Sp THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY LIBRARY 1925 BLOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. INSECTA, COLEOPTERA. Vot. IV. Parr 6. BY DAVID SHARP, M.A., F.R.S., &.; W. F. H. BLANDFORD, F.ZS., &c.; AND KARL JORDAN, M.A.L., Pu.D. 1895-1907. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Errata ET CorRRIGENDA Brentuips. By D. Suarp woe Scotytips. By W. EF. H. Buanprorn . Anruripipk&. By K. Jorpan . . . . . ° . List of Species of Brenratp® and Sconyrrip.« described from Mexico and Central America since the publication of the preceding pages . . . . ° . . . . . INDEX . PLaTeEs. INTRODUCTION. Tus Volume is devoted to the enumeration of three families of Rhynchophora—the Brenthide, Scolytide, and Anthribide,—which have been dealt with by Dr. D. Sharp, Mr. W. F. H. Blandford, and Dr. K. Jordan respectively. These families are all well- represented in Central America, as noted by the authors in their introductory remarks (pp. 1, 2, 81-88, 299, 300), the total number of species being as follows :—Brenthide 140, with 104 new; Scolytide 271, with 181 new; and Anthribide 193, with 148 new. One species of Brenthide and ten of Scolytide have since been added by other authors, and a list of these is appended at the end of the Volume. Of the fourteen Plates, three are devoted to Brenthide, six to Scolytide, and five to Anthribide: the first nine have been drawn by Mr. E. Wilson, of Cambridge, and the remainder by Mr. H. Knight, these latter being coloured. ED. February 1907. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. 1V. Pt. 6, February 1907. b ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA. Page —_ Line . 222 11,14 — for costellatus read cancellatus. 254 43 for macroceros read macrocerus. 304 14 for vittatus read bivittatus. . 312 24 for gibbesus read gibbosa. 321 7 for fulvipes read fulvitarsis. 369 21 for Panama, Caldera in Chiriqui, read Guatmuaua, Calderas. BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. ZOOLOGIA. Class INSECTA. Order COLEOPTERA. Tribe RHYNCHOPHORA. Fam. BRENTHID. This family of Rhynchophora consists at present of about 500 species. About 125 have been found in our province. The very large proportion of forms found in Central America is due to the fact that the family is almost peculiar to the forests of the tropics, and that few species are known from Africa. Hence the larger part by far of the known species have been procured from the Neotropical region, and from Madagascar and the Indo-Malay regions. A comparison of the number of our species with that found in any one of the above regions would probably show no great disproportion to exist. The Brenthide include many very strange forms, conspicuous on account of their long narrow shape. They are also remarkable for the great disparity between the sexes. Indeed it is probable that the neglect of these insects by entomologists is due to this, combined with the almost complete absence of species from the European and North- American faunas. ‘The classification in vogue is based entirely on the males, and is far from satisfactory. Hence nothing of any value can be said as to the geographical distribution of the genera and groups of genera. Most of the species of our region are apparently distinct from those of South America. The majority of the Brenthide described from the South-American continent are, however, from Brazil; so that it is possible that when the species of the northern parts of that continent are better known many of the Central-American forms may be found there. Some of the species of Brenthide are already known to have a very extensive range, Brenthus BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. LV. Pt. 6, May 1895. BB 2 RHYNCHOPHORA. anchorago being found from Rio Janeiro to Mexico. This, however, is, I think, an exceptional case, as I have examined a small series of Brenthide collected by Dr. Sahlberg near Rio Janeiro, and find that two or three species are all that can be considered identical with Central-American forms. Subfam. BRENTHINA. Group TAPHRODERINA. TAPHRODERES. Taphroderes, Schéuherr, Disp. Meth. p. 72 (1826) ; Gen. Cure. i. p. 366 (1833). This genus is peculiar to Tropical America, whence seven species have at present been described. The species are, however, no doubt numerous; they are very similar in appearance when the upperside only is looked at, but the lower surface of the body presents characters by which the species may be distinguished with ease. The sections I here adopt for the discrimination of our species will probably not suffice for an arrangement of the whole genus, as I have a Taphroderes from Petropolis that, as regards the structure of the metasternal crest, differs from all the species of our region. ‘lhe terms I have used in describing the under surface are as follows :—‘ Abdominal sulcus,” for the groove running along the abdominal segments; itis more or less deeply foveolate at the base, the basal portion being sometimes all that exists: “ metasternal groove,” for the groove running along the middle of the metasternum, and extending nearly or quite to a transverse depression in front, the ‘‘ metasternal fossa”; this fossa is bounded just behind the middle coxa by a process I call the “ metasternal crest.” The “poststernum” means the part of the prothorax behind the front coxe; the “prosternum,” the part in ‘front thereof. There is very little difference externally between the sexes of this genus. In describing the sculpture of the elytra I have throughout treated the sutural interstice as being the first interstice. Schdnherr and others have spoken of the second interstice as being the first, calling my first interstice the sutural interstice. ‘This course, however, renders the phraseology of descriptions more complex, without, so far as I see, offering any real advantage. I have called the part of the rostrum anterior to the insertion of the antenne the ‘‘prorostrum,” and the part between the antenne and the eyes the “ metarostrum.” The Taphroderides are probably all predaceous insects : their peculiar structure allows the legs to be packed close to the body when the insect enters a burrow in wood in search of its prey. TAPHRODERES. eS) $1. Metasternum sulcate ; metasternal crest bi-emarginate, being toothed in the middle. 1. Taphroderes rectus, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 1.) Anoustus, nigerrimus; elytris lineis duabus flavis rectis et in medio late interruptis; apicem versus vix 5 ’ 5 ely ’ 5 punctulatis. Long. 10-144, lat. 1 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). Antenne black, slender; club well marked, elongate; joints 2-8 moniliform, the eighth as long as broad, the ninth joint much longer and considerably broader than the eighth. Head elongate, rather narrow ; eyes placed just halfway between the front of the thorax and the insertion of the antenne. Thorax rather deeply channelled in front, finely so behind, black, very shining, finely and very distinctly punctulate. Elytra slender, black, with a pair of elongate, exactly parallel, yellow jines extending from the base to near the middle, beyond the middle they again appear as quite parallel shorter marks; tip quite black ; the common apical emargination or arch deep, narrow. Apical segments of abdomen rufescent. Abdominal sulcus broad behind, with a lateral porous projection on each side, the two being but little approximate, so that they render the exit from the groove only slightly narrower ; anterior part of sulcus narrow, extremely deep, its sides rather abruptly distinguished from the sides of the posterior part of the groove. Metasternal groove deep, in front broad and very deep, the anterior limit evidently tridentate. Prosternum deeply sulcate, the groove extending to the tip; poststernum rather broadly foveolate. There is but little difference between the sexes; the male has the terminal ventral plate hairy, and the apical arch of the elytra rather broader and less angular. Twelve specimens, showing very little variety, except in size. 2. Taphroderes mexicanus, sp. n. Angustus, nigerrimus ; elytris lineis duabus flavis in medio interruptis, quarum partibus anterioribus haud omnino parallelis, sed posterius paululum divergentibus. Long. 63-13 millim. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge). Var. Major, robustior, pronoto medio rafescente. Long. 15 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Tamahu in Vera Paz (Champion). Very similar to 7. rectus, but easily distinguished, as regards the upper surface, by the fact that the anterior portions of the yellow lines are not parallel, so that if they were continued they would fall outside the posterior portions. The prothorax is not canaliculate behind. On the under surface the abdominal sulcus is narrower behind, BB 2 4 RHYNCHOPHORA. so that the two porous projections have only a narrow channel between them. The metasternal fossa is shorter ; the post-sternum not definitely foveolate. Six specimens; of the variety I have seen only one individual. 3. Taphroderes tostus, sp. n. Niger, pronoto posterius rufescente, ibique opaco ; elytris lineis duabus rectis flavis in medio late interruptis. Long. 15 millim. Hab. Guarema.a, Cerro Zunil (Champion). We have received only one specimen of this species, which appears to be distinct from both 7. rectus and T. mevicanus, though very closely allied. In the sulcation of the under surface it agrees with the latter species, but by the form of the yellow lines on the elytra it agrees better with 7. rectus; from both species 7’. tostus may be readily enough distinguished by the dull red colour of the posterior part of the thorax, and by the coarse punctures which exist on the middle of this opaque part of the surface. 4, Taphroderes apicalis, sp. n. Angustus, niger, capite thoraceque medio rufescentibus ; elytris basi lineis duabus flavis, apice flavo quadri- plagiatis, apicibus subexplanatis. Long. 54-11 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Very closely allied to 7. rectus, but readily distinguished by the colour of the upper surface and by a slight difference in the form of the apices of the elytra; it is, too, a somewhat less elongate insect. Head vaguely rufescent or picescent ; thorax rufescent along the middle, very distinctly so in front. Elytra black, marked on the basal part with two elongate, nearly parallel, yellow marks; just behind the middle with two yellow marks, each broad in front, narrower behind, and at the apex with a smaller mark somewhat prolonged externally; the apices forming conjointly an arch not at all angulate in the middle. Under surface similar to that of 7. rectus, but with the abdominal sulcus less broad behind; the middle tooth in front of metasternal fossa very indistinct. The poststernum foveolate. Seven specimens. §2. Metasternum sulcate ; metasternal crest simply curved, crescent-shaped. 5. Taphroderes beltianus, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 2.) Robustior, nigricans, hinc inde rufescens; elytris guttis flavis ornatis ; abdominis sulco posterius profundo ; metasterno fossa, post cristam, parum profunda. Long. 9-19 millim. Hab. Nicaracua (Sallé), Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). TAPHRODERES. 5 Antenne broad, all the joints except the first and last transverse, the ninth slightly longer but scarcely broader than the eighth. Thorax very elongate, canaliculate in front, and with a finer short channel at the base. Elytra with three short yellow marks, linearly arranged near the suture, each one extending in a vague manner outwards; the tip broadly reddish yellow. Apical ventral segments not punctate. Abdominal sulcus broad and deep, quite open behind, the distinct porous prominences being widely separated. Metasternal groove broad, but becoming obsolete in front, so that it does not attain the scarcely perceptible metasternal fossa; the crest in front of this latter very definite, but not strongly prominent in consequence of the slight depression of the fossa behind it. Prosternum sulcate; the sulcus not extending to the tip; poststernum foveolate. Legs stout, very much compressed. Twelve specimens. 6. Taphroderes ventralis, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 38, under surface.) Niger, politus, hine inde vage rufescens ; elytris guttis sex flavescentibus parum distincte ornatis ; abdominis sulco posterius obsoleto ; metasterno fossa, post cristam, profunda. Long. 10-16 millim. fab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This insect is extremely similar to 7. bel¢ianus on the upper surface, but is a little more slender ; the antenne are not so thick near the base; the thorax is polished in front, and has no trace of the obsolete lateral margin that is always present to some extent in 7’. beltianus; and the yellow marks on the elytra are less elongate. The under surface is different in the two species, the structure of the abdomen in T. ventralis being very curious: the posterior or vertical face of the elongate part is quite perpen- dicular and is unusually large, and there is a remarkable definite division between the horizontal and the perpendicular portions; the abdominal sulcus is very deep and broad in front, but becomes obsolete behind, and there are no porous spaces, but in their place are some small projections—not amounting to tubercles—on the prominent edge between the horizontal and perpendicular parts of the segment. The metasternal groove is definite and ends in front in the deep sharply defined transverse depression behind the metasternal crest. ‘The poststernum is broadly sulcate; the prosternum vaguely sulcate in front, more deeply so behind. Three specimens. § 3. Metasternum not sulcate ; metasternal crest obsolete. 7. Taphroderes oscillator, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 4, apices of the elytra of @.) Angustus, niger, hinc inde piceo-rufescens ; elytris guttis vagis quatuor flavis, angulis posterioribus externis haud deflexis, prolongatis. Long. 8 millim. Mas. Antennis articulis 3°-6™ barbatis, quarto sextoque quam contiguis paulo latioribus. 6 RHYNCHOPHORA. . Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). Antenne rather slender, with elongate club, the ninth joint twice as long as the eighth. Head rather broad, short. Pronotum canaliculate in front, scarcely so behind. Elytra very narrow, each with a yellow spot just before, and another behind the middle; the apex and the tip of the abdomen either black or rufescent ; the apices are somewhat prolonged and explanate, so as to form a more distinct notch than is found in our other species. Abdominal sulcus narrow, in front very deep. Metasternum behind indistinctly channelled ; in front with a scarcely elevated transverse crescent. Prosternum not sulcate. First joint of hind feet very long, as long as the tibia. Three examples were found of this very distinct species. ABACTRUS, gen. nov. Characteres fere ut in genere Taphroderide, sed abdomine breviore, segmentis 1° et 2° simul sumtis femoribus posterioribus haud longioribus. The two species for which I propose this genus are not connected by intermediate forms with Taphroderes; as the form of the abdomen and its relation to the hind femora is of considerable importance in these predaceous Brenthide, I think the genus will prove a valid one. The second species is Brazilian *. 1. Abactrus championi, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 5.) Nigerrimus, nitidus, supra impunctatus ; elytris apice leviter emarginato. Long. 6 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). Antenne rather long, loosely articulated; seventh and eighth joints wider than the preceding, ninth and tenth subquadrate, eleventh not quite so long as the preceding two together. Rostrum broad and short, dilated towards the tip. Thorax without channel or punctuation, almost as long as the elytra. Elytra without punctuation ; with a feeble common emargination at the tip. Apical ventral segments not punctate. Abdomen not sulcate, the hind margin of the prominent part porous on the middle ; the suture between the two elongate segments distinct, the base deeply foveolate. Metasternum not sulcate, without crest or fossa ; mesosternum polished and impunctate * Abactrus sahlbergi, sp. n. Castaneus, nitidus, supra piceus, elytris vage testaceo-fasciatis ; abdomine basi profunde foveolato. Long. 7 millim. Antenne short and stout, none of the joints longer than broad, 4-8 each distinctly transverse, 9, 10 sub- quadrate, 11th as long as the preceding two together, acuminate. Thorax almost ecanaliculate. Elytra with two vague fascie and the tip yellowish; apical emargination scarcely present. Mesosternum coarsely punctate. Poststernum canaliculate ; prosternum not canaliculate. Hab. Braz, Santa Rita, August 1850 (Sahiberg: no. 4555 of his collections). ABACTRUS.—STEREODERMUS. 7 in front of the coxa. Prosternum not sulcate. Tarsi strongly compressed, broad in one direction. Only one individual was found of this interesting little insect; it is no doubt of the male sex ; the antenne have much setosity on the lower surface. Group STEREODERMINA. The Trachelizides of Lacordaire should be divided into two groups: one, represented by Stereodermus, has the anterior tibize more or less excised, and the hind coxe more than usually distant from one another; while the other, including Trachelizus, has the anterior tibiz unnotched, and the hind coxe separated by only the width usual in the Brenthide. The group Stereodermina is here proposed for the first-mentioned forms. On the other hand, Lacordaire’s tribe Hephebocerides, consisting of two genera, Lonthocerus and Hephebocerus, should be suppressed ; Lonthocerus being placed in Stereodermina, Hephebocerus in Trachelizina. STEREODERMUS. Stereodermus, Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 419 (1866). This genus of small Brenthide consists of one Mexican, one Antillean, and one South-American species, in addition to another recently added by Dr. Senna from the island of Engano in the Austro-Malayan province. I now describe sixteen species from our region. I have several Brazilian represen- tatives of the genus in my collection, all of which, except one, are distinct from our species and are undescribed. The sexes in Stereodermus have not yet been satisfactorily distinguished. I find that in certain individuals there is a slight mucronation of the internal faces of the apices of the middle and hind tibie. This is probably indicative of the male sex; and if I am right in this conjecture we may conclude that the sexes are extremely similar, but that the male is distinguished by the character mentioned, by a different sculpture of the last ventral plate, and by the prorostrum, or anterior part of the rostrum, being just perceptibly less elongate than it is in the other sex. The Stereodermi seem to be rather rare insects, as of our sixteen species only two are represented by a good series of examples. I arrange our species in two groups, distinguished as follows :— Rostrum short and broad, prorostrum not greatly longer than broad. (Tab. I. fig, 11.) 2. 2. 2. 2 ee see we ew we). 6Species 1-14. Greater portion of under surface of head dull front tibize very deeply notched. (Tab. I. fig. 6a.) . an toe ee ee Under surface of head entirely, or in greater part, shining ; tibial notch more or less shallow . . . . toe ee we ew ew ww ee «Species 7-14, Prorostrum longer and more slender, much longer than broad. . . . . . Species 15, 16. Species 1-6. 8 RHYNCHOPHORA. 1. Stereodermus pygmeus. Arrhenodes pygmaeus, Gyll. in Schénh. Gen, Cure. i. p. 333 ‘ Cerobates pygmeus, Schonh. Gen. Cure. v. 2, p. 489°. Stereodermus pygmeus, Gemm. & Harold, Cat. Col. ix. p. 2705 *, Stereodermus brevirostris, Senna, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital. xxi. p. 33°. Hab. Mexico!234, Playa Vicente, Toxpam, Orizaba (Sallé), Cerro de Plumas Jalapa (Hége), Motzorongo (Flohr); GvaTemata, San Juan in Vera Paz, Capetillo, Zapote, Las Mercedes (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutu America, Boa Sorta (Sahlberg, Nov. 1850). If I am right in treating all the individuals before me as one species, S. pygmeus is variable as regards size, colour, sculpture, and some more important characters, such as the extension of the channel on the head and the form and sculpture of the terminal plate of the venter. I have not been able to discriminate the sexes with certainty, and I am therefore at present disinclined to distinguish more than one species. The descriptions extant are by no means sufficiently good to enable one to recognize exactly the insect that was before the describers’ eyes; but as all those who have dealt with the species have had Mexican examples before them, there is little doubt that the name should be ascribed to the only common Mexican species of the genus. The length varies from 4 to 7 millim.; the channel on the rostrum is sometimes abbreviated between the eyes, in other cases it is prolonged, as a more or less fine channel, to the back of the head. The eyes are moderately large and extend very nearly to the back of the head. The thorax bears a few very distant and minute punctures. The elytra have the sutural interstice shining; the second interstice 1s shining, but extends only about one-fourth of the length; the third interstice is depressed, fine, placed at the bottom of a groove, and is usually dull but sometimes shining ; the fourth interstice is not carinate, and the punctures by which it is separated from the third are not easily distinguished, outside it runs a series of punctures that are placed on the most elevated part of the wing-case; the fifth interstice starts from the shoulder but hecomes quite indistinct, to reappear again at the apex as a short carina; outside this the surface is shining and bears coarse punctures, but the longi- tudinal raised interstices are abbreviate. The terminal ventral plate is highly polished and is sometimes free from punctures, while in other cases it has some very large punctures, variable in number; the penultimate veutral plate is either truncate or rounded behind. Some of the following species are very similar to certain of the varieties of S pygmeus, but I think they are really distinct ; indeed, I shall not be surprised if it prove that there are more than one species amongst the specimens I have called S. pygmeus. Dr. Senna is now of opinion that his S. brevirostris is not truly distinct from S. pygmeus. His type represen's the ordinary form of the species. Some examples STEREODERMUS. 9 from Mexico may possibly be distinct from S. pygmaeus, which, however, appears to be the only Stereodermus at all common there. From Panama we have received only two examples. 2. Stereodermus longiceps, sp. n. (Tab. I. figg. 6; 6a, front tibia.) Angustus, rufo-testaceus, nitidus; capite post oculos longiore; prothorace impunctato, late sulcato; elytris fortiter punctatis, interstitio tertio discreto, nitido. Long. 53-74 millim. Hab. Guatemana, Las Mercedes (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Extremely similar to the more robust and shining varieties of S. pygmeus, but with the head rather longer behind the eyes. Channel of rostrum and head simple, the lateral ridges that limit it shining, not interrupted. ‘Thorax distinctly narrowed towards the front, very shining, with scarcely any trace of punctuation. Elytra with the sculpture very similar to that of 8. pygmaeus, but the row of punctures on the elevated fifth interstice larger, the third interstice more distinct and not in the least opaque. Front tibie very broad, the processes forming the notch large. Head opaque beneath. Four examples. The unique specimen from Las Mercedes is a variety of very small size. 8. Stereodermus latirostris, sp. n. Robustus, sordide rufus, fere opacus, prothorace disco nitido; rostro carinulis ante-ocularibus opacis, crassi- usculis ; elytris parum discrete punctatis, interstitio tertio lato, opaco, quinto carinato, nitido. Long. 53-8 millim. Hab. Guatemaua, Teleman (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Antenne long and thick. Rostrum broad; the insertion of the antenne rather far from the eyes, the space between the two dull, the channel not divided, rather fine on the posterior part. Vertex shining, not divided, sparingly punctate, the posterior angles prominent. Thorax deeply constricted near the front, the channel broad, the sides dull, sparingly setose, the disc shining, almost impunctate. Elytra rather broad, the sutural interstice shining, the others dull, except that the fifth, which forms the most elevated part of the elytron, is a little shining; punctures moderately large, but subobsolete; the carinula-like interstices on the apex much less distinct than usual. Front tibie very broad, their notch very large and deep. Under surface of the head dull to as far forwards as the insertion of the antenne. Ventral segments opaque. A series of about forty individuals was obtained of this species; most of them are from the Volcan de Chiriqui at low elevations. It varies but little. I think the sexes may be distinguished by the mucronation of the apices of the middle and hind tibie in the male. The very large and deep metasternal and abdominal depressions are as strongly marked in the female as they are in the male. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 6, May 1895. CC 10 RHYNCHOPHORA. 4. Stereodermus carinatus, sp. n. Gracilis, piceus, nitidus, prothorace parce subtiliter punctulato ; elytris intervallis fortiter carinato-elevatis, punctatura indiscreta. Long. 54-7 millim. Hab. Guatemaa, Zapote (Champion). Very similar superficially to the larger and darker examples of S. pygmeus, but readily distinguished by the strong carina-like interstices of the elytra and by the punctuation being indistinct on them. Antenne thick, broad. Channel on the rostrum elongate, its lateral boundaries between the eyes and the insertion of the antenne somewhat depressed and opaque: the groove continued to the vertex. Vertex with the angles rounded. ‘The thorax sparingly but distinctly punctate. Fifth, sixth, and seventh interstices of the elytra each elongate and carina-like. On the under surface the head is dull and similar in the arrangement of the sete and other respects to that of S. pygmeus. The tibie are not quite so broad as they are in S. pygmeus, and the notch and its processes are less pronounced. Seventeen specimens. Var. tenuis. Angustior, elytrorum punctatura haud adeo indiscreta. Long. vix 5 millim. Had. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). The var. tenwis is represented by a single specimen only ; in addition to the distinc- tion of punctuation it appears to me to have the tibial process of the front legs smaller, and the opaque space on the under surface of the head narrower. If this should be confirmed, it will probably prove to represent a distinct species. 5. Stereodermus chontalensis, sp. n. Elongatus, angustus, rufo-piceus, nitidus ; antennis crassis, articulo ultimo elongato ; prothorace minus subtiliter punctato ; elytris fortiter punctatis, jintervallis minus carinato-elevatis. Long. 6-8 millim. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This species, on account of the distinct punctuation of the thorax, is only likely to be confounded with S. puncticollis and S. carinatus; from the latter species S. chon- talensis is distinguishable by a glance at the less carinate interstices of the elytra, while from &. puncticollis it is also easily to be distinguished by the very distinct coarse punctures of the elytra, and by the broad front tibie furnished with a large notch. The last joint of the antenna is a little longer than usual. The head is rather short and broad; the hind angles are distinct; the sulcus is rather elongate, connected with the emargination on the vertex only by a fine channel, its lateral boundaries STEREODERMUS. 11 shining ; the front part of the rostrum is broad. The thorax is deeply constricted near the front, shining, with rather numerous somewhat coarse punctures. Elytra narrow ; the second interstice somewhat longer than usual, the fourth distinct though crenate, the fifth carinate; the punctuation of the external part very coarse and distinct. Legs thick; front tibie very broad, with large notch. Underside of head shining on each side, with a broad dull space on the middle; this space is scarcely sulcate, but is continued forwards as far as the front of the pterygia, which are very distinct, being highly polished. We have received four specimens of this species from Chontales, none of them being in perfect condition; from Chiriqui we have received a single example, it is of considerably larger size than those from Chontales. 6. Stereodermus breviceps, sp. n. Parvus, angustus, rufus, nitidus ; capite brevi, oculis prominulis ; thorace minus subtiliter punctato ; elytris intervallis angustis, secundo integro, quinto subcarinato, striis profundis. Long. 43-5 millim. fab. GuatTemMaLA, Panima in Vera Paz, Cerro Zunil (Champion). Like the smallest and narrowest examples of S. pygmaeus. Club of antenne not very definite, its first two joints bead-like. Head short and broad, with the antenne inserted a little nearer to the eyes than in the other species of the genus, and the vertex divided by an unusually broad groove; the sides of the rostral groove indefinite behind the insertion of the antenne, and the two carinule over the point of insertion almost contiguous, so that the posterior part of the groove (placed on the vertex) is continuous only in a somewhat indefinite manner with the anterior part. Thorax much narrowed in front, distinctly punctulate, the transverse depression distinct only at the sides. Elytra very narrow, the second interstice visible throughout, though fine and much depressed in the middle; all the other intervals very narrow, crenate, owing to the confluence of the punctures in the grooves. Front tibie short, with shallow emar- gination. Under surface of the head broadly opaque in the middle, but with the shining area near each eye larger than in S. pygmaeus; the setosity of the pterygia only slight, fine and scanty. This distinct little species is only likely to be mistaken for 8. pygmeus, from which, however, it is very distinct by numerous characters, one of the most easily appreciated of which is the feeble tibial excision. Five specimens. 7. Stereodermus dentipennis, sp. n. (Tab. I. figg. 7; 7a, bases of the elytra and prothorax.) Robustus, rufus, elytris ad suturam nigricantibus, antennis piceis; prothorace parce minus subtiliter punctato ; capite lato, oculis magnis, sulco mediano parum profundo, lateribus latis, opacis. Long. 74-8 millim. CC 2 12 RHYNCHOPHORA. Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Trujillo), Cerro de Plumas (Hége). Antenne thick, the sete very distinct. Groove of the head and rostrum rather shallow and indistinct, the sides forming it broad, with opaque surface. Thorax rounded, the surface shining, bearing a few distant coarse punctures. Elytra broad, the punctures large; the fourth interstice indistinct, the fifth carinate; the punctures outside this large, the intervals crenate. At the base of each elytron there is a distinct small prolongation, overlapping or embracing the extreme base of the prothorax. Head shining on each side beneath, with an opaque space along the middle, bounded by some setee which extend on to the pterygia, where they become numerous. Front - tibiz rather broad, but their notch and its processes very indistinct. Only two specimens have been procured of this distinct species ; in outward appear- ance it at first sight resembles the species near S. pygmaeus rather than those with obsolete tibial notch. 8. Stereodermus mitratus, sp.n. (Tab. I. fige. 8; 8a, profile of head.) Piceus, rostro antennisque nigricantibus, nitidus; vertice profunde emarginato, angulis liberis; prothorace fere impunctato; elytris basi emarginato, punctatura discreta, intervallis tantum subcarinatis. Long. 6 millim..: Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This is a species in which the emargination of the front tibiz is reduced to a minimum ; at the same time the vertex is so largely developed on each side of the channel, that the posterior angles project backwards as free processes ; the elytra are emarginate at the base, and form on each side a projection that embraces the base of the thorax, by which character the species comes near WS. dentipennis, from which it differs in so many details, that the two cannot be considered closely related. Narrow. Antenne thick, with elongate terminal joint. Vertex quite shining, its posterior angles free and divergent. ‘Thorax with only a very few distant and not large punctures, anterior transverse depression deep; median sulcus deep and broad, not extending quite to the base. Elytra with the punctures very coarse; the second interstice scarcely concealed even in the middle, third strongly raised, almost carinate, fourth distinct from fifth, though very much crenate by the large punctures, fifth cariniform ; external punctures large. Front tibie with only a shallow notch and no process above it. Head shining beneath, with a groove along the middle occupied by some large punctures, in which are placed the serial sete, the pterygia sparingly but distinctly hirsute. Only one specimen has been procured of this species. STEREODERMUS. 13 9. Stereodermus godmani, sp. n. (‘Lab. I. fig. 9.) Nigro-piceus, minus nitidus, elytris nigro-rufis ; antennis crassis, conspicuiter setosellis ; prothorace parcius punctato ; elytris intervallis carinatis, punctatura fere nulla. Long. 7 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion). Rostrum very broad, bearing a few short sete on each side in front of the broad pterygia ; the groove between the head and antenne quite indefinite, widely separated from the vertex, with which it is connected by a fine indistinct channel ; eyes prominent, shining, not facetted. Thorax black, dull at the sides, with a few rather fine punctures ; the transverse depression deep at the sides. Elytra with the intervals very distinct, narrow and strongly elevated: the second quite disappears in the middle, the third is distinct but dull, the fourth separated from the fifth, which is strongly elevated and shining; the grooves on the outer part are broad and distinct, but the punctures are altogether indistinct. Front tibie broad, but with only a shallow excision ; all the femora with two distinct series of pallid erect sete. Underside of head polished. Metasternum prominent, not sulcate. Abdomen only obsoletely impressed. Only one specimen was procured of this fine species. I think it is a female. 10. Stereodermus zunilensis, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 10, antenna.) Nigro-piceus, antennis crassis, articulo ultimo ovato; prothorace crebre minus subtiliter punctato; elytris intervallis carinato-elevatis, punctatura parum discreta. Long. 7-83 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil 4000 feet (Champion). Antenne thick, the joints of the club shorter than in the other species. Rostrum very broad ; its groove continued to the vertex, the lateral boundaries of its basal part depressed and dull. Thorax rather broad, much narrowed in front, distinctly punctured ; the transverse constriction well marked. Interstices of the elytra strongly elevated, narrow, second rather long, the fourth as distinct as the fifth, except at the base, where it is quite indistinct. Legs stout; front tibie rather broad, their notch moderately deep. Head shining beneath, but with a longitudinal groove, along the margins of which run the serial sete. The punctures on the sides of the metasternum sub- obsolete. Three specimens. 11. Stereodermus puncticollis, sp. n. Angustus, piceus, nitidus; prothorace minus parce et subtiliter punctato; elytris intervallis carinato-elevatis, punctatura parum discreta; capite subtus nitido, pterygiis barbatis. Long. 53-63 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 5000 feet (Champion). This species has some of the polished parts of the surface less free from punctuation 14 RHYNCHOPHORA. than others of the genus, the thorax is very distinctly punctured, and there are also quite distinct punctures on the metasternum and on the elongate ventral segments. The antenne are thick, the club moderately long. The groove of the rostrum is connected with the vertex by a moderately broad channel; the sides of the groove are interrupted in front of the insertion of the antenne. Thorax narrow, the surface irregular, deeply transversely depressed near the front. Elytra with the grooves deep ; the interstices narrow, rather strongly elevated, the fourth separated by a deep groove from the fifth, and distinct, except at the base; the large punctures cause the intervals to be crenate, and the punctures themselves are thus rendered more indistinct. Front tibie broad, but their notch not deep. Under surface of the head highly polished, and without any trace of channel along the middle; the serial median setz obsolete, but not entirely absent; the pterygia hirsute, and thus forming a strong contrast to the polished part behind them. Punctures along the side of the metasternum large. Three specimens. | 12. Stereodermus dentipes, sp. n. Sat gracilis, nitidus, rufo-piceus, antennis piceis; femoribus anterioribus longe, intermediis et posterioribus breviter dentatis ; prothorace evidenter punctulato; elytris intervallis carinato-subelevatis, punctatura discreta; capite subtus nitido, spatio mediano longitudinali opaco. Long. 54 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). This species, though similar in appearance to S. longiceps and S. pygmeus, is readily distinguished by the dentate femora. The rostrum is broad, punctulate; the eyes placed rather far from the back of the head. The thorax is a little rounded at the sides; the punctures on it are quite distinct. The elytra are quite shining; the fourth and fifth interstices are each distinct, and are separated by a very distinct row of punctures ; the external series of punctures are large and distinct, but the intervals are not carinate. Tibial notch moderately deep, but not so large as in S. pygmaeus. Only one specimen has been procured of this very distinct species. 13. Stereodermus barbirostris, sp. n. Gracilior, testaceo-brunneus, nitidus; rostro ad antennarum insertionem utrinque dense setoso; elytris profunde striatis, externe nitidis, obsolete punctatis; capite subtus nitido; tibiarum incisura parum profunda, processu superiore fere nullo. Long. 5-6 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). At first sight, quite similar to the moderately large specimens of S. pygmaeus. Antenne large and stout. Rostrum in front of the antenne very polished, the channel scarcely extending further forwards than the front of the pterygia; the sides from the pterygia to near the tip set with erect pallid scales; the channel interrupted between STEREODERMUS. 15 the antenne by two shining processes which nearly meet, the part above these short and rather obsolete; eyes extending towards the base of the head. ‘Thorax more cylindric than in S. pygmeus, and shining at the sides as well as above, deeply constricted near the front and deeply sulcate along the middle; finely and distinctly punctured. Elytra with the second and third strie much as in 8. pygmeus, the fifth more distinctly carinate; the outer portion very shining, the punctures subobsolete and rather distant. Head beneath with a circlet of small scales at the extreme base, and with a small fovea in the middle just in front of them; perfectly polished and shining, and without serial sete; the pterygia bearing a series of erect scales, which, being continued forwards, become visible from above as previously described ; two short channels on the middle of the pterygia. Metasternum feebly, abdomen deeply depressed; the latter with the apical segments quite shining. Front tibie with the notch very indistinct, the process above this almost absent. Two specimens. 14. Stereodermus calvus, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 11, head, rostrum, and antenna.) Elongatus, dilute piceus, nitidus; antennis crassis, articulis 9° et 10° quadratis; capite utrinque post oculos haud barbato; prothorace vix punctulato, antrorsum angustato; elytris fortiter punctatis, intervallis nullis carinatis. Long. 54-74 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Joints 2 to 8 of the antenne transverse, ninth and tenth each almost square, terminal joint distinctly longer. Head rather narrow; eyes elongate, but not very convex, no setee visible between them and the hind margin; groove deep, connected with the back of the head by a channel; the hind angles projecting somewhat backwards and, as it were, free; the sides of the groove shining throughout, divided in front so as to form four very definite carinules between the insertions of the antenne. ‘Thorax much narrowed in front, the transverse constriction deep and definite, the surface very shining. Elytra quite shining; the third interstice not in the least dull, the fourth indistinct, the fifth slightly more raised than the cvarse series of punctures between it and the fourth, but not at all carina-like; the punctures on the outer part of the elytra large. Front tibie with only a shallow, but distinct emargination. Under surface of the head shining, with only a feeble groove along the middle; the pterygia scantily setigerous. Five specimens. 15. Stereodermus nigriceps, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 12, antenna.) Gracilis, rufescens, nitidus, vertice nigro; rostro longiore ; oculis haud prominulis; thorace subtiliter punctato ; elytris nitidis, subtiliter punctatis, intervallo quinto nullo modo carinato. Long. 5 millim. Hab. Guatamata, Capetillo (Champion). 16 RHYNCHOPHORA. Antenne with numerous but fine sete. Head and rostrum highly polished; the channel fine, definite, rather short. Thorax slender, narrowed in front, very shining, the transverse depression not deep. Elytra shining, outside the fifth interval not grooved, and with only fine punctures; the third interval much curved, the fourth forming in conjunction with the fifth an obtuse elevation, the two bearing at their summit the series of fine punctures that separates them. Front tibie with large excision. Head polished beneath, the serial sete obsolete. Metasternum sulcate. Abdominal depression large. Only one specimen was found of this very distinct species. 16. Stereodermus filum, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 13.) Gracilior, rufescens, politus ; rostro elongato: capite angusto, elongato, oculis parvis ; femoribus basi gracilibus. Long. 44-6 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). The shape of the head and femora and the small eyes separate this species from all the other Stereodermi; it is, however,.to some extent connected with the more ordinary forms of the genus by S. nigriceps. The head and rostrum are highly polished, and both are elongate; the small eyes are quite remote from the vertex. The thorax is much narrowed in front, almost impunctate. The third interval of the elytra is narrow and shining; the outer parts are formed as in S. nigriceps, but the punctures are larger. The tibial excision is very large. The underside of the head is polished, but there is a large patch of velvet-like surface at the base, and on each side this is continued forwards to the pterygium by a series of fine sete. The slender base of the femora is very marked in the case of the hind legs. The metasternum is sulcate, the abdominal depression large. Five specimens. STEREOBATES, gen. nov. Antenne mediocres ; clava laxa, triarticulata. Tibiw anteriores intus excise. Femora omnia extus clavata, basi tenui; tibie compresses fere laminate ; tarsi modice elongati. The insects for which I propose this genus have in many respects the appearance of Stereodermus, but differ in the form of the legs, as well as in other minor characters ; in sculpture they differ from Stereodermus by the second and third interstices of the elytra being entire, and only slightly incurved towards the sutural interval. The thorax has a peculiar depression on the disc, bounded on each side by a short carina. The eyes are very prominent; the rostrum in front of the antenne is moderately long and slender; each joint of the club of the antenne is slender at the base. The under surface of the body is formed very much like that of Stereodermus ; but the legs are peculiar, the shape of the tibie (Tab. I. fig. 15)—laterally compressed, and witha more or less faint carina on each of the broad faces—being of itself sufficient to distinguish the genus from all the forms of Stereodermus I have seen. STEREOBATES. 17 1. Stereobates pedator, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 14.) Rufus, opacus ; rostro anterius crebre punctato, nitido; vertice fisso; pedibus elongatis et robustis. Long. 8 millim. : Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é). Antenne with only fine, scanty, and inconspicuous sete; each joint longer than broad, and each becoming broader from the base to near the extremity, ninth twice as long as the eighth, terminal joint distinctly longer than the ninth or tenth. Anterior part of rostrum rather closely and distinctly punctate, shining; posterior part quite dull, with a rather shallow groove along the middle, widening out greatly at the vertex, each side of the vertex produced so as to form an angular prominence. Thorax a little rounded at the sides, constricted near the front, but scarcely at all so at the base; at the sides with an obsolete sculpture formed by coarse indistinct punctures, which render the surface uneven ; along the middle with a broad groove bounded on each side by a longitudinal elevation, these two carinz shining, the surface between them dull but not sculptured. Elytra each with four equidistant carine, and large indistinct punctures between them ; the carine are not joined behind, though they are there more strongly elevated, the first of the carine as well as the suture more conspicuous behind than the others are; each carina bears a few erect sete, which are only conspicuous behind. Under surface shining; head and base of rostrum rather coarsely punctate-strigose ; apical explanate portion of elytra large. Two specimens. This is, on comparison, readily distinguished from the other two species of the genus by the legs being much longer than in S. chiriquensis, much thicker than in S. gracilis. 2. Stereobates gracilis, sp. n. Rufus, opacus; rostro anterius nitido, indistincte punctato; vertice profunde emarginato; pedibus posterioribus gracilibus. Long. 54 millim. Hab. Mexico, 'Toxpam (Sal/é). Very slender. The produced angles of the head short and somewhat depressed. Thorax not convex, slender, the surface uneven, but the punctuation is quite indistinct. Elytra with the carine less distinct than in S. pedator, and the sete very small, even behind. Under surface shining, sculpture of the head obsolete. Abdominal impression only slight. Legs slender, the tibie but little compressed and dilated. Apical explanate portion of elytra very slight. One specimen. Although very closely allied to §. pedator, I feel convinced this will prove to be a distinct species, and not the other sex thereof. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 6, May 1895. DD 18 RHYNCHOPHORA. 3. Stereobates chiriquensis, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 15, front tibia and tarsus.) Rufus, opacus, breviter parceque hispidus; rostro ante antennas crebre punctulato; vertice profunde emar- ginato ; pedibus posterioribus robustis, minus elongatis. Long. 7 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). Very closely allied to the other two species of the genus, but doubtless quite distinct. The depression on the vertex indistinct, quite dull. Eyes more convex. Thorax with coarse obsolete sculpture on the lateral parts. Carine of elytra feeble, but with fine erect distant sete, particularly well developed on the humeral carina. Legs with the tibie largely compressed-dilated, and armed with numerous very short stiff sete Metasternum and abdomen with very short, but conspicuous, depressed flavescent setae One specimen. HOMCEOLIZUS, gen. nov. Corpus gracile, setis erectis armatum. Antenne elongate ; clava valde elongata, triarticulata. Pedes elongati, graciles ; tibiis anterioribus intus excisis; tarsis omnibus gracilibus, articulo basali posteriorum maxime elongato. The remarkable species for which I have established this genus should be placed near Stereodermus and Cerobates, though in its elongate slender antenne it resembles Tonthocerus, having, however, joints 9-11 abruptly longer than those preceding it. The elongate antenne and legs, the slender tibiz, and the extremely long basal joint of the tarsi distinguish the genus from Stereodates, next which it should be placed. The antenne are inserted in the middle of the rostrum, which is about as long as the thorax; the latter is convex, with the base depressed, the middle sulcate, and feebly bicarinate. The breast and the basal ventral segments are elongate and not sulcate. The legs are unusually elongate and slender, the hind pair being remarkably so. The hind coxe are less widely separated than they are in Stereodermus, but not so approxi- mate as they are in Trachelizus. 1. Homeolizus salvini, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 16.) Gracilis, setis erectis undique armatus, opacus, fusco-niger ; elytris fulvo-variegatis ; antennis rufo-obscuris ; pedibus variegatis. Long. 6-10 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). Antenne elongate; club long, its joints scarcely broader than those preceding, each of them several times longer than broad, terminal joint very long ; the erect sete very conspicuous. Rostrum moderately long, shining in front, quite opaque behind, and only obsoletely sculptured, convex between the eyes, which are moderately large. Vertex not impressed, and only feebly emarginate behind. ‘Thorax elongate, dull, not HOMGOLIZUS.—HEPHEBOCERUS. 19 punctured, with two raised carine and a depressed space between them on the disc. Elytra elongate, dull, black, with large dull orange-coloured or tawny marks, not punctate, depressed along the suture, the depression with elongate carine (the second and third intervals of Stereodermus), the fourth interval obsolete, the fifth carinate, and in the middle incurved towards the suture. Legs slender, front tibie with a large process internally overhanging the ciliate excision. Peduncle of hind femora very long and slender. Under surface shining, breast and base of abdomen prominent. Mr. Champion procured a series of about two dozen examples of this elegant insect. It varies a good deal in size; there is but slight difference between the sexes: in the male the antenne are inserted rather farther from the eyes than they are in the female ; the former sex is apparently frequently of larger stature. Group TRACHELIZINA. HEPHEBOCERUS. Hephebocerus, Schénherr, Gen. Cure. v. p. 501 (1840). This genus consists of three South-American species. If was placed by Lacordaire in a tribe—Hephebocerides—distinct from the Trachelizides, but it is connected in the most intimate manner with Trachelizus by means of some of the forms found in our region. 1. Hephebocerus mexicanus, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 17.) Rufo-castaneus, politus ; oculis magnis, spatio verticis inter oculos subcarinato, sat lato; antennis pedibusque gracilibus ; elytris obsoletissime seriatim punctatis. Long. 73 millim. Hab. Mexico, Motzorongo (Flohr), Cerro de Plumas (Hoge); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Antenne very long, pubescent, ninth joint not differing in form, sculpture, or pubescence from those preceding it, except that it is distinctly longer; eleventh joint very long, somewhat swollen just before the middle, giving rise to a vague appearance of a division into two joints. Rostrum slender, as long as the thorax, very polished ; eyes large, convex, separated by a rather narrow space, which is somewhat raised; there is no median fovea behind, though the frontal elevation does not extend quite to the nuchal constriction. Thorax elongate, feebly constricted near the front, very shining ; punctuation scarcely visible and very scanty. Elytra very shining, with obsolete punc- tures. Under surface very shining; metasternum not sulcate, with a small deep fovea close to the apex, a minute space just behind the fovea minutely striate. Only one specimen was obtained in each locality. The species is very closely allied to the Brazilian H. nanus, but has the eyes more widely separated, and the explanate DD 2 20 RHYNCHOPHORA. apical portions of the elytra less produced. The basal abdominal segments are sulcate in the Brazilian species, but are not so in H. mexicanus. TRACHELIZUS. Trachelizus, Schonherr, Gen. Cure. v. p. 489 (1840); Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 419; Senna, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital. xxv. p. 316. This genus has a wide distribution outside of America as well as in the New World. About twenty-four species have been described hitherto, but the species are no doubt very numerous. Several have recently been added by Dr. Senna, who has also diminished the genus by the establishment of Microtrachelizus for certain of its species.° © §1. Thorax not sulcate along the middle. (Species 1-6.) 1. Trachelizus advena, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 18.) Gracilis, rufus, politus; antennis elongatis, clava tenui, elongata, laxe articulata, impunctata; vertice profunde + impresso. Long. 4—6 millim. Hab. Panama, Caldera 1200 feet, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). Antenne slender, the three terminal joints forming a very long, slender, and indistinct \ club, the joints of which are dull in distinction from the immediately preceding joints, which are shining. Rostrum not quite so long as the thorax. Thorax slender, very shining, not constricted in front, almost impunctate, with a very fine, indistinct channel in the middle at the base. LElytra polished, with only extremely indistinct traces of punctuation. ‘The eyes are rather large and prominent, but on the under surface of the head they leave a broad interocular space, on which there are placed four large punctures or fovez, having between them a remarkably convex interstice; in front of these large punctures a few fine punctures extend forwards along each side of the rostrum, the middle space being very finely carinate. Metasternum moderately long, not sulcate; in the middle before the apex with two extremely minute carinules, and behind these with a fine, short channel. Ventral segments not in the least sulcate. Apices of elytra not at all explanate. This and the following species have the appearance of belonging to the genus Hephebocerus, and do really connect that genus in a very intimate manner with Trachelizus. T. advena, notwithstanding its elongate slender antenne, has a distinct and true antennal club, and I therefore refer it to Trachelizus. We have received ten specimens, most of them mutilated; although they vary a good deal in size, I can detect no sexual differences. 2. Trachelizus oscillator, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 19, head, rostrum, and antenna.) Rufo-castaneus, politus ; antennis crassiusculis, evidenter clavatis ; elytris obsoletissime seriatim punctatis. Leng. 7 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sal/é). TRACHELIZUS. 21 We have received only two females of this species. It has quite the facies of Hephe- bocerus, but the antenne are of the ordinary Trachelizus-type. This latter character distinguishes the species from 7. advena, to which it is otherwise in appearance extremely similar. On the under surface of the head a series of coarse punctures extends from the back as far forwards on each side as the pterygia; on the meta- sternum there is a minute round fovea in the middle close to the hinder edge; the apices of the elytra are narrowly explanate. On the upper surface the eyes are convex and large ; the interocular space is formed as in Hephebocerus mexicanus, that is to say, it is subcarinate in the middle, but has no angular depression on the vertex. The constriction of the thorax near the front is very vague; there is no thoracic channel. The elytra are very highly polished, but distant series of very fine punctures can be distinctly seen. The species might be described as a Hephebocerus bearing the antenne of a Stercodermus. 3. Trachelizus dispar, sp.n. (Tab. L figg. 20, 3; 20 a, under surface of head and rostrum; 20, profile of ditto.) Rufus, nitidus, politus; elytris pone medium nigro-maculatis ; capite subtus ad basin utrinque foveis duabus, ab intervallo nitido separatis, supra utrinque fovea ad marginem anteriorem oculi sita. Long. 4-10 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This species is readily enough distinguished from its allies, which on superficial examination resemble it extremely, by the pubescent or glandular fovez close to the eye: on the under surface there are four of these, two on each side, viz. a round one placed just in front of the constriction separating the head from the neck, the second one being elongate and placed in front of the other, from which it is separated by a very distinct convex interstice ; besides these inferior fovese, there are two other fovee on each side touching the margin of the eye, the upper of them being quite visible at the side of the upper surface. The male is distinguished from the female by the structure of the anterior part of the rostrum, and by the abdomen being faintly impressed at the base, and furnished round the depression with a few erect setze, its apical segment possessing a smooth space along the middle and some closely placed yellow sete at the sides, the hind margin very densely punctate. ‘Ihe inner of the two small spurs seen at the apex of the hind tibia of the female is replaced in the male by a large mucro directed inwards. The series procured amounts to about thirty individuals, the females being in the proportion of about three to two. 22 RHYNCHOPHORA. 4. Trachelizus lineatus, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 21, under surface of head, ¢ .) T. dispari simillimus; statura, presertim in thorace, paulo breviore: rufus, politus, elytris pone medium nigro-maculatis ; capite subtus utrinque linea pubescentie glandularis munito, intervallo longitudinali sat lato, polito. Long. 4-11 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This insect is excessively similar to 7’. dispar, but, together with the following two species, is readily separated by the fact that the two fovee on the underside of the head are replaced by a line of white velvet-like matter, from which spring the few fine serial sete. The male of 7. lineatus is readily distinguished from all the others of the genus by the very broad, highly polished space on the last ventral plate; this space is impressed, and, in consequence, is limited in a remarkably definite manner from the punctate sides, which bear very little pubescence; the polished space becomes broader as it approaches the hind margin. | The rostrum in the male of this species is short and robust, its apical part being much shorter than the corresponding part of the female. Fourteen specimens. 5. Trachelizus cognatus, sp. n. T. lineati simillimus: gracilis, rufus, politus, elytris pone medium nigro-maculatis; capite subtus utrinque linea pubescentie glandularis munito, intervallo longitudinali sat lato, polito. . Long. 4-10 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui ( Champion). This insect is distinguished from TJ. lineatus, in the male sex, by the longer rostrum and the less definite structure of the middle of the last ventral plate. The females of the two species I can only distinguish by placing the more slender as 7. cognatus, the others as 7’. lineatus. The greater elongation of the male rostrum causes this sex to look like the females of 7. lineatus and T. dispar, and thus greatly adds to the difficulty of separating these puzzling species by superficial examination. The structure of the last ventral plate differs from that of 7. dineatus in that the median polished space is less broad and less definitely separated from the lateral portions. Eighteen specimens. 6. Trachelizus elevatus, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 22, under surface of head.) 7. lineati simillimus: rufus, politus, elytris pone medium nigro-maculatis ; capite subtus utrinque linea pubescentix glandularis munito; linea hac posterius in duas evidentius divisa, intervallo longitudinali posterius magis elevato, convexo, margine posteriore libero pubescentia glandulari munito. Long. 4-114 millim. Hab. GuaTEMAua, Izabal (Sallé); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This species differs from 7’. lineatus and T. cognatus in having the shining interval between the rows of glandular pubescence on the underside of the head broader and TRACHELIZUS. 23 more elevated behind, and the interval itself set with the peculiar white substance I have called glandular pubescence. The two basal ventral segments are more prominent than they are in the allied species. ‘The structure of the terminal ventral plate of the male is much like that of Z. dispar, but the area of dense punctuation at the hind margin is broader. The mucro at the apex of the hind tibia is long and conspicuous. Thirteen specimens. The variation in size is even greater than it is in the allied species. The characters I have given to distinguish the preceding four species are drawn chiefly from the under surface of the body. These species, however, may be distinguished from above by attention to the superior orbital fovea: this is large in T. dispar, and is entirely absent in 7. elevatus; in TL’. lineatus and T. cognatus the fovea is present though small. The males of 7. lineatus and T. cognatus may be readily distinguished by the difference in their rostrums, but the females appear to me scarcely distinguishable. Each of the four species varies enormously in the size of the individual, hence no attention must be paid to this in determining them. §2. Thorax deeply sulcate along the middle, either on the basal part or for nearly all the length. (Species 7-23.) A. Prosternum of male without fovea in the middle. (Species 7-20.) 7. Trachelizus hirtellus, sp. n. Rufo-castaneus, nitidus, haud deplanatus, setis tenuibus erectis parce armatus ; prothorace dorso distanter subtiliusque punctulato, basi canalicula arguta, angusta, per dimidiam longitudinis ducta ; elytris seriatim remote punctatis. Long. 44-12 millim. Hab. Nicaraeva (Sallé), Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This species has the general form of 7. dispar and its allies. The eyes are very prominent, the angular depression between them very distinct. The thorax is rounded at the sides and greatly narrowed in front; it is very shining, but bears at the sides some rather large setigerous punctures. ‘The elytra bear distant series of rather large but indefinite punctures, from each of which there rises a fine erect hair; the interstices at the apical declivity are distinctly convex. ‘There is a great difference in the form of the rostrum in the two sexes, that of the male being very broad in front. Beneath there are two series of punctures extending as far as the pterygia; the basal punctures of these series are not deep. ‘The male has an impression on the basal ventral segment ; both sexes have the metasternum impressed, but the impression in the male is more or less vague and broad. Fifteen specimens. The variation in size is very great, but I cannot find any specific 24 RHYNCHOPHORA. characters to distinguish the large from the small individuals. The metasternal depression of the male seems to vary in its development. T. aureopilosus, Senna, from Fonteboa, is no doubt allied to T. hirtelius, but appa- rently has a different sculpture on the elytra. 8. Trachelizus seriatus, sp. n. Testaceo-castaneus, politus; elytris parce subtiliter punctatis, setis erectis seriatis ; vertice fovea ovali minus profunda, posterius haud aperta. Long. 64 millim. Hab. Mexico, Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer). Rostrum without any channel. Vertex with a rather elongate depression, which has no appearance of being open behind and is not prolonged as a channel in front. Thorax elongate, polished, quite impunctate above, with a broad sulcus prolonged to very near the front margin. Elytra with series of small, subobsolete punctures, from each of which proceeds a fine erect seta. Underside of rostrum with a series of punc- tures on each side separated by a shining carina; at the base there is a narrow, angular, velvety space. Male with the metasternum sulcate, the base of the venter with a large impression ; the terminal plate very densely, scabrously punctate, the extreme apices of the elytral margins distinctly dilated and flat. We have received only one example of this distinct species; it is probably an indi- vidual of unusually small size, as the nearest allies are much larger insects. 9. Trachelizus serratus, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 23, underside of head and ros- trum, 2.) Castaneus, thoracis lateribus elytrisque setis erectis; his punctis seriatis sat distinctis, sutura subcrenata, apice communiter emarginato. Long. 11 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége). Of this species we have received three examples. Although they are all of the female sex, and are allied to 7. seriatus (of which we know only the male sex), it is clear that they belong to a distinct species. The vertex has a deep and broad impression ; this is not open behind, but is triangular in shape and does not form a channel in front. The thorax has a broad groove, which is continued to very near the front margin ; the sides are very distinctly punctured and setose, the disc quite shining. The elytra are less polished and shining than in the allied species; the basal parts are indeed somewhat rugulose, though only very obsoletely so; the series of punctures that bear the erect rather long sete are moderately distinct ; the suture is somewhat irregular or crenate along the line of its summit. On the underside of the head there is an elongate velvety surface, angular in form; the middle is strongly carinate ; on each side of the carina there is a series of coarse setigerous punctures extending as far as the front of TRACHELIZUS. 25 the pterygia; anterior to this the series is continued forwards as very closely-placed fine punctures, the intervals between which when examined in half-profile are seen to form minute angular prominences, so that there is a fine saw on each side of the under surface of the rostrum (Tab. I. fig. 23). The apices of the elytra form a definite common emargination which in outline is feebly bisinuate ; each tip has a minute portion cut away from the inner face of its most prolonged part, so as to form a very shallow impression there. 10. Trachelizus frontalis, sp. n. Rufo-niger, politus, thoracis lateribus elytrisque setis erectis, his punctis seriatis minus subtilibus sat remotis ; vertice profunde angulariter foveato, fovea antice in canalicula ducta. Long. 8 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). We have received only two females of this species. Though in general appearance it closely resembles 7’. sternalis, it is distinguished by such good characters that I have no doubt it will be recognized with ease. These characters are the setose surface, the absence of the sternal foves, and the presence of a saw-like arrangement of the intervals of the lateral punctures of the prorostrum. The impression on the vertex is open behind, and is prolonged in front to form a channel; between the points of insertion of the antennze there is no channel. The very broad channel on the thorax extends very nearly to the front margin; the sete are quite visible from above, though the disc is very polished and free from setw. The serial punctuation on the elytra is quite distinct, and a seta is seen to spring from each puncture. The margins of the elytral apices are quite simple. The sculpture of the sides of the rostrum is continued forwards beyond the pterygia as a beautifully perfect series of punctures, after the fashion of 7’ serratus. 11. Trachelizus sternalis, sp. n. Rufo-niger, politus, elytris subtilissime (vix perspicue) seriatim punctatis ; vertice profunde angulariter im- presso, impressione posterius haud occlusa, anterius haud in canalicula prolongata; prothorace sulco anterius abbreviato ; prosterno utrinque mox ante coxam profunde foveolato. Long. 6-10 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Sinith); Guate- MALA, Zapote, San Gerénimo ( Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion). Antenne red, thick; joints 3-8 transverse, ninth and tenth quadrate, eleventh acumi- nate. Rostrum moderately depressed between the points of insertion of the antenne. Thorax with a broad channel, which is abbreviated at some distance from the front; very smooth and shining, without trace of transverse constriction. Elytra rather short. Head beneath without velvety area; the metarostrum carinate along the middle, the carina between the eyes dilated ina cruciform manner ; in front of the transverse branch BIOL, CHNTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt 6, May 1899. EE 26 RHYNCHOPHORA. of the cross there is on each side a fine channel formed by a few coalescent punctures, filled with white velvet-like matter; this channel only extends as far as the base of the pterygia. Prosternum in front of the coxa with a deep large fovea, behind the coxa with a few stiff erect setee. Metasternum sulcate in each sex; male with a moderately large impression at the base of the abdomen. Apical ventral segment very coarsely punctate, similar in the two sexes; tips of the elytral margins quite simple. Seventeen specimens. 12. Trachelizus nigricornis, sp. n. Politus, niger, supra corpore medio longitudinaliter rufescente ; prothorace crebrius subtiliusque punctato, lateribus parce setigeris ; elytris rufis, nigro-vittatis, externe seriebus punctorum distinctorum, seriebus internis obsoletis. Long. 10-11 millim. Had. Guatemata, Zapote, Volcan de Atitlan 2500 to 3000 feet, Cerro Zunil (Champion). The surface is very polished, black, with the back of the head and the thorax towards the front vaguely rufescent; the elytra with a broad rufescent stripe adjacent to the black suture. Vertex with a very deep elongate fovea, not open behind. Thorax shining, very finely punctulate, the punctures more distinct in front, and the sides in front with a few outstanding sete; the median groove very broad, and extending close to the front margin. LElytra with the suture black, and a broad black stripe extending from the shoulder to the subapical callosity; near the suture the series of punctures are obsolete, but on the outer parts they are quite distinct. On the under surface a series of numerous punctures extends from the base of the head to anterior to the pterygia, and is very beautifully developed and regular in the female ; the carina separating the two series becomes broad on the head, and is there opaque. The metasternum is only feebly impressed, the abdomen not impressed in either sex ; each apical margin of the elytra is very slightly incrassate. One male and two females. Several of the following species are similar in colour and appearance to 7. nigri- cornis, but it is the only one of this set that has outstanding sete on the sides of the prothorax. 13. Trachelizus robustus, sp. n. Politus, rufo-niger; elytris vage rufis, nigro-vittatis, fere impunctatis. Long. 14-16 millim. Hab. Brivish Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt) ; Panama, David (Champion). This species is distinguished amongst its allies by the very obsolete punctuation of the elytra. The male is peculiar, inasmuch as it has, on each side of the highly TRACHELIZUS. | 27 polished thorax, a large spot where the surface is rendered opaque by a minute dense strigosity. Rostrum very highly polished. Fovea of the vertex closed behind, not at all prolonged in front. ‘Thorax very highly polished, impunctate ; median groove very broad, and extending to near the front margin. Elytra with the external series of punctures very fine, and the series near the suture almost invisible. Head beneath with an elongate velvety space; the lateral series of punctures almost the same as in T. nigricornis. Prosternum with a band of opacity on the front; metasternum sulcate ; abdomen feebly sulcate at the base in the male, but unimpressed in the female. ‘Tips of the elytra in the male flat and thick; apical ventral segment densely punctate, and covered at the tip with fine short flavescent pubescence. One specimen from each of the three localities. Besides the characters mentioned above, this species is distinguished from most of its allies by the shorter more indefinite club of the antenne. In this respect, as well as in the male-characters, it makes a distinct approach to 7. fracticornis. 14. Trachelizus occlusus, sp. n. Elongatus, supra planatus, rufo-niger ; elytris rufis, late nigro-vittatis ; vertice fovea profunda sat elongata, posterius haud aperta ; elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis, interstitiis haud convexis. Long. 14-15 millim. Hab. Mexico, Catemaco in Vera Cruz (Sallé), Las Vigas ([ége). Antenne very thick, piceous. The fovea on the vertex not much prolonged forwards, and not extending as a channel along the rostrum, the metarostrum therefore quite ecanaliculate above, the prorostrum deeply impressed. Thorax with a scanty fine punc- tuation, the median groove broad and extending very near to the front. Elytra with series of punctures everywhere large, the interstices rather broad but not elevated ; at the extreme base the series of punctures are more deeply impressed, and thus the interstices there are subcarinate. On the under surface the opaque space is broad and elongate, so as to obscure the lateral series of punctures to near the base of the pterygia; the series are short, and are continued little or not at all beyond the pterygia; the pro- sternum has some fine erect sete; near the front the surface has an opaque band ; the flanks are dull, but not punctate. Metasternum feebly sulcate. Abdominal segments in the male with two very indistinct depressions; terminal ventral plate of male at the apex with only a very small space more finely punctate; tips of the elytral margins . much dilated, flat, each bearing a distinct cavity. We have received only three specimens of this inseet. Though very close to T. turgidirostrt is, 1 think it is distinct therefrom ; the individuals are larger, and may be readily distinguished by the less elongate vertical fovea, and by the complete absence of any channel on the upper surface of the metarostrum. In the male of this species joints 3-8 of the antenne have their inner under surface more densely set with longer sete. EE 2 28 RHYNCHOPHORA. 15. Trachelizus turgidirostris. Trachelizus turgidirostris, Boh. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 493 '. Hab. Mexico!, Toxpam, Catemaco (Sallé), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith); Guarema.a, Teleman and San Juan in Vera Paz, Zapote, El Tumbador (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Though so widely distributed in our region, this appears to be a rare insect, as we have received only twenty-three examples. It exhibits considerable variety in size and punctuation. Usually it may be known by the existence of some large but not deep punctures on the flanks of the prothorax near the base. The depression on the vertex is very elongate, angular in front, but more or less regularly prolonged as a channel on the metarostrum. The apices of the elytra of the male, seen beneath, are not expla- nate. ‘The punctures of the elytra are distinct but remote, so that the interstices are not at all elevated. Boheman’s description! accords better with this species than with any of the others, and Sallé’s collection contained specimens labelled with this name. The description of the Swedish naturalist was apparently made from a single female in Chevrolat’s collection, and is far from characteristic. 16. Trachelizus fracticornis, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 24, ¢ .) Rufo-niger, nitidus ; rostro basi profunde argute sulcato; prothorace sulcato, anterius obsolete transversim im- presso ; elytris seriatim fortiter punctatis. Long. 9-14 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sailé); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneauax) ; Guate- MALA, Las Mercedes, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This is one of the most distinct species of the group, with the elytra more or less indistinctly striped with red and black ; the club of the antenne is not so well marked as usual, the ninth and tenth joints being short and bead-like, and the terminal joint not long; the basal joint, on the other hand, is remarkably elongate, especially in the male, and the antenne are geniculate, somewhat as in the Curculionide proper. The very broad thoracic groove is limited in front by an obsolete transverse impression, placed a considerable distance from the front margin. The elytra have a broad groove next the suture; the first series of punctures is placed in this groove, and therefore concealed ; the second series consists of very large punctures, but near the apical portion the punctures of this series are small; the third series consists of quite small punctures, and so forms a remarkable contrast to those adjoining it. On the under surface the whole of the head and prorostrum are dull, so that the serial punctures can only be detected by the position of their sete. In the male the last ventral plate is furnished with two contiguous tufts of yellow long pubescence; the apex of each elytron is a TRACHELIZUS. . 29 little produced, so that a narrow angular space is left between them ; the terminal angle is incurved. Nineteen specimens. 17. Trachelizus arduus, sp. n. Elongatus, rufescens, sutura nigra, prothoracis plagis elongatis elytrorumque vitta versus latera nigricantibus ; prothorace subtiliter punctulato, nitido, sulco mediano fere integro; elytris fortiter punctato-sulcatis, seriei secunde punctatura subdiscreta. Long. 8-10 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Sabo and San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, Capetillo (Champion). We have received four individuals of this species, and I had at first considered them as merely varieties of 7. filiformis. ‘Though they do not agree exactly, they neverthe- less differ in certain respects in a common manner from the Mexican species, and I therefore treat them as distinct. In 7. arduus the punctures of the second series on the elytra—that is, the first series of actual punctures, the sutural groove being reckoned as the first series—are almost as distinct as those of the more outer series, while in 7 filiformis this series of punctures is more indefinite, owing, it would appear, to the interstice that separates the series from the sutural groove being less elevated. T. arduus has a less elongate thorax, with the punctuation finer and more scanty, and the fovea of the vertex is not distinctly prolonged as a groove on the metarostrum, The legs, too, are shorter and thicker. This species is to a certain extent intermediate between 7. turgidirostris and T. filiformis. 18. Trachelizus filiformis, sp. n. Elongatus, angustus, rufescens, sutura nigricante ; prothorace minus subtiliter punctato, sulco mediano fere integro ; elytris fortiter punctato-suleatis, interstitiis angustis. Long. 8-12 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas, Bobo (Hége). This insect is readily distinguished from all the forms of 7. turgidirostris by the coarse dense sculpture of the elytra, the punctures in each series being so closely placed that each is separated from the one before and behind it only bya short somewhat indistinct interval; the channel on the thorax is unusually elongate, reaching very near indeed to the front margin. The impression on the vertex is continued as a groove along the metarostrum. The thorax is elongate, rufescent, in some cases piceous in two or three places, and the sides are somewhat coarsely, the upper surface more finely punctate. The interstices between the serics of large punctures on the elytra are quite narrow, and are somewhat raised. On the under surface the head and metarostrum are entirely dull, and the serial sculpture is not continued beyond the pterygia; the prosternum is almost entirely dull. The punctuation on the breast is rather more distinct than usual. 30 _ RHYNCHOPHORA. The male has the base of the abdomen feebly sulcate, the apical edges of the elytra a little dilated, and each bearing an impression. of Hége procured sixteen specimens of this species, three only being males. 19. Trachelizus geminatus, sp. n. Angustus, elongatus, rufo-ferrugineus, nitidus, sutura nigricante; prothorace subtiliter punctulato, sulco mediano fere integro, lateribus anterius subimpressis ibidemque setis erectis munitis; elytris fortiter punctato-sulcatis, seriei secunde punctatura omnino indisereta. Long. 10 millim. Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas ( Hége). Although we have received only a single example of the male sex of this species, and it is exceedingly similar to 7. filiformis, I have no doubt it is distinct therefrom, and may be readily enough distinguished by the fact that next the suture the second groove is almost as destitute of punctuation as the first. The depression on the vertex is elongate-oval, not open behind, and not at all prolonged as a groove on to the meta- rostrum ; the prorostrum is deeply sulcate. The club of the antenna is elongate. The setae on each side of the thorax in front stand out so as to be visible from above. ‘The narrow interstices between the series of punctures on the elytra are a good deal raised. Beneath, the larger part of the prosternum is shining, the metasternum finely sulcate, the basal abdominal segments with an uninterrupted depression extending their whole length. ‘The lower face of the tips of the elytral margins are deplanate and impressed. 20. Trachelizus optatus, sp. n. Angustus, dilute rufus, nitidus; prothorace parce, obsolete punctato, sulco mediano fere integro ; elytris seriatim fortiter punctatis, interstitiis haud elevatis. Long. 73 millim. flab. GuateMALa, San Gerdénimo (Champion). The only individual we have received of this species resembles, except in the punc- tuation of the elytra, a small example of 7’. ardwus; it is, however, distinguished by the fact that the serial punctures on the under surface of the head and rostrum do not cease at the pterygia, but are prolonged in front thereof to form an elongate, very fine groove, from which project numerous, very minute and short, sharp, stiff sete, these forming a sort of minute saw. In this last-mentioned character 7. optatus is allied to 7. serratus, the two species having, however, no resemblance in general appearance. ‘The impression on the vertex is elongate, not open behind. The thorax is narrow, dull at the sides, indistinctly, sparingly punctulate, the median sulcus attaining almost the front margin. The elytra have numerous series of large punctures separated only by somewhat narrow intervals. The prosternum is dull; the meta- sternum feebly sulcate. So far as the female is concerned, the species cannot be confounded with any of the varieties of 7. turgidirostris, because in that species there is no trace whatever of lateral grooves on the prorostrum. TRACHELIZUS. 31 B. Prosternum of male with a minute fovea in the middle of the anterior part. (Species 21-23.) 21. Trachelizus laticollis, sp. n. Brunneus, sat nitidus, supra subplanatus ; thorace fortiter punctato; elytris pone medium nigro-bimaculatis, seriatim regulariter punctatis, summa basi regulosis. Long. 13 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion). _ Antenne rather elongate; club elongate, but scarcely at all broader than the ‘preceding joints. Impression on the vertex very elongate, not limited in front, but prolonged forwards beyond the eyes; prorostrum deeply and broadly sulcate. ‘Thorax large, the anterior part closely punctured even in the middle, the sides of this part with some vague wrinkles, the posterior of which causes the thorax to appear subconstricted near the front; the median channel extends very near to the front margin, but its anterior part is subobsolete; the sides and upper part of the thorax rather coarsely punctured. Elytra elongate, with very regular series of deep punctures. Serial punctures of the underside of the head and rostrum distinct, separated, not by a carina, but a broad interval, which, though dull on its broad part, does not appear velvety. Prosternum shining, in the middle (in the male) witha minute fovea, Breast and abdomen almost unsulcate. Apices of elytra simple. Only one example was obtained of this insect; it is unfortunately much mutilated, but is, I think, distinct from the following, which, however, it greatly resembles. 22. Trachelizus ducalis, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 25.) Rufo-brunneus, nitidus, supra subplanatus; thorace elongato, anterius regulariter angustato, ad marginem anteriorem densius punctato ; elytris pone medium nigro-notatis, regulariter seriatim fortiter punctatis. Long. 16 millim. Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion). This fine Brenthid is remarkable by the extreme elongation of the impression on the vertex, which, becoming gradually narrower, is prolonged on to the rostrum, disap- pearing almost entirely halfway between the eyes and the antenne. The prorostrum is very deeply and broadly sulcate. The thorax is much narrowed in front, and very distinctly punctate. The elytra have quite regular series of very large punctures, the intervals being flat. The characters of the under surface are those of 7. laticollis, except that the under surface of the head is even less dull. One example. 93. Trachelizus prolixus, sp. n. (Tab. I. figg. 26, ¢; 26a, head and rostrum, @ .) Subcylindricus, elongatus, ferrugineus, nitidus, elytris pone medium nigro-notatis ; prothorace crebre punctato, elongato ; elytris seriatim fortiter punctatis. Long. 8-16 millim. 32 RHYNCHOPHORA. Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca (Sailé), Cerro de Plumas (Hége); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); GuaTEMALA, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). The subcylindrical form of this and the following species readily distinguishes them from J’. ducalis, to which, however, they appear to be so closely allied in most other respects that. it is scarcely necessary to repeat the description. In the female the prorostrum is much longer than the metarostrum ; the serial sculpture is not continued beyond the pterygia. Seven specimens. The individual from Belize is a female, and differs from the other individuals of that sex in the metasternum not being sulcate, but possessing only an elongate fovea at the apex. VASSELETIA, gen. nov. Antenne breves, vix clavate. Caput posterius parum constrictum, oculis ad basin sitis. Abdomen segmentis primo et secundo brevibus, a sutura profunda divisis. The Trachelizus vasseleti of Boheman differs totally in appearance from the other * species of the genus, and is distinguished by the possession of a character of extreme rarity in Brenthide, the first and second abdominal segments being divided by a suture as deep as are those of the following segments. I therefore separate it as a distinct genus. The facies is that of Hormocerus, a genus which, in the male, possesses a stridulating-organ on the propygidium. I am not able to ascertain whether this struc- ture also exists in Vasseletia. 1. Vasseletia vasseleti. (Tab. II. fig. 1, ¢.) Trachelizus vasseleti, Boh. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 498°. Hab. Mexico! (Sallé). I have seen of this remarkable little Brenthid only the two individuals from Sallé’s collection, labelled “type.” We have no other Brenthid of this facies, and I shall not be surprised if it prove to be recorded as Mexican in error. Group AMORPHOCEPHALINA. This group has been proposed by Power (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 478) since the publication of Lacordaire’s classification of the Brenthide. Although far from satis- factory as regards the association of Eupsalis with Amorphocephalus, yet I here make use of it in order to separate two very difficult genera from the Arrhenodina. Our genus Hemipsalis may be placed in Amorphocephalina, on account of being allied to Eupsalis; and I also place temporarily in the group another new genus, which bears a great superficial resemblance to Hemipsalis; great difficulty exists, however, in classifying this genus in the system at present in vogue. CACOPSALIS. 33 CACOPSALIS, gen. nov. Rostrum in utroque sexu parum dissimile, breve ; caput sat clongatum, posterius haud constrictum, collo lato, capite latiore. Abdomen segmentis basalibus parum elongatis. The extremely interesting insect which forms this genus is similar in appearance to the North-American species of Eupsalis, but differs in the structure of the head and the insertion of the antenna, so that the two genera, notwithstanding the great super ficial resemblance, cannot be considered as closely allied. We appear, indeed, in this case, to have a remarkably primitive form of Brenthid, resembling in details of colour, sculpture, and general appearance the more normal genus Lupsalis. In Cacopsalis the structure of the rostrum is not very dissimilar in the two sexes, and is, in fact, intermediate between that of the male and the female of Hupsalis, where there is a strong sexual disparity. ‘The insertion of the antenna is also little different in the two sexes, the place being a little behind the middle. ‘The mandibles are similar in the two sexes, approximate, rather small, very strongly toothed, the sharp apical points directed upwards. In the form of the head there is a marked distinction between the sexes, it being more elongate in the female, while in the male it is not only somewhat shorter, but is also a little constricted behind. The apical three joints of the antenne are longer than the others, but do not form a definite club. The first and second segments of the abdomen are not distinctly divided, and are unusually short, each being only half as long as broad. The tarsi have the lobes of the third joint remarkably largely developed. ‘The femora are dentate, and the other characters are much the same as in Hupsalis. In the present very unsatisfactory condition of classification of the Brenthide, it is not easy to decide on a position for this genus. Lacordaire placed Hupsalis in his group Arrhenodides, a position that would be quite unsuitable for Cacopsalis. Power removed Hupsalis from this position (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1878, p. 477) and placed it in a group with Amorphocephalus, but Cacopsalis would be equally misplaced there. The genus, in fact, exhibits a peculiarity not found in either the Arrhenodina or the Amorphocephalina, inasmuch as the fovea cn the underside of the head is not connected with the trans- verse constriction separating the head from the neck, but is placed at some distance in front thereof. This character appears to be of considerable importance in the classification of the Brenthide, and would bring Cacopsalis into the neighbourhood of the Nemocephalina, and some of the ‘ Brenthides vrais’ of Lacordaire. There is, however, an important difference arising from the similarity of the sexes of Cacopsalis. 1n the Nemocephalina there is a great dissimilarity between the sexes in the structure of the rostrum, as a result of which, in the female, the fovea is placed at the base of the head in connection with the transverse constriction, while in the male it is much anterior thereto. In Cacopsalis, as already stated, there is but little difference between the sexes, and in both the fovea is placed in front of, and separated from, the transverse constriction. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. LV. Pt. 6, July 1895. FF 34 RHYNCHOPHORA. 1. Cacopsalis rudis, sp.n. (Tab. Il. figg. 2, 2; 2a, head and rostrum, ¢.) Robustus, convexus, niger, nitidus; elytris flavo-signatis, profunde striatis. Long. 17-21 millim. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); Honpuras (Mus. Brit.). Vertex punctate-strigose, more coarsely in the female than in the male. Meta- rostrum sulcate: in the female the groove stops at the pterygia, and the prorostrum is almost cylindrical, rather thick, closely punctulate; in the male the prorostrum is flat above and granulate, the groove is continued forwards, and in front of the pterygia its sides diverge so as to form a sort of raised margin very near to each side of the rostrum. ‘Thorax broad, much narrowed in front, without a median groove, impunctate ; in the male shining, in the female duller and with the anterior part somewhat uneven. Elytra deeply and regularly striate, and with conspicuous yellow marks distributed as follows :—an elongate one on the third interstice near the apex ; a series of dots forming a transverse band behind the middle, one dot or short mark being placed on each of the second to seventh interstices ; a short mark on the third interstice at the base, and a similar one just about the middle; on the fourth interstice an elongate mark extending from the base to near the middle, on the fifth interstice a dot at the base, on the eighth a dot before the middle. Under surface shining, almost impunctate; male with a feeble depression on the metasternum and abdomen, and on the pygidium at the apex a large very deep fovea. Three specimens. There are, 1 believe, two males of this species in the British Museum collection under the name of “ Arrhenodes poiitus, Jekel MS.” One of them is labelled ‘“‘ Ffonduras,” the other * Cayenne.” ‘This latter ticket does not appear to be very trustworthy. HEMIPSALIS, gen. nov. Rostrum in utroque sexu parum dissimile, breve ; caput breve, posterius leviter constrictum, collo lato, capite latiore. Abdomen segmentis basalibus parum elongatis. Although very similar in the structure of the rostrum and mandibles to Cacopsalis, this genus differs by the shorter head, faintly, though distinctly, constricted at a short distance behind the eyes, and by the fovea on the underside of the head being placed in direct connection with the transverse constriction. This genus may therefore be assigned to a position near Hupsalis, from which Hemipsalis differs in both sexes by the form of the mandibles; in the male sex by the narrower rostrum, and in the female by the antenne inserted farther from the base of the rostrum. Except as regards the fovea on the underside of the head and the mandibles, Hemipsalis connects Cacopsalis with Lupsalis. When the two sexes are compared, it is seen that there really exist well-marked differences between them as regards the form of the prorostrum and the insertion of HEMIPSALIS.—EPISPHALES. 35 the antenne, the latter being median in the male, slightly post-median in the female ; the prorostrum is flatter in the male and bicarinate behind. ‘The tarsal lobes are arge, and the femora very distinctly toothed. 1. Hemipsalis crassus, sp.n. (Tab. II. figg. 3, 2; 3a, underside of head and rostrum, ¢; 30, mandibles from in front.) Rufus, nitidus, prothorace fusco-vittato ; elytris lineis flavis perbrevibus ornatis, profunde striatis, striis sub- crenatis, interstitiis convexis plus minusve obsolete transversim corrugatis. Long. 16-18 millim. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). Antenne thick, red, in the male 6 millim. long, in the female shorter; the tenth joint scarcely so long as the ninth, and not much more than half as long as the eleventh. Prorostrum finely granulate, in the male posteriorly with two convergent carine. The metarostrum has on the upper surface a very large deep depression ; this only extends back as far as the middle of the eyes, and is therefore widely separated from the nuchal constriction. Thorax short and broad, shining, not punctate and not canaliculate. Elytra red, each with numerous short yellow lines, six or seven of which form a trans- verse fascia behind the middle ; the deep striz are indefinitely punctured so as to be crenate, and the interstices are more or less wrinkled; the tips are rounded. The abdomen of the male is slightly, the breast very little, impressed ; the pygidium with a large excessively deep fovea. Two specimens. Group ARRHENODINA. EPISPHALES. Automolus, Kirsch, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xi. p. 218 (1867) (nec Burm.). Episphales, Kirsch, op. cit. xiv. p. 878; Power, Pet. Nouy. Ent. i. p. 241. Cyriodontus, Kirsch, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xi. p. 216. There are in tropical America certain Brenthide allied to Orychodes and Ectocemus of the Old World. For one of these Kirsch proposed the name of Episphales (originally Automolus), and for another that of Cyriodontus. In the ‘ Munich Catalogue’ Episphales is accepted as valid, but Cyriodontus is merged in Arrhenodes. ‘This latter point is, however, incorrect, for if Hpisphales be adopted and Cyriodontus rejected, the latter should be associated with Hpisphales rather than with Arrhenodes. ‘The best course to adopt in our present very imperfect condition of knowledge appears to be to recognize a single genus allied to Arrhenodes, but wanting the characteristic dilatation of the male rostrum; we may leave the subdivision of this genus to be treated when more is known of the species. | I now place in Episphales a considerable variety of forms, nearly all of which are FF 2 36 RHYNCHOPHORA. so rare that they are represented in the collections amassed by our Editors by only one or two specimens of each species. ‘They all have the head more or less deeply con- stricted behind the eyes, the hind angles of the head more or less free, and the vertex in the middle more or less elevated or divided, thus increasing the apparent depth of the constriction of the neck. In this latter point the species form a strong contrast with Arrhenodes. They differ much among themselves in the form of the head and position of the eyes—L. elegans coming, in these respects, nearest to the typical species, E. pictus. 1. Episphales interruptolineatus. Arrhenodes interruptolineatus, Gyll. in Schéuh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 477°. Episphales interruptolineatus, Power, Pet. Nouv. Ent. ii. p. 241 (1878) *. Hab. Mexico (Chevrolat'). This insect is compared with Hupsalis minutus by Gyllenhal, and said to be longer and narrower. It is referred by Power? to Hpisphales. If this be correct we do not seem to have received an example of the species. The female only has been described. There is no insect bearing this name in the Sallé collection. 2. Episphales lacordairei. Episphales lacordairei, Power, Pet. Nouv. Ent. ii. p. 241°. Hab. Mexico! (Mus. Bruz.). We appear not to have received a specimen of this species, so far as it is possible to judge from the brief description. 3. Episphales rugicollis, sp.n. (Tab. II. fig. 5.) Fusco-niger, supra parum nitidus, thorace densissime rugoso; elytris fortissime punctato-sulcatis, ad basin et ultra medium flavo-signatis. Long. 25 millim. Hab. Mexico (Sallé). Of this remarkable Brenthid we have received only a single example, a male. Pro- rostrum slender, in general form like that of Orychodes, and asperate above in a similar manner; antenne stout, rather short, the terminal joint very acuminate; metarostrum very coarsely rugose ; eyes small, globular; angles of head very free. Thorax broad, dull, with a faint metallic tinge, extremely densely rugose. Elytra short and broad, next the suture with one impunctate, or nearly impunctate, groove, elsewhere with very large punctures placed very regularly, and with all the intervals between them quite small ; the fourth and fifth interstices have each a small yellow mark at the base, and there is a fascia of short yellow marks beyond the middle. Beneath shining; head and meta- rostrum extremely coarsely rugose ; base of abdomen broadly impressed. EPISPHALES. . 37 In the National collection at South Kensington there is a specimen labelled “ Arrhenodes rugicollis, Jekel MS.”; it is probably a female of this species. 4. Episphales optatus, sp. n. (Tab. II. fig. 6, head and front of thorax, @ .) Niger, nitidus, prothorace fortiter rugoso, medio longitudinaliter levigato et canaliculato ; elytris multi-sulcatis, sulcis fortiter punctatis, interstitiis 3° 4°que flavo-lineatis. Long. 26 millim. Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten). This is another very fine insect, of which we have received but one specimen—a female; it is allied to £. rugicollis, but abundantly distinct, the pronotum being smooth along the middle, and the punctures on the elytra not so large; hence the longitudinal interstices between the rows of punctures form regular coste, while the intervals between the punctures in each series are obsolete, so that the grooves are almost crenate rather than punctate. ‘The under surface of the head and metarostrum is densely rugose; this character distinguishes the species from all others of the genus except HL. rugicollis. 5. Episphales facilis, sp. n. Piceus, prothorave subeenescente, opaco ; elytris flavo-signatis, multi-punctato-sulcatis ; tibiis rufis. Long. 17 millim. Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (HZ. H. Smith). @. Head and prorostrum obscurely red, the former with a faint metallic tinge; metarostrum with a longitudinal impression; head with a similar impression on the vertex, the sides of this latter impression projecting somewhat behind. Antenne short, dull red, stout; terminal joint nearly twice as long as the one preceding, acuminate. Thorax quite dull, with an excessively fine channel on the middle of the posterior part. Elytra with very regular coarse sculpture, taking near the suture the form of grooves; externally is a series of rather large punctures; the groove next the suture impunctate; third interstice with two short distant yellow marks on the posterior part, fourth with two on the anterior part, seventh with a very short one behind the middle, eighth and ninth each with a very short one, forming together a small geminate mark behind the shoulder. Under surface of head and metarostrum dull, without definite sculpture. The two specimens quite agree. 6. Episphales similis, sp. n. (Tab. IT. fig. 7, antenna.) Niger, prothorace subenescente, opaco; elytris flavo-lineatis, fortiter punctatis, juxta suturam multi-sulcatis. Long. 16 millim. Hab. Guatemata, San Geronimo and Purula in Vera Paz (Champion). Closely allied to #. facilis, but with the punctuation of the elytra less coarse, the 38 RHYNCHOPHORA. yellow lines longer, the antenne more slender and somewhat differently formed, the underside of the head with coarse seriate foveoles. Antenne black; terminal joint elongate, twice as long as the tenth, bluntly pointed at the tip. Metarostrum deeply impressed longitudinally, the impression not divided into two parts. Thorax broad, dull, brassy, with traces of an obsolete fine channel along the middle of the posterior part. Elytra deeply striate, the stria next the suture nearly impunctate, the second and third with distant punctures; externally the punctures are larger and the striz less definite; the punctures are very deep, but are separated from one another by rather large intervals; the third interstice more or less distinctly yellow at the base and behind the middle, the fourth yellow on the middle; there is also some indefinite yellow colour on the outside behind the shoulder. Underside of head and metarostrum with very large foveoles closely packed and regularly arranged. Two specimens. 7. Episphales minor, sp. n. Fusco-rufus, prothorace opaco, subznescente ; elytris flavo-lineatis, multi-striatis, stria suturali impunctata, ceteris plus minus fortiter crenatis. Long. 13 millim. Hab. Mxxico, Las Vigas (f6ge). Of this we have received but a solitary female; though very closely allied to EF. similis, I think there can be no doubt that it is distinct. The underside of the head and rostrum with some large foveoles, which are rather widely separated and irregularly placed. ‘The strize on the elytra are only moderately broad, and the longitudinal intervals are definite and well-marked ; the third interstice is yellow on the basal and apical thirds, the fourth is yellow on the middle, the seventh has a small yellow mark behind the middle, and the eighth a short mark behind the shoulder. 8. Episphales elegans, sp. n. (Tab. IT. fig. 8, ¢.) Rufo-castaneus, capite thoraceque opacis, elytris piceo-rufis, flavo-lineatis, externe fortissime punctatis, inter- stitiis minutis. Long. 18-21 millim. - Ilab. Muxico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith), Mochitlan in Guerrero (Harford). Male with the rostrum elongate, suddenly dilated at the tip so as to form a prominent angle on each side of the apex; prorostrum sparingly granulate, with two series of larger prominences on the upper surface; metarostrum elongate, vertex rather deeply im- pressed ; antenne elongate, terminal joint very acuminate. Female with the prorostrum elongate, the metarostrum much shorter than in the male, the antenne less elongate. Thorax 5 millim. long, 3 broad, broadest near the base, much narrowed in front, very dull. Hlytra very deeply and coarsely sculptured, the sutural stria nearly impunctate, EPISPHALES.—TMETOGONUS. 39 the second and third strie distinctly punctate, the more external parts very coarsely punc- tate in series, and with only small intervals between the punctures; the yellow marks are very conspicuous, the third interstice being yellow in greater part, there being, however, a long interruption on the middle; the fourth interstice has on the middle a yellow mark, which joins and overlaps the interrupted extremities of the mark on the third interstice; the apices of the elytra are nearly straight, truncate, but the angles are slightly prominent. The legs are long and slender, red, the tips of the femora black. The underside of the head and metarostrum dull and free from sculpture, the basal fovea being very conspicuous. Ten specimens. The more elongate rostrum of the male and the more conical head less abruptly constricted behind make it very doubtful whether . elegans can remain associated with FL. rugicollis and its allies. 9. Episphales championi, sp. n. Ferrugineus, capite thoraceque opacis ; elytris flavo-lineatis, externe fortiter punctatis. Long. 13 millim. Hab. Guatema.a, Calderas 6000 feet (Champion). This is very closely allied to £. elegans, but is a more slender insect, with thin antenne, and much less coarse punctuation on the outer part of the elytra. In the male the sculpture of the prorostrum is obsolete. ‘Though in other respects similar to E. elegans, I think it is specifically distinct therefrom, especially as the three male examples agree almost exactly. PHYMECHUS. Phymechus, Senna, Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. p. 219 (1895). This genus consists of a single species. 1. Phymechus jordani. Phymechus jordani, Senna, Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. p. 220°. Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (mus. Rothschild 1). I am indebted to the Hon. Walter Rothschild for the opportunity of examining this species, of which we have no specimen in our collections. | TMETOGONUS. Tmetogonus, Senna, Notes Leyden Mus. xvi. p. 224 (1895). _ This is another of the genera recently established by Senna for insects closely allied to Episphales and Orychodes. 1 do not think the length of the head of much importance as a generic character ; it is, at any rate, not so in Arrhenodes. It is rather 40 RHYNCHOPHORA. the form of the back of the head at its junction with the neck that we must look to for the purposes of generic synthesis. Zmetogonus appears to be closely allied to Abrentodes as well as to Episphales, but to be distinguished by the peculiar projection behind the eyes that suggested the name applied to the genus. 1. Tmetogonus chiriquensis. (Tab. III. fig. 2.) Tmetogonus chiriquensis, Senna, Notes Leyden Mus. xvi. p. 225’. Hab. Panama, Chiriqui!?. Dr. Senna has kindly given me the opportunity of examining and figuring the unique type of this species. UBANIUS. Ubanius, Senna, Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. p. 221 (1895). This genus has been recently proposed by Dr. Senna for the single species mentioned below. 1. Ubanius zneus. (Tab. II. fig. 4.) Ubanius eneus, Senna, Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. p. 222". 2. Niger, nitidus, elytris lineolis numerosis flavis ornatis; prothorace elongato, polito; elytris seriatim sat fortiter punctatis, interstitiis leviter convexis. Long. 32 millim. Hab. Mexico !, Puebla (Sallé); Panama, Chiriqui!. The prorostrum is comparatively short, the antenne being inserted at a distance in front of the eyes; they are short and stout, with five or six of the basal joints glabrous and shining, the terminal joint very acuminate ; the metarostrum is black, very shining, very deeply depressed along the middle, the vertex not divided. The elongate thorax is vaguely rugose on the anterior part, but has no other sculpture; it is black, polished. Elytra with a single stria at the suture well-marked and impunctate, the outer series consisting of rather small punctures, the longitudinal interstices a little convex, more elevated behind; on each wing-case there are nine or ten short yellow lines. The under surface is black and shining, that of the head and metarostrum with two series of large foveoles; the prosternum is feebly transversely striate. Abdomen rather short, with vague traces of the basal part being composed of three consolidated segments. We have received only one example of this species. It is of the female sex, but the male has been described by Dr. Senna!; by his kindness I have been able to compare our female with his type of that sex. The male is in the collection of the Brussels Museum, but its habitat is unknown. PSALOBRENTHUS. 4] PSALOBRENTHUS, gen. nov. Mas. Corpus elongatum; rostrum thoracis longitudine, apice dilato; antenne medianew, mediocres; caput breve transversum, supra et subtus levissime constrictum, ad latera profunde constrictum, angulis liberis. This very anomalous Brenthid appears to be nearest related to Episphales and Belophorus. The rostrum is rather broad, with a marked apical dilatation ; the robust, if small, mandibles are quite prominent, and enclose an empty space. ‘The head is compressed, and is separated from the globular neck above and below by only a very slight constriction, but the sides nevertheless form each a free angle projecting back- wards. The front femora have a long slender tooth, and the curved tibie bear below the middle a long spine; the hind femora have a small sharp tooth. The abdominal segments are more elongate than they are in Rhaphirhynchus. This genus has much in common with Clwoderes, but differs from it remarkably in the structure of the head, which in Clwoderes is lobed on the vertex but not at all on the sides, while in Psalobrenthus this part is lobed at the sides, but not at all on the vertex. Lacordaire placed Cleoderes in his ‘ Brenthides vrais’; this position is, however, even in accordance with his own system, clearly erroneous, there being no depression at all on the underside to separate the head from the neck: either Clewoderes should form with Psalobrenthus a distinct tribe, or be associated with Episphales. I here adopt the latter course. If we may trust Jekel’s determination, in the British-Museum collection, of Arrhenodes perletus, Schénh., that insect is a species of Psalobrenthus. A very curious Brenthid in the British-Museum collection, labelled ‘ Oxyscapus, n. gen., Jekel,” is apparently very closely allied to Psalobrenthus. The genus Ubanius, just established by Dr. Senna, differs in having the vertex in the middle abruptly constricted behind the eyes, whereas in Psalobrenthus the middle of the vertex is remarkably flat, and there is no abrupt constriction between it and the neck. 1. Psalobrenthus solitarius, sp.n. (Tab. II. fig. 10.) Mas. Elongatus, fusco-niger, capite thoraceque subzenescentibus, politis ; elytris regulariter striato-punctatis, lineis flavescentibus ornatis. Long. 28 millim. Hab. Costa Rica (Sallé). Antenne with the five basal joints entirely glabrous and shining, the terminal three joints pubescent, ninth and tenth equal, each distinctly longer than the eighth. Rostrum just as long as the thorax, prorostrum flat above, metarostrum sulcate. Eyes elongate, prominent, but shining and little different from the contiguous polished parts. Thorax very elongate, polished, vaguely creased in front. Elytra with very regular series of punctures; next the suture with a single impunctate stria. The yellow lines are as follows :—second interstice with three lines, one from the base to the middle, and BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. LV. Pt. 6, July 1895. GG 42 RHYNCHOPHORA. one in front of, and another behind, the apical declivity ; fourth interstice with three short, very distant marks, the sixth with two short marks on the posterior portion, the eighth with a mark on the middle. Under surface shining; metarostrum regularly biseriately foveolate ; metasternum and abdomen not impressed. Base of hind femora compressed and lamelliform above. 2 We have received only one specimen of this fine and interesting insect. HETEROBRENTHUS, gen. nov. Antenne mediocriter crasse et elongate, haud pubescentes. Rostrum maris supra omnino muticum, apice dilatato, antennarum insertione fere mediana. Caput angustum, utrinque post oculos tuberculatum, vertice emarginato, angulis posterioribus liberis. Femora anteriora dentata, intermedia et posteriora mutica. Tibie anteriores intus dentate. The species I separate under this name has perhaps more the appearance of a true Brenthus than of Rhaphirhynchus ; nevertheless its affinities appear to be chiefly with the latter genus and Adrentodes, from both of which it differs by the form of the male rostrum, by the unarmed middle and posterior femora, and by the want of setosity on the antenne. The shape of the head is peculiar, and is nearest to that of Psalobrenthus. There is, on the upperside, a well-marked constriction between the head and the neck, and the angles of the vertex project a little backwards over this, and are somewhat depressed ; the eyes are placed at some little distance from the back of the head, and behind them a small angular projection exists on each side. The metarostrum of the male is rather long, but the antenne are inserted distinctly behind the middle of the rostrum. On the underside the neck is very prominent, as in Mhaphirhynchus, but there is no true excision between it and the head. The structure of the breast and abdomen shows nothing remarkable, being much the same as in Rhaphirhynchus. 1. Heterobrenthus distans, sp. n. (Tab. Il. figg. 9, 6; 9a, profile of the side of the head; 9%, tip of antenna.) Angustus, piceus ; elytris vage flavo-signatis, ad suturam profunde bistriatis, externe obsolete seriatim punc- tatis; tibiis anterioribus intus dentatis. Long. 10-19 millim. Hab. Mexico, Juquila (Sallé), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer); GUATEMALA, Panzos, El Reposo (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). Antenne rather long and stout, reaching back two-thirds of the length of the thorax, destitute of outstanding sete. Metarostrum of female moderately long, broad, deeply impressed. Eyesrather elongate. Vertex flat, placed above the eyes, on the middle with faint indications of an elevation; hind margin excised, hind angles prominent. Thorax elongate, smooth, moderately shining. Elytra with two deep striae near the suture, externally with only obsolete distant punctures serially arranged, piceous; third inter- stice red, the colour interrupted on the middle; a long red mark behind the shoulder, HETEROBRENTHUS.—ESTENORHINUS. 43 and a few short marks at the base and behind the middle ; the sculpture at the apex very coarse, the apices obtuse, almost rounded; the third interstice is raised throughout, more strongly near the apex. Anterior femora strongly toothed, the others unarmed. Anterior tibia with a strong tooth on the middle of the inner margin ; underside of head and metarostrum with very coarse foveoles. We have received only one example from each locality, and amongst them there is but one male; it has the metarostrum and posterior part of the prorostrum obsoletely sulcate; the two teeth on the front legs are longer than they are in the female, and the apices of the elytra are less rounded, almost straightly truncate ; the posterior femora are compressed and laminate at the base. ESTENORHINUS. Estenorhinus, Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 431 (1866). _ This genus comes excessively close to Arrhenodes, but may be distinguished by the fact that the back of the head on the upper surface is not separated from the neck by any depression. ‘This character is common to both sexes, whereas those mentioned by Lacordaire will distinguish only the large males of the two genera, but not the small males or the females. The genus consists of four or five species found in equatorial America and Cuba. 1. Estenorhinus guttatus, sp.n. (Tab. IT. figg.11,¢; 11a, profile of head.) Rufus, thorace nigro-bisignato, elytris guttis flavis elevatis ornatis. Long. 17-27 millim. Hab. Nicaraeva, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). This insect is of shorter form than E. designatus, Boh., is of a brighter red colour, and has the yellow marks on the elytra differently disposed, they being distributed in a more irregular manner. Antenne moderately long, red. Metarostrum slightly sulcate along the middle. Thorax pale red, with a broad black mark on each side, which reaches neither the base nor the front margin. Elytra red, rather short; surface slightly uneven, obsoletely punctate-striate, with numerous conspicuous, yellow, slightly raised spots, disposed as follows: on the third interstice two at the base, nearly united to form a line, one behind the middle, and an apical short line; on the fourth interstice a spot on the middle and one behind the middle; on each of the fifth and sixth interstices a .spot before the middle and one behind the middle; on the seventh interstice a spot behind the middle, on the eighth a large spot behind the shoulder, and on the ninth one near the apex. Apices of the elytra distinctly bidentate. Under surface red. Seventeen examples. GG 2 44 RHYNCHOPHORA. ARRHENODES. Arrhenodes, Schonherr, Disp. Meth. p. 70 (1826) ; Gen. Cure. i. p. 313 (1833) ; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 429. Arrhenodes* is a genus of about thirty-two species; formerly it was the most extensive of the Brenthide, and still includes foreign elements. It is considered to be distributed both in the New’ and Old Worlds, but the species of the Eastern Hemisphere will no doubt be ultimately all separated. 1. Arrhenodes funebris, sp. n. (Tab. II. fig. 12, 3.) Niger, opacus, elytris rufo-signatis. Long. 14—25 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Eyes in male placed much in front of the neck. Terminal joint of antenne some what longer than usual. Thorax entirely black. Elytra dull black, seriately punctate, the interstices more or less carinate; marked with orange-red in a very conspicuous manner; the third interstice yellow from the base to one-third of the length, behind the middle with a short mark, which is the more internal one of a series of four forming a short curved transverse fascia, then again with a longer mark at the apex; fourth interstice with a moderately long mark on the middle, behind this with a short one forming part of the transverse fascia; fifth interstice with a mark forming part of the fascia, and sometimes also with a very minute dot in front of the middle; sixth interstice with a short mark in front of the middle (the mark that would be part of the transverse series is absent on this interstice); beneath with a short mark before the extremity forming the outer one of the transverse fascia; eighth interstice with a short mark between the shoulder and the middle: besides these marks there is also a dot on the front of the humeral angle. Apices of the elytra rather strongly dentate. Terminal ventral segment of male furnished with numerous short yellow hairs. We have received a fine series of about one hundred examples of this species. The red marks are remarkably constant. The black colour of some parts of the surface and legs may become diluted into a sort of dark vinous red. The size and development of the male vary enormously. 2. Arrhenodes flavolineatus. Arrhenodes flavolineatus, Gyll. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 473°. Hab. Mexico}, Toxpam (Sallé), Cordova, Misantla, Bobo, Cerro de Plumas (Hége) ; British Honpvuras, R. Sarstoon, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA, Panzos, Teleman, * A. elegans, described from our region by Dr. Senna (Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital. xxi. p. 104), has since been withdrawn (t. ¢. xxiv. p. 48) as founded in error. ARRHENODES. 45 San Juan, Chacoj, Tamahu, Cubilguitz, and Coban, all in Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicaraaua, Chontales (Belt, Janson). This species varies greatly as regards the size and development of the male; but the colour and the yellow marks are remarkably constant. Our series amounts to nearly seventy examples, 3. Arrhenodes goudoti. Arrhenodes goudoti, Kirsch, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1867, p. 215°. Niger, thorace rufo trivittato ; elytris aurantiaco-vittatis. Long. 103-24 millim. Hab. Guaremata (Sallé), Panzos and Teleman in Vera Paz, El Tumbador, Cerro Zunil, Las Mercedes, Zapote (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, Volean de Chiriqui (Champion).—CotomB1A, Bogota} (coll. Sharp). Var. Corpore rufo-obscuro, thorace nigro-bivittato. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é). Closely allied to A. flavolineatus, but readily distinguished by the black colour of the body and appendages, and by the more complex marks on the elytra. Head short behind the eyes; head and metarostrum above usually more or less rufescent ; antenne black. Thorax black, with a broad red stripe along the middle and one on each side ; sternum sometimes vaguely rufescent in front. Elytra seriately punctate ; the inter- stices carinate to a variable extent—the third rufescent from the base to the apex, with a rather short interruption on the middle; the fourth with a rather short yellow mark outside of the interruption of this colour on the third interstice ; the fifth sometimes with a dot outside the mark just mentioned, but sometimes with no red mark; the sixth with a short mark placed scarcely farther forwards than that on the fourth; the seventh with a mark a little in front of the apex, occasionally with a dot outside the mark on the sixth interstice; eighth with a long line from the shoulder extending nearly half the length. Apices of the elytra only very obscurely bidentate. Abdomen sometimes rufescent along the middle. Our series of A. goudoti numbers about fifty examples; though the male is extremely variable in size and development, the red markings may be relied on for the determination of the species. | The only exponent we have received from Mexico is of pallid colour, and to a certain extent intermediate between A. youdoti and A. flavolineatus. 4. Arrhenodes concolor, sp. n. (Tab. II. fig. 13, head with mouth open.) Angustior, rufo-brunneus, elytris flavo-signatis. Long. 15-24 millim. 46 RHYNCHOPHORA. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Bobo (Hége); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Tolé (Champion). Head elongate ; rostrum not abruptly dilated at the apex, the sinuous carine of the prorostrum strongly elevated. ‘Thorax concolorous with the rest of the surface, with- out any darker marks. ‘The elytra are rather long and narrow, quite dull, with the serial punctuation indistinct, the interstices a little convex, but broad and not at all carinate, the apices distinctly bidentate; the yellow marks placed as follows: third interstice with a basal line, that may extend one-third or only one-sixth of the length, behind the middle with a dot forming part of a transverse fascia, and at the apex with a longer line; fourth, fifth, and seventh interstices, and sometimes the sixth also, each with a short mark behind the middle forming, together with the similar mark on the third interstice, a transverse fascia, the more external mark being placed a little farther back than the others; fourth interstice with a short mark on the middle, the fifth and sixth each with a very short one placed more forwards than the last-mentioned one; eighth interstice with a short line behind the shoulder; humeral angle with a yellow dot. ‘Terminal ventral segment of male set with short yellow sete. This species is apparently rare ; though so widely distributed in our region we have received only ten examples. The two specimens from the State of Panama have the basal yellow line on the third interstice longer than it is in the specimens from the other localities. The insect is comparatively longer and narrower than our other species of the genus. The anterior parts of the body are sometimes vaguely infuscate. ‘Two males from Chontales exhibit the peculiarity of having the palpi and lobes (I presume of the maxille) very elongate, as shown in our figure; while specimens from Mexico and Panama do not exhibit this exceptional structure. A similar exsertion of the mouth-parts occurs in some examples of 4. flavolineatus. Arrhenodes dispar and several other species of the genus have the elytra marked almost as in A. concolor, but in A. dispar the head is short. I have seen specimens of an Arrhenodes from the Amazons that come very close to A. concolor, but they have the yellow mark on the eighth interstice reduced to a mere dot. 5. Arrhenodes angulicollis. Arrhenodes angulicollis, Gyll. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. i. p. 818°; v. p. 472°. Hab. Mexico ?.—Braziu !. It is very doubtful whether this insect was really found in our region. It was described in the first place! from Brazil on male examples; Mexico being added in a subsequent volume as a locality of the female®. The elytra are black, but in markings they agree, according to description, with A. concolor, except that the apical spines are ferruginous. Boheman! describes the head as short ; if this be correct, it would bring A. angulicollis very near to the common South-American d. dispar. ARRHENODES.—RHYNCHONEUS. AT 6. Arrhenodes xanthozonatus. Arrhenodes xanthozonatus, Jekel, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) il. p. 356°. Hab. Centra America |. It is quite doubtful whether this insect, which formed part of a collection made during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘Herald, was found in our region. The district mentioned is “the Pacific shore of Central America, a few specimens from more northern parts.” It is probable that the species is a Cyriodontus. RHYNCHONEUS, gen. nov. 9. Corpus parum elongatum, prothorace lato anterius subretuso. Caput superne vix a collo separatum, ad latera profunde excisum, angulis liberis; metarostro lato, sat elongato; prorostro parum elongato, minus terete. The curious insect for which I propose this genus can only be compared with the female of Arrhenodes ; unfortunately the male is unknown, but in all probability it will prove to be allied to Arrhenodes, next which genus Rhynchoneus should at present be placed. In the form of the head Rhynchoneus approaches Estenorhinus, the vertex being — depressed and flat in the middle, so that it is not there separated from the neck by any distinct constriction ; at the sides the constriction is deep and the angles project back- wards as free lobes; the eyes are unusually convex; on the under surface the back of the head is formed as in Arrhenodes, female. The antenne are formed as in Arrhenodes, but shorter ; they are inserted farther from the eyes, so that the metarostrum is rather longer and the prorostrum somewhat shorter than they are in Arrhenodes ; the latter part is not perfectly cylindrical, but a little attenuate in front. All the femora are toothed, but the front tibiz have no projection on the inner margin; the tooth on the femur is placed nearer the extremity than it is in Arrhenodes, and is followed by a more abrupt excision. 1. Rhynchoneus belti, sp. n. (Tab. II. figg. 14; 144, profile of head and front of thorax.) Rufo-obscurus, prothorace opaco, utrinque vage nigro-plagiato; elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis, interstitis subcarinatis, lineolis aurantiacis octodecim ornatis. Long. 11-25 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt). Metarostrum broad, with two vague tubercles between the antenne, and with the pterygia angularly prominent; head with some coarse irregular elevations between the eyes; antenne short. Thorax broad, the disc forming in front on each side a more or less distinct angular prominence, in front of which the surface is perpendicular; of a very dark vinous-red colour, marked vaguely with black on each side. Elytra dull, short, with large, remarkably deep punctures closely placed, the interstices behind the 48 RHYNCHOPHORA. middle being distinctly carinate ; the stria next the suture is distinctly punctate, though the punctures in it are much less coarse than elsewhere; the third interstice bears three short yellow marks—one basal, one apical, one post-median ; fourth interstice with a median short mark ; fifth and sixth interstices with small spots forming a geminate ante-median mark, fifth with a post-median mark, seventh also with a post-median spot, eighth with a post-humeral mark. ‘Tips of the elytra rounded, with scarcely a trace of lateral tooth. Head and metarostrum beneath with foveoles biseriately arranged. Four specimens. _ABRENTODES, gen. nov. Antenne mediocres. Rostrum parum elongatum, apice haud dilatato; antennis maris fere medianis. Caput pone oculos breve, subtus fissura tantum sat profunda a collo separatum. ‘The insects I place in this genus may all of them be described as more or less inter- mediate between Rhaphirhynchus and the species of Episphales with abruptly defined neck, while making at the same time a decided approach to Brenthus, on account of the well-marked fissure by which the underside of the head is separated from the neck. ‘This character separates the genus from Rhaphirhynchus, from which on what evidence he records this species as occurring there. 22. Rhaphirhynchus deceptor, sp. n. Mas. Angustus, nigro-eneus, subtus politus, supra thorace opaco; elytris ad suturam bistriatis, externe obsolete striato-punctatis, minus argute flavo-lineatis. Long. 14 millim. Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson). This species, though with no prominent characters, is really one that is not closely allied to any other. In the sculpture of the elytra it comes nearest to £. severini, Senna, from which it is extremely distinct by the narrow form, by the rostrum having no lateral apical dilatation, and by the spinous first joint of the antenne. From R. rothschildi and R. chiriquensis, which it resembles in form and appearance— except in the opaque pronotum—it is readily distinguished by the diminished sculpture of the elytra. The antenne are elongate, the basal joint arcuate beneath and bearing a spinous process. The rostrum is elongate, its superior armature well developed; the meta- rostrum rather long; the head narrow. The thorax is dul] above, elongate, finely strigose on each side in front. The elytra are rather short in comparison with the thorax ; the two strie next the suture are well marked; the outer series of sculpture are obsolete in the middle of the length, so that there the intervals are only distin- guishable by some obsolete punctures; at the base the third stria is, however, well marked, and beyond the middle all the strie are distinct; the yellow marks are not RHAPHIRHYNCHUS.—TYCHAUS. 63 so definite as in many of the other species of the genus, the intervals that bear them being less regular. The apex of the elytra bears a strong tooth on each side. There is no granulation on the prosternum. The only individual I have seen has lost its locality-ticket; but I have no doubt, from other evidence, that it is one of the specimens found at Chontales by Janson. Group BELORHYNCHINA. TYCHAUS. Tycheus, Fischer, Mém. Mose. vi. p. 266 (1823). Belorhynchus, Latreille, Fam. nat. du Régne Anim. p. 390 (1825); Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 437. This very distinct genus consists of the following species :— 1. Tycheus curvidens. Brentus curvidens, Lund, Skrivt. Naturhist. Selsk. v. 2, p. 59 *; Schénh. Gen. Cure. i. p. 341”. Var. signatus: elytris in interstitio secundo linea flava nulla; thorace medio plus minusve rufo-signato, in femina rufo-trivittato. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutn AMERICA, Brazil? ?. We have received a fine series of this remarkable Brenthid. The individuals from Nicaragua are smaller than those from Panama. Of the interesting variety we have eight individuals from the same localities in Nicaragua and Panama as the type form: they vary in length from 20 to 33 millim. ‘Two of the examples are females and both have three red stripes on the thorax; in the males the red colour is very much diminished, but in both sexes the short yellow line behind the middle of the second interstice is entirely absent, and the basal mark on the same interstice is reduced to a mere dot. The species may be recognized by the recurved tooth at the apex of each elytron—the character, I presume, from which the trivial name is derived. ‘he largest individual is 49, the smallest 18 millim. long. Group BRENTHINA. This group corresponds with the “ Brenthides vrais” of Lacordaire after the removal of Cleoderes; this latter genus cannot, according to Lacordaire’s system, be included in the group satisfactorily, and I have placed it at the end of the Arrhenodina. It appears to be allied to some of the aberrant forms included in that group and to Rhaphirhynchus. 64 J RHYNCHOPHORA. BRENTHUS. Brentus, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. i. p. 95 (1787). Brenthus, Schinherr, Gen. Cure. i. p. 342; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 442. This genus includes twenty-five species; it is one of the most characteristic genera of the Coleoptera of the Neotropical region. In the collection of Mexican insects formed by M. Sallé there exists a specimen obtained from Sturm’s collection and labelled by him “ Brenthus sub-bisulcatus, mihi, Mexico.” ‘This is a species of the Madagascar genus Piazocnemis, or rather, perhaps, of a genus closely allied to Piazocnemis. As I feel sure it was labelled as Mexican by some error, I have not included the species in our descriptions, though it appears to be undescribed ; it has the scape of the antenne unusually long. § 1. Prothorax sulcate along the middle, either on the basal half only or for the greater part of the length. 1. Brenthus deplanatus. Brentus caudatus, Oliv. Ent. v. no. 84, p. 440, t. 2. fig. 10 (1807) * (nec Herbst). Brenthus caudatus, Gyll. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. 1. p. 343°. Brenthus deplanatus, Gyll. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 528°. Hab. Mexico 3, Orizaba (Sallé), Cerro de Plumas (Hoge); Guatemana, Cerro Zunil (Champion), Panzos (Conradt); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Soutu America, Surinam ! 2°, Brazil °. This varies greatly in size, but not very much in other respects. The elytral caude are not sexual in B. deplanatus; they vary in length according to the size of the individual, and in large females are nearly or quite as long as in the males of the same size. We have received a series of about seventy examples. 2. Brenthus armiger. Brentus armiger, Herbst, Kafer, vii. p. 196, t. 108. fig. 5°. Brentus canaliculatus, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 551°. Brenthus canaliculatus, Schénh. Gen. Cure. i. p. 346°. Hab. Mexico, Ventanas, Presidio (Forrer), Orizaba, Toxpam, Playa Vicente (Sad/é), Cordova, Bobo, Cerro de Plumas (Hége); British Honpuras, Belize, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneauxr); GUATEMALA, San Juan in Vera Paz, Mirandilla, Cerro Zunil (Champion), Coban (Conradt, Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutn America® to Brazil °. The yellow marks on the elytra are variable in this species, and may be completely absent. The elytral caude in the male vary greatly in their length ; they are never present in the female. In the latter sex the yellow marks are not nearly so variable BRENTHUS. — 65 as they are in the male; indeed, the larger male individuals are those in which the marks are most reduced. | The synonymy of this species is very doubtful, and I have merely adopted that given in the Munich Catalogue. Herbst did not know the locality of his type, and his description and figure! are but poor. In our region this species is apparently chiefly northern in its distribution, we having received eight or nine individuals only from Panama. I have considerable doubt whether the South-American specimens really belong to the same species, but I have not seen sufficient examples to enable me to form a decided opinion. We have received about one hundred specimens from Central America. 3. Brenthus championi, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 3, ¢.) Nigerrimus, elytris flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea elongata aliaque brevi, interstitio tertio lineis duabus mediocriter elongatis; elytris fortiter sculpturatis, interstitio secundo angusto, interstitiis externis subcarinatis. Long. 84 millim. Hab. GuatEMAta, Zapote (Champion). We have received a single example only of this species; it is of the male sex, and in sculpture more resembles B. armiger than any other member of the genus, but it differs from that insect in the total absence of caudal prolongations, as well as in the form of the head and rostrum. It agrees with B. multilineatus in the disposition of the yellow marks on the elytra, but it is distinct therefrom by the sculpture, by the more strongly toothed front tibiz, and by the shorter antenne. Antenne short and stout, thickened towards the extremity, joints 7-10 transverse. Rostrum short and broad; prorostrum deeply sulcate. Thorax sulcate from near the base to near the apex. LElytra black, with pale yellow lines disposed as follows—one at the base of the fourth interstice extending quite one-third of the length, and one very short, just behind the middle; third interstice with two lines of equal length—one on the middle, and one gn the apical portion ; second interstice extremely narrow, except at the base and apex; sides of the elytra coarsely and closely punctate, so that the interstices are very narrow, and look like crenate carine scarcely raised. Prosternum, metasternum, and abdomen canali- culate. ‘Terminal ventral segment remarkably coarsely punctate. It is quite possible that this insect may prove to be a dwarf form of the male of B. armiger, in which, concurrently with the absence of the usual male prolongations, the metarostrum, head, and thorax have the form of these parts in the female. The var. insubidus, Kirsch, of B. armiger, has the tails very short; in speaking of that species I have mentioned that the length of the male caudz is very variable. | BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 6, August 18965. KK 66 RHYNCHOPHORA. 4, Brenthus anchorago. Curculio anchorago, Linn. Syst. Nat. 10th edit. i. p. 383°. Brenthus anchorago, Schénh. Gen. Cure. i. p. 343°. Hab. Mexico, Ventanas in Durango (Porrer), Vera Cruz, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé), Cordova (Sallé, Hége), Bobo, Almolonga, Las Vigas (Hége), Jalapa (Morrison), Atoyac, Acapulco (ZH. H. Smith), Mochitlan in Guerrero (Baron), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize, R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GuatEMALA, Panzos, Teleman, Chacoj, San Juan, Lanquin, Cahabon, Coban, and Cubilguitz in Vera Paz, El Tumbador, El Reposo, Las Mercedes, San Isidro, Volcan de Atitlan, Pantaleon (Champion) ; Satvapor, Portesuelo (Sallé); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui up to 4000 feet, Tolé (Champion).—Souta AmMERicA to Brazil 2, We have received a very large series consisting of some hundreds of examples of this species. The variation in length is enormous, and is perhaps not equalled in the case of any other species of Coleoptera, small males being only 10 or 11 millim. long, while large examples of the same sex attain 52 millim. In other respects the species in our region varies but little; the external yellow stripe of the elytra is usually elongate, and the punctuation of the elytra is usually less obsolete than it is in Brazilian examples. None of the specimens of our large series are marked with red. More important distinctions from Brazilian examples exist, inasmuch as in the Central-American specimens the channel on the under surface of the rostrum of the male is more definite and more prolonged anteriorly, extending as far as the pterygia; in the female the antenne are usually inserted further from the eyes than in Brazilian examples. ‘The apices of the elytra are separated in our specimens by a wider chink, and they rarely exhibit any trace of the dentation seen in Brazilian individuals. In this species the thoracic channel is always confined to the posterior half, a character of special importance for the discrimination of the female. In the specimens from the central and northern portions of our region the outer yellow stripe always extends to the shoulder, but from Costa Rica southwards individuals may be found in which the stripe is abbreviated like it is in South-American examples. Brenthus lucanus, Horn, from Lower California, is almost certainly B. anchorago. 5. Brenthus mexicanus. Brenthus mexicanus, Boh. in Schonh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 532°. Hab. Mexico}, Puebla, Izucar, Vera Cruz, Playa Vicente, Cosamaloapam (Sa//é), Cordova, Almolonga, Tapachula (Hége), Cuernavaca in Morelos, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer); British HoNDURAS, R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon, Belize (Blancaneaus); Guatemaua. Panzos, Chacoj, San Juan, Cubilguitz, BRENTHUS. 67 and San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, El Tumbador, El Reposo, Volcan de Atitlan, Pantaleon, Capetillo (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Tolé, Taboga Island (Champion). The fine series before me of this species does not exhibit much variation except in size, and in the dentation of the posterior femora. ‘The thorax is sometimes entirely black, sometimes red along the middle. B. mexicanus is the only one of our species that has two teeth on the posterior femora of the male: this character is, however, subject to variation. The basal tooth is sometimes very long, rarely it is entirely absent; specimens may be found in which it exists only as a minute granule; the size of this tooth is, to a great extent, correlative with that of the indvidual, and it is only in the smallest examples that it is completely wanting. It seems highly probable that Brenthus peninsularis, Horn, from Lower California, belongs to the same species. 6. Brenthus difficilis. Brenthus difficilis, Boh. in Schénh, Gen. Cure. v. p. 530°. Niger ; elytris flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea valde elongata basali, interstitio tertio linea brevi subapicali. Long. 16-48 millim. Hab. Mexico}, Etla, Toxpam, Juquila (Sai/é), Mochitlan in Guerrero (Harford), Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith). | This species seems to be rare; it may be readily distinguished from B. mexicanus by the absence of the outer yellow stripe of the elytra, and by the hind femur of the male having only a single tooth. ‘The groove on the prothorax is distinct only on the basal half; there is sometimes a yellow spot on the eighth interstice about one-third of the length from the shoulder. In size B. diffictlis varies greatly: of a magnificent pair from Toxpam the male is 48 millim. long, and the female about 40; all the other - individuals, twelve in number, are very much smaller, and one or two attain only 16 millim. | 7. Brenthus rufescens, sp.n. (Tab. III. fig. 4, .) Rufus, subtus rufo-niger ; pedibus nigro-variegatis, antennis nigris; prothorace antrorsum transversim rugoso, sulco dorsali integro. Long. 35-42 millim. Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet, Rio Sucio (Rogers). 'This insect is readily distinguished from the allies by the unicolorous upper surface, and by the thorax being sulcate from the base to the apex. The antenne are black ; the legs are black in larger part, but both femora and tibie are red, to a greater or less KK 2 68 RHYNCHOPHORA. extent, in the middle. The sculpture of the elytra differs very little from that of B. difficilis. Two specimens. 8. Brenthus guatemalenus, sp. n. Niger; prothorace rufo-variegato ; elytris flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea basali brevi, interstitio tertio linea apicali valde elongata. Long. 12-50 millim. Hab. Guavemata, San Juan in Vera Paz, El Tumbador, Cerro Zunil, Pantaleon, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion). This species differs from B. difficilis in having the thorax red along the middle of the upper surface, and also at the sides for a considerable part of the length. In addition to this, the relative lengths of the two yellow lines are reversed, the one on the fourth interstice being short, while that on the third is very elongate. ‘The fine channel on the anterior part of the thorax is moderately distinct in the male, but is not present in the female, except in a very indistinct, obsolete manner ; the basal portion of the thorax is broadly grooved in both sexes. We have received a series of about seventy examples of this insect ; the elytral marks are quite constant. 9. Brenthus variegatus, sp. n. Niger, rufo-variegatus; elytris ad latera rufis ad suturam nigris, flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea brevi basali, interstitio tertio linea elongata apicali. Long. 10-86 millim. Hab. Guaremata (Sallé), San Juan and Paurula in Vera Paz, San Lucas Toliman, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion), Coban (Conrad). Readily distinguished by the variegate elytra, the whole of the outer part of each of which is red, only the sutural portion between the yellow lines being black. The thorax above is in larger part red, beneath in larger part black. Forty-one specimens. Had we not received such good series of this insect and of B. gwatemalenus, I should have treated B. variegatus as merely a colour-variety ; but as we have not at present any intermediate examples, I think it best to regard the two as distinct. The larger part of the series was obtained at San Lucas Toliman by Mr. Champion, and no specimens of B. guatemalenus were met with there. At Capetillo and Zapote both forms were obtained. 10. Brenthus chiriquensis, sp. n. Nigerrimus; elytris flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea brevi basali, interstitio tertio linea valde elongata apicali. Long. 12-42 millim. BRENTHUS. 69 Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Costa Rica (Sallé), Caché, Volean de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Of this insect we have also received a good series of about thirty examples. I see nothing to distinguish it from B. guatemalenus, except the total absence of red colour from the surface; it appears to occur only in the more southern divisions of our region, while B. guatemalenus and B. variegatus are confined to Guatemala. I have selected geographical terms for the trivial names, as I cannot but think that these forms may be proved to be merely races of one species; indeed, I am extremely surprised at the absence of intermediate forms. 11. Brenthus multilineatus, sp. n. Nigerrimus ; elytris flavo-lineatis, interstitio quarto linea elongata aliaque brevi, interstitio tertio lineis duabus mediocriter elongatis. Long. 11-22 millim. Hab. Guaremata, Cubilguitz in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Chiriqui (Ribbe).— Cotomsia, Bogota (coll. Sharp). We have received from each of the localities only one example of this species ; they are males, one of them of the smallest size. It differs from B. chiriquensis by the fact that the third and fourth interstices are each marked with two yellow lines, instead of one; the third has a rather short yellow line on the middle, and another somewhat longer line behind it; the fourth has a long line extending from the base to near the middle, and just behind the middle a short line forming a splice with the two lines on the third interstice. In addition to this distinction, B. multilineatus has the base of the thorax less rounded at the sides. | The male individual from Bogota agrees with the specimen from Guatemala, except that it is larger, being 29 millim. long. It is possible that this insect may be a variety of B. unidentatus, Kirsch; but that name is not available, there being a prior Bb. uni- dentatus described by Perroud. § 2. Prothorax not sulcate along the middle. 12. Brenthus clavipes, sp.n. (Lab. III. figg. 5, 3; 5 a, anterior leg.) Niger, nitidus; elytris linea elongata prope suturam lineaque valde abbreviata in margine laterali flavis, prope suturam quadristriatis, externe seriatim subtiliter punctatis ; femoribus crassis, basi abrupte pedunculata. Long. 11-15 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet, Tolé (Champion). Antenne short and thick. Head considerably narrowed behind. Thorax broad behind, a good deal narrowed towards the front, black and shining. Elytra short, each with four fine strie near the suture, and externally with series of very fine punctures; the third interstice is yellow on the apical portion, the fourth from the 70 RHYNCHOPHORA. base to three-fourths of the length, and the eighth for a short space on the middle, the ninth is also yellow on a short raised portion quite at the extremity. The femora are remarkable for the abrupt and great dilatation of the apical part as compared with the basal portion; each one bears a small sharp tooth. The tibize are compressed and sublaminate, somewhat thicker in the middle; the front one, on the inner margin about the middle of the length, with a sharp tooth. In the male the antenne are median in their insertion, the prorostrum is short and broad, much dilated towards the tip, deeply canaliculate for half its length; the abdomen vaguely depressed along the middle. In the female the antenne are inserted very near to the eyes, and the prothorax is a good deal shorter than it is in the male. Ten specimens. 18. Brenthus quadrilineatus, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 6, 2 .) Niger, nitidus; elytris lineis duabus elongatis flavis, prope suturam striis duabus impunctatis, duabusque punctatis, externe seriatim punctatis. Long. 11-15 millim. Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Bobo (Hoge) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). This insect is very closely allied to B. clavipes, but may be distinguished from it by the elongate yellow line on the eighth interstice, and by the less obsolete punctures on the elytra. Besides this, it is a narrower insect, with the femora much less clavate, and the tooth on the front tibia less definite; the tibie, too, are less laminate. Four specimens. 14. Brenthus sculptipennis, sp. n. Angustus, parum elongatus, niger; elytris linea et puncto flavis ornatis, fortius punctatis, interstitiis carinatis ; tibiis anticis intus haud dentatis. Long. 11-17 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Thorax much narrowed in front, with traces of an obsolete channel on the basal part. Elytra rather depressed, narrow, with a very short yellow mark near the apex of the third interstice, and with the fourth interstice yellow from the base to two-thirds of the length, this yellow colour at the base spreading a little at the sides; the sculpture is remarkably definite and coarse, the first stria is impunctate, the second and third are punctate, the outer striz are very coarsely punctured, so that the interstices are carinate. ‘The front tibie are straighter than usual, and have no trace of a tooth on their inner edge. ‘The femora each bear a small sharp tooth; they are moderately clavate, the more slender part broadly impressed on the outer face. B. sculptipennis bears a considerable resemblance to the small individuals of B. meav- canus ; it is very distinct, however, not only by the absence of sulcation on the prothorax, BRENTHUS.—NEMOBRENTHUS. 71 but also by the unidentate hind femora, and by the coarser sculpture of the elytra and their different markings. The male has the metarostrum cylindric, without any trace of the lateral sinuate carinee so conspicuous in the commoner insect. 15. Brenthus laticornis, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 7, rostrum and base of antenna, 2 .) 2. Angustus, parum elongatus, niger; elytris linea flava elongata, juxta suturam sulcatis, externe seriatim fortiter punctatis ; antennis latis, articulo basali superne late impresso. Long. 14-18 millim. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba (Champion). We have received only two female examples of this species ; though very similar to B. sculptipennis, it is undoubtedly distinct. The antenne have the basal joints unusually thick, and the first one has a large depression on its upper face. The fourth interstice of the elytra appears to be yellow from the base to the apex; this colour does not, however, extend to the apex, for on the terminal portion of the elytron the third and fifth interstices join together behind the end of the fourth, and this double interstice is yellow; the colour is, however, not quite continuous with that of the fourth interstice. The first stria next the suture is impunctate; outside the strie there are series of deep, moderately large punctures. The front tibie are not dentate internally. The tooth on each femur is distinct and sharp. Group NEMOCEPHALINA. NEMOBRENTHUS, gen. nov. Caput elongatum, posterius haud truncatum, sed a thorace sat profunde divisum, oculis a thorace distantibus ; antenn crassiuscule, articulis tribus ultimis clavam perparum discretam formantibus. Pedes crassi, tarsis brevibus. I propose this genus for an insect that appears to be intermediate between the « Brenthides vrais” and the Nemocephalides of Lacordaire, the head being separated from the bulbiform neck by a moderately deep constriction, but only very feebly truncate behind ; this would, perhaps, allow the genus to be placed in the Brenthides vrais, but the sculpture, general outline, and details of structure are so similar to some of the Nemocephalides that one is led to suppose the genus to be very near to the glabrous Nemocephali. Only the male is known. The antenne are thick, the ninth and tenth joints equal, distinctly longer but not broader than those preceding; the terminal joint acuminate, nearly as long as the two preceding. ‘The prorostrum is shorter than the metarostrum, and both parts are shaped as in Nemocephalus. ‘The head is formed like that of Nemocephalus, but on the upperside is separated from the neck by a deeper constriction ; this constriction does not exist on the under surface. The legs are broad, subcompressed; the femora compressed at the base, not pedun- culate ; the tarsi are broad and short, the third joint feebly lobed, the first joint a little 72 RHYNCHOPHORA. longer than the second. Basal ventral segments extremely elongate, without trace of division. Apices of the elytra not prolonged. It is probable that Brenthus sublevis, Boh., belongs to this genus. 1. Nemobrenthus eneipennis, sp. n. (Tab. IIT. fig. 8.) Piceus, elytris cupreis vel viridi-cupreis, bisulcatis, antennis nigricantibus; glaber, tantum ad rostri latera _- punctis paucis impressis. Long. 12-24 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, David (Champion). This insect is remarkable for its freedom from punctuation; on each of the lateral faces of the rostrum there are from six to twelve large punctures, in some of which, if not in all, there may be detected a very minute curved seta; the under surfaces of the head and rostrum are quite impunctate, but on the middle of the head there is a definite, deep fovea, connected with the base of the head by a very distinct channel ; the surface is not polished, but exhibits a silky opacity. On the upper face the head and rostrum are more polished ; in front of the insertion of the antenne there is a very deep broad channel. ‘The thorax is very long, curved at the sides, and much narrowed in front, deeply and broadly sulcate. Elytra of a shining metallic colour, definitely bisuleate near the suture, the apical impressions very coarsely rugose. Breast and abdomen not sulcate, the former with a small fovea in the middle behind; apical ventral segments not punctate, except on the hind margin of the last plate. Second and third joints of the tarsi broadly and deeply impressed on their upper surfaces. The two individuals obtained of this species differ remarkably in size; the large individual has the wing-cases brassy, while in the smaller one they are metallic green. In the collection at the British Museum there is a specimen belonging apparently to this species labelled “ Amazones.” NEMOCORYNA, gen. nov. Antenne mediocres, articulis tribus clavam gracilem formantibus. Caput elongatum, a collo vix separatum. Pedes sat graciles; femoribus pedunculatis, parum elongatis ; tarsis sat gracilibus. This genus is proposed for two species, of each of which we have received a single example of the male sex. Were it not for the form of the antenne these insects might be placed in Nemocephalus; the organs in question have the three terminal joints strongly different from the preceding joints in both form and clothing (Tab. IIT. fig. 10), so that these insects had better be placed in a distinct genus. Joints 1-8 of the antenne are polished and bear a few long sete, while joints 9-11 are very densely punctured, dull, and provided with a minute dense pubescence. ‘here is only an extremely vague depression to separate the head from the neck. I have seen several allied forms from Brazil, but in none of them does the ninth joint of the antenne differ greatly in form and sculpture from the eighth, so that not any of them can enter the genus. The two NEMOCORYNA. 73 species differ a good deal in the length and slenderness of the legs, but not to such an extent as to render it necessary to place them at: present in different genera. 1. Nemocoryna godmani, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 9.) Nigra; capite thoraceque opacis; elytris versus suturam bistriatis, linea flava interrupta ornatis, externe seriatim punctatis, ad latus linea altera valde abbreviata ; pedibus gracilibus. Long. 18 millim. Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 8000 feet (Champion). Antenne with elongate club, very different from the preceding joints. Prorostrum polished; metarostrum sulcate for its whole length above ; head narrowed behind the prominent eyes, the line of separation from the neck very slightly marked; side of the head with three very large punctures; sides of the metarostrum with numerous very large, almost confluent punctures, bearing a few very fine sete; under surface of the head and prorostrum polished, bearing two series of very large punctures, the central fovea very deep and definite, connected with the base by a fine channel. Thorax rather slender, much narrowed in front, the median groove a little abbreviate in front; the surface dull,impunctate. Elytra with two grooves near the suture, which are not very broad, but extend quite to the base; outside the grooves there is an elongate yellow line interrupted behind the middle ; outside this there are distinct series of punctures ; the carine of the declivity are remarkably abrupt. The legs are slender, the apical calcar of the front tibia very prominent. The breast and abdomen are not sulcate. Only one example was found of this very elegant and distinct Brenthid. 2, Nemocoryna sericata, sp.n. (Tab. III. figg. 10; 10 a, antenna.) Chocolatina; capite thoraceque opacis; rostro canaliculato, ad latera parcissime setoso ; elytris dilutioribus, nitidis, impunctatis, ad suturam bisulcatis. Long. 17 millim. Hab. Paxama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet (Champion). Head and rostrum impunctate above; metarostrum with a fine channel on the middle extending all its length, and behind the eyes represented by two or three inter- rupted faint depressions; between the insertion of the antenne, on the pterygia, there is a faint elevation, over which the channel is continued ; in front of the pterygia it expands into a broad, deep, and elongate depression; sides of the metarostrum with a few coarse punctures, each bearing a curvate seta. Underneath, the base of the head is impunctate, and the median fovea is connected with the base by an almost imperceptible channel; in front of this are coarse irregularly-placed, not very numerous punctures, extending nearly as far forwards as the pterygia. The thorax is elongate, and though dull it has no punctuation. The elytra have two definite sutural grooves, and the suture is darker in colour than the other parts. The tibie are not lamellate, but rather slender. The breast and abdomen are not sulcate. | BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. 1V. Pt. 6, August 1899. LL 74 RHYNCHOPHORA. The only specimen of this species was much covered with the grease and verdigris that are unfortunately of such common occurrence in pinned Brenthide: possibly, therefore, the colour of the elytra is not quite natural. NEMOCEPHALUS. Nemocephalus, Latreille, Dict. Class. d’Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 693 (1804) ; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 462. Nematocephalus, Gemminger & Harold, Cat. Col. ix. p. 2718. This genus includes ten or twelve species found in tropical America ; it was formerly more extensive, but the next genus, Acratus, has been separated from it by Lacordaire ; the line of division between the two is, however, at present rather arbitrary, depending as it does chiefly on the lengths of the antenne and tarsi, which differ much from species to species. | 1. Nemocephalus femoratus, sp.n. (Tab. III. fig. 12, ¢ .) Niger, nitidus; thorace polito, fere impunctato ; elytris unisulcatis, seriatim sat fortiter punctatis. Long. 9-18 millim. Hab. British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GuaTeMaa (Sallé), El Reposo, Paraiso (Champion). Male. Rostrum moderately long, its upper surface and that of the head polished and only sparingly punctate, the sides thick, coarsely punctate, opaque, with a few curved setee; head beneath and the base of the metarostrum very coarsely punctate, the latter with a large, deep fovea in the middle, connected by a fine channel with the base of the head; anterior part of the metarostrum and pterygia longitudinally bi-impressed, carinate between the impressions. Abdomen deeply and broadly impressed, somewhat coarsely punctate. Base of the hind femur very broad at its trochanteral articulation, bearing above a compressed lamina. On the elytra the interval concealed in the groove near the suture is very indistinct in the middle part of the length; the serial punctures are distinct and regular. The female has a few punctures on the upper surface of the head and metarostrum, the latter has also vague, elongate impressions along the middle; the hind femora are without any lamina. The small males have both the head and rostrum short; in the large males the latter is a good deal expanded at the tip, but not in the small males. Both sexes vary much in size. The late Mr. Neville Goodman found a Nemocephalus in the Amazons Valley that is very closely allied to V. femoratus, but apparently distinct ; it is interesting as being a connecting-link between the species with one and those with two grooves on the elytra. In the collection at the British Museum there is a species from Bogota, NEMOCEPHALUS. 7a apparently closely allied to WV. femoratus, labelled “ glabratus, Fabr.” NV. glabratus has, according to Schénherr, bisulcate elytra. 2. Nemocephalus guatemalensis. (Tab. II. fig. 11, 2.) Nematocephalus guatemalensis, Senna, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital. xxv. p. 128, t. 1. fig. 4°. Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Cordova, Las Vigas (Hoge); GuatTemaa ', Yzabal (Sailé), Tapachula (Hoge), San Gerénimo, Chaco}, and Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). This insect is on the upper surface very similar to V. femoratus, but the punctuation of the elytra is quite obsolete, and this character suffices to distinguish both sexes from N. femoratus. On the under surface of the rostrum and head of the male NV. guatema- lensis is very different from N. femoratus, owing to the dense, fine punctuation and pubescence. ‘The species varies a good deal in numerous minor characters; the indi- viduals are usually of an intense black colour, but picescent specimens occur, and the examples described by Dr. Senna were of this colour. In both sexes the elytra are more distinctly bisulcate than in WV. femoratus. ‘The male has no trace of any femoral lamina. 3. Nemocephalus punctulatus. Brenthus (Nemocephalus) punctulatus, Boh. in Schonh. Gen. Cure. v. p. 544°. Hab. Mexico (coll. Chevrolat +). I judge from the description that this species is allied to N. femoratus and N. guate- malensis, but the body beneath is said to be closely and deeply punctured. We have not received specimens of any species agreeing with this description, and there was no insect standing with this name in the Salle collection. In the British Museum collection there is a specimen labelled “ NV. punctulatus, Mexico ”; it appears to be an extremely small male of WV. guatemalensis. I do not think this could belong to the species described by Boheman as N. punctulatus. 4. Nemocephalus deplanatus, sp. n. Subdepressus, piceus, politus ; oculis prominulis ; elytris seriatim regulariter subtiliter punctatis, medio versus suturam evidenter bisulcatis. Long. 11 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). We have received only one individual, a male, of this species. On the upper surface it is extremely similar to some of the varieties of JV. guatemalensis, but it is very distinct by the sculpture of the under surface of the head and rostrum. The head and rostrum bear comparatively few hairs, and the former has fewer punctures ; these on the metarostrum become seriate, so that on each side there is a series of large confluent LL 2 76 RHYNCHOPHORA. punctures, the two series being separated at the base by a broad, median, smooth space which soon narrows into a carina. The abdomen is feebly impressed for all the length of the two very polished and long basal segments. There is no trace of a femoral lamina, but on the underside of the femora near the base there is a remarkably definite channel; in WV. guatemalensis this is only indefinite. On the upper surface the quite evident, though fine, series of punctures on the elytra are sufficient to distinguish JN. deplanatus from its congener. 5. Nemocephalus puncticeps, sp. n. Piceus, minus nitidus ; capite dense punctato; elytris late profundeque unisulcatis, seriatim fortiter punctatis, interstitiis paululum elevatis. Long. ¢ 17-28 millim., 2 16-18 millim. Hab. Mexico (Sallé), Cerro de Plumas (Hége), Temax in North Yucatan (Gawmer) ; British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); GuaTEMALA, Teleman (Champion) ; Nicaraeua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). Male. Upper surface of the head and rostrum with numerous very evident punctures, shining. ‘Thorax dull, distinctly punctate. Elytra with series of large punctures closely placed, so that both the longitudinal and transverse interstices are narrow and somewhat elevated. The sculpture of the under surface of the head is at the base, close to the neck, remarkably rugose and deep, so that the central fovea is rendered indistinct ; it, however, exists rather remote from the base, with which it is connected by a fine channel; anterior to this the punctuation is dense and coarse but not rugose, set with numerous curvate sete, carinate along the middle. Basal abdominal segments deeply sulcate for all their length ; terminal segment with fine, rather long hair. Femora not impressed, abruptly clavate. Female with the upper surface of the head and metarostrum densely punctate; their under surface dull, somewhat velvety, and the coarse sculpture thus made somewhat indistinct. The South-American WV. obtusus, Lund, has a broad groove on the elytra, and resembles WV. puncticeps in appearance, but the dense punctuation of the head of N. puncticeps is wanting in NV. obtusus. ACRATUS. Acratus, Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 463 (1866). This genus, formed at the expense of the older genera, Nemocephalus and Teramo- cerus, includes at present ten or twelve species, all from tropical America. 1. Acratus chontalensis, sp. n. (Tab. III. figg. 138, 2; 14, ¢; 14a, hind tarsus, d .) Nigricans, supra rufo-brunneus vel brunneus, opacus ; capite et prothorace antice et postice transversim rugosis; elytris seriatim regulariter punetatis, versus suturam bistriatis. ACRATUS. ; 77 Mas. Rostro perelongato, subtus hirsuto; prothorace lateribus undulatis, undique transversim rugosis ; elytris apice longius bidentatis. Long. 43 millim. Fem. Rostro polito, cylindrico ; prothorace fere simplici ; elytris apice brevissime bidentato. Long. 30 millim. Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson). The male of this species is a very remarkable insect, having an irregular outline of the sides of the thorax, and the flanks covered with transverse wrinkles. ‘The head is very slender, its sculpture recalls that of the genus Rhyticephalus; besides the trans- verse wrinkles, it bears small granular tubercles. The rostrum of the male is very elongate, dull, quadrangular, flat above and at the sides, and without sculpture; the lower face is densely punctate and set with short seta, strongly carinate along the middle. The under surface of the head is wrinkled in the male, and obsoletely so in the female ; it is finely canaliculate from the base to near the back of the eyes, where there is a very narrow fovea; in the female the metarostrum is biseriately punctate and setigerous. The line of suture between the two elongate abdominal segments is distinct in both sexes; the abdomen is not sulcate. The elytra are of a dull brown or red-brown colour, with, in certain lights, a green or metallic tinge, the suture is blackish ; the series of punctures are very regular and not small, though only obsoletely impressed ; the two strie along each side of the suture are deep and narrow, and extend quite to the base; the narrow interval between them, at the apex, becomes an ordinary inter- stice. The legs are between black and red in colour, the outer surface corresponding more than the other surface with the colour of the under part of the body. Two specimens. 2. Acratus apicalis, sp. n. Gracillimus, niger, supra opacus, levigatus; elytris versus suturam bistriatis, stria externa anterius abbre- viata; apicibus muticis. Long. 19-39 millim. Hab. Nicaraaua (Sallé), Chontales (Belt, Janson). This elegant insect is distinguished by the impunctate surface and unspined apices of the elytra. The male is excessively variable in size; the head and rostrum are nearly as elongate as the rest of the body, impunctate, the rostrum quadrangular, without hair beneath, the median fovea rather small; the upper surface of the head with some indistinct transverse wrinkles. The thorax is slender and very long, quite -impunctate, with one or two obsolete transverse wrinkles in front. Elytra very slender, the apices unarmed, but the apical part prolonged, and forming a strong contrast in sculpture to the anterior portion, being coarsely transversely rugose between the carinex. The lower surface is more shining than the upper, but is not sulcate. ‘The tarsi are only of moderate length. The wrinkles on the head and thorax become obsolete i in the small males, which also 78 RHYNCHOPHORA. have the third joint of the antenne less elongate. When the elytra are looked at from the sides they appear a little shining, and have a faint metallic tinge. The female resembles the male in colour and sculpture; it has the metarostrum sulcate. Of the five specimens of this species, the four males were found by Belt and Janson ; the single female comes from M. Sallé’s collection, where it was not accompanied by any male, but there can be no doubt that all the specimens belong to one species. 3. Acratus filum, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 15, 3.) Gracillimus, niger, supra enescens; femoribus basi, tibiis, tarsis antennisque plus minusve flavescentibus ; elytris impunctatis, bistriatis, stria externa anterius valde abbreviata, apicibus acuminatis. Long. 27 millim. Hab. British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneauc). Although very similar to A. apicalis, this species is very distinctly brassy on ‘the upper © surface, especially on the elytra, and is easily distinguished by the form of the apices of the elytra; the terminal portion of the wing-cases is prolonged and attenuate, and at the extremity divided into separate angles, which leave a small angular notch between them. There are one or two transverse wrinkles at the back of the head, and on careful examination of the under surface it is seen that the metarostrum is not absolutely glabrous, but bears on the sides behind a few very fine sete. The terminal ventral segment is rather densely punctate, and bears much fine, rather long pubescence. Two males. The description of the Brazilian Brenthus (Teramocerus) acutipennis, Boh., corre- sponds in many respects with A. filum, but in J. acutipennis both of the two strie on the elytra extend to the base. Group ITHYSTENINA. TERAMOCERUS. Teramocerus, Schénherr, Gen. Cure. v. p. 556 (1840) ; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 465. This genus has hitherto consisted of seven South-American species. The insects I assign to Zeramocerus differ, so far as the male is concerned, from Acratus by the great elongation of the basal joint of the hind tarsus, and by the two basal joints being carinate above. The female shows no trace of these peculiarities, and I see nothing to distinguish it from the corresponding sex of Acratus. 1. Teramocerus belti, sp. n. (Tab. III. figg. 16,3; 17,2.) Mas. Gracillimus, nigricans, supra metallescens ; elytris viridi-eneis, sutura purpurascente, apicibus acuminatis. Long. 36 millim. Fem. Rostro anterius, antennis tibiisque flavescentibus; antennis articulis 3° ad 8™ nigro-setosis. Long. 14 millim. Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt, Janson). TERAMOCERUS.—ULOCERUS. 79 This species is remarkable for the excessive disparity between the sexes. Both have, however, in common, the remarkable colour and sculpture of the elytra, and this is sufficient to distinguish the species from all the other Brenthids of our region; the elytra are of a beautiful silky metallic-green colour, with the suture purplish red, and they have series of fine subobsolete punctures, and along the suture two strie that are not abbreviate in front. The rostrum of the male is densely covered with hair beneath, its upper surface is remarkable in being raised along the middle, so as to be bisulcate ; the head beneath is wrinkled, and the sides of the prosternum are granulate ; on each side of the hind-margin of the first ventral segment there is a peculiar angular projection. The form of the angular processes by which the elytra are terminated varies somewhat. Four males; one female. A specimen of this species labelled “ Teramocerus cresus, Lac. MS., Cayenne,” exists in the British Museum collection. 2. Teramocerus —— ? Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). We have received a fragmentary female of an insect that renders it clear there is a second species at Chontales closely allied to 7. delti, but having the outer of the two sutural strie abbreviated in front, and the antenne in the female less hirsute. Subfam. ULOCERINZ. ULOCERUS. Ulocerus, Dalman, Ephem. Ent. p. 25 (1824) ; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. vii. p. 474. This genus has hitherto consisted of six South-American species, all of which are apparently rare. It is very difficult to distinguish the species of Ulocerus; they seem to be very closely allied to one another. 1. Ulocerus laticornis, sp.n. (Tab. III. figg. 18; 18a, profile of the apices of the elytra.) Angustus, fusco-squamosus, subtus pallidus; elytrorum dorso vage albido-signato ; antennis latis, densissime squamosis, articulo tertio secundo duplo latiore. Long. 16 millim. Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). Antenne broad and short, the third joint dilated, from this to the seventh joint they become gradually narrower ; the basal parts are dark fuscous, the seventh and eighth joints paler, the small apical joint almost black. Head and rostrum elongate and slender, densely squamose, finely canaliculate. Thorax much longer than broad, transversely constricted near the front, the surface irregular in consequence of raised 80 RHYNCHOPHORA. tufts. Elytra elongate and narrow, with series of punctures made obscure by the clothing, fuscous, with vague white markings, the apical margins expanded by means of protruding pallid scales; the male just above the apex with two long squamose protuberances, the female with two small tubercles instead. Under surface and legs more pallid than the upper surface, nearly white; rostrum, however, as dark beneath as above. Three specimens. Allied to U. pannosus, Boh., but smaller, with the head shorter and less lobed behind. 2. Ulocerus sordidus, sp. n. Angustus, squalide fusco-squamosus; antennis latiusculis, haud difformibus. Long. 9 millim. Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). A very narrow insect, of which we have received only one male example. ‘The head is short and rather broad, the eyes small and but little prominent. The antenne are covered with very coarse, seta-like scales arranged in whorls and subdepressed ; joints 1-6 are rather dark fuscous; the seventh and eighth joints are more pallid; the ninth is small, acuminate, dark, but not black, its clothing fine, not coarse like that of the preceding joints. Thorax long and narrow, very densely squamose, its surface a little uneven. Elytra very narrow, like the thorax extremely densely squamose ; the sculp- ture (which is probably coarse and deep) concealed by the clothing; each apical angle squamose, the tubercle above the apex indistinct. 3. Ulocerus mexicanus, sp. n. Angustus, pallide fusco-squamosus, in elytris squamis erectis nigro-fuscis vestitus ; antennis fere gracilibus. Long. 8 millim. Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente, Cordova (Sallé). This insect is very closely allied to U. sordidus, but the head is of a different shape, being longer and narrower, with the eyes more exposed from above; the antenne are not so broad, and the erect squamosity on the elytra is more distinct. The form of the elytral apices is much the same as in U. sordidus, there being only a small tuft above the prominent apical angles; the two sexes are similar in this respect. ‘The antenne have the basal joint rather long ; the rostrum, head, and thorax are sulcate along the middle, the back of the head exhibits very little lobing of the angles. The lower surface is paler than the upper; the legs are slender. _ Three specimens. SCOLYTIDZA. 81 Fam. SCOLYTIDA*. The species of Scolytide herein recorded from Central America amount to about 970, equalling one-fourth of the whole number previously described from all parts of the World. This total is capable of being greatly enlarged by future workers. We have received few Scolytide except from Mr. Champion, and of those collected by him a large proportion are unique. Comparatively little knowledge has been gained of the Scolytid fauna outside those parts of Guatemala and Panama which Mr. Champion visited. An exception, however, must be made in the case of Mexico; a moderately large number of Scolytide have been obtained from the collection of M. Sallé. These consist chiefly of Platypi, which are of typical value, having all been examined and described by Chapuis. The habits of Scolytide are very retired, and consequently these insects are difficult to collect without special search. More than one-half of the species here enumerated (Platypodides, Xylebori, Corthyli, and Gnathotrichus) are known, or may be confidently assumed, to be strictly xylophagous and not phlcaophagous ; such insects are hardly to be obtained except by chance. M. Grouvelle has forwarded me a large collection of Scolytids obtained in Paris from bales of Mexican and Brazilian tobacco. Though the original habitat of such specimens is always open to doubt, the collection contains numerous remarkable and as yet unknown forms, of which some at least must be Mexican. A large proportion of unique examples greatly increases the difficulty of studying Scolytide. It is sometimes impracticable fully to determine the generic characters of obscure forms without dissection and microscopical examination; and this cir- cumstance is responsible for the retention as a whole of certain genera of which division into two or more parts is desirable, and for the incomplete details which are all that can be given about certain species. The genera into which these insects fall are either cosmopolitan, as Platypus, Hylastes, Hypothenemus, Tomicus, Pityophthorus, Xyleborus, or are of neotropical character. Of the latter, some, in the Camptoceri, Bothrosterni, and Corthyli, are represented by stragglers in North America, while others, Tesserocerus, Chapuisia, Phieoborus, Problechilus, the Hexacolides, Hylocurus, Amphicranus, &c., so far as known, are rigidly Neotropical. It is likely that the southward limit of many N.-American forms is determined * By Watrer F. H. Branprorp. BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 6, December 1895. MM 82 RHYNCHOPHORA. by the distribution of the Conifer, which do not extend further south than Nicaragua. . The richest subgroups are the Platypi and Corthyli, represented each by some fifty species. The latter includes many of the most remarkable and highly-specialized forms found in the region. My especial thanks are due to M. Severin, of the Brussels Museum, and Herr Ganglbauer, of the Vienna Museum, who have freely placed at my services the types of Chapuis and Ferrari, respectively under their care. I also have to thank Dr. Horn, Mr. A. D. Hopkins, and Mr. H. F. Wickham for numerous examples of N.-American species. Unfortunately, many species described from the United States by Leconte and others are still unknown to me, and the published descriptions are too terse and based too exclusively on points of difference between congeners to afford any safe guide to the identification of Neotropical forms. Brief descriptions of Scolytide are not of the slightest use, except when dealing with a limited and tolerably familiar fauna, and those of Eichhoff, which can be safely followed even without types, are models of full and accurate definition. The fact that in some genera I have had before me types of almost all the known species has induced me to extend my account of them by giving descriptions of a few forms not yet found within our limits, or by including all described species in the analytical Tables. The genera selected for extended treatment are Neotropical, and such as can be treated in tolerably complete detail with the assistance of previous descriptions. Examples will be found in Phiwodorus, Cnesinus, Hylocurus, &c., the names of species not recorded within our region being given in square brackets. Secondary Sexual Characters. In Scolytide almost every part of the external skeleton may be structurally modified to present secondary sexual characters, correlated, not merely with the functions of recognition and coition, as is so often the case, but with the parts played by one or the other sex in burrowing and oviposition. To the latter functions is probably due the greater development of the scape in the females of Tesserocerus and Crossotarsus, and of the club in those of Corthylus; and the unsuspected existence of such female characters has caused much confusion in the description of species, of which the sex had not. been made out by dissection. The genitalia have been examined in many European species by Lindemann (Bull. Soc. Mose. xlix. 1, pp. 196-252), but without discussion of the secondary sexual characters. Recently Mr. Hopkins has published an account (Canad. Ent. xxvi. pp. 274-280) of SCOLYTIDA. 83 the secondary characters in 37 N.-American species, after careful dissection of the genitalia. He has been led to reverse many of those given by previous authors, and summarizes his conclusions thus: ‘‘ While the external sexual characters appear to be constant with the species in some genera, in others no particular character is possessed by all of the species. In fact, what may be a good male or female character in one species will be reversed in another species of the same genus.” ‘The former statement is quite true, but if the latter be so, an insuperable difficulty is thrown in the way of descriptive writers, who cannot examine the genitalia of more than a small proportion of exotic species. Secondary characters are by no means universal ; they have been overlooked or are entirely absent in such genera as Cryphalus, Hypothenemus, and Hypoborus, and many Hylesinids. In the Xylebori a special feature, not recorded in other subgroups, prevails, the males being dwarfed, subapterous, and otherwise structurally altered ; in the following remarks they are excluded from consideration. By the expression that such characters are found in any specified organ of a particular sex and species, it is meant that that organ varies in structure from the type common to the genus, group, or family, and existing in the opposite sex. The most frequent of such characters are :— Front. Less convexity, flattening, or actual excavation ; the presence of a polished plaque, tubercles, or carine. Denser or longer pubescence or villosity ; the presence of fasciculated hairs. Antenne. Greater development of the scape or club ; elongation of the funiculus. Presence of cilia or fimbrize on any part. Elytra. Stronger armature; greater depth of the apical excavation or sulci, or at least flattening of the apex. Abdomen. Flattening or greater concavity ; the presence of armature. Secondary characters are also found in the mouth-parts, tibie, &c., but are not yet known to be of common occurrence. In the subjoined Table (pp. 84-85) are analyzed the chief secondary sexual characters of about 80 species belonging to 28 genera, in which they have been correctly applied after dissection by Lindemann, Eichhoff, Hopkins, or myself. The species in which they have been determined is not given, as a rule; and it is intended to imply not that such characters are common to all species of a group or genus, but that when present they are confined to one sex without proved exception, unless such be mentioned. MM 2 84 RHYNCHOPHORA. Z z Z G G s bohoig eee oo 3 = 3 a g Characters roup. enus. ond authority. 3 E § £ £ FE of other organs. 3 < cS (SCOLYTOPLATY- PODIDES (1)] ..| [Scolytoplatypus] | 2. Blandf....... 3 3 3 SCOLYTIDES..... Scolytus (2) 3. Hopk.......) 6 Abdomen: ¢. 4. Blandf. Camptocerus ....| 2. Blandf. 3 3 Bothrosternus 1. Blandf. 3 Pagiocerus...... 1. Blandf. 3 Tibia fringed: <¢. HYLESINIDES ....| Hylastes(2) ....| 1. Hopk....... 3 . Slight abdominal Several. Hichh. impression: ¢. [Myelophilus(2)] | 1. .....--..5-- . 3 Dendroctonus 2. Hopk....... 3 (3) Hylesinus ...... 1. Hopk....... 3 Phlcosinus 1. Hopk....... 3 Blandf. Phleotribus . 1. Hopk....... 3 Chramesus ...... 1. Hopk....... 3 HEXACOLIDES ....| Prionoscelis 1. Blandf. 3 Hexacolus ...... 1. Blandf. 3 3 TOMICIDES ..... Tomicus........ 4, Hopk....... 3 3 Several. Hichh.(4). Xylocleptes 1. Eichh....... . 3 [Pityogenes] ....| 2. Lindem. ....| @ 3 2. Hichh. (4). 1. Hopk. Dryocetes ...... 2. Hopk....... Q [Taphrorychus]..| 2. Eichh. (4) g 3 Pityophthorus Europ. spp. Hichh.(4) ....| @ 3 [confinis |, Hopk. Q [minutissiemus |, Hopk. ...... 3 SCOLYTIDZ. 85 Group. Geuus. species eratained, 3 E 4 E ra 3 Characters ‘and authority. Z a 5 g 2 E of other organs. FY