuatis. Long. 10-12 millim. ¢ 9. 86 | MALACODERMATA. Mas prothoracis margine laterali incisura sat profunda paullo ante angulos posticos ; unguiculis anticis internis, intermediis externis basi lobatis, posticis vix fissis. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca, Durasnal (Sad/é). Similar in most of its characters to D. luridum, this species is distinguished by its black colour, the front of the head and the reflexed margins of the prothorax being the only yellow parts. . The elytra are subcostate ; and the antenne (which are about half the body’s length) are more compressed and widened from the third to the sixth joint than is usual in this genus. 18. Discodon histrio. (Tab. V. fig. 22, 3.) Atrum ; capite prothoraceque nitidis, hoc epistomate flavo-maculato, illo lateribus flavis; elytris subcostatis, humeris flavo-guttatis. Long. 9-10 millim. 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali per sulcum obliquum leviter emarginato; unguiculis anticis internis lobatis, intermediis et posticis externis fissis. Hab. GuateMa.a, Duefias, Capetillo (Champion). Head nearly black, with only a few yellow speckles between the antenne ; the latter are nearly filiform, only a little thicker from the third to about the fifth joint. The thorax is rather small, narrowing a little in front. The discoidal black patch reaches from the base so as just to touch the front, where it is narrower. ‘The elytra have a very distinct shoulder-stripe of orange colour occupying the raised callus, and three raised nervures. The combined effect of these characters is to render this species very like a Lycus; and it adopts the pattern so very common among the small Coleoptera of the district it inhabits. It is perhaps most close in resemblance to Calopteron muimicum. The specimen figured is a male from Capetillo. 19. Discodon difficile. Atrum ; epistomate, ore et prothorace albido-flavescentibus. Long. 10-11 millim. <6 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali infra medium tenuissime oblique inciso; unguiculis anticis internis basi lobatis, intermediis et posticis externis basi incrassatis, haud fissis. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé), Guanajuato (Dugeés, coll. Saillé). Extremely like D. flavicolle ; but, in addition to the male not having the middle or hind claws split, the scutellum is black, the thorax is more transverse and not so much rounded in front, its disk is mottled with darker yellow spots, and its margins are not reflexed, nor with a basal deeply impressed line. The elytra are subrugose, and not shining as they often are in D. flavicolle. I have only seen two male and one female specimen at present. DISCODON. 87 20. Discodon bivittatum. Flavum ; occipite, prothoracis vittis duabus tumidis, elytris (margine et sutura exceptis), antennis, palporum articulis ultimis, tibiis, tarsis, pectore et abdomine maculis ventralibus nigro-fuscis. Long. 8-10 millim. 3 Q. Mas abdominis segmento ultimo ventrali partito ; unguiculis anticis internis, intermediis et posticis externis lobatis, haud fissis. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Yolos (Boucard, coll. Sallé) ; Cordova, Playa Vicente (Hoge). This species reminds one of Telephorus bilineatus of Say, which is found in the United States; it is also not unlike 7. guatemalensis (described hereafter in the present work). From the former the pale margins and suture of the elytra, and from both the curiously raised black vittee of the thorax (in addition to the male generic characters) distinguish it. The crown and base of the head are black and not shining; the antennee and terminal joint of both pairs of palpi are black. The thorax has its margin finely reflexed, less so in front; it is subquadrate in the male, wider with more rounded sides in the female. The elytra exhibit two or three raised lines; but these are usually little evident except in the female. Coxe, trochanters, and femora yellow ; sometimes the hind thighs are infuscate above. The claws are yellowish. 21. Discodon oppositipunctum. Pallide flavum; prothorace punctis duobus(uno in medio marginis frontalis, altero basali ante scutellum), antennis, palpis, tibiis et tarsis, abdominis segmento ultimo elytrisque nigro-fuscis. Long. 7-9 millm. gQ. Mas prothoracis disco antice oblique constricto et foveolato, margine vix interrupto; unguiculis posticis fissis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Toxpam (Sallé). _ Head yellow; eyes prominent, especially in the male; antenne greyish fuscous, with paler base and articulations. Thorax subquadrate, rounded in front, hind angles right, disk uneven ; constricted in the male, and with more prominent hind angles; a small spot close to the front margin in the middle, and another on the middle of the base ; at times a spot occupying two lateral fovee is faintly visible. Scutellum yellow. FElytra greyish fuscous, finely punctured. The legs are yellow, with the exception of the knees narrowly black, and the tibie and the tarsi of the same colour. The whole underside is yellow, excepting the last segment of the abdomen in both sexes. Four specimens are in M. Sallé’s collection. 22. Discodon purpurascens. (Tab. V. fig. 23, 2 Silis 2) Nigrum ; capite et prothorace rufis, hoc vitta mediana, illo occipite nigris ; elytris rufis, subpurpureis, obsolete pubescentibus; antennis corpore brevioribus, vix serratis. Long. 10-12 millim. 4g 9. Mas prothoracis margine laterali medio oblique minute inciso ; unguiculis anticis internis basi lobatis, inter- mediis et posticis externis fissis. Hab. Costa Rica (van Patten), Cache (Rogers). When I had only seen a single female of this species, which is the specimen taken by Mr. Rogers, shown in the Plate, I thought it would prove to be a Stlis; a 88 MALACODERMATA. second specimen, which is much more obscure in colour, but which I believe is, with- out doubt, a male of the same species, is clearly congeneric with the preceding insects. This specimen has lost its pubescence; and the elytra are subcoriaceous, smooth at the base, opaque at the apex; they widen gradually from the base. The thorax is smooth, its margins not much reflexed; near the hind angles (which are acute) are two shallow fovee. In the female the sides narrow towards the front. The head is blackish on the crown; the mandibles and mouth are blackish; the palpi, antenna, legs, and body entirely black. 23. Discodon flaccidum. Obscure piceum; prothorace sordide rufo vel flavo; elytrorum marginibus suturaque et pedibus sordide testaceis; capite, antennis tarsisque nigris. Long. 6—7 millim. Hab. GuatEMALa, Chiacam, Cubilguitz, Teleman (Champion). The soft integuments, parallel elytra with pale margins, pale legs and rufous or pale horn-coloured thorax with pitchy disk, give this species quite the appearance of a small Lampyrid of the genus Photinus or Photuris, e. g. Photuris mollis, to small speci- mens of which it assimilates in size. The sides of the thorax are minutely indented. I am not able at present to indicate the male characters with certainty; but I have little doubt the specimens with narrower thoraces and with the sides more acutely notched are males. The antenne do not exceed half the body’s length. The elytra are finely and sparingly pubescent. Seven specimens are all I have seen. Obs. The claw described as the internal one of the front tarsi, is really so only when the leg is directed forwards; it is homologous with that which is the external one of the middle and hind feet. TELEPHORUS. Telephorus, Schiffer, Element. Ent. t. 123 (1766) ; Olivier, Ent. ii. 26; Degeer, Ins. iv. 60. Cantharis, Linn. Syst. Nat. 11. p. 647; Fab. Ent. Syst. 1. p. 216. It would not be within the scope of this work to enter upon a discussion of the involved synonymy, or of the many subdivisions which have been attempted of the genus Telephorus. Kirsch has described six species of Telephorus from Bogota, which are clearly congeneric with the above (Berl. ent. Zeits. 1865, p. 80 &c.). The genus is here adopted as it is now generally received in modern works on European species. I should retain Rhagonycha, Eschsch., as a good natural division ; but I have not at present found a Central-American representative of this form, although, as there are fourteen species in Mr. Crotch’s list of the Coleoptera of TELEPHORUS. 89 America north of Mexico, it is not impossible it may occur. The fission of the claw of Rhagonycha taken alone is, after all, only analogous to what occurs in Photuris among the Lampyride, and is found with various modifications in Podabrus, Discodon, and in other genera, attention to which is much needed. The character by which Telephorus proper is defined best is by the apical ventral segment in the male being neither valvular nor split, but simply an ovate small plate covering the genitalia. Telephorus in its widest sense, then, is found all over the world, and numbers at present about 350 species. It is, however, as a glance at the Munich Catalogue will show, espe- cially the genus of the northern temperate zone, and is quite as abundant in New-World as Old-World forms. Forty species from temperate North America are in Crotch’s list. Dr. Leconte has recently published a synopsis of the species found in the United States (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. ix. pp. 50-55, March 1881), in which the number of Telephori, inclusive of Khagonycha, is given as thirty-five. Polemius, which was included by Crotch, is evidently the representative of my genus Discodon, but differs from it in not possessing the lobes or fission of the claws of the males. It may be observed I am unable to give the sexual distinction of the four species I have retained here in the genus. ‘The number of specimens are few, and, it is probable, will have to be removed to other genera when their males have been observed. At present they must be regarded as unclassified. 1. Telephorus lampyroides. (Discodon?) (Tab. VI. fig. 15.) Fusco-piceus, nitidus; prothorace transverso, quadrato, aurantiaco, glabro, macula discoidali basali picea ; elytris sordide flavis, fusco-infuscatis, postice paulo ampliatis. Long. 16-17 millim. 9°. Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). Var. elytris piceis, vitta in humeris incipiente margineque pallidis, Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion). Head pitchy, shining, reddish at the base ; antennz fuscous, of moderate length, not reaching the middle of the abdomen ; palpi fuscous, apical joints hatchet-formed, but not strongly so, and obliquely truncate. The width of the thorax is nearly or quite twice its length ; it is very shining, the disk and sides evenly elevated, the base narrowly reflexed. Its colour is a clear orange-yellow ; in the centre of the base a square pitchy black spot, more or less continued across the disk, but not reaching the front. The scutellum, breast, legs, base, and apical segment of the abdomen are dark fuscous. The elytra are rather dull, only a little shining at their bases, of a dull horn-colour, clouded in the centre with fuscous. The variety from Cerro Zunil has the elytra darker, with a central pale vitta extending from the humerus to within about one third from the apex, and the external _ margin pale. The specimens all appear to be females, from the broad apical segment of the abdomen, which is always fuscous with paler margins. The species, especially the variety, bears a very striking resemblance to Lampyride of the genus Photinus, as, for example, to P. congruus and P. gliscens. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIL, Pt. 2, October 1881. N 90 MALACODERMATA. 2. Telephorus rugipennis. Griseo-niger, subnitidus, subtus flavus ; epistomate, prothorace postice pedibusque basi rufo-testaceis ; protho- racis disco postice fossa haud profunda; elytris subrugose fortiter punctatis, lineis duabus subelevatis. Long. 64-73 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). Head narrowed and rounded behind; mouth, mandibles, palpi, and base of the antenne: pitchy red. Apical joint of the maxillary palpi triangular. Thorax suborbi- culate, the margin a little reflexed, hind angles a little acute and turned out, the base sinuate ; immediately before the centre of the base is a squarish shallow fossa, which, with the front half of the thorax, is black. Underside yellow, with the exception of the breast, which is leaden black, and a cloud on the middle of each ventral plate. The coxe and femora are pale yellow; the knees, tibie, and tarsi dark. ‘The antenne reach a little further than the hind coxe. There are only three specimens which agree with this. The rough elytra and peculiarly coloured thorax sufficiently distinguish it ; but I am not able to determine the sex of these specimens. 8. Telephorus mimetus. (Si/is?) Niger, subopacus ; ore, epistomate et mandibulis, prothoracis lateribus calloque humerali rufis. Long. 6 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion). Extremely like Stlis nigrita, but with the head of a different form, more exserted, and with smaller eyes, which are not so globular. The antenne are black, scarcely reaching the hind coxe. The thorax is narrower than in S. nigrita, and with the sides bisinuate as in the female S. hematodes &c.; the hind angles are acute and a little projecting outwards; the disk is opaque, uneven, with a wide shallow depression in the centre of the base. The elytra are opaque black, with only the humeral callus red; there are obsolete indications of striae, and very obsolete puncturing. Two specimens are all I have seen. In size and colour this insect also exactly resembles various Platerotes of the striatus group, some Caloptera, and a variety of Silis varians. The prominent trapezium-shaped head with red jaws and the form of the thorax are the best general distinguishing characters. 4. Telephorus comptus. Niger, subopacus ; prothorace transverso, late rufo, disco nigro, inequali, postice tuberculo duplo, lateribus reflexis, fortiter rotundatis, angulis posticis subrectis, minute productis; antennis compressis, serratis, ad apicem attenuatis. Long. 9 millim. 9. Hab. Guatemaa, San Geronimo (Champion). There are only two specimens among Mr. Champion’s collections, which agree in having a decidedly transverse thorax with reflexed margins, the disk uneven, and with a double tubercle, somewhat in the manner of Discodon bivittatum, behind. ‘The head is squarish, the mouth and middle of the underside being pale; it is small for the size of the insect. The antenne reach about to the posterior coxe; they are entirely black. SILIS. 91 The sides of the thorax are much rounded in the middle, narrowed a little in to the base, the hinder angles being turned outwards; the base and front are nearly straight ; but the front angles are quite lost. Both the specimens being females, it is impossible finally to decide on the genus of these specimens; but in form they approach some Discoda. The underside is black ; the apical segment is more shining than the rest, but is simply truncate, or has its apex a little sinuate, and presents no especial character. Subfam. SZZLINT. This group corresponds to the “ Siliaires” of Mulsant. At present I adopt it only for such genera as have the thorax with notched or deeply lacerated sides in one or both sexes, the hind angles cut away or in some mode defective in the males, the antenne more or less serrate, and the claws simple or only with a small laminar enlargement near the base of the outer ones. A more extended examination of African and Eastern forms will, I think, show that the longitudinal division of the apical ventral segment of the males is a character of the highest importance in the formation of natural divisions of this family. In this respect the Central-American species of Sil/és are obviously allied to my genus Discodon and to Leconte’s genus Polemius, which only differs from it in not having split claws. And if this be taken as indicating their true affinities, there are representatives of the Silini in Africa, Madagascar, Sumatra, and China. SILIS. Silis, Latreille, Régne An. ed. 2, p. 471 (1829). Ditemnus, Leconte, Class. of Col. of N. Am. p. 189. I have been very much in doubt as to the limits to assign to this genus; and I now include in it only such insects as in the males have the thorax with some incision or sinuosity near the hind angles, and at the same time have the last abdominal plate cleft and simple claws. Leconte’s genus Polemius (Lacord. Gen. des Col. iv. p. 359 ; Trans. Ent. Soc. Amer. ix. p. 55) approaches nearer Discodon; but I have not yet seen it. Two species of Silis are known in Europe. About twenty other species are referred to it from Eastern Asia, the United States, and South America. Section I.a. Maris prothorax juxta angulos posticos vel sinwatus. vel excisus. 1. Silis lycoides. (Tab. V. fig. 21.) 7 Atra, opaca; prothoracis lateribus humerisque flavis: elytris fortiter costatis ; antennis medio incrassatis, serratis. Long. 9-10 millim. <¢? @. Mas? prothoracis lateribus antice angustatis, trisinuatis. Femina prothorace latiore, lateribus rotundatis, ante angulos posticos minute sinuato-excisis. N 2 92 MALACODERMATA, Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Cordova (Hége); Guatemata, San Gerénimo, Capetillo, Duefhas, Cubilguitz, Purula (Champion). The figure represents a specimen from San Gerdnimo, probably a male. Head punctured, rough, yellow, with black crown, sometimes only a black spot; narrowed behind, with prominent eyes. Thorax usually roughly punctured, and with a few indistinct tubercular swellings on the back of the disk, smoother in the female. The male (?) has the sides with indistinct front angles, between which and the hind angles are two projections, the hind angles themselves being acutely turned points. The elytra, especially in the male (?), are tricostate, with thickened sutures and margins, and strongly elevated shoulders as well; the yellow of the shoulder is occasionally extended over their base, but always leaves the suture black. The interstices between the cost are finely rugose. I have some doubt about the sex of these specimens; for in none of the examples have I been able to observe a divided ventral segment. This circumstance gives rise to doubts also as to the genus. The resemblance to some Lycidz, especially to Calopteron ichnoides and mimicum, as well as to Discodon histrio and. to some other Telephoride, is so extraordinary that they may readily be con- founded even after careful comparison. 2. Silis varians. (Tab. VI. fig. 1, var.) Nigra ; capite et prothorace flavis, hoc vitta tenui, illo supra plus minusve nigris ; elytris flavis, triente apicali, in- terdum sutura etiam oblique nigris ; antennis compressis, subserratis, coxis pallidis. Long. 8-9 millim. g 9. Mas prothorace angulo posteriore minute oblique exciso ; unguiculis anticis et intermediis internis, posticis externis, lamina parva instructis; segmento ventrali apicali fisso. Femina angulo posteriore minute exciso. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, Tuxtla (Sallé) : GuaTEMALA, Vera Paz, Chacoj, San Isidro, San Juan, Teleman, San Joaquin, Panima, La Tinta, Tactic, Duefias, Zapote (Champion). Var. elytris flavis. Hab. GuateMaLa, Vera Paz, Teleman, Chacoj, Panima. Var. nigra, prothoracis lateribus, et humeris tantum flavis. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé). A common and widely-spread species in Mexico and Guatemala, mimicking various species of Lycide and Cleride in its different forms. The thorax is minutely notched immediately before the hind angles in both sexes; and this, with its flattish, slightly costate elytra, shining thorax, of a semioval form, with a straight truncate base, as wide as the base of the elytra, and rather wide compressed antenne, are the best general characters by which it may be known. The black portion of the elytra often commences on the suture at its base, gradually widens till it meets the margin about one third from the apex. SILIS. 93 Section I.3. Maris prothorax magis orbiculatus lateribus medio excisis. 3. Silis premorsa. (Tab. VI. fig. 2.) Atra, opaca ; capite flavo, occipite nigro, oculis magnis ; prothorace suborbiculari, lateribus flavis, disco punc- tato, opaco, medio depresso; elytris fortiter tricostatis, callo humerali flavo. Long. 8 millim. 3. Mas prothoracis lateribus paullo infra medium fortiter profunde excisis, margine utrinque excisionis dentato- producto. Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion). With this species commences a little section of the genus in which the thorax, more or less orbiculate, has a notch in the middle. | The specimen described above is a single male captured by Mr. Champion: I have seen several other specimens which are near to it in structure, but differ so far in the depth and position of the excision that I do not feel it possible to unite them with it. The antenne in this specimen are almost simple, the head wide across the eyes. The apical abdominal plate split. 4, Silis nigrita. Atra, nitidula; capite flavo, oculis prominulis; prothorace suborbiculari, lateribus infra medium tenuiter incisis, flavis; elytris subtiliter coriaceis, callo humerali pedibusque basi pallidioribus. Long. 5} millim. SQ. Mas prothoracis lateribus infra medium oblique subtiliter incisis. Femina? prothorace ad angulum posticum incisione obliqua sat profunda, margine basali truncato; elytris lineis tribus elevatioribus. Hab. GuateMaua, Chiacam, Quiche Mountains (Champion). This is allied to S. premorsa; but, in addition to the prothorax being much less deeply cut out in the male, the whole insect is more shining, the elytra less costate. The legs are pale in the femora. The two specimens which may, I think, be the females, have the thorax less orbiculate, owing to the hind angles being less obliterated, as they are in the type, by the tooth-like projection of the margin above them. 5. Silis heematodes. Atra, nitidula ; capite prothoraceque rufis; antennis dimidio corporis longioribus, filiformibus; elytris paral- lelis, subtiliter coriaceis, scutello rufo. Long. 6-7 millim. ¢ Q. Mas prothoracis lateribus infra medium oblique incisis, margine utrinque excisionis dentato-producto, angulis posticis nullis. Femina prothoracis lateribus trisinuatis, angulis posticis acute productis. Hab. GuatTEma.a, Capetillo, Duefias, Cerro Zunil, Las Mercedes, Chiacam (Champion). In this insect the thorax of the male is even more orbiculate than in 8. premorsa, owing to the margin projecting less above and below the incision and to the hind angles having disappeared. It is easily known from other species described here by the head and thorax in both sexes being clear reddish yellow, the only one like it in this respect being the following species, S. erythroderes, in which the scutellum is black and the thorax more oblong and differently notched. The elytra are elongate and parallel, finely coriaceous, with obsolete raised lines, 94 MALACODERMATA. 6. Silis erythroderes. Atra, nitidula; capite et prothorace sanguineis, antennis ut in precedente, elytris subtilissime coriaceis, fere alutaceis, scutello nigro punctato. Long. 7 millim. 9? Femina? prothoracis lateribus medio late constrictis, ante angulos posticos sinuatis. Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége). Distinguished from S. hwmatodes by the characters given above. There being only at present two specimens, probably females, it will be better not to give a more detailed description till more specimens have been seen. 7. Silis eroides. (Tab. VI. fig. 6.) Nigro-fumosa, opaca; antennis compressis, serratis, prothorace suborbiculato, lateribus flavis, plicato-incisis ; elytris postice modice explanatis, subtiliter rugosis, lineis tribus obsolete elevatioribus, plaga lata humerali ochracea pone medium producta. Long. 6-7 millim. ¢ 2. Mas prothorace fere orbiculato, lateribus medio plicato interruptis ; oculis magis prominentibus. Femina prothorace magis oblongo, lateribus sinuatis, angulis posticis minute acutis. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé); Guatemata, San Juan, San Isidro, El Zumbador, Las Mercedes (Champion). - A specimen from Las Mercedes is shown in the Plate. The pattern so very often repeated, and the somewhat lyciform shape, occur again in the present species. There are species of the genera Lycostomus, Calopteron, Plateros, Drilolampadius, Calocladon, Ichnea, and of other families of Coleoptera, all in a general way, and some very closely, alike. This insect is known by the shape of the thorax, which has a rather large and open notch a little below the middle. The head and thorax are both rather roughly punctured and rugose; the eyes are prominent and globular, reminding one of the head of a Calocladon ; the elytra are firmer than usual, gradually and neatly widened. 8. Silis basalis. Flava, subnitida; antennis (articulo basali excepto), palpis, femorum apicibus, tibiis tarsisque fuscis ; elytris nigris, basi rufis. Long. 53-64 millim. ¢ 9. . Mas prothorace subquadrato, lateribus infra medium minute excisis. Hab. Guatemata, Purula, Quiche Mountains (Champion). This little species agrees sufficiently with S. hwmatodes to be compared with it; the thorax, however, is more transversely quadrate, and in the male is nicked much in the manner of a Discodon. The female, however, has the minute excision immediately before the hind angles, and these themselves, acute, as in other species of this group of Silis. The eyes are small; the antenne nearly of the length of the body and filiform. The amount of red at the base of the elytra varies from a mere spot to one third; it is never very clearly defined. The specimens from the Quiche Mountains have darker legs than those from Purula. In these latter the underside is wholly red, except the abdomen, which is indistinctly infuscate. The legs are red, with the exception of the tips of the tibiz and the middle of the tarsi. SILIS. 95 9. Silis lineata. Parallela, nigro-picea, nitida ; capite et prothorace flavis, nigro-vittatis; elytris nigro-piceis, angulo humerali flavo ; vel flavis, sutura apiceque nigris. Long. 6-7 millim. dQ. Mas prothoracis lateribus ante angulos posticos biexcisis. Femina prothorace antice angulato, margine ad angulum incrassato. Hab. Guaremaua, Cahabon, Cubilguitz, Chiacam, Balheu, Teleman, San J oaquin (Champion). This little species is nearly of the same size as S. basalis. The thorax is marked with a straight narrow vitta; and the head has a spot on the crown. The antenne are black to the base, rather more than half as long as the body, longer in the male. In the male the thorax appears bidentate on the sides; the incision is not very deep, and the hind angles are not acutely produced in either sex. The elytra are usually pitchy black, with the humeral angle above yellow ; two or three raised lines are faintly visible. Varieties occur in which the yellow extends itself along the margin, or occupies the greater part of the wing-covers ; the apex and the suture appear always to remain black. Section II. Maris prothorax processu duplici lamellato marginali.—Diremnvs, Leconte. 10. Silis distorta. Nigro-fumosa, subopaca; epistomate, thoracis marginibus, abdominisque maculis lateralibus flavis ; thoracis disco nigro, nitido, rufo-cincto, profunde fossulato. Long. 5-6 millim. ¢ Q. Mas prothoracis lateribus processu duplici laminato, posteriore contorto, disco profunde foveolato impunctato. Femina prothorace magis orbiculato, juxta angulum posteriorem minute exciso. Hab. Guaremata (Sallé), Aceituno, Duefias, Zapote (Champion). The extraordinary lamellar processes from the side of the thorax, in the males of this and some other species, would seem at first to warrant their generic separation ; but it is to be observed that the various species of Sidés all differ in the mode in which the thorax is notched or sinuate, and that all the American species I have seen differ from the type (8. rujicollis), which is a European form. While the present species retains the principal characteristics of Leconte’s genus Ditemnus, it is plain from his description that the shape of the processes and notches differs, and that it also differs in some respects from Westwood’s genus Pachymesia. ‘The head presents nothing unusual; the antenne are half the body’s length, not, or scarcely, serrate in either sex. The thorax of the male is slightly emarginate in front; the round anterior margin then forms the first process, which is produced backwards in a lunate form, so as partly to cover the hinder one. The latter is produced from a detached portion of the margin in a parallel direction; behind it the thorax is constricted. The disk is deeply foveolate, the fovea being pointed in front and behind. In the female this fovea is only represented by an irregular double depression. Elytra leaden black, with a greyish pubescence, their margin sometimes exceedingly narrowly white in the middle. Legs black; abdomen black, sometimes each segment with a yellow spot on the side. 96 MALACODERMATA. 11. Silis dilacerata. (Tab. VI. fig. 4,3.) Nigra, subnitida; prothorace rufo, disco fossulato, nitido, nigro-vittato; elytris plumbeis, margine laterali tenuissime albidis. Long. 5-53 millim. ¢ Q. Mas prothoracis lateribus processu duplici laminato, posteriore contorto, biacuminato. Femina prothorace transverse subquadrato, antice angustato, juxta angulum posteriorem minute exciso, disco bifoveolato. Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Capulalpam (Sallé), Juquila (Boucard, coll. Sallé); GUATEMALA, Capetillo, Zapote, San Gerénimo, Santa Rosa, Purula, Teleman, San Juan (Champion). Var. thorace toto rufo. Hab. British Honpuras, Rio Hondo (Blancaneaux); Guatemala, San Gerénimo (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). The figure in the Plate represents a male specimen from Capetillo. This species is distinguished from S. distorta by being rather less broad and more shining, by the posterior process of the thorax in the male being in a manner bifid, and not so apparently winding, while the anterior lamina does not overlap it so plainly. The disk of the thorax is very shining, and in the male with a deep. fossa, which is entirely impunctate and longer than wide. In the female this is represented by a double and much smaller impression. The fossa and disk in front and behind are black; but the whole hinder part of the thorax is never so as it is in S. distorta. More rarely the whole thorax is red. Two examples from San Gerénimo have the suture narrowly pale. 12. Silis albicincta. (Tab. VI. fig. 5, 3.) Silis albicinctus (Chev.), Sallé coll. Nigra; ore prothoraceque rufis ; elytris marginibus et sutura concinne albis, scutello pallido. Long. 5-53 millim. de. Mas prothoracis lateribus processu duplici laminato; anteriore cultriformi, cum posteriore annulum quasi prebente; disco profunde fossulato. Femina prothoracis disco leviter impresso, angulis posticis truncatis. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, Cordova (Sallé) ; Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). Var. antennis, palpis pedibusque rufis; capite etiam nonnunquam rufo. ¢ Q. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Head black, mouth whitish, palpi dark at their apices; eyes prominent, the head contracted behind them. Thorax red, the lateral laminz of the male complicated, the anterior one being much bent backwards into the sinus formed by the posterior. Its apex appears to have a double acuminate angle. The posterior process is a twisted laminar plate directed from the hind angles forwards; the basal margin beneath it appears acutely incised. Viewed from above these processes are confused and simply present the appear- ance of a hole having been pierced near the hind angles. The central fovea in the male is a deep round pit, impressed in the centre. The elytra widen from SILIS.—TRYPHERWUS. 97 the base; they are deep shining black, with conspicuously white edges. The legs are black with pale coxe. The specimen figured is one from the Volcan de Irazu. 13. Silis rufifrons. Nigra; capite, prothorace et scutello rufis. Long. 5-53 millim. ¢ 9. Mas prothoracis lateribus processu duplici, posteriore longius biacuminato, spinifero. Femina prothoracis angulis posticis acute excisis. Hab. Guatemata, Chiacam (Champion). Rather closely allied to Stlis dilacerata; but, independently of the red colour of the head, there are permanent distinctive differences: viz. the thorax is shorter; in the male the front process is, as it were, only the portion of the front margin left by the deep excision of the inferior part of the side, and the hinder process is quite different in shape, with a long spine on its basal side. In the female the hind angles have an excision; in S. dilacerata there is none. The antenne of the male are as long as the body, but in the female much shorter. The elytra are quite black. 14, Silis laticollis. (Tab. VI. fig. 17, ¢.) Atra, subopaca ; prothorace lato; elytris rugose punctatis ; abdomine apice flavo. Long. 5 millim. g. Mas prothoracis lateribus fortiter incisis, infra incisionem processu laminato, disco obsolete biimpresso. Hab. Mexico, Jacale (Sal/é). This is a very distinct species, and as it were intermediate between species of the group to which S. premorsa belongs and S. distorta and the two preceding species. It is entirely black, excepting the apex of the abdomen, the mandibles, and mouth. The thorax is wider than the elytra; the latter are coarsely punctured and substriate, scarcely covering the abdomen. ‘The antenne are nearly as long as the body. The whole insect is robustly built. Subfam. MALTHINT. The species of this subfamily are of small size, and remarkable for their shortened elytra. Some of the genera have very curious anal appendages and apices of the abdomina. The genera, with two exceptions, seem poor in species, but are still widely distributed. Two of them, however, viz. Malthinus and Malthodes, are well known European forms abundant in species, and common on trees and bushes in early summer. TRYPHERUS. Trypherus, Leconte, Proc. Acad. Phil. v. p. 846 (1852) ; Trans. Ent. Soc. Am. ix. p. 58. Lygerus, Kiesenw. Linn. Ent. vii. p. 246 (1852). Founded by Leconte for a species found in the United States, and which is nearly BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. III., Pt. 2, October 1881. O * 98 MALACODERMATA. related to the Eastern genus Jchthyurus. The absence of thickened femora in the male, and the different form of the apical plate of the abdomen, warrant its separation. One species has been found in Central America :— 1. Trypherus forficulinus. (Tab. VI. fig. 7.) Nigro-piceus, nitidus ; fronte flava, elytrorum apicibus abdomineque supra rufo-testaceis ; abdominis segmento ultimo dorsali utrinque angulariter acuminato atque elevato, lobis nigris. Long. 103 millim. ¢? Hab. GuaTEMALA, Quiche Mountains (Champion). Head pitchy, pale yellow between the eyes; and the antenniferous tubers are of the same colour. Antenne fuscous, except at the point of insertion to the head; their third joint nearly twice as long as the second. Thorax of the same width as the head, its disk impunctate, margined by a fine line. Elytra one quarter the length of the abdomen, with two raised lines and a humeral costa; their apices rich orange or ferruginous red. Wings reaching nearly to the apex of the abdomen. Apical segment of the latter with two angular projecting points, which are elevated and a little slanting outwards and dark pitchy; in the angle formed between them the segment appears to be produced into a small angular lobe. T°. latipennis is described by Leconte as having the female with last dorsal segment trilobed at the tip. I am not certain of the sex of the single specimen here described. This is one of the most singular forms among the Coleoptera ; the superficial resem- blance to an earwig is not to be overlooked. LOBETUS. Lobetus, Kiesenw. Linn. Ent. vii. p. 244 (1852), nec Leconte, Trans. Ent. Soc. Amer. ix. p. 59. This most extraordinary genus is founded on a species, torticollis, from Venezuela. The insect which Leconte refers to it has the antenne alike in both sexes ; and notwith- standing Dr. Leconte’s remark that in his opinion this is a character of only specific importance, I believe, on the contrary, that, while the mode of distortion and number of joints so affected is not perhaps of itself of sufficient importance to warrant my forming a new genus for the species here described, yet the amorphic structure of the male antenna indicates some rudimentary form dependent on or correlated with the shortening of the elytra and the increase in the eyes, which are present, and is of the highest generic significance. At all events, the species here recorded shows more affinity with the type of Kiesenwetter’s genus than does L. abdominalis, which I feel it necessary to assign to a different genus. In Lobetus mirabilis it is not the ninth to eleventh joints, but every joint in the antennee which takes some remarkable form. This structure is fairly represented in Tab. VI. fig. 10; it is most difficult to apprehend, from the fact that the processes from each joint are so contorted that one cannot see them all separately at one view, or even count the number of joints with certainty. LOBETUS.—BELOTUS. 99 1. Lobetus mirabilis. (Tab. VI. figg. 103,112.) Testaceus ; antennis basi excepta, tibiis tarsisque, alis et abdomine ad apicem infuscatis. Long. 8 millim. ¢ 9. Mas antennarum articulo basali magno difformi flavo, apicali spathuliformi, intermediis distortis, laminatis, setigeris ; abdominis segmento penultimo dorsali bilobato medio excavato, genitali parvo lobis lateralibus subsequali. Femina antennis simplicibus, segmento ultimo dorsali bilobato, ventrali convexo. Hab. Muxico, Cordova (Sailé). This very singular species, while not altogether agreeing with the generic characters of Lobetus, still shows affinity with its type. The posterior tarsi have the first joint elongate, equal to the remainder. The inter- mediate pair have it less lengthened, but still as long as the three following. The head has the face perpendicular, the palpi dark. The thorax has its sides deflexed; but the side pieces of the prosternum are distinct. The elytra are formed, as in Trypherus, with a distinct callus and raised nervures, Two males and two females are all that I have seen. BELOTUS. Lobetus, Leconte, Trans. Ent. Soc. Amer. ix. p. 59, nec Kiesenw. I have given my reasons above for separating these insects from Lobetus. Three species have occurred in Central America. 1. Belotus abdominalis. (Tab. VI. fig. 8.) Lobetus abdominalis, Leconte, Proc. Acad. Phil. v. p. 347'; Trans. Ent. Soc. Amer. ix. p. 59’. Hab. Untrep States, Georgia !, Texas, Florida (Leconte *).—MeExico, Cordova (Sal/é), Juquila (Boucard, coll.); Guaremaa (Sallé), Capetillo, San Gerdnimo, El Jicaro, Tocoy, Teleman, La Tinta (Champion); Honpuras (Sallé). Var. thoracis disco infuscato. Hab. Mexico, Parada (Boucard, coll. Sallé). 2. Belotus fuscus. Fuscus, elytrorum apicibus flavescentibus. Long. 5 millim. Var. thoracis lateribus et margine reflexo flavescente. Hab. Mexico, Yolos (Boucard, coll. Sallé). The four examples of this species from Mexico differ from B. abdominalis in being nearly entirely fuscous, and having the abdomen quite dark. They are not in good condition ; but I have little doubt about their being specifically distinct. 3. Belotus maculatus. Pallide flavescens, antennis (basi et apice preetermissis), palporum articulo ultimo, elytrorum macula oblonga humerali, geniculis, tibiis tarsisque fuscis, alis obscuris, abdominis segmentis singulis dorsalibus extus mucronatis. Long. 6-74 millim. 0 2 100 MALACODERMATA. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Head not much contracted behind, yellow, shining, impunctate ; antenne reaching as far as the posterior femora, filiform, pale fuscous; usually two or three joints at the base and the apical joint at least are quite pale. The thorax is longer than wide, the sides straight, narrowing a little from the base. The disk is shining, depressed on each side of the middle, which is sometimes very finely but unevenly channelled ; it is shining and glabrous. Elytra as long as the head and thorax, one third as long as the hind- body ; the humerus raised and occupied by a pitchy-black spot, which continues about half the elytron’s length; the entire margin is yellow, as well as the scutellum. The abdomen presents the same peculiarity that I observe in Maronius dichrous; viz. the hind angle of each segment is produced into a blunt mucronate lobe. The last dorsal plate but one is roundly emarginate, embracing the pygidium, which is rounded at the apex and convex above. About ten specimens of this insect, which I think to be congeneric with B. abdominalis, have been collected by Mr. Champion. ; MARONIUS. Genus antennis longis, quam corpus paulo brevioribus, elytris abbreviatis pedibusque longis Molorchum quodam- modo simulans. Caput breve, postice constrictum. Palpi max. art. ult. oblique truncato, subsecuriformi. Prothorax quadratus, depressus, biimpressus, vix marginatus, linea submarginali basali impressa. Elytra tertiam partem abdo- minis tegentia, haud distantia. Ale ample, abdomini equales. Pedes longi, tarsorum posticorum art. primo sequentibus equali. Abdominis segmentum dorsale penultimum maris utrinque furcatum ; apicale cum ventrali valyulam convexam formans ; feminis segm. apicale minus, obconicum apice truncato. 1. Maronius dichrous. (Tab. VI. fig. 9.) Rufo-ferrugineus ; prothoracis disco elytrorumque apicibus aurantiacis; capite, antennis, palporum apicibus, femoribus (basi excepta), tibiis, tarsis abdominisque segmentis duobus ultimis nigris; alis fuscis. Long. 10-11 millim. 9. Mas processu segmenti penultimi laterali longiore, segmentis genitalibus subglobosis. Femina processu vix prominulo, segmento apicali minore, ventrali apice rotundato, dorsali truncato angustiore. Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Sallé); GuateMaLa, Zapote (Champion); NicaRaaua, Chontales (Belt, Janson). A male specimen from Chontales is figured. Head black ; underside of the basal and second joint of the antenne and base of the palpi pale yellow; terminal joint of maxil- lary palpi triangular, apex obliquely truncate; crown shining. Prothorax reddish yellow, with a waxy look, margins sharp but not reflexed, a double impression on the disk. Elytra covering more than a third of the abdomen; their apices acuminate and thickened, waxy red. Abdomen clear red, the hind angles of each dorsal segment projecting, the last two segments black, the last but one being produced on each side: in the male the projection is a tooth-like tubercle ; in the female it is simply the production MARONIUS.—THINALMUS. 101 of the folded margin. The apical segment is conical, small, and truncate. The base of the legs is clear red; the apical half of the femora, the tibia, and the tarsi are blackish or fuscous. The basal joint of the tarsi of the posterior legs is as long as the rest taken together. The wings are fuscous black at their apices, paler and more reddish at the base. Of this curious insect four examples were collected by Belt and one by Janson at Chontales; Champion met with a single specimen at Zapote ; and there were four in the collection purchased by the editors of this work from M. Salle. THINALMUS. Caput ut in Malthinus; oculi parvi, paulo prominentes. Antenne maris corpori longitudine squales, articulis tertio ad decimum ramum flabellatum a basi emittentibus; femine corpore paulo breviores, valde serrate. Palpi articulo ultimo vix securiformi. Elytra abbreviata, capite thoraceque longiora, apicibus distantibus. Ale ample, abdomen tegentes. This new genus may be briefly described as Mal¢hinus with the antenne in the male strongly pectinate, in the female serrate. In the single species which I at present refer - to it the basal joint of the antenna is stout, the second short and triangular, the third and succeeding joints as long as the basal one, each emitting from the base a lamellar branch which is longer than the joints and as long as the terminal joint, which, as usual, has no branch. The apical segments of the abdomen do not, so far as I can see, show any special appendages or particular structure, but are not easily observed in dried specimens. The ventral plate of the male appears divided or sulcate. 1. Thinalmus pectinicornis. (Tab. VI. fig. 13.) Niger, epistomate, capite infra, prothorace (vitta discoidali excepta) trochanteribusque flavis; thoracis disco inequali, obsolete canaliculato. Long. 5-53 millim. ¢ @. Had. Guaremata, Cerro Zunil, Zapote, El Zumbador (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). | Head black above, with the front and underside yellow, opaque, closely and very obsoletely punctured ; at the base a fine longitudinal impressed line. Thorax smaller and narrower than the head, black above, with yellow sides. ‘The disk is shining, uneven, with a rather deep central channel with raised subtubercular sides; elytra black, with two or three raised lines and irregular confluent punctures, half the length of the body behind the prothorax. Wings dark. About a dozen specimens were taken at Cerro Zunil, one of which is figured. I have only seen one (a female) from Chiriqui. 9. Thinalmus centro-lineatus. Niger ; ore et epistomate flavis, capite et prothorace linca mediana rufis, scutello rufo. Long.5-6 millim. ¢ 2. Mas antennis corporis fere longitudine, flabellatis ramis quam articulis triplo longioribus. Femina antennis corpore brevioribus, leviter serratis. Hab. GuatTeMALA, Sinanja valley ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 102 MALACODERMATA. The flabellate pectination of this insect is longer than in T. pectinicornis; and it is readily recognized by the yellow-red median vitta of the head and thorax. The former is shaped as in 7’. pectinicornis. The antenne and palpi are dark, the terminal joint of the maxillary pair are ovate, a little swelled, and acuminate at the tip. The second joint of the antenne is triangular, as wide as long. The thorax has raised, slightly thickened margins, and a median channel as in 7. pectinicornis. The elytra are entirely pitchy black, longitudinally corrugate, and the whole of the body with the wings and legs dull opaque black. The scutellum in the two male examples from Chiriqui is red ; in a single female from the Sinanja valley it does not appear so. These are the only examples that have yet been sent. MALTHINUS. Malthinus, Latreille, Genera Crust. et Ins. i. p. 261 (1806). About fifty species have been described from the Palearctic Region. Mr. G. Lewis has met with the genus in Japan; and Leconte records two species from the United States. 1. Malthinus major. Nigro-fuscus ; ore, antennarum apice, prothorace (disco antice excepto), pedibus (femoribus summo apice tibiisque fuscis), pectore, abdominisque lateribus et basi testaceis, Long. 7 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Head wider across the eyes than long, much contracted behind, black, with the front at the insertion of the antenne yellow. Antenne three fourths of the body’s length; filiform, fuscous, the basal three or four joints pale beneath, and the apical three joints pale. Palpi pale, with darker apex. Prothorax even and impunctate, a little narrowed in front, with a dark patch on the front half of the disk, not, however, reaching the front margin. Elytra opaque, fuscous, as long as the head and thorax, closely and sub- rugosely punctured. Legs pale, a dark patch near the apex of the femora, the tibiz and tips of the tarsi dark. Dorsal surface of the abdomen and its apex pitchy black. This is the largest species of Malthinus I have seen; and it appears to be larger than any species described. Three specimens recently sent from Chiriqui are all that have been seen by me; one of these has all the pale portions darker than the other two, owing, as I think, to discoloration. 2. Malthinus championi. Nigro-fuscus ; antennarum apice, prothorace, pedibus basi, pectore abdomineque testaceis, hoc dorso nigro. Long. 6-7 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Very little inferior in length to the preceding species, but narrower and with the head especially smaller and entirely black; the antenne are not quite so long, and have MALTHINUS. 103 the last four joints yellow; the palpi are pale, with darker apical joints. The thorax is narrow, yellow, with a shallow depression on each side. The elytra are less evidently punctured than in the last species, and hence are a little more shining; and the margins of their attenuated apices are faintly yellow on the inner side. The knees of the two posterior pairs are black, the front pair indistinctly fuscous ; the tibiee and apices of the tarsi are dark. The underside, with the exception of the apex of the abdomen, is yellow. Eight specimens were taken by Champion. 3. Malthinus laticeps. (Tab. VI. fig. 14.) Nigro-fuscus ; antennarum articulo primo, prothoracis lateribus anguste, pedibus, corpore infra elytrorumque > Pp ? 9 9 apicibus flavis ; antennis corpore longioribus. Long. 5 millim. regulariter punctato-striatis, antennis corpori longitudine subeequalibus. Long. 5 millim. Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion). Closely allied to W. cruenticeps, and agreeing with it in most of its characters, which therefore need not be repeated. In addition to the head being black (excepting only the front), the antennz are longer, the prothorax is more constricted in front, and the tibize and tarsi are quite yellow. | Only two specimens (which are probably both males) have come under my notice. MALTHODES. Malthodes, Kiesenwetter, Linn. Ent. vu. p. 265 (1852). The most numerous in species of the genera of the subfamily. The range of its distribution appears to be the same as that of Malthinus. Above one hundred species have been described. Leconte catalogues seventeen from the United States. Two: species, very small in size, collected by Champion, appear to pertain to this type. 1. Malthodes pallipes. Nigro-piceus, nitidus; antennis vix corporis longitudine, pedibus flavis, tibiis tarsisque infuscatis. Long. 33-4 millim.