BIOLOGIA
CENTRALI-AMERICANA..
INSECTA.
COLEOPTERA. Vo. VII.
EROTYLIDA, ENDOMYCHIDA, and COCCINELLIDA.
BY
THe Rev. HENRY STEPHEN GORHAM, F.ZS., &c.
INTRODUCTION .
List or Puates.
Errata ET CoRRIGENDA
EROTYLIDE .
ENDOMYCHIDE .
CoccINELLIDE .
InpEX .
PuateEs.
CONTENTS.
*
a2
xii
. 1,246
115, 257
150, 258
265
INTRODUCTION.
Tue three Families of which this, the Seventh Volume of the Coleoptera, treats—the
Erotylide, the Endomychide, and the Coccinellide—form a not unnatural assemblage
of genera, though at first sight, and indeed on closer examination, they present con-
siderable divergence in points which have been usually regarded as of great importance
in Classification. Such is the tarsal structure, which in the first of these families is
pentamerous, but very much modified, becoming in the less specialized genera
tetramerous. In the second family—the Endomychide—the foot is tetramerous, but
again modified; it is the basal joint which becomes obsolete, the fourth joint of
the tarsi being, as in the Erotylide, a mere node at the base of the fifth or claw-joint.
In the Coccinellide this nodal joint disappears.
Notwithstanding this very important difference, which is without doubt correlated
with the habits of these insects, there are too many points of agreement to be passed
over. One of these is the presence of certain impressed lines on the metasternum and
on the basal abdominal segment, which are clearly in the higher groups, as the
Languriides and the Erotylides, the rudiments of original fossettes or broad depressions
for enabling the femora to lie closely retracted, with the tarsi and tibie shut up like a
pocket-knife. These fossettes are retained and developed in the great majority of the
Coccinellide, or become rudimentary in the Languriides and Erotylides, which have
the legs less retractile, and are quite lost in the Endomychide and some genera of the
other two groups.
The sole of the foot, like that of the Phytophagous section of Coleoptera, is broad
and spongiose in the great majority of genera, two joints (Coccinellide), or three
(Erotylide), being bilobed, flattened beneath, and furnished with papille, which are
adapted for obtaining a firm hold on plants; this character, through the phytophagous
Coccinellide, affords a clue to the phylogenetic connection of these families with the
true Phytophaga. The Aphid-devouring instinct of the more highly developed
Coccinellidee would easily be explained on the view that certain phytophagous beetles
obtained and preferred this food while pursuing their original habit of life, and
possibly when the Aphides or Coccide were so abundant that they could not be avoided,
V1 INTRODUCTION.
It is, I think, a significant fact that the Erotylide and Endomychide still prefer, or
are almost always associated with, the highly nitrogenous pabulum afforded by fungi.
With regard to the distribution of these families so much is new that it has very
greatly modified our earlier ideas, and so many new facts no doubt remain to be
discovered that hasty generalizations must not be drawn. When Lacordaire wrote
his Monograph of Erotylide, it was thought that the New World was very plainly
the home of these beetles; but subsequent collections from the Eastern hemisphere
showed that these regions were possibly as well stocked. The numerous species of
this family brought to notice in the present work have tended to restore the apparent
supremacy of the Western Continent, but I believe it will prove to be more apparent
than real.
Taking the Languriides, Chapuis, in the ‘Genera Coleopterorum,’ notices two
genera only; Crotch, in his ‘Revision,’ admits fifteen; and in my ‘ Classification,’
published in 1887, I found it necessary to propose thirty-two, while two or three more
have since been added. The number of genera enumerated in this volume from
Central America is fourteen, while of the sixty-nine species recorded, fifty are treated
as new. It is probable that an equal number of species exist in both hemispheres.
Of the true Erotylide (the Dacnides, Triplacides, and Erotylides) fifty-six genera
are recognized by Crotch, and fifty-seven in the Munich Catalogue, with 1011 species
(omitting Helota and Orestia, the last-mentioned being an ordinary member of the
Phytophaga). Thirty-five genera are found in the New World, five only of which are
common to both hemispheres; of these latter, Husxestus, Dacne, Triplax, and
Cyrtotriplax (=Tritoma) are feeble forms whose relations are not yet well defined,
and are, moreover, indicative of the northern regions of the globe. It is therefore to
be observed that only one genus of well-ascertained position, viz. Megalodacne, is
represented in both hemispheres. From the region under investigation we have
recorded thirty-two genera and 213 species, nine genera and 104 species being treated
as new. ‘To compare the ascertained Fauna with that of the Old World it would
be necessary to take into account a large number of new genera proposed by myself
and others since the publication of the Munich Catalogue and of the Supplement to it.
The only conclusion, I think, we can at present draw from these data is that while a
very large number of new species remain to be discovered in all parts of the world,
the predominance, both of genera and species, though not large, is in favour of the
New World, and that the forms of this highly developed family of beetles are
INTRODUCTION. vil
largely endemic. The Endomychide, which I regard as also being a highly evoluted
family, but as containing more primitive and generalized genera than the Erotylide,
bear out this view.
The number of genera of the family Endomychide, including the additions to the
Munich Catalogue, may be roughly taken as sixty, and the described species as 480.
In the volume now completed the genera recorded are fifteen, with eighty-one species,
of which four genera and thirty-nine species are new. I have before recorded my
conjecture that the smaller and more hairy species, as those of the large genus
Stenotarsus, represented a more primitive less evoluted form, and these are found in
all parts of the world.
The large family of the Coccinellide presents more difficulties on the subject of
distribution, from their being, as it appears to me, taken as a whole, of a more
generalized type than the two preceding families.
What strikes one, on studying this group with attention, is the very feeble and
trivial characters on which the genera are based, and yet that better ones cannot be
found. And this appears from the varying opinions of classifiers as to their adoption
in their systems. Thus, while Crotch admits 137 genera for 1340 species, only
100 genera are retained in the Munich Catalogue for 1444 species.
For Central America, as recorded in this volume, 239 species are placed in forty-
three genera; and while of this rather limited number 108 species are apparently
new, I have only-ventured to propose three new genera.
But the species of this family rather readily divide into two sections, according as
they are smooth or hairy, and still more so if we take the larger and more important
portion of the latter which are phytophagous, and have the mandibles retaining the
form adapted for that kind of food.
One can hardly avoid the conclusion that the Hpilachne are derived from the
Phytophagous stirps, not only on account of their food, but of their very close
resemblance in many instances to Cassidide, some very closely resembling Chely-
morphe, and others having the metallic lustre of so many of this latter family; and
the singularly convex and inflated form of the elytra in the Coccinellide, modified,
but present, in the #githi and true Erotyli, having, as I think, its counterpart in the
gibbous and elevated forms of Cassidide. It is not only in their food that the
Vill INTRODUCTION.
Epilachne have been conservative, but in the evolution of their structure also, as
they belong to a plain generalized type, perhaps best adapted for living under
varying conditions with very little modification; and, like the genus Stenotarsus,
Epilachna is distributed in almost every part of the world, below the sixty-fifth parallel
of North latitude. It is well known how this genus predominates in the Eastern
hemisphere, and how the species there are so little differentiated that it is very
difficult to distinguish or classify them. |
The higher forms of the family, from their black-and-red-spotted bodies, and from
having to seek their aphidean food on the surface of plants, must be peculiarly
attractive to their enemies. This brilliant livery seems retained and even developed
from their ancestry ; but it is compensated for by two very important facts—(1) a
secretion, distasteful, as it seems, to birds, or lizards and other reptiles; (2) a high
power of contractility, enabling them to drop on the slightest alarm. It is for this
last-mentioned purpose that the fossz, so usual on the basal segment of the abdomen,
seem to have been produced, the rudiments of which (now of no use) are visible in
the Erotylides and Languriides ; and though these rudiments are rarely seen in the
Endomychide, it is a significant fact that in the genus Panomea, which so remarkably
mimics various Coccinellide, as nearly always to be taken for one even by Coleopterists,
the structure is retained, as well as the round and convex form and the type of
marking.
An immense amount of material has passed through my hands during the publi-
cation of this volume, and I may especially call attention to the vast number of
specimens due to Mr. G. C. Champion’s careful collecting, especially in the small
and obscure species usually neglected.
There still remain a considerable number of minute and obscure insects unclassified,
some of which, without doubt, pertain to the group here treated, but it was thought
better to close the work. Many specimens of the genus Hapalips (Languriides) were
unfortunately mislaid, and cannot now be included, but must be described or noticed
elsewhere. It is obvious, however, that every collection of any extent will for some
time to come contain new species.
SHirLey WaRREN, SOUTHAMPTON, H.S. G.
February 1899.
LIST OF PLATES.
.* L. linearis on the Plate.
+ The figure is wrongly numbered 25 on the Plate.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., February 1899.
~ M. peccari on the Plate.
b
Plate. Fig. Page. Plate. Fig Page.
Eroryrrp2. Ischyrus graphicus beeen eee eee IT. i7 39
Trapezidera enea .........--+-- I, 3 4 PROXIMAUS veresreeeceeeees i. { 22 1 f 40
Semiotina .........e eevee I. 4. 4 tetrastictus .............. III. 1 41
Camptocarpus longicollis, g ...... I, 1 6 septemsignatus ............ II. 19 41
DQ cece c eee eee eee I. 2 6 scutellaris ...........0002- ITI. 2 41
Teretilanguria paname, J ...... I. 5 8 undulatus ...........0.05- III. 3 42
versicolor, 9 ...... ee eee eee I. 6 9 Picts... eee eee eee ITI. 4 42
Languria aculeata ...........+.. I. 17 11 insolens .........+....505. IT. 20 43
cyanipennis ...........--- I. 15 12 Chacoje . 6.2... ee eevee ene Ii. 5 43
Acropteroxys gracilis...........- I. 18 14 || —— quinquepunctatus.......... III. 6 43
a.) I. 19 14 episcaphulinus ............ IIT. 7 44
Dasydactylus buprestoides, ¢ I. 7 15, 248 distinguendus ............ IT. 23 45
subulatus, Go... ee ee ee eee I, 13 15 || Callischyrus amcenus... ........ IL. 25 46
munilensis, dD ...... ee eevee I. 8 20 Candezel...... ee eee ee ee IT. 24 46
— DQ cece cece ee eens I. 9 20 || Mycotretus ornatus ............ Til. 8 | 47, 253
hondoensis, d ....--+-eeee I. 10 21 tigTINUS ...... eee ee eee Iil. 9 48
sellatus, Q .....- ee ee eee I, 14 | 23,248 || —— maculatus ................ IV. 1 49
ventralis, S ....ee ee ences I. 11 23 QEMINUS...... Lee eee eee IIT. 10 50
(?) concinnus .........-e06- I. 12 24 sexpunctatus.............. III. 12 50
Nomotus plutonus ..........-+.4- I. 16 25 ternotatus ................ ITI. 13 51
‘| Ortholanguria elongata .......... I. 23 26 pallidior.......... 0... eee. Il. 18 52
Langurites lineata *, 9 .......... I. 20 27 bistrigatus, var. .......... Il. 11 | 52, 253
9 Oy VAL, cece eee eee I. 21 7 || ——sallei..... ee ee eee ee eee IV. 2 53
» OVAL. wee eee ee eee I. 22 27 || ——~ spadiceus .........0 eee ee III. 16 53
Crotchia proxima, d ..........-. I. 24+ 29 || —— a 1: 5 ITT. 17 53
Megalodacne quadriguttata ...... If. 1 34 || —— panamanus .............. IIL. 14 54
AUGOUINI.. . 2. eee ee eee II. 2 | 384,253 || —— illustris.............-005- III. 15 54
Pselaphacus conspersus .....-.-.-. II. 10 35 || —— pecarit ........ cece ee eee ITI. 18 5d
poecilosomus .........+-+-- II. 4 35 || —— i (:) oa IIT. 19 55
——— CUIVIpeS.. 6... eee ee ee eee II. 5 35 || —— elegans ............0...4. IV. 3 55
— , Vv. distortus .......... Il. 6 35 || —— vittatus ...........2..000- ITI. 21 | 57, 253
———_ nicarague .........- ee eee II. 3 36 laccophilinus.............. IV. 5 57
Vitticollis .......6... eee II. 7 36 eruentus ............04.. IIT. 22 59
—— punceticollis ...........4-- II. 8 36 lesueuTl .... 6... ee cee eee IIT. 20 59
semiclathratus ..........-- II. 9 36 || —— consanguineus ............ IIT. 23 61
Megischyrus mexicanus.......... II. 11 37 coccidulinus Levee eee ee eens III. 24 63
NiCATAQUE .... +e eee eee eee IL. 13 | 37, 253 atricaudatus .............. TV. 4 66
—— guatemalw.............6.- II. 12. 38 || —— fuscitarsis ................ III. 25 68
sanguinolentus ............ II. 14 38 epopterus ................ IV. 7 | 69,253
wonalis ...... ee ee ee eee eee Il. 16 38 (?) oppositipunctum ........ IV. 6 69
discipennis ......--.+.-6- IT. 15 39 || Mycomystes ferrugineus ........ IV. 8 val
x LIST OF PLATES.
Plate. Fig. Page. Plate. Fig. Page.
Paratritoma divisa.........-.+5 IV. 9 72 || Scaphidomorphus bosci .......... VI. 11 110
1:0 IV. 10 72 || Prepopharus duponcheli, var. .... VI. 17 111
— A: IV. 11 1 | VI. 18 111
caduca wo... ee ee ee ee ees IV. 12 73 xanthomelas ............6. VI. 12 111
Mycophthorus pauperculus ...... IV. 13 7 spilotus ........ eee ee eee VI. 19 111
Pseudolybas glaber ............ IV. 14 74 || Priotelus apiatus .............. VI. 20 112
Lybas granatus ..........-2.08- IV. 15 | 75,254 || Homeeotelus confusus .......... VI. 21 113
carbunculus ........--.-+- IV. 16 76 gemellatus,..........0005. VI. 22 113
Lybanodes castaneus ...........- IV. 17 77 MEXICANUS ...... ee ee ee eee VI. 23 114
Triplax championi.............. IV. 18 73 || —— p VOL. Lee cece ee eee VI. 24 114
TEGIVIVA . 6... eee eee ee eee IV. 19 79 Jamsoni ........ 0... ee ee ee VIL | 254. 114
Tritoma dorsalis..............6. IV 20 80
Hematochiton elateroides........ V. 4 81
Sesother carbonarius............ Vv. 5 82 E
Scaphengis picipes .............- V. 6 83 NDOMYCHID 2.
Coccimorphus emys .......... 7 Ty. 21 84 || Corynomalus auronitens.......... VII. 1 116
Aagithus melaspis ..... hace eee iV. 22 85 cinctUs ...... eee eee eee VII. 2 116
cardinalis ...e......000 eee IV. 23 86 || —— p VAL. cece cee ee ees VII. 3 116.
rufipennis ..........00008- IV. 24 87 saturatus ...e..-. ee eee VIL. 4 117
meridionalis .............. IV. 25 87 dentatus .............06. Vil. 5 117)
JANSODL «6. ce ee ee ee ee eee Vv 1 88 7:0 VIL. 6 117.
discoideus ...........-000- v 2 88 || Acinaces lebasi .............605 VIL. 9 118
(?) grammicus ............ Vv 3 91 | Phalantha championi............ VII. 7 119
Brachysphenus delineatus ........ v 7 92 || - intricata .........6... _ VIL. 8 | 119, 257
i (:) a v 8 92 || Epipocus figuratus, ¢ .......... VII. 10 121
——— pulcher ............ 0.0.08. V 9 93 Cinctus, Gi. cece ee ee ee eee VII. 11 121
—— catillifer 2... .. cc. ee eee V. 10 93 bivittatus, do... eee eee VIL. 12 122
—- p VAT. cece cece eee eens Vv. 11 93 subcostatus, ¢ ............ VII. 13 123,
—— conspicillatus ............ Vv. 12 97 binotatus, S ...... eee eee VII. 14 124
——— sedecim-maculatus ........ Vv 13 97 salleei.. ccc eee eee eee eee VII. 15 125
fragmentatus.............. Vv 16 99 || Anidrytus liquefactus, gd ........ VII. 16 126
festiVUS .... 2... cee eee eee Vv 14 100 contractus, Sd .....eee eee VIL. 17 127
multiguttatus ............ Vv 15 100 Golosus ........ ce cece eee VIL. 18 127
17, Epopterus ocellatus, v. maculosus . . VII. 19 129
Erotylus leopardus, vars. ........ Vv 18, | 102 comptus, G ........ee eee, VII. 20 130
19 scalaris .......... 00.00 eee VII. 21. 130
—— , V. confluens.......... Vv 20 102 pantherinus ...........-.. Vil. 22 131
NICATAQUB .. 1... eee ee eee Vv. 21 102 || Ephebus piceus ................ VIII. 1 132
nigronotatus, d .....-.... VI. 1 102 chontalesianus ............ VIII. 2 182
Cypherotylus debauvei*, d@ ...... VI. 2 103 || Systeechea cyanoptera .......... VII. 24 133
——- gibbosus, d ...........00. VI. 3 103 championi..............+- VIIl. 3 133
--—— elevatus, Var... . 2c eee eee VI. 4 104 || Stenotarsus cordatus ............ VIII. 4 134
—— impressopunctatus, d ...... VI. 5 104 || ——- discipennis .............. VII. 3) 136
vicinus, DO... eee ee eee ee Vv. 24 105 || —— circumdatus .............. VII. 25 136
—— guatemale, d .....-...05. VI. 6 105 || —— globosus ................ VIII. 6 136
costaricensis, «ws... eee VI. 7 105 || —— oblongulus................ VIil. 7 138
gaumeri, «ws. eee eee eee VI. 8 106 || —— angustulus .............. VIL. 23 138
boisduvali, Q ......-..... V. 23 106 || ——— panamanus .............. Vill. 8 188
alutaceus, d .... ee. eee eee VI. 10 | 107,256 || ———smithi .................. VII. 9 140
fenestratus, 2 ..........5. Vv. 22 107 || —— claviger...............06- VIIt. 10 141
ASPeTsUs, Q wesc ewes aeee VI. 9 108 || —— maculicollis .............. VIII. 11 141
Micrerotylus lunulatus .......... VI. 13 108 || Rhymbus limbatus.............. VITl. 12 142°
Zonarius CACICUS... 1.6.2 ee eee eee VI. 14 109 PICEUS vee ee cece cece eeee VIII. 13 143
. . 15, Exysma orbicularis ............ VIil. 14 146
JANSOML «+++ sees sees ears v0 VI. { 16 \ 109 (2) tenuicornis ............ VIL | 15 146
* C. dromedarius on the Plate.
LIST OF PLATES. xi
Plate. Fig. Page. Plate. Fig. Page.
Dialexia setulosa .............. VIII. 16 147 || Thalassa montezume ............ XxX, 15 183
Micropsephus mniophilinus ...... VIII. 17 149 || Brachyacantha lepida............ X, 16 185
westwoodi ................ X. 17 185
aymardi.................. X. 18 186
CoccrnEztinz. eryptocephalina..........., XxX. 19 186
Megilla maculata, vars........... VIII. { oe 151 i x. oy 188
Neomia vittigera..... 20.000... 00. VIII. °} 21 152 || HyPeraspis cereyonoides.......... x. { 29 } 191
Seriata .... eke eee VIII. 18 152 leta* eee, XI. 2 262
Hippodamia convergens.......... VIIL. 22 153 chiriquensis, d............ X. 25 193
23, coronata ........ Lee wees xX. 26 194
V VATS. sees eee eee ey VII. { 24 } 153 lateralis, 3 ........0 02, KX. | 24 195
Coccinella luteipennis .......... IX. 1 155 || —— cincticollis................ X. 23 195
emarginata .............. VIII. 25 155 bicruciata, 9 ............., XI, 3 196
ampla ..... eee ee eee eee IX. 2 156 sexverrucata ............., XI. 4 196
transversoguttata .......... VIII. 26 157 kunzli, gd ...........000.. XI, 5 197
—— cyathigera................ IX. 3 158 centralis ..............4, XI. 6 197
—— albopicta ................ IX. 4, 158 panzose, Q ...........0.. XI. 7 198
maculosa .............00, IX. 5 159 diversa, d...........000.. XI. 8 198
—— compta wo... eee eee eee IX. 6 159 || —— calderana ................ XI. 9 199
concinna ..............0. IX. 7 160 guatemalensis ............ XI. 10 200
-—— pantherina .............. IX. 9 161 panamensis .............. XI. 11 200
quichensis ..............44. IX, 10 161 noticollis ..............., XI. 12 200
Pelina hydropica .............. IX. 8 162 adelaida..............00.. XI. 13 201
Neohalyzia perroudi ............ Ix. 11 163 terminata ............00.. XI, 17 202
. : 12, Seladia beltiana ................ XI. 14 205
Halyzia emaciata .............. IX. | 13 164 alboguttata............ XL. 15 205
«ge gs 14, 6) XI. 16 205
— epistictica .......... tence Tx. { 15 162 | Doria sullei 222 XL | 18 207
championi ................ X. 1 165 chiriquensis .............. XI. 19 207
Psyllobora confluens ..... wees IX. 18 166 || ——cuprea ..............005. XI, 20 207
—— luctuosa..............0000- IX. 16 166 detrita .................. XI. 21 209
TOEL vee e cece cece cece vene IX, 17 168 || Eupalea picta.................., XI. 22 210
Cleis lynx 2... ... cee cece eee IX. 19 168 || Oryssomus subterminatus ........ XI. 23 210
Neocalvia areolata .............. IX. 20 169 || Azya luteipes ...... 0... .0......, XI. 24 211
Cycloneda sallw@i..............4. IX, 21 170 || Ladoria delphine .............. XI, 25 213
retrospiciens .............. X. 2 170 || Exoplectra subsenescens.......... XI, 26 214
abdominalis .............. IX. 22 172 cruentipes ................ XI, 27 215
— A :) rr IX. 23 172 || Dioria sordida............00005. XII. 1 217 ©
— iL) IX. 24 172 || Neoporia plagioderina .......... XII, 2 218
—— gilardini ................ IX. 25 173 indagator ..........00.00, XII, 3 218
electra... eee eee eee eee xX. 3 173 eribrata ........ 0.0.00, XII. 4 219
Curinus ceruleus .............. X. 4 176 || —— metallica ................ XII. 5 219
Exochomus marginipennis........ X. 5 177 argentifrons .............. XII. 6 220
if: X. 6 li7 amabilis..........0....00, XII, 7 220
championi ................ xX, 7 177 unipunctata .............. XIT. 8 221
tricoloratus .........0.04. XxX, 8 178 pubescens ................ XII. 9 221
scapularis ............00.. Xx. 9 178 TUQOSA 2... eee eee ee eee XII. 10 221
bisbinotatus .............. X. 10 179 Compta ........ cc. eee eee XII. 11 222
NOQEL ©... ee cece eee ee eee X. 11 180 || —— chiriquensis .............. XII. 12 222
Pentilia (?) convexa ............ XT. 1 181 coclestis ............0.008, XI. 13 223
Cryptognatha circumdata ........ X. 12 182 CUPYEA wo. eee eae XII. 14 223 »
Corystes hypocrita .............. X. 13 183 || Ortalistes obesug ............,, XII. 15 224
Thalassa pentaspilota............ X. 14 183 germanus ..............., XII. 16 224
* H. jocosa on p. 192 and on the Plate.
Xi
LIST OF PLATES.
Plate. Fig. Page. Plate. Fig Page
!
Ortalistes immersus ............ XII. 17 225 || Epilachna defecta .............. XIII. 9 241
Scymnus thoracicus ............ XII. 18 226 i C:) se XITI. 10 241
panamensis ............6. XII. 19 226 || —— , V. fuscipes .......... XIII. 11 241
loewi 2.6... . cee ce eee ee XII. 20 227 || —— borealis ............ 0.006 XIIT. 12 241
apicalis 20... 6... ..0 eee ee XII. 21 228 || —— , V. equinoctialis ...... XIII. 13 241
pisbinotatus .............. XII. 22 230 || —— i :) XIII. 14 241
pictus..... 2... eee eee XII. 23 231 || —— ——, v. immaculicollis...... XIII. 15 241
coloratus ....-........06- XII. 25 231 || —— , v. discincta .......... XIII. 16 241
ASPETSUS....... ee ee eee XII. 26 234 varivestis ........6.. 0s XIII. 17 242
Vedalia sieboldi ................ XII. 24 235 || —— ,V. VaripesS ........-. XIII. 18 242
Epilachna abrupta .............. XIU. 1 236 || —— p VAT. cece ee eee eee XIII. 19 242
tumida ......... 0... eee XIII. é 237 || —— , var., larva .......... XIII. 20 242
plagiata........ 0... eee XIII. 3 238 vulnerata ...........6.4-. XIII. 21 243
nigrocincta ............6. XIII. 4 239 van patteni .............. XIII. 22 244
— VAP. eee eee XIII. 5 239 modesta.........ece ee eeee XIII. 23 245
—— Cr XIII. 6 239 patula .............2.0.0. XIII. 26 245
Vincta 2... ee eee ee eee XIII. 7 240 polluta ...........-..6-6. XIII. 24 245
calligrapta................ XIII. 8 240 || —— mitis,...............0.0-. XIII. 25 245
Page
Line
13
20
6
ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA.
The reference to the figures of Cypherotylus debauvei should read :
(C. dromedarius, Tab. VI. tigg. 2, 2a, 3.)
After Coccinella concinna insert: (Tab. IX. fig. 7.)
for caudata read caudatus.
BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA.
ZOOLOGIA.
Class INSECTA.
Order COLEOPTERA.
Fam. EROTYLIDZ.
Subfam. LANGURIIDES.
The “ Languriides,” as a subfamily of the Erotylide, may be termed aberrant—not
that they are separated from the rest of the family by any very trenchant character,
but on account of their remarkably homogeneous elongate form and generalized struc-
ture. A proper classification of them has not hitherto been attempted ; the described
‘species are, however, now becoming so numerous that some further division of the
group into genera has been found necessary, and an attempt to express their mutual
relationships will be found in a paper by myself in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Zoological
Society, 1887, pp. 358-362. The family is widely distributed, being found in the Tropics
generally, in the Nearctic Region and Japan, in North Australia, and at the Cape of
Good Hope. No species occur in Europe, New Zealand, or Madagascar, nor do any
extend far north or south of the Tropics.
GONIOLANGURIA.
Goniolanguria, Crotch, Cistula Ent. i. p. 895 (1876).
Type Languria latipes, S. Saunders, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. i. p. 149, t. 14. f 1 (1834).
This genus was established by Crotch.and formulated as follows :—“ Elytra produced at
the apex, slightly divaricating, denticulate; thorax margined at the base, with a small
stria on each side; head with the sides angulated for the very large mandibles; occiput
with one stridulating series; antenne with a five-jointed club; tarsi very broadly
dilated.”
In such a difficult matter as the formation of genera in this group has proved (so
difficult that the late Baron von Harold abandoned it in his paper on the Hastern
forms), it will easily be imagined that the formula quoted above is wholly insufficient.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VIL, September 1887. B*
2 EROTYLIDA.
Crotch’s second species (as he himself points out) differs; and as a fact the specimens
included under the name latipes, Saund., in his collection, not only, as he surmised,
belong to two or more species, but must be placed in different genera.
Five or six of these specimens have long front legs and roughened femora and tibie
of both the front and middle legs, and are males, being so far equivalent to the species
here described under the new generic name Dasydactylus; while the typical example
(which appears to be the only one correctly identified with Languria latipes, Saunders),
from which Crotch drew his diagnosis, differs. wholly from the others in many
respects. In this specimen the head is not symmetrical, and the soles of the three
basal joints of the tarsi, and notably the front pair, are clothed with close, short, and
squamose scales without sete or hairs; while in the species of the Dasydactylus type the
tarsi are more or less hairy or setose, and the front pair in the male sex has the basal
joints not only widened, but often quite villose. Thus the sexes are more differentiated
in the species of the Dasydactylus type; but it is especially noticeable that, with certain
exceptions, the species of the New World belong to the latter section, and that the
majority of the genera which exhibit the spongiose form of foot are from Eastern
Tropical Asia.
My. Fowler while pointing out, in the Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1885, pp. 381-383,
the important characters that exist in the structure of the head, has very naturally
been misled by this want of discrimination of the sexes, for his remarks about the
clypeus, or as I here term it the epistoma, apply to the Dasydactylus-looking males, and
not to the Languria latipes. It is therefore necessary to give other characters by which
the species allied to this type may be correctly assigned to their proper place :—
Goniolanguria (Crotch). Tarsi antici valde dilatati, subtus spongiosi fere velutini, supra
pube molli tenuiter vestiti maris hirtuli; epistoma antice angulatum haud vel leviter
excisum.
1. Goniolanguria (?) palmata.
Nigro-snea, nitida, subtus cum pedibus nigro-picea; capite prothoraceque fere glabris, hoc oblongo-quadrato ;
elytris obsolete punctato-striatis, interstitiis minute subseriatim punctulatis, apicibus truncatis, leviter
denticulatis. Long. 15 millim. ¢.
Mas abdominis segmento ventrali apicali ad apicem in medio dense nigro-pubescente.
Hab. Panama, near the city (Champion).
Fem. (2?) abdominis segmento ventrali apicali minus dense pubescente.
Hab. Guatemata, Purula (Champion).
The general characters of the species now described agree pretty closely with those
of the type of Goniolanguria, Crotch; the head is not quite symmetrical, the left
mandible being larger than the right-hand one, and the gena being proportionately
swollen to afford it a basis; a stridulating file is found when the head is bent forward
so as to withdraw the crown from the thorax; the front feet in both sexes (assuming
GONIOLANGURIA.—TRAPEZIDERA. 3
the single example from Purula to be the female of the same or a closely allied species)
are very wide, their basal joint as wide as the second, not hairy but with spongy soles
and finely pubescent above; in neither sex do the femora show any tubercles or
roughening, and the apical segment is not excised but bears a thick hairy patch. The
elytra taper more strongly than in Trapezidera or Teretilanguria, and their apex is
truncate with many denticules. The antenne have a distinct five-jointed club; the
antennal sockets are large and open, but not so explanate as in the type of the genus;
the ocular striola is deep and straight, divaricating behind from the canthus; the
epistoma is angular, entire at its apex, marked by a vague impression from the rest of
the head; the labrum appears to be membranous, very much reduced, but set with
long shaggy fulvous hairs.
The head in the hypothetical female from Purula is more strongly punctulate than
that of the Panama male type.
TRAPEZIDERA.
Trapezidera, Motschulsky, in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, ii. p. 244 (1860) *;
Crotch, Cistula Ent. i. p. 393 (1876). .
Motschulsky can scarcely be said to have characterized this genus; it is merely a
name suggested for species of Zanguria with the apex of the elytra denticulate. Crotch
separates Teretilanguria for those species which have a double stridulating file on the
crown, and Goniolanguria for those which have a single file together with the apex of
the elytra truncate. Both these genera are good, and are further characterized here.
I find it necessary also to separate T. longicollis, Motsch. (= prolongata, Crotch, a name
adopted from Chevrolat’s collection). This will leave for Trapezidera certain species
which have the thorax trapezoidal and the elytra with six or seven denticules at the
apex; it will be represented by 7. wnea, Crotch, as a type. I think it probable that
T. angusticollis, Motsch., and some other of this author's species are identical with
T. enea; but the identification of these species does not seem possible from the
descriptions.
I give a fresh definition of Trapezidera:—Elongate, but not more so than usual ;
antenne with the terminal four joints forming a flat and pubescent club, the seventh
joint not nearly so wide as the eighth and not so pubescent; orbital striola scarcely
leaving the canthus, but little produced backwards; prosternum flat and horizontal,
with a deep fovea on each side of the intercoxal process, its apex a little emarginate ;
shoulders of the elytra the widest part; apical ventral segment punctured and pubes-
cent, not laterally excised (?); tarsi scarcely hairy in either sex, nor wider in the male
than in the female.
* Motschulsky (Etudes Ent. 1859, p. 66) had already used the name 7’rapeziderus for a genus of Staphy-
linide ; I, however, follow Crotch in retaining Trapezidera.
B* 2
4 EROTYLIDA.
1. Trapezidera snea. (Tab. I. fig. 3.)
Trapezidera enea, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 893°.
Languria ahena, Sturm, in litt.
Hab. Muxtco!, Guanajuato, Parada, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé), Zapotlan,
Colima, Cordova, Morelia in Michoacan (Hoge); Guatemana, Calderas, San Juan in
Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers) ;
Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
This species (which I use for the type of the genus in default of knowing 7. angustv-
collis) has the head strongly and closely punctured; the orbit of the eye forming a
ridge, the ridge prolonged round the base of the antenne in front, and divaricating a
little from the eye behind, but not continued further back than the eye itself. The
thorax is not very convex, rather depressed behind, a little angularly prominent in the
middle of its base, the base margined; the basal striole only indicated by a puncture
on each side; its disc closely and rather distinctly punctate. The elytra have the strie
fine and very thickly punctured; with numerous punctures, of about equal size, in the
interstices, so that the punctures appear confused with the strie; they are twice as
wide at the base as at the apex. The body beneath and the greater part of the legs
are pitchy; the breast and abdomen almost smooth and shining; the prosternum is
wrinkled, its intercoxal process margined by a line which becomes deeper behind so as
to form two fosse; the apical segment of the abdomen is punctured.
Crotch has apparently compared this species with his 7. chalcea. The general form
and size are very much alike in the two species; but the latter has a smooth head and
roughened front tibie, and pertains to the genus Dasydactylus as here defined ; 7’. wnea
is, moreover, more distinctly brassy in colour above. It appears to be a commoner
species in the State of Panama than further north, and I have only seen two specimens
from Guatemala and one from Nicaragua.
The specimen figured is from Cordova. The examples from this locality have the
head and thorax more coarsely punctured than those from other Mexican localities.
2. Trapezidera semiotina. (Tab. I. fig. 4.)
Ferruginea, nitida; prothoracis limbo laterali lineaque mediana, scutello, elytrorum margine reflexo, genibus,
tibiis, tarsis, trochanteribus antennisque, nigris; elytris crebre subtiliter punctatis, sutura postice cum
apice nigro-fuscis. Long. 12-17 millim. 9?
Hab. Mexico, Panistlahuaca (Sal/é); Guatemaua, Rio Maria Linda (Champion).
Wider across the shoulders and more strongly narrowed to the apex than 7. enea;
the elytra also having their apex almost truncate, though only the extreme apex, which
bears four or five distinct denticulations, is straight. The antenne have the club narrow
and composed of five joints, while the preceding or sixth joint is nearly as wide as the
seventh. This species therefore differs from the generic formula of 7. @nea, and may
possibly have to be separated ; it is not, however, a Zeretilanguria, the ocular striola
TRAPEZIDERA. 5
being simple and straight, the thorax finely (but distinctly) margined at the base, the
scutellum transverse, and the elytra closely and irregularly punctured. Iam unable to
distinguish the sexes, although having only seen four specimens it is not possible to
assert we have both sexes present. The prosternal process is wide, slightly raised
above the plane of the front part of the prosternum, very even, and finely margined and
widened at the apex, the apex truncate in a straight line. The apical ventral segment is
slightly pubescent, scarcely punctured, blackish at the tip, and only a little acuminate.
The ferruginous colour with parts black mentioned in the diagnosis is amply sufficient
for the recognition of 7. semiotina, and give this species a very Elateroid look. Three
of the four specimens are from Panistlahuaca.
3. Trapezidera lateralis. |
Castaneo-rufa; antennis, genibus, tibiis tarsisque nigris; elytris extus et ad apices ceerulescentibus, punctato-
striatis, interstitiis subrugulosis et confuse punctatis, apicibus leviter denticulatis; capite prothoraceque
fere glabris. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Muxico, Cordova (Hége), Toxpam (Sallé); British Honpuras, Belize (Blan-
caneaux) ; GUATEMALA, San Geronimo, Chiacam, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
Head, thorax, body, and base of the legs castaneous, almost blood-red; antenne,
apical half of the femora, tibie, and tarsi black; elytra steel-blue, with the suture and
usually the greater part of the disc castaneous-red. ‘This species is very difficult to
place, as hitherto I have not been able very satisfactorily to distinguish the sexes. The
prosternum is broad and smooth, narrowly margined, with the apex truncate and gently
emarginate; the femora are not much thickened, nor apparently at all roughened.
The only character which I can find for separating the males is, that in some specimens
the tarsi appear wider than in others, but not decidedly so, nor are they very hairy.
The apex of the elytra is faintly denticulate. ‘The apical ventral segment is blackish at
its tip and sparingly pubescent. Taking the whole of its characters, I think at
present this curiously-coloured species had better be placed with Trapezidera wnea and
T. semiotina. About twenty specimens in all are before me. It is the “ Languria
lateralis” of Sallé’s collection.
4, Trapezidera angusticollis.
Trapezidera angusticollis, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, ii. p. 244°.
Hab. GUATEMALA 1,
It is not possible to identify this or the following species from the descriptions, which
would apply to a great many species of Languriides; nor is it probable that they are
congeneric with 7. enea. We insert them here to render the references complete. .
5. Trapezidera brunnipes.
_Trapezidera brunnipes, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lanoe, i. p, 244°.
Hab. CENTRAL AMERICA !.
6 EROTYLIDA.
6. Trapezidera dilaticollis.
Trapezidera dilaticollis, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, ii. p. 244°.
Hab. Nicaraaua}.
7. Trapezidera brunneiventris.
Trapezidera brunneiventris, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, ii. p. 244°.
Hab. Nicaraaua 1.
CAMPTOCARPUS.
Trapezidera (pars), Crotch, Motschulsky.
Type Trapezidera longicollis, Motsch. (= prolongata, Crotch).
Body very elongate; thorax with a distinct and acuminate basal lobe; elytra denticulate at the apex;
antenne with their seventh joint obtrigonal, internally acuminate, evidently wider than the sixth, and
forming the commencement of the club. Anterior legs of the male with their tibia sinuate, much bent
inwards and widened at the apex, the widest part inwardly angular and compressed and pubescent.
Prosternum with the intercoxal plate nearly flat, widened, and widely emarginate at the apex.
1. Camptocarpus longicollis. (Tab. I. figg. 1,6; 2,2.)
Trapezidera longicollis, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, p. 244".
Trapezidera prolongata (Chevr.), Crotch, Cist. Ent. 1. p. 893°.
“Elongata, postice angustata, tota enea, nitida, ubique subtilissime alutacea, parce subtiliter punctata, elytris
obsolete subseriatim punctulatis. Long. 9 lin.” (Crotch.)
Hab. Mexico 2, Tuxtla, Toxpam, Vera Cruz, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Cordova (Sallé,
Hoge), Iguala in Guerrero, Jalapa, Acapulco, Teapa, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége) ;
British Honpuras, R. Hondo, Belize (Blancaneaua); Guatemata, El Tumbador, Las
Mercedes, Cerro Zunil, San Isidro, Zapote, Capetillo, San Juan in Vera Paz, Chacoj,
San Gerdénimo (Champion); Nicaraeva!?, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba,
Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet, David (Champion).
Very elongate and subcylindrical; varying in size from eleven to twenty-four milli-
metres; of a uniform brassy-green colour. Legs and underside nearly black. Very
finely punctured above, and finely alutaceous. Head with scattered punctures, which
are thicker and deeper in front; labrum short but distinct; from the antennal socket
a striola passes close to the orbit, but diverges from the eye behind, and extends hardly
so far back as the eye itself. Antenne not so long as the thorax; the third to the
sixth joints elongate and subequal, smooth; the seventh joint triangular, narrower and
less pubescent than the succeeding four, which form a flat club. Thorax elongate,
narrowed in front, the basal median lobe acuminate, the surface very finely alutaceous.
Elytra widest a little below the shoulder; evenly narrowed to the apex, where they
divaricate a little, and are each armed with about seven or eight serrate teeth. Front
legs of the male long; their tibie sinuous at the base, and below the middle abruptly
bent inwards, angularly widened and compressed at the tip; their tarsi with the three
basal joints widened and very hairy, these joints in the female narrower and less hairy.
In certain males the margin of the elytra is expanded below the middle. .
CAMPTOCARPUS.—TERETILANGURIA. 7
It is singular that Crotch should have omitted any notice of the remarkable sexual
character in this species, as in his collection are two or three males; and Motschulsky
has in his description of Trapezidera longicollis expressly mentioned this character :—
“ jambes antérieures allongées, courbées, et dilatées 4 ’extrémité dans l’un des sexes,
cuisses renflées et un peu arquées.” I have no hesitation in the application of
Motschulsky’s name; his specimens were only of medium size and from Nicaragua.
The diagnosis given by Crotch is altogether too meagre. JI have more than two
hundred specimens of this insect before me, very many of which are from Cordova:
except in length, it does not appear subject to variation ; a few have obsolete sculpture
or punctuation on the thorax, and small males have the tibiz less strongly bent.
MERISTOBELUS.
Body shaped as in Trapezidera, but the elytra with their apices acuminate and divaricating, not denticulate.
Head with the epistoma not well defined; a space between the antennal socket and the eye; ocular
striole straight, not well marked; stridulating carine small, double, hidden by the front of the thorax.
Thorax trapezoidal, without basal strie; the base with a fine marginal line, and scarcely produced in
the middle. Scutellum obtrigonal. Legs not very long, their femora thin, not roughened; tarsi slightly
hairy beneath as in male Teretilanguria. Prosternal process wide, not margined nor foveolate, truncate at
the apex, very even. Ventral apical segment of the abdomen rounded at the apex, not punctured ; hairy
only at the sides. Apex of the elytra not hairy beneath. Sex uncertain ( 9 ?).
I place in this genus a single species from Mexico. Two examples only, both
possibly females, of this are known to me.
1. Meristobelus forcipatus.
AMneus ; capite distincte parcius, prothorace obsolete crebrius, punctatis; elytris obsolete punctato-striatis, cum
apicibus acuminatis, divaricatis, et paullulum reflexis; corpore subtus glabro; pedibus piceis, geniculis
tarsisque nigricantibus. Long. 13 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Chinantla (Sal/é).
Resembling, but rather smaller than average specimens of, Trapezidera cnea, but at
once distinguished by the curious bifurcate apices of the elytra. The antenne are
bluish-black, with their club formed as in Trapezidera, the four terminal joints duller
and much wider than the seventh. The head does not present any striking characters ;
the epistoma is hardly marked by a faint straight impression; the antennal sockets are
deep, the ridge above strong (above the eye the ridge is very little raised). The whole
insect is narrower before and behind. ‘The tarsi are of average width, rather wide if
the examples are females (there is no means of judging of the sex without destroying
the specimens); finely pubescent above, and with short matted hairs beneath.
TERETILANGURIA.
Teretilanguria, Crotch, Cistula Ent. i. p. 394 (1876).
This genus was proposed by Crotch for a large and common South-American insect
described by him as Zeretilanguria kirschii, with which Languria basalis, Guérin (Icon.
8 EROTYLIDA.
Régne Anim. Ins. p. 314) is congeneric. In his very short diagnosis of the characters
the only ones of importance are that the thorax is not margined at the base, and that
the head bears “two stridulating plates.” The other characters mentioned are common
to Trapezidera and Dasydactylus, and the last-named one does not seem satisfactory, for
certain Dasydactyli have minute files on the base of the head. Nevertheless the genus
is quite a natural one, and possesses good characters, both in the sulci near the eyes and
in sexual distinctions; I give a fresh definition :—
Head with the epistoma transverse or nearly square, quite distinct.from and produced
well in front of the antennal fosse; labrum membranous, only ‘corneous at its front
edge; orbital striole deep and sulciform, double behind the middle of the eye, the
orbital canthus raised behind. Antenne short, their club elongate; the seventh joint
smaller than either of the four apical ones. Thorax usually trapezoidal and very
shining ; slightly more convex, and with the front angles more reflexed, in the males ;
the base without marginal line. Tarsi (especially the front pair) spongy beneath; with
short cilia, and fine hairs above. Front femora of the male subclavate, thickened
outwardly, and on the inner side finely sulcate, or with very fine tubercles; they are
also a little curved. Apical segment of the male with an arcuate excision, which is not
symmetrical, being most cut out on the right side, the apex between being acuminate
and finely carinate; the excision on each side is ciliate.
This latter character is most important, and in combination with the sulci will
determine the male sex of any of the species known to me.
1. Teretilanguria paname. (Tab. I. figg. 5, 5a, 3.)
Teretilanguria paname, Crotch, Cist. Ent. 1. p. 394.
“ 7. kirschit valde affinis, sed thorace antice paullo latiore, angulis anticis incrassatis; capite antice fortius
punctato lineisque frontalibus minus parallelis distincta videtur.”’
Hab. Panama?, Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Champion).
I do not find any example of this species in Crotch’s collection; but I have no doubt
that about a dozen specimens captured by Mr. Champion are referable to it, differing as
they do from T. kirschii by the strong punctuation of the head. Crotch, however, was
deceived about the difference in the form of the thorax. Though the sexes differ as
already mentioned, I can see absolutely no difference in this respect or in the structure
of the head between these and typical 7. kirschii, to which, therefore, it is very closely
allied indeed.
2. Teretilanguria metallica.
f&nea ; prothorace distincte acuminate punctato, depressiusculo; pedibus nonnunquam rufis. Long. 20-24
millm. ¢ 9.
Mas femoribus anticis parum incrassatis et curvatis, intus minute tuberculosis; segmento ventrali apicali
utrinque exciso, latere dextro profundius exciso, apice acuminato et carinato.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten).
TERETILANGURIA. 9
Very close to T. panama, and possibly not distinct therefrom ; yet differing in being
entirely of a brassy colour, in the thorax of the male not perceptibly more convex than
that of the female, in the apical segment of the male more profoundly cut out on the
right side (although it is not cut symmetrically in any of the species), and also in its
rather narrower form.
The species of this genus are apparently very closely allied, and I believe that the
above given distinctions represent a separate species. I have as yet seen but three
specimens, two of which are from Costa Rica.
8. Teretilanguria nigro-nea.
Nigro-snea, nitida; capite prothoraceque crebre et distincte punctatis, illo trapezoideo; elytris obsolete sub-
striatis, punctis vix discretis, apicibus rotundatis et minute denticulatis, Long. 14 millim. ¢ 9.
Hab. Guatemata, Panajachel, Tamahu (Champion).
This insect is so similar in size and colour and general appearance to Trapezidera
cenea and to Dasydactylus chalceus, that, apart from generic characters, it is very difficult
to separate it. A comparison with these species will be better than any further
description: from the former, the more strongly punctate head and thorax, darker
colour, and the want of any basal marginal line to the thorax form sufficient superficial
characters of distinction ; from the latter, in addition to these differences, the structure
of the tarsi and the very obsolete puncturing of the elytra differentiate it; the elytral
teeth at the same time are stronger in 7. nigro-ewnea, and in the male the femora are
scarcely roughened, though longer and stouter in all the legs. Two specimens.
4. Teretilanguria versicolor. (Tab. I. figg. 6, 9; 6a, 3.)
Supra nigro-subviridis vel viridi-enea, infra flava, variegata, nitidissima; capite prothoraceque minute sparse
punctatis, illo ore, basi maculis nonnullis et infra, hoc lineis duabus vel maculis tantum in margine
antico femoribusque basi et infra, flavis; abdomine segmentis singulis nigro maculato. Long. 143-15
millim. ¢ 9. ;
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Cordova (Hoge); GuaTeMALA, Purula, Sabo, San Juan
in Vera Paz, Cubilguitz (Champion).
Head with the eyes rather prominent; antenne black; face often much variegated
with yellow, the space round the base of the antenne and the orbit being sometimes so.
Thorax quadrate, rather convex, not differing much in the sexes; its underside, and two
spots from which lines proceed from the front margin, yellow, these lines sometimes
reaching the base and often only represented by the spots. Elytra smooth, green or
blackish. Abdomen yellow; the angles of the metasternum and each segment with a
blackish spot. The apex of the abdomen is excised unsymmetrically, but not so deeply
in the males as in the preceding species.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., September 1887 C*
10 EROTYLID A.
5. Teretilanguria 2
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet (Champion).
_ A-single specimen of a very narrow Teretilanguria with brownish elytra, but other-
wise coloured as 7. paname; it cannot be properly characterized in the absence of
the male.
6. Teretilanguria ——?
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége); Guatemata, Purula (Champion).
Two specimens, one from each of the above localities, and not altogether agreeing
with each other, present a very puzzling aspect. They appear to be very closely allied
to 7. nigro-cenea, but the eyes are less prominent and the cephalic structure is rather
that of Trapezidera. They probably belong to another genus, but the evidence is
insufficient for their proper assignment.
LANGURIA.
Languria, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. et Ins. iii. p. 209 (1802) ; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. iv.
p. 849 (1873).
Section A. Body beneath black.
| a. Head red.
1. Languria leta.
Languria leta, Lec. Proc. Acad. Phil. vii. p. 159 (1854)'; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873,
p- 851’; Cist. Ent. i. p. 385°.
Languria melanoptera, Sturm, in litt.
Hab. Norta America, Kansas River!1?%, Colorado ??, Texas ??.,—MeExico, Oaxaca
(Boucard, Sallé), San Luis Potosi (Dr. Palmer), Paso del Macho, Jalapa (Hoge).
This species is only distinguished from LZ. sanguinicollis, Chevr., by having the
interstices of the punctured strie of the elytra with a very fine series of small punc-
tures, the punctures varying in strength. This is what I suppose to be implied by
Crotch’s remark “distinct by the punctate interstices ;” but as he does not include
L. sanguinicollis in the North-American species, nor say from what it is distinct, the
remark is ambiguous.
2. Languria sanguinicollis.
Languria sanguinicollis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fasc. 4, no. 99 (1834) ’.
Hab. Norta America, Texas (Belfrage).—Mexico 1, Parras in Coahuila (Dr. Palmer),
Paso del Macho, Villa Lerdo (Hége). |
The type is in Crotch’s collection ; this specimen being now before me, I am able to |
LANGURIA. 11
give a fresh description :—Head and thorax clear red, very finely and closely but obso-
letely punctured. The latter is oblong quadrate; the base rather narrower than the
front, truncate, scarcely sinuate, and finely margined; the basal striole represented by
two triangular fovee. Antenne, legs, pectus, and abdomen black. FElytra black; the
seven strive, and the sutural and submarginal strie also, with distinct, close, but not
very deep punctures; the interstices not quite smooth, the sculpture consisting of very
obsolete punctures and irregular elongate impressions. The prosternum is nearly
smooth, faintly transversely strigose in the middle, the sides with a few scattered
punctures.
b. Head black.
8. Languria capitata.
Nigra; prothorace subquadrato, postice vix angustato, modice convexo, rufo, margine antico tenuiter nigro,
crebre subtiliter punctato; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis crebre seriatim punctulatis. Long. 83-10
millim.
Hab. Muxico (coll. Gorham), Presidio (forrer).
Head black, sparsely punctured ; piceous or rufous towards the base and beneath.
Thorax rather shorter than in L. sanguinicollis; the sides very little rounded, except
at the front, narrowing very slightly to the base, the latter nearly straight ; the basal
striole faintly impressed and short. Elytra as in ZL. leta; appearing at first sight
multistriate, owing to the series of interstitial punctures being almost as distinct as the
strie. Abdomen nearly smooth, the apical segment punctured and finely alutaceous.
Legs black, the front coxe reddish.
This insect is allied to LZ. lwta; from L. collaris the form of the thorax at once
separates it.
Three specimens, also one in my own collection.
4, Languria aculeata. (Tab. I. fig. 17.)
Picea, nitida; capite nigro; prothorace rufo; elytris nigro-ceruleis, obsolete punctato-striatis ; antennarum
clava rufo-testacea; pedibus piceis, basi rufis. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Mexico, San Andres Tuxtla (Sad/é).
Head black, minutely punctured. Antenne with a narrow, elongate, and laxly
articulated club of five joints; the apical four joints equal in breadth, the seventh joint
(the basal one of the club) triangular and narrower; from the base to the seventh joint
they are pitchy, the club itself being clear testaceous-red. Thorax rather longer than
wide, the sides rounded, the disc convex, the base margined, the hind angles rectangular ;
without striole. Elytra steel-blue at the base, black towards the apex, distinctly
punctate-striate ; with transverse depressions (possibly not normal but present in the
three specimens before me), and consequently somewhat uneven; interstices smooth ;
their apices strongly acuminate and polished, and, in one example, divaricate; the
C* 2
12 EROTYLID A.
sutural stria continued to the apex. Beneath the head and prothorax are coloured as
above; the mouth and trophi (except at the tips) are rufous; the prosternum is very
smooth, its process strongly arcuate, the apex being almost vertical and slightly excised,
and the sides thickened and raised; the breast and hind body are piceous, nearly black ;
and the apical segment is smooth, sparsely and not strongly punctate.
Three specimens: these present no sexual mark of distinction, unless the more
divaricate apices of the elytra be such. I have adopted the name under which they
were separated in Sallé’s collection.
5. Languria simplicicollis. |
Languria simplicicollis, Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. i. p. 201+; Complete Writings, ii. p. 670.
Hab. Mexico}.
I am unable to identify this species from the very brief description.
Section B. Body beneath red.
6. Languria cyanipennis, (Tab. I. fig. 15.)
Languria cyanipennis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 384°.
“ L, mozardi affinis, sed major, thorace magis crebre sed minus fortiter punctulato, basi ante scutellum paullo
lobato. Long. 44 lin.”
Hab. Mextco!, Toxpam, Cordova, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Colima, Paso del Macho
(Hoge); Guatemata, San Juan and Panima in Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaracva,
Chontales (Belt).
The species thus briefly characterized by Crotch has the head, thorax, body, and legs
in part red; the apical segment of the abdomen is, however, black, and the apical half
of the femora, the tibize in part, and the tarsi, blackish. The antenne are black, but
sometimes the basal six joints are red, and frequently one or two are so. The elytra
are steel-blue, with very lightly impressed strie, the strize delicately but closely
punctured ; the interstices appear nearly smooth, though usually very finely wrinkled,
and occasionally (viz. in the example from San Juan) the multistriate appearance is
seen. Two Mexican specimens in Sallé’s collection have the elytra black with a faint
brassy tint, and an example from Panima and another from Colima have the punctures
of the strie deep and distinct, but I do not consider these differences of specific value.
The apical segment is depressed and pubescent; red at its base, but black in the
greater part.
It is impossible to identify this insect, which has the body red, with either L. simpli-
cicollis, Say, or with L. sanguinicollis, Chevr., as both those species are expressly
described as having the breast and abdomen black.
Crotch’s type and other specimens of L. cyanipennis were from Chevrolat’s collection ;
they are labelled as having been collected by Sallé. |
ACROPTEROXYS. 13
ACROPTEROXYS.
Corpus elongatum (elytris apicibus aculeatis, lateribus subparallelis), supra et infra fortiter punctatum,
Prosterni processus intercoxalis ad apicem latior, truncatus, punctatus, parum declivus. Striola ocularis
nulla. Tarsi subtus spongiosi, haud late ciliati, Antennarum clava angustata, quingue-articulata.
Sexus differentia latet.
The species for which I propose this new generic name are somewhat similar to
those of the genus Langurites. The principal diagnostic character is the peculiar way
in which the elytra are acuminate at the apex, the apices being neither toothed nor
excised. The sutural margin is nearly straight, but the lateral margin is brought in to
meet it acutely from about one fifth of their length. The striation of the elytra is
distinct, and the punctures deep. The form of the thorax is very much as in Langurttes,
parallel and rather flat and acutely margined. The eyes are finely faceted, and there is
no ocular striola. The species, A. caudatus, which I regard as the type of the genus
Acropteroxys is coarsely punctured above and beneath ; and has the front part of the
prosternum very rugose, and the ruge interspersed with punctures. One or two other
species which I refer to it are allied to Languria gracilis, Newman, and are more
finely punctate than A. caudatus, but have the elytra similarly acuminate. L. gracilis
will probably be found to be congeneric, its elytra, however, are less acuminate ; the
general flat depressed form is the same, as is the widened apex and sculpture of the
prosternal process.
I include two species in this genus; one is apparently of wide distribution, ranging
from the Middle United States to Guatemala, the other from Mexico.
1. Acropteroxys caudatus.
Languria caudata, Sturm, in litt.
Nigro-eneus, nitidus ; capite prothoraceque crebre fortiter punctatis; elytris fortiter punctato-striatis, apicibus
acuminatis et levigatis ; corpore subtus fortiter punctato ; prosterno antice rugoso. Long. 9-11 millim.
Hab. Mexico (ex coll. Sturm), Yolos (Sallé).
Head very coarsely punctured ; eyes rather prominent, moderately but not coarsely
faceted; without striole. Thorax very coarsely punctured; transversely rugose
beneath, the ruge with punctures irregularly interspersed, especially distinct on the
sides and on the prosternal process, the latter broad and wider at the apex; the sides
are very straight, and the length is one and a half times the breadth. Elytra with the
shoulders much wider than the thorax; the sides almost parallel for three fourths of
their length, acuminate beyond; punctate in series, the punctures coarse and often
confluent. Breast and abdomen punctured, the basal segment of the latter more
densely and coarsely than those succeeding. Legs and antennz blackish, the former
slightly pitchy at the base, the latter with the third joint longer than the fourth.
Only three specimens have come under my notice. Two of these are from Yolos;
the third is from Sturm’s collection, without special locality from Mexico.
14 EROTYLIDA.
2. Acropteroxys gracilis. (Tab. I. figg. 18; 19, var.)
Languria gracilis, Newm. Ent. Mag. v. p. 390°; Crotch, Trans. Am, Ent. Soc. 18738, p. 3517’;
Cist. Ent. i. p. 386°.
Languria bicolor, Latr. Gen. Ins. et Crust. iii. p. 65, t. 11. f. 11°.
Languria latreillei, Lec. Proc. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 160°.
Languria nigriceps, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, p. 242°.
Nigro-sneus, nitidus, capite prothoraceque parce sat distincte punctatis, hoc subtilissime alutaceo, lateribus
leviter sinuatis, rufo, vitta mediana basi latiore nigro-enea; elytris distincte punctato-striatis, striis ad
apicem obsoletis ; mesosterno fortiter punctato. Long. 8-11 millim.
Hab. Norra America, United States 1 2 3 4 5 6—_Muexico, Ventanas (Forrer), Guana-
juato (Hoge, Sallé), Orizaba, Puebla, Toxpam (SaJ/é), Irapuato, Chilpancingo in Guerrero
(Hoge); Guatemaa, Capetillo (Champion).
Var. Prothorax rufus, disco vix infuscato.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Hége), Toxpam (Sallé); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon
(Blancaneauz).
Var. Prothorax totus nigro-sneus.
Languria inornata, Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. i. p. 48°.
? Languria obscura, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, p. 243°.
Hab. Norta America, United States! 2.—Mexico, Ventanas (forrer), Cordova
(Hoge, Sallé). |
The numerous synonyms quoted above show that this is a widely distributed and
also a variable insect. In the series in our collection all the varieties are included ;
but the Mexican specimens have the thorax usually black, or black with only the
anterior angles with a red spot; there are, however, a few specimens with the thorax
entirely red, with only a faint trace of a fuscous cloud on the part usually occupied by
the vitta. I cannot therefore doubt that these are all varieties of one species, as the
punctuation is identical. A single specimen only was met with by Mr. Champion in
Guatemala. The punctuation of the mesosternum is a good specific character, but
its red colour, mentioned by Crotch, does not hold good in dark specimens.
DASYDACTYLUS.
Pedes antici longi (maris femora et tibia intus asperi, tarsis setosis); tarsi latissimi. Antennarum clava
quinque-articulata plerumque brevis. Striola suborbicularis postice divergens, brevis. Prothorax
oblongo-quadratus ; maris convexus, antice latior. Prosternum leviter arcuatum, apice truncato vel exciso,
marginatum, interdum utrinque bifoveolatum. Elytrorum apicibus denticulis sex vel septem armatis,
rotundatis vel truncatis.
This genus has some features in common with the type of Goniolanguria, and indeed
one species, D. thoracicus, would come under Crotch’s definition of that genus, for a
minute carina for stridulating appears on the crown of the head; but in more essential
characters the species here brought together have a natural unity of structure which the
type of Goniolanguria has not in common with them. Indeed the species which forms
that type is, so far as I have seen, “sui generis.”
DASYDACTYLUS. 15
The species which I here unite have also a clear affinity with Trapezidera wnea; the
prosternum differing only in having its apex more depressed, and therefore not flat but
arcuate, and in some species the apex excised but not deeply.
The great difference consists in the sexual characters: the males having hairy and
strongly dilated tarsi and roughened femora and tibis to both the front and middle
pairs of legs; while the head here is uniform in both sexes, whereas in Gontolanguria
the left side is asymmetrically swollen. I have not seen specimens of any species
except from North and South America thus characterized; they seem to be closely
allied, and locally restricted, and must be numerous.
Section A. Processu prosternali apice truncato.
1. Dasydactylus buprestoides. (Tab. I. fig. 7, ¢.)
Aneus ; antennis breviusculis, nigris ; capite fortius, prothorace subtilius, punctatis, crebre alutaceis ; elytris
subtiliter punctatis, vix striatis, apice oblique truncatis et denticulatis; abdomine piceo, lateribus
dilutioribus; tarsis nigris. Long. 16 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore, postice latiore ; femoribus tibiisque anticis et intermediis intus asperatis.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Hége).
The head and thorax in this species are rather thickly and strongly punctured, and
their entire surface is finely alutaceous (a character by which the female of this insect
may be known from a Trapezidera also occurring at Cordova); the reflexed edge of the
latter is obliquely and finely wrinkled. The prosternum is rugulose; the process
nearly smooth, with a double fossa near its apex, its apex truncate. The thorax of
the male is very convex in front, and wider than the elytra; that of the female trape-
ziform, and hardly so wide at its base as the elytra; the base is very finely margined,
with the basal striola only just indicated by a punctiform impression. The elytra
taper very gradually but decidedly; their apex is obliquely truncate, though somewhat
rounded in the females, and denticulate ; their punctuation fine and close and confused,
the striz being hardly defined; here and there the punctures form series. The under-
side is smooth (excepting the mesosternum); the apical segment of the male faintly
carinate, and obsoletely punctate and ciliate, that of the female very similar. The
general colour is brassy, the antenne being bluish-black.
But few specimens of this species were collected by Herr Hoge. The females so
strongly resemble that sex of a form of Trapezidera enea, that T. buprestoides may
easily have been overlooked as distinct from that insect. The males have much longer
legs, of which the two front pairs have strongly roughened femora and tibie ; even the
femora of the hind pair in this species are a little roughened.
2. Dasydactylus subulatus. (Tab. I. fig. 13, ¢.)
Rufo-piceus, supra viridi-nitens, elytris viridibus, ant ennis tarsisque nigris ; capite prothoraceque fere glabris
16 EROTYLIDA.
elytris tenuissime punctato-striatis, interstitiis punctulatis, apicibus rotundato-subtruncatis et denticulatis ;
prosterno truncato. Long. 11-13 millim. ¢g 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore latioreque ; pedibus anticis intus leviter rugosis, tarsis fulvo-hirtulis.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
The species of this section have a greater resemblance to the genus Goniolanguria
than those which follow; I do not think it necessary, however, at present to give them
generic rank, but if Iam not mistaken the following points of difference will unite a
group including some undescribed species from South America:—the legs very thin
and long; the head very depressed and very smooth, the eyes prominent; and the
apical segment of the abdomen almost keeled, the central line being a definite ridge,
but not raised, and also subacuminate. D. subulatus is one of the brightest of the —
Central-American “ Languriides,” the elytra being usually of a bright metallic green
inclining to rufous at the base, while the head and thorax are piceous with a green
reflection. The mouth is rufous; the antenne of moderate length, with an elongate
club of five joints. The thorax is.half as long again as wide; in the female the sides
are nearly parallel at the base, and from the middle narrowed and rounded a little to
the front angles; the base has a transverse depression terminated on each side by the
punctiform but obsolete striole, and the impressions on this are ill-defined, and the
central lobe is short. Scutellum transverse. The elytra at the base are as wide as the
thorax. The colour beneath is more or less evenly rufous; and the legs are clouded
towards the knees, and on the tibia. The roughening of the front femora is not very
distinct, and as it is present in a small degree in the females does not form a good
sexual diagnostic. In the longer hairs of the front tarsi there is as much difference as
usual.
A good series of this insect was secured by Mr. Champion.
3. Dasydactylus glabricollis.
Biceus, infra dilutius, supra saturatius et eneo-micans, nitidissimus; capite prothoraceque fere glabris; elytris
subtiliter punctato-striatis, interstitiis crebre punctulatis, apicibus latius rotundatis et denticulatis ; pro-
sterno truncato, levi. Long. 10-12 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas tarsis anticis fusco-hirtulis,
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hoge), Juquila, Cordova, Tuxtla (Sallé); British Honpvras,
R. Hondo (Blancaneaur); Guatemata, Purula (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales
(Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Smaller than D. subulatus, and with a shorter and consequently more quadrate
thorax. The elytra are wider at their base than any part of the thorax. ‘The femora
in the male appear to be quite smooth, and the tibiz seem only to differ from those of
the female by their greater length. Although there are but a few specimens from each
of the localities, and these differ a little in size and colour, I believe they represent but
one widely distributed species.
DASYDACTYLUS. 17
4. Dasydactylus levicollis.
Nigro-subsneus, corpore subtus cum pedibus rufo-piceis, genibus, tarsis et antennis nigro-ceruleis ; capite fere
levi, prothorace oblongo, minute crebre punctato, his ceruleo-micantibus; elytris punctato-striatis,
interstitiis crebre et confuse punctulatis, apicibus sublevibus, rotundatis, et minute denticulatis ; prosterno
truncato, apice parum depresso. Long. 10-12 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas pedibus presertim anterioribus longis; femoribus tibiisque anticis et intermediis intus asperatis ; tarsis
anticis hirtulis, crinibus aureis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, Cordova (Sallé).
The head and thorax are very minutely and obsoletely punctured (so as to appear
almost glabrous under an ordinary lens of an inch or longer focus), and bluish in tint.
The thorax is oblong, narrow in front; the sides in the male are slightly rounded, in the
female nearly straight ; the base is wider than the front in both sexes, and has in the
middle a faint transverse depression along which are a few larger punctures, the margin
very finely reflexed, the striolz indicated by punctiform impressions. The elytra are
decidedly wider at the shoulders than the thorax, blackish-bronze in colour, and thickly
and confusedly punctured, the punctured strize being distinct towards the base, but
confused with the interstitial punctuation towards the apex.
The form of the prosternum, or rather of its intercoxal process, is very important in
distinguishing the species of this genus: in this insect it is slightly arcuate, and the
apex (this part being less depressed than in some allied species) is truncate, or at all
events very slightly emarginate ; it is also smooth. The antenne are moderately long ;
the third, fourth, and fifth joints elongate, the sixth shorter than those preceding, but
still longer than the seventh, the latter triangular in shape; these joints are all more
or less shining, bluish-black, while the club is black and opaque, the latter being rather
laxly articulated but still wide. The tarsi are clothed beneath with soft golden hair,
which is longer in the male in the front pair.
5. Dasydactylus puncticeps.
Nigro-sneus, nitidus, corpore subtus pedibusque rufo-piceis, antennis tarsisque nigris; capite fortiter parcius,
prothorace minus fortiter sed crebrius, punctatis; elytris crebre disperse punctatis, vix striatis, apicibus
acuminatis et subtiliter denticulatis. Long. 11-15 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore, postice latiore; femoribus et tibiis anticis et intermediis asperatis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
Head thickly and strongly punctulate, the crown less thickly so; orbital striole well
pronounced, scarcely diverging from the eye behind. Thorax trapezoidal, but con-
siderably narrower in front than at the base; densely but finely punctured (not
~ alutaceous as in D. buprestoides) ; base rather widely and flatly depressed as far as the
punctiform impression. Elytra in large specimens narrowed behind (as in D. bupres-
toides), in smaller ones less distinctly so; densely punctate; the punctures in one small
male, at least at the base, indicate striae, but in larger specimens they are very evenly
dispersed, in the single female example they form strie; the apices are not truncate,
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., September 1887. D*
18 _ BROTYLIDA.
but rounded and with about seven denticules on each. The legs are pitchy-red, the knees
and the tips of the tibie and tarsi blackish, and very long in both sexes. The antenne
are black, the apical five joints opaque, these latter forming an elongate and not very
wide club.
This insect is labelled “ Languria enea, Chevr. (ahena, Sturm),” in Sallé’s collection,
but is generically distinct from the types of those species. From D. buprestoides it is
to be distinguished by the darker brassy-black colour, the rounded tips of the elytra,
and the punctuation of the head and thorax. ‘The punctuation of the elytra in this
and other species is a variable and uncertain character.
Five specimens.
6. Dasydactylus chalceus.
Trapezidera chalcea, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 393°.
Niger, subtus cum pedibus picescens; capite prothoraceque minute disperse punctatis, fere levibus, his eneo-
micantibus ; elytris perobsolete punctato-striatis, interstitiis crebre punctulatis, apicibus rotundatis et
minute denticulatis ; prosterno truncato. Long. 11-15 millim. ¢.
Mas femoribus anticis et intermediis intus asperatis ; tarsis fulvo-pilosellis.
Hab. Mexico!, Toxpam; Guatemana, San Gerénimo, San Juan in Vera Paz
(Champion).
The diagnosis is taken from the type in the Cambridge Museum. The essential
character by which this species differs from that here described under the name of
D. puncticeps is the nearly smooth head. Crotch did not notice the roughening of the
femora, not having seen females ; the single specimen in his collection is a male of the
larger size, and with it I associate three other examples.
7. Dasydactylus nitidus.
Nigro-subzneus, nitidus, pedibus nigro-piceis, antennis tarsisque nigris; capite crebre, prothorace obsoletius,
punctatis; elytris creberrime substriatim punctatis, apicibus levigatis, rotundatis, et leviter denticulatis ;
prosterno apice truncato. Long. 10-12 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore, basi latiore; pedibus anticis longioribus, femoribus subtilissime asperatis, tarsis
valde hirtulis.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Jalapa, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége).
This species is very close to D. puncticeps, and separated from it chiefly on the
following grounds :—the antenne are not so long, and have the third to the sixth joints
very evidently shorter; the legs, especially the middle and hind pairs, also shorter.
D. nitidus is also a rather smaller insect; and has the thorax less widened at the base,
and the femora less distinctly rough in the males.
8. Dasydactylus puncticollis.
D. nitidi summa affinitate, nigro-sneus, nitidus, subtus cum pedibus piceus, antennis tarsisque nigris; capite
prothoraceque crebre sat fortiter punctatis; elytris distinctius punctato-striatis, apicibus sublevigatis et
vix denticulatis ; prosterno apice truncato. Long. 10-12 millim. ¢.
DASYDACTYLUS. — 9
Mas prothorace convexo, antice angustato; pedibus anticis longis, femoribus intus asporatis, tarsis valde
hirtulis.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé).
Brassy above, the body beneath pitchy-black, the legs pitchy red; antenne bluish-
black, the club (as in other species where no difference is specially mentioned) five-
jointed and duller than the basal joints, the seventh or first club-joint being much
narrower than those following and less pubescent. Head rather sparingly, the thorax
thickly and distinctly, punctured ; scutellum transverse. Elytra rather more distinctly
punctate-striate than in D. nitidus; the sutural stria impressed more deeply at the
apex, but the apex itself is not so acuminate as in D. nitidus. Prosternum rather
broad, arcuate, its apex truncate but depressed.
Three males from Sallé’s collection are all I have yet seen.
Section B. Processu prosternalt apice exciso.
9. Dasydactylus thoracicus.
Niger, supra seneo-micans, subtus cum pedibus piceus, his geniculis tarsisque nigris; capite prothorace sub-
tilissime parce punctulatis, fere glabris ; elytris basi quam prothorax haud latioribus, ad apicem valde
angustatis, apicibus truncatis et denticulatis ; prosterno leviter emarginato. Long. 10 millim. ¢.
Mas prothorace quam elytrorum basis latiore, convexo; pedibus longis, femoribus anticis et intermediis intus
asperatis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, Cordova (Sal/é).
This species is distinguished among its very near allies by its rather short and convex
thorax being as wide as the base of the elytra in the male; by the elytra being rather
distinctly punctate-striate, with the interstices sparingly but serially punctured, and
their apices obliquely truncate; and by the prosternal process being arcuate and excised
at the apex (but not deeply), the margin being reflexed at the angles. In one example
there is what appears to be a stridulating file on the crown of the head, and this might
cause it to be referred to Crotch’s genus Goniolanguria. This is not, however, to be
seen in other males; and in other characters, as the structure of the legs and tarsi, the
absence of the asymmetrical gena, &c., it diverges from the type of that genus, which
has been but imperfectly characterized by Crotch.
This insect perhaps comes nearest to D. punctisternum, it is also closely allied to
D. hondoensis, though larger and blacker. :
10. Dasydactylus punctisternum.
Niger, cxeruleo-micans; capite prothoraceque subtilissime minute punctatis, fere glabris; elytris obsolete
punctulatis, apicibus rotundatis et vix denticulatis; prosterno transversim rugoso, processu intercoxali
rugoso-punctato. Long. 9-11 millim. ¢ Q.
Mas prothorace latiore et convexiore; pedibus anticis et intermediis longis, femoribus tibiisque interne
asperatis.
Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente, Teapa in Tabasco (Hége, Sallé).
D* 2
20 _ EROTYLIDA.
A species easily to be separated from D. levicollis, which it rather nearly resembles
in sculpture, by its somewhat stouter and shorter form, blue-black colour, and the
coarse sculpture of the prosternum. The body beneath is black ; and the very obsolete
denticulation of the tips of the elytra is noticeable, showing as it does how this
character fails to be of much generic importance.
Three specimens in Sallé’s collection.
11. Dasydactylus zunilensis. (Tab. I. figg. 8, 84,3; 9, 2.)
Nigro-subsneus, nitidulus, corpore subtus pedibusque saturatius piceis, antennis tarsisque nigrescentibus ;
capite prothoraceque parcius subtiliter punctatis; elytris leviter punctato-striatis, apicibus rotundatis et
denticulatis ; prosterno ad apicem exciso, sub-bimucronato. Long. 13 millim. ¢ Q.
Mas prothorace latiore et convexiore; pedibus anticis longioribus, femoribus anticis et intermediis leviter
asperatis, tarsis valde hirtulis.
Hab. Guaremata, Cerro Zunil (Champion).
The head and thorax of this species are rather thickly and minutely punctured, the
latter less thickly than the former; and the elytra have series of very fine punctures and
the interstices nearly smooth. The thorax is strongly depressed before the base, and
has a very faint indication of a central channel in the depression; a minute impression
represents the basal strige, the transverse impression between being fairly well marked
and punctured. The amount of dilatation and the hairy clothing of the front tarsi in
the male is well marked in all the species of this section, the three dilated joints having
the soles clothed with whitish silky hair and the sides with long black ragged hair.
12. Dasydactylus longicollis.
Nigro-subeneus, nitidus, angustus, pedibus rufo-piceis, antennis tarsisque nigris ; capite prothoraceque crebre ©
subtiliter punctatis; elytris punctato-striatis, angustulis, ad apicem acuminatis, apicibus leviter denticulatis
et rotundatis ; prosterno ad apicem acute exciso, sub-bimucronato. Long. 12 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace longiore et antice leviter convexiore ; pedibus anticis longioribus, femoribus leviter asperatis,
tarsis valde hirtulis.
Hab. Guatemaza, Purula (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).
This species agrees very closely with D. zwnilensis in several of its characters ; it is,
however, narrower, the base of the elytra especially, which hence appear very cylin-
drical and less narrowed to the apex, and the thorax of the male is also narrower; the
punctuation of the head and thorax is less thick; the elytral series of punctures
are distinct at the base, but towards the apex the interstitial punctures are more
numerous and here become confused with the strie. The colour above and beneath is
blacker than in D. zunilensis. The typical specimens are a male and a female from
Chontales.
13. Dasydactylus subtilior.
Niger, obscure subzeneus, nitidus ; capite prothoraceque minutissime punctulatis, fere glabris, hoc oblongo cum
lateribus modice rotundatis; elytris basi angustulis, sat fortiter punctato-striatis, interstitiis fere levibus,
apicibus obsolete denticulatis; prosterno ad apicem valde bimucronato. Long. 10-13 millim. ¢ 9.
DASYDACTYLUS. 21
Mas prothorace convexiore; pedibus anticis longioribus, femoribus anticis leviter asperatis, tarsis valde
hirtulis. .
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé), Cordova (Hége); Britisu
Honpvuras, Belize, R. Hondo (Blancaneauz).
This species bears a very close resemblance to D. thoracicus, but the elytra are not
so pointed towards their apex, and are not truncate; the prosternum is decidedly and
strongly bimucronate at the apex of the process, and also differs in other respects. It
is really more nearly allied to D. hondoensis and D. picipes, three species extremely
difficult to discriminate; the head and thorax in D. sudbtilior are, however, so very
finely punctured that they appear glabrous under an ordinary pocket-lens of an inch
and a half focus. D. sudtilior is also larger, blacker, and has a longer thorax than
D. hondoensis; and the thorax of the male narrows in front, where it is narrower than
at the base.
In the specimen from Cordova the interstices of the elytra are punctulate; but in |
others, as the one from Tuxtla (¢), they are nearly smooth, though finely rugulose ;
in the British Honduras specimens all the punctures are more obsolete, so that I do not
think any good characters can be drawn from the elytral punctuation. I think, however,
that the very fine punctuation of the head and thorax is constant.
14. Dasydactylus cribratus.
Niger, subtus cum pedibus piceus; capite prothoraceque crebre distincte sat fortiter punctatis, hoc oblongo;
elytris fere cylindricis, punctato-striatis, apicibus subtiliter denticulatis; prosterno punctulato, processu
apice sub-bimucronato. Long. 6-9 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore, basi latiore, femoribus anticis et intermediis asperatis; tarsis anterioribus minus
late dilatatis, hirtulis, subtus albidis.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége).
A species allied to D. hondoensis, but easily distinguished by the long thorax and
punctulate prosternum. The thorax is longer than in any species yet described, except
D. longicollis. The punctures on the prosternum are large and scattered; the process
is smooth but longitudinally furrowed and uneven. The legs of the male are long and
as in D. hondoensis ; but the front tarsi are much less widely hairy, and are narrower.
The thorax is less shining than in its near allies, owing to the punctures, though
distinct, being thick. Four specimens were captured by Herr Hoge during his second
expedition to Mexico.
15. Dasydactylus hondoensis. (Tab. I. fig. 10, ¢.)
Niger, subtus cum pedibus piceus, antennis, geniculis tarsisque nigris; capite prothoraceque subtiliter parce
punctatis; elytris punctato-striatis, apicibus rotundatis et angustatis, stria suturali ad apicem valde
impressa ; prosterno exciso, apice sub-bimucronato. Long. 10 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace convexiore, antice latiore; femoribus anticis et intermediis asperatis, tarsis nigro-hirtulis.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Frontera in Tabasco (Hége), Tuxtla (Sal/é); Britisa Honpuras,
R Hondo, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatemata, Chiacam, Tamahu, Zapote (Champion).
22 EROTYLIDA.
Very close to D. thoracicus; in the male the thorax is widest in front a very little
below the angles (in D. thoracicus the widest part is below the middle); the legs are
not nearly so long, and the hairs on the tarsi in the male are black; the antenne are
shorter, especially the third to the fifth joints; the elytra are less distinctly punctured,
and have their apices acuminate and rounded. The legs and underside vary in the
degree of depth of pitchy-red colour.
I have described this species from specimens from British Honduras, where it appears
to be very abundant. The specimens from Mexico pertain, I believe, to the same
species, and are very difficult to separate from D. teredilis, with which it was found by
Herr Hoge.
16. Dasydactylus picipes.
Niger, subeenescens, nitidus, subtus cum pedibus piceus; capite prothoraceque parcius sat fortiter punctatis ;
elytris distincte punctato-striatis, interstitiis punctulatis; prosterno leviter exciso, apice bimucronato.
Long. 8-10 millim. ¢ Q.
Mas prothorace convexiore, lateribus medio rotundatis; pedibus anticis longioribus, femoribus intus subasper-
atis, tarsis nigro-hirtulis,
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil, Duefias (Champion).
Smaller than D. nitidus, and, in addition to the prosternum being channelled and
excised at the apex, differing from it as follows:—The thorax is shorter, and in the
male widened in the middle rather than near the base (which is accordingly more
constricted), and covered with more distinct but more scattered punctures; the inter-
stices of the elytra are less thickly and less serially punctured, the strize themselves
being more strongly punctate. Many specimens were captured at Cerro Zunil by
Mr. Champion, and what appears to be the same species occurred in some numbers at
Duenas.
17. Dasydactylus teredilis.
Nigro-piceus, nitidus, corpore subtus pedibusque dilutius piceis plus minusve infuscatis; antennis tarsisque
nigris; capite prothoraceque parcius minute punctatis; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis sublevibus,
apicibus acuminatis et minute denticulatis; prosterno exciso. Long. 6-7 millim. ¢.
Mas prothorace valde convexo; femoribus anticis asperatis, tarsis nigro-hirtulis.
_ Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Cordova, Teapa in Tabasco (Hoge), Toxpam (Sallé); Guatz-
MALA, Capetillo, Chiacam (Champion).
One of the smaller species evidently composing a series very nearly allied and hard
to separate. The males of D. teredilis have the thorax very wide and convex, the
middle of the thorax being the widest part of the insect; the antenne of moderate
length, ¢.¢. about as long as the head and thorax together, the third to the seventh
joints subequal and longer than wide. The front legs are long, but the middle pair
is shorter than in some species of the genus; and their femora appear to be smooth
in the males.
DASYDACTYLUS. 23
18. Dasydactylus cyanopterus.
Sanguineo-rufus, elytris ceruleis; antennis pedibusque nigris, his basi rufis; abdominis apice nigrescente.
_ Long. 7-8 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas prothorace magis convexo; tarsis anticis villosis, femoribus tibiisque asperatis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Salié).
Very nearly resembling Languria cyanipennis, Crotch; similarly coloured, but more
cylindrical, and with the thorax more coarctate behind. The head and thorax are very
finely, rather closely, punctate, and often inclining to bluish; the elytra are more distinctly
punctate than in LZ. cyanipennis, and have the interstices narrower and here and there
irregularly punctured. The males will be easily recognized by the characters given.
The apices of the elytra are very faintly denticulate (so as hardly to be thus termed) ;
yet this character, which may be seen in some specimens of both D. cyanopterus and
D. sellatus, is important as confirming their relationship with the other species of this
genus. Four specimens.
19. Dasydactylus sellatus. (Tab. I. fig. 14, 2.)
Languria sellata, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 385°.
“Z. angustate proxima, sed capite, pedibus antennisque rufis, his clava infuscata; elytris cyaneis, fascia rufa
pone medium. Long. 33-4 lin.”
Hab. Mexico 1, Teapa (Hoge, Sallé), Tuxtla, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Cordova (Hége) ;
British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneauz). |
- Var. Capite nigro.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa (Hége).
Bright ferruginous-red ; the tarsi black, the claw-joint and claw reddish ; the basal
third and tip of the elytra steel-blue; the tip of the abdomen black; the apical and
greater part of the preceding ventral segments also black. In several examples the
femora, tibiee, tarsi, and antenne are indistinctly clouded with bluish-fuscous. The
elytra are subulate; their apices almost pointed and faintly serrate, but not denticulate ;
distinctly punctate, the strize so close as almost to be confused. The prosternal process
is margined and greatly cut out at the tip. The male characters are similar to those
of other species of Dasydactylus; but the hairs of the tarsi in both this and D. cyano-
pterus, to which it is nearly allied, are fine and silky; the femora and tibize of the
front and middle legs are distinctly roughened. |
One specimen, apparently not otherwise different, but with the head black, was
captured by Herr Hoge at Teapa.
20. Dasydactylus ventralis. (Tab. I. fig. 11, ¢.) |
Languria ventralis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fasc. 4, no. 98 (1834) * (nec Langurites ventralis, Crotch,
Cist. Ent. i. p. 392).
Nigro-piceus, viridi-sneus, nitidus, subtus rufo-piceus ; capite prothoraceque crebre minute punctatis, nitidis-
24 EROTYLIDZ.
simis; elytris creberrime punctatis, substriatis, apicibus levibus, rotundatis et minute denticulatis ;
prosterno apice exciso, maris asperulo et sub-bimucronato. Long, 6-10 millim. ¢ @.
Mas prothorace convexiore; pedibus anticis et intermediis longis, femoribus intus asperatis, tarsis hirtulis.
Hab. Mexico, Orizaba!, Toxpam, Cordova (Sallé).
The Langurites ventralis of Crotch’s ‘Revision’ is not this species, but merely a
unicolorous specimen of L. lineata. Chevrolat’s type is, however, contained in the
Cambridge collection, and agrees with several specimens similarly named in Sallé’s
collection. It is a small species of a bluish-green iridescent hue, often inclining to
pitchy. The prosternum is distinctly roughened on the sides; with small tubercles
similar to those on the femora of the males; its apex is excised, but not deeply, and
the angles are prominent, and in D. ventralis (and probably in other species) this
appears to be especially the case in well-developed males. ‘The elytra at the shoulders
are distinctly wider than the base of the thorax. |
21. Dasydactylus (?) concinnus. (Tab. I. fig. 12.)
Nigro-eneus, subviridis, pernitidus, angustus, corpore subtus pedibusque nigro-piceis; capite crebrius, pro-
thorace parce minute, punctatis; elytris sat fortiter punctato-striatis, interstitiis punctulatis, apicibus
acuminato-rotundatis et minute denticulatis ; prosterno exciso, Long. 84-9 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Antenne fuscous; the club rather elongate, though the separate joints are quite
twice as wide as long (yet they are not so wide as in many species of this genus); the
third to the sixth joints short, not much wider than long. The supraorbital striola is
very short. The thorax is oblong, narrowed in front, widest at the base, the basal
margin depressed in the middle and crenulate, the basal strige hardly distinct. ‘The
elytra are a little wider than the thorax at their base, tapering very evenly to their
extremity. D. concinnus has very much the appearance of a species of Trapezidera, as
represented by 7. wnea; and as the three specimens (which are all I have found among
a large number of ‘ Languriides’ from the Volcan de Chiriqui) appear to be all females
it is of course not unlikely that the species will have to be removed from this genus.
It is apparently not a Teretilanguria; and the prosternum being excised it is better
placed here than in any genus at present characterized. D. concinnus is an extremely
neat and narrow insect,
NOMOTUS.
Pedes antici haud longi; femora valida, parum clavata; tarsi modice lati, subtus albo-hirtuli, haud longe
ciliati, Antennarum clava quadri-articulata, articulo septimo intus perparum acuminato. Prothorax
oblongo-quadratus, utroque sexu convexus. Elytrorum apicibus rotundatis, perobsolete denticulatis,
angulo suturali denticulo minuto. Prosternum excisum, utrinque foveolatum, apice sub-bimucronato.
The species forming this genus are practically Languri@ which have the apex of the |
elytra minutely denticulate. But as the genus Languria has not yet been accurately
defined, it will be better here to compare the typical species, Nomotus plutonus, with
NOMOTUS. 25
those of the other genera to which it bears any resemblance. From any species of
Dasydactylus, the absence of long hairs from the front tarsi, the thickened femora,
shorter legs, and more cylindrical form will sufficiently distinguish it; the claw-joint of
the tarsi is also shorter. The antenne are rather longer than is the case with middle-
sized species of Dasydactylus; the club, though large and rather heavy, is not distinctly
5-jointed (the seventh joint is so little produced on its inner side as scarcely to
appear widened, and does not really form part of the club); and there is no trace of
any roughening of the femora. From Languria proper, such as L. leta, the denticu-
lation of the apex of the elytra is perhaps sufficient.
1. Nomotus plutonus. (Tab. I. fig. 16.)
Niger, nitidus, subcylindricus ; capite prothoraceque minutissime perobsolete punctatis, subglabris, hoc oblongo,
convexo, lateribus paullulum rotundatis; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis fere ]evibus, apicibus rotun-
datis et minute denticulatis, stria suturali ad apicem fortius impressa. Long. 9-10 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
The colour of this species is wholly black above and beneath. The head and thorax
are very smooth and shining; the latter rather convex, its sides rounded, widest about
the middle, the base with a strong transverse depression, the basal striole short but
distinct, the space between the latter almost smooth and with only a very few obsolete
punctures. Scutellum orbicular, a little pointed behind. Elytra punctate-striate, the
interstices nearly smooth; the sutural stria distinctly impressed as it approaches the
apex, but the depression not so deep as in the following species. ‘The femora in what
I take to be the males of this species are very robust and distinctly clavate, especially
the front pair; the tarsi also appear to be wider than those of the female, but the
difference is not so great as to render it absolutely certain that I can separate the sexes.
Many specimens of this insect were secured by Mr. Champion at Bugaba.
2. Nomotus senescens.
Nigro-subeneus, nitidus, subcylindricus; capite prothoraceque crebrius minute et obsolete punctatis; elytris
punctato-striatis, interstitiis minute punctulatis, stria suturali fortius impressa et sutura ad apicem
depressa; pedibus picescentibus. Long. 10-11 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Jalapa, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hodge); GuaTEMaLa, Zapote,
San Gerdnimo (Champion).
Very close to WV. plutonus, but rather larger, and with a brassy reflection which is
not present in that species. The whole insect is proportionally rather longer, the
sutural stria is more distinctly impressed, and the depression of the suture at the apex
is deeper. Other points of difference are the punctate interstices; the finer punctures
of the strie; and the thicker and more distinct punctuation of the thorax, especially at
the base, where the basal depression is usually covered with deep and coarse punctures
and sometimes even foveolate.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VIL, September 1887. E*
26 EROTYLIDZ.
3. Nomotus capetillensis.
Nigro-seneus, nitidus, subcylindricus; capite prothoraceque crebre distinctius punctatis; elytris punctato-
striatis, stria suturali fortius impressa; pedibus nigris, basi et tibiis interdum picescentibus. Long.
8-9 millim.
Hab. British Honvuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaux); Guaremaua, Cerro Zunil, Cape-
tillo, Chacoj (Champion).
A species differing from NV. enescens by its smaller size, rather more parallel form,
and the more distinct and rather sparser puncturing of the thorax. ‘The series of
specimens from Capetillo all agree very closely in these characters, and with them I
unite a single example from the R. Hondo; this latter is rather narrower and quite
black, and may prove to belong to a distinct species. |
ORTHOLANGURIA.
Ortholanguria, Crotch, Cistula Ent. i. p. 395 (1876)'.
In addition to the characters given 1 I add the following :—Tarsi clothed with short
thick hairs on the soles; antenne set in deeply margined sockets, there being a space
between the eye and socket; the epistoma ill-defined by a depression; the ocular
canthus bordered above by a straight, smooth, ridge, the striola short and not deep;
scutellum transverse, punctured (0. concolor) or only impressed (0. batesi) ; prosternum
broad, margined, truncate, but little excised, and much depressed at its apex; meso-
sternum coarsely punctured ; ventral apical plate of the abdomen rather broadly rounded,
faintly emarginate, not distinctly punctate, nor very pubescent (0. batesi).
The species we record from Mexico is much smaller than, but otherwise very similar in
build to, O. concolor; the two described by Crotch (0. batesi and O. concolor) are both
from Tropical South America. .
1. Ortholanguria elongata. (Tab. I. fig. 23.)
Picea, subtus rufo-picea, antennis pedibusque fere nigris; capite crebrius, prothorace parcius et minute, meso-
sterno fortiter, punctatis; elytris nigro subceruleis, fortiter punctato-striatis. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Mzxico, Jalapa (Hoge), Toxpam, Juquila (Sailé).
Head with the eyes not wider than the thorax, pitchy. Antenne with the seventh joint
small but triangular; the eighth, ninth, and tenth joints strongly transverse, being more
produced on their inner sides than on the outer, the eleventh joint subquadrate but not so
wide as the tenth, the whole club consequently short and round. Thorax longer than
wide; pitchy, the disc darker and faintly bluish; the base margined, and with coarser
punctures; and with very slight traces of a basal striga. Elytra with the tips round, a
little acuminate, and obsoletely denticulate. Femora rather stout and a little sinuate.
Underside of the body, the coxe, and trochanters pitchy-red. Five specimens. .
Obs. The apical ventral segment in this species is not at all emarginate; but this
character in O. datesi is very slight, and perhaps indicates a sexual difference only.
ORTHOLANGURIA.—LANGURITES. 27
2. Ortholanguria extensa.
Parallela, nigra; capite prothoraceque fere glabris, hoc sesqui longiore quam latus, subceerulescente, basi in
medio depresso et tenuiter marginato; elytris subzneo-picescentibus, obsolete punctato-striatis, apicibus
latiusculis, parum expansis et minute denticulatis; pedibus nigris; tarsis tenuibus, longis. Long.
113 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Differs from O. elongata by the rather more prominent eyes, and the nearly smooth
head and thorax, the only punctures on the head being a few on the depression marking
the epistoma and a very few minute ones behind the eyes. The thorax is quite free
from punctures, but has a transverse basal impression terminated by a punctiform
indication of the striola. The elytra are faintly brassy, especially at the shoulders; the
sutural stria is rather well marked ; their apex accords more with the type of the genus
than does that of O. elongata. The apex of the ventral segment is broad and emargi-
nate, though very indistinctly so. <A single specimen.
LANGURITES.
Langurites, Motschulsky, in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amurl-Lande, ii. p. 2483 (1860); Crotch,
Cistula Ent. i. p. 392 (1876).
This is one of the most distinct genera among the “Languriides.” The parallel
oblong thorax, the prosternal process smooth and almost horizontal, widened behind
the cox and with its apex nearly straight, the elytra cut out obliquely at their
apices (recalling Pentelanguria), and the elongate, loosely-articulated club of the
antenne, render its recognition easy. Languria ventralis, Chevr., has nothing in
common with the type of this genus, but will be found under Dasydactylus. The
typical species appears to be found as far south as Venezuela.
1. Langurites lineata. (L. linearis, Tab. I. figg. 20, 2; 20 a, ¢ , ventral apex ;
21, 22, ¢ vars.)
Languria lineata, Casteln. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1832, p. 412°.
Languria scapularis, Chevy. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fasc. 3, no. 97 (1834) *.
Langurites vitticollis, Motsch. in Schrenck’s Reisen und Forsch. Amur-Lande, ii. p. 243 (1860) *.
Langurites vittatus, Motsch. loc. cit. p. 243 *.
Langurites infuscatus, Motsch. loc. cit. p. 243°.
Langurites lineata, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 392°.
Langurites ventralis, Crotch, loc. cit. p. 392 (nec Chevr.).
Hab. Mexico®, Cordova, Juquila, Playa Vicente, Vera Cruz”, Santecomapan (Sailé),
Jalapa, Cordova (Hége); Britiso Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); Guatemata,
Zapote, San Gerdénimo, Chiacam, Teleman, San Joaquin, Panima in Vera Paz (Cham-
pion); Nicaragua‘, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Cache, Irazu (Rogers) ; PANAMA,
Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion); Canrran America®®.—Soura Amzrica, Colombia! ¢,
Venezuela °°.
E* 2
28 , _EROTYLID.
A widely distributed and variable species, of which we may distinguish five
varieties :-—
e. Greenish-black, the underside, head, thorax (excepting a broadish vitta and the
lateral margins), and a more or less extended stripe from the base of elytra, ferruginous-
red. [Z. scapularis, Chevy. |
B. Like «, but with the head vittate also.
y. Head and thorax (the lateral margins excepted), the underside, and the base of the
legs, red, the elytra wholly black.
6. Brownish-red, the thoracic vitta and margins, and the tip of the elytra blackish,
the antenne black.
e. Almost entirely black, and broader than the preceding forms. ([Langurites
ventralis, Crotch, nec Chevr.]
In the synonymy I have followed Crotch; the various varieties look as if more species
might be detected among them ; var. e, especially, looks distinct.
The sexual characters have not hitherto been noticed. In the male the apical ventral
Segment is very coarsely punctate and hairy, and has a roundish excision; the front
tarsi are very little dilated and not very hairy; the front femora are rather more incras-
sate in the male sex, all the femora being somewhat clavate in both sexes.
This is one of the best known of the American Languriides, it being contained in
all collections of this group. It appears at first sight very improbable that the very .
narrow forms are conspecific with the broad form of var.c; but varieties occur quite
intermediate, and of all kinds of differences in colouring.
CROTCHIA.
Crotchia, Fowler, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1886, p. 805.
This genus has been described at great length by Mr. Fowler; this author including
in it six species from Colombia and Brazil. These species are very nearly allied to
some of those now described from Central America; the eyes, however, are often larger,
and the tarsi of the males more hairy and wider. The characters now given are identical,
but condensed, and rendered comparative with the generic diagnoses of this family in
the present work :—Body convex and gibbous, constricted at the junction of the thorax
and elytra. Head with margined sockets for the antenne ; the ocular canthus margined
by a straight raised line above, but there is scarcely any striola; epistoma imperfectly
divided by a vague depression; crown with a double stridulating file. Eyes very
prominent, large, and coarsely granulate. Antenne with a three-jointed club. Pro-
sternal process rather broad and truncate, the centre impressed, and the margin
thickened on each side. Mesosternum deeply excised behind. Legs short and very
stout; front tibie angular externally, being compressed but cut out on their outer side
immediately above the tarsi; tarsi, especially the front pair of the males, wide and very
CROTCHIA. 29
hairy beneath. Elytra very smooth, the strie fine and the punctures minute; the
suture.a little depressed at the apex; their apices simple as in Languria proper, and
passing the end of the abdomen. Ventral apical segment simple, and with scattered
punctures. Abdominal lines present, short, very fine, divaricating. Second, third, and
fourth segments of the abdomen with a punctiform tubercle on each side giving rise
to an upright seta.
The three-jointed club and coarsely granulated eyes alone indicate that this is a
very distinct genus from any other New-World form of the “ Languriides.” ‘ The
typical species are of medium size, but others are small and more filiform; while
the smallest members of the whole group which I have yet seen (these being scarcely
two millimetres in length) find their location here. The six species described by
Mr. Fowler are all from the late Mr. Crotch’s or my own collection, and are all from
Tropical South America. ‘There is good ground for believing that this will prove one
of the most numerous in species of the genera of the subfamily.
1. Crotchia proxima. (Tab. I. figg. 24*, 24a, ¢; 244, o front tarsus; 24c,
@ front tarsus.)
C. vagabunde (Fowler) summa affinitate et primo visu haud differens, angulis autem prothoracis magis callosis
parum reflexis; nigro-senea, nitidissima; capite parce sat profunde, prothorace minute, punctatis, hoc
quadrato, basi sinuato, subtiliter marginato, angulis anticis subrectis, angulis posticis acutiusculis, lateribus
fere rectis marginatis; elytris quam prothorax parum latioribus, minute punctato-striatis, interstitiis
planis et levibus. Long. 83 millim.
Mas tarsis anticis latis, longius villosis; abdominis segmentis tribus intermediis puncto duplici setigero
instructis.
Femina tarsorum anticorum articulo basali multo minore, minus villoso.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David (Champion).
Although this species is so very close to the one from Brazil lately described by
Mr. Fowler from two specimens in my own and Mr. Crotch’s collections, yet a close
comparison of the type with a long series of examples brought by Mr. Champion
from the State of Panama convinces me that our insect must be regarded as distinct.
C. proxima is rather larger; the thorax is quadrate, its disc more finely, scarcely
visibly, punctate, and the anterior angles are a little more clearly reflexed so that they
appear more prominent.
The species of this genus seem only to be differentiated by very minute distinctions,
as, indeed, is the case in all the genera of “ Languriides.” I have not seen any speci-
mens in our series of C. proxima that could be referred to C. vagabunda; though had
these insects both occurred in the same country they might have been treated as mere
varieties. According to this view C. punctata, described by Mr. Fowler as a variety,
and other varieties spoken of by him, would be regarded as distinct species.
* By an oversight this figure is numbered 25 on the Plate.
30 EROTYLID.
2. Crotchia angustula.
Angustata, enea, nitida; capite et prothorace. minute parcius punctatis, hoc quadrato, angulis anticis sub-
callosis et parum prominulis vel reflexis; elytris fortius punctato-striatis; antennis pedibusque nigris,
illis basi piceis. Long. 6-7 millim. ¢ ¢.
Mas tarsis anticis latis, villosis; abdominis segmentis tribus intermediis puncto duplici setigero munitis.
Femina tarsis anticis articulo basali parvo.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
With the same general structure as C. prorima this species differs from it in being
much smaller and narrower; and in the strie of the elytra having fewer, but much
deeper and larger, punctures. The tarsi also differ more in the sexes. The antenne
are more or less picescent, excepting the club. The body beneath in both this and the ~
preceding species is wrolly black and shining, the apical ventral segment alone being
somewhat pubescent; the ventral segments are vaguely impressed on the sides, but the
setigerous spot in the males is placed a little on each side of the middle. About a
dozen examples were secured by Mr. Champion.
8. Crotchia verepacis.
C. parallele (Fowler) affinis; elongata, angusta, picea, nitida; capite prothoraceque parcius sat distincte
punctatis, hoc quadrato, basi leviter sinuato; elytris fortius punctato-striatis; metasterno punctato ; _
antennis clava nigra. Long. 5 millim. 9.
Hab. Guatemaa, El Jicaro in Vera Paz (Champion).
This insect is so very nearly allied to a species in my collection, from the Amazons,
described by Mr. Fowler as C. parallela, that I have some hesitation in treating it as
distinct. Unfortunately there is only a single female specimen; but having cleaned
and carefully compared the types of both, I am able to state that C. verepacis differs
in having the metasternum distinctly and sparingly punctate, the head and thorax
rather less thickly punctured, and the elytra have the punctures larger. I do not at
present detect any other points by which I can distinguish C. verepacis from the female
of C. parallela. It is about the size of a small C. angustula, but is even narrower and
more parallel than that species.
4, Crotchia curvipes.
Picea vel nigro-enea, nitida; capite parcius sat fortiter, prothorace parce subtiliter, punctatis, hoc sub-
quadrato ; elytris leviter punctato-striatis ; antennis rufo-piceis, clava nigra. Long. 6 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto duplici setigero munitis ; tibiis intermediis curvatis.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
The male characters of this species will distinguish it at once from C. hondurana; it
is also larger than that insect, which it otherwise resembles in the punctuation. The
front angles of the thorax are a little more decidedly callous and turned outwards; the
base of the thorax has a few large scattered punctures in the depressed portion, the
punctiform basal sulcus deep and evident; and the legs are more robust and more
evidently punctured.
‘CROTCHIA. 31
5. Crotchia hondurana.
Picea, nitida ; capite parce sat fortiter, prothorace crebre minute, punctatis, hoc quadrato et parum transverso ;
elytris leviter punctato-striatis; antennarum clava nigra. Long. 44-5 millim. g 9.
Mas tibiis anticis apicibus leviter curvatis; abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto duplici setigero juxta
marginem apicalem sito munitis.
Hab. Mexico, near the city (Flohr), Cerro de Plumas (Hége); British Honpvuras,
R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaur); GuareMata, Cahabon, Panzos, Chacoj, and San
Juan in Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba,
‘Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). : |
A little species, to be known by its pitchy-rufous colour; distinctly punctured head ;
rather short, convex, and finely and closely punctured thorax; and elytra with fine
punctured striz, the interstices not visibly punctured. The tarsi do not exhibit the
usual difference in dilatation in the male, and are not distinctly hairy; the front tibie
are suddenly inflexed close to their apex. Some specimens, viz. those from Cahabon,
have the elytra almost as smooth as those of C. polita.
6. Crotchia picea.
C. hondurane summa affinitate, tibiis autem anticis maris apicibus haud incurvatis; prothoracis angulis
anticis callosis, prominentioribus, mox distinguenda. Picea, nitida; prothorace transverso-subquadrato,
parcius minute, capite fortius, punctato; elytris punctato-striatis. Long. 5 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto duplici setigero, versus marginem apicalem sito, munitis.
Hab. ? Nicaraeua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Very close to C. hondurana; in three or four males, however, which I have examined
the tibie are not inflexed just before the apex as they are in that species, and together
with this the front angles of the thorax are more prominent, turning outwards in the
Cryptophagus manner (in C. hondurana they are deflexed, and hardly visible when
viewed from above). The specimen from Chontales is a female which appears to
belong to this species, but cannot by itself be certainly indentified.
7. Crotchia polita.
Picea vel nigro-picea, nitida; capite distincte, prothorace obsolete, crebre, minute, punctatis, hoc quadrato vix
transverso; elytris obsolete punctato-striatis (femine fere glabris); antennis rufis, clava nigra. Long.
54-6 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto duplici setigero munitis ; striis elytrorum fortius punctatis.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui below 4000 feet (Champion).
Very close to C. hondurana; rather larger, the females rather wider, and with the
elytra smooth (the exceedingly fine striz only to be perceived with a strong lens); and
the club of the antenne, 7. ¢. the last three joints, alone black. The males of this
species may be distinguished from those of C. hondurana by their front tibie being
quite straight, and the elytra also wider and more acuminate towards the apex and
smoother.
*
32 EROTYLIDZ.
8. Crotchia pusilla.
Nigro-picea, nitida; capite parce punctato; prothorace parum transverso, levi; elytris obsolete seriatim
punctatis. Long. 22-3 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto duplici setigero, egre distincto, munitis.
Hab. Guatemata, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
This little species, one of the smallest of the whole group yet known, is very like a
small C. hondurana, but the punctuation is different. On the head a very few scattered
punctures are to be found, but these are, for the size of the insect, comparatively coarse ;
while the thorax, even under the microscope, is hardly visibly punctured. The antenne
are red, but darker towards the apex, the last four or five joints being black.
It was only with considerable trouble, and in a good light, that I was able to discern
the seta on the abdomen of the male specimen. |
9. Crotchia parvula.
Cylindrica, subparallela, ferruginea; capite prothoraceque crebre minute punctatis; elytris punctato-striatis ;
antennarum clava nigra. Long. 24-3 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas abdominis segmentis intermediis puncto setigero, juxta apicem utrinque munitis.
Hab. British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaur); Guatemata, El Reposo, Zapote
(Champion).
With the exception of Microlanguria jansoni, Crotch, which this insect very closely
resembles, this is the smallest species of Languriides yet described; and from any
but that species its very small size and yellow colour very readily distinguish it. The
presence of sete on the three abdominal segments in one of the examples, viz. that
from British Honduras, proves the affinity that exists with the larger members of this
genus. Whether the insect from Japan, and which also apparently exists in Ceylon,
possesses also this curious sexual character I do not know; the structure of the antennz
is, however, different. In our species the antenne have two large subequal basal joints,
followed by a much thinner but equally long third joint; the fourth to the seventh |
joints being a little longer than broad, and the eighth is transverse. In the Japanese
insect all the joints of the funiculus, including the eighth, are longer than broad, and the
terminal three or club-joints are subquadrate ; while in our species the first two joints of
the club are transverse ; other minute differences exist, which render it unnecessary here
to notice the Eastern species further than to call attention to the remarkable parallelism
that exists between forms probably generically different.
Four specimens, two from Zapote and one from each of the other localities, are all
that have yet been found.
Obs.—M. Edw. Fleutiaux has [Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France, 1887, p. 68] described
a species from Hué, Annam, under the name of “Croachia minuta” (sic). M. Fleutiaux
does not compare his insect with Microlanguria jansoni, nor has he observed the sexual
characters; I cannot therefore regard it as belonging to the genus Crotchia.
MEGALODACNE. 33
Subfam. DACNIDES.
This subfamily together with the Encaustides (which are not represented in the
New World) and the Triplacides form Lacordaire’s first tribe “ Erotylini engidiformes.”
In this volume I adopt the secondary divisions alone as subfamilies without entering
into the question of a general classification, for which more mature study and the
comparison of the characters of a large number of genera (many of quite recent
introduction) would be needed. The first of this tribe—the Encaustides—are cha-
racterized by having the inner lobe of the maxille armed with one hook or “spine”
at the tip; it comprises species which are all of large size, and is confined to the
eastern tropical or subtropical regions. The Triplacides agree with the Dacnides in
having the inner lobe of the maxille unarmed; but are separated from them very
concisely by the shape of the apical joint of the maxillary palpi, this joint in the
Dacnides being conical or oval, or at most feebly securiform, while in the Tripla-
cides it is enormously widened, the width being often greater than the whole length
of the maxilla.
In our region the subfamily Dacnides is represented by the genus Megalodacne
alone. The small species of the genus Dacne are found in the temperate zones
both north and south, predominating greatly in the former. piscapha, Triplatoma,
Coptengis, and some other genera are, like the Encaustides, eastern-tropical species ;
while some genera which have been associated with them by Chapuis in his “ Group I.
Engidites” are inhabitants of such distant regions as Australia and the island of
Madeira. It will be observed, however, that Chapuis includes in the group genera
with feet “pentamerous” and “subpentamerous” (the character upon which Lacor-
daire separated his equivalent divisions); and adopts a new character, viz. the
relative length of the basal joint of the maxillary palpi, for the separation of the
Triplacides. |
For a true classification it is evident we shall have to rely on more general consi-
derations than these, to which we are forced to admit many exceptions.
MEGALODACNE.
‘Megalodacne, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 141 (1873), and p. 415 (1876); Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873,
p. 352.
Dacne, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 63 (1842).
This genus has representatives both in the New and Old Worlds, being, however, in
both nearly confined to the tropics. In North America and in Japan one or two
species extend as far north as lat. 40°.
The close resemblance of species from such distant localities as South America and
the west coast of Africa is a very remarkable fact.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., December 1887. F*
34 | | EROTYLIDA.
1. Megalodacne quadriguttata. (Tab. II. fig. 1.)
Erotylus 4-guttatus, Oliv. Enc. Méth. vi. p. 434 (1791)’.
Triplax 4-guttata, Oliv. Ent. v. p. 489, t. 1. f. 2.
Episcapha heros, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 159’.
Engis signata, Casteln. Hist. Nat. Col. ii. p. 15°.
Episcapha quadrisignata, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 187 *.
Dacne quadriguttata, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 70°.
Dacne multifida, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 72, var.°
Dacne brasiliensis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 72, var."
Megalodacne quadriguttata, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 141, 417°.
Hab. Nicaraacua, Chontales (Belt, Janson *).—Gutana, Cayenne!*4°; Bottvia?;
Braziu&?,
Olivier’s figures of the Erotylide, including the present species, are very rude, and do
not give much idea of the insect.
2. Megalodacne audouini. (Tab. II. fig. 2.)
Dacne Audouini, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 66°.
Hab. Mextco!, Presidio (Forrer), Cordova (Hoge), Toxpam, Paso del Macho (Sal/é).
Distinguished from UM. fasciata, which it very closely resembles, by its rather more
elongate and parallel form, by the distinctly punctured strize of the elytra, by the
humeral black spot not being surrounded by red, and (according to Lacordaire) by the
apical joint of the labial and maxillary palpi being dilated and securiform. Hoge
brought a fine series of specimens from Cordova. The single example from Presidio is
more narrowed in front and behind than usual, but is not, I believe, specifically distinct.
8. Megalodacne fasciata.
Ips fasciata, Fabr. Gen. Ins. p. 218 (1777)*; Ent. Syst. 1. p. 511.
Dacne fasciata, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 65’.
Megalodacne fasciata, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 353 °.
Erotylus bifasciatus, Oliv. Enc. Méth. vi. p. 433 (1791)°; Cand. Mém. Liége, xvi. p. 393, t. 6. f. 6.
Hab. Nortn America! 2, Middle and Southern States 3.—Mexico +, Cordova (Hége).
Common in the Middle and Southern United States, apparently much less so further
south. There is only one specimen in the collection sent by Hoge.
4, Wegalodacne tortuosa.
Dacne tortuosa, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 69°.
Hab. Mexico, Eastern States !.—Souta America, Colombia ?.
Not in any of the collections received by us. The few specimens I have seen have
been labelled Colombia.
PSELAPHACOUS. 35
Subfam. TRIPLACIDES.
PSELAPHACUS.
Pselaphacus, Percheron, Gen. Ins. fasc. 4, no. 6 (1835) ; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 73 (1842) ;
Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 141 (1873).
A genus widely distributed in tropical South America, and fairly represented in
Mexico and Central America, but not passing into the United States so far as is at
present known.
1. Pselaphacus conspersus. (Tab. II. fig. 10.)
P. nigropunctato proxime affinis, niger, nitidus; prothorace brevi, supra castaneo-rufo, margine antico, basi,
limbo laterali, vitta mediana (postice abbreviata), maculis sex majoribus punctisque nonnullis, nigris ;
elytris castaneo-rufis, basi, fascia irregulari (marginem haud attingente), epipleuris, macula versus apicem
punctisque numerosis, nigris. Long. 18-20 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (T7rétsch).
Very closely allied to P. nigropunctatus. ‘The black markings of the thorax are
very similar to those of P. ducalis; the elytral markings are, however, different,
the black punctures in P. conspersus being wholly irregular (in P. ducalis they are
arranged in four series) and more numerous, and often confluent, and the fascia being
more developed, with a posterior additional spot. Probably several of the species of
this group will be ultimately treated as varieties of P. nigropunctatus. At present the
Chiriqui insect could not be united with any of them, without the admission that these
were themselves but varieties of one or more species.
2. Pselaphacus pecilosomus. (Tab. II. fig. 4.)
Pselaphacus pecilosomus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 77*; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 419”.
Pselaphacus hopei, Guérin, Icon. Régne Anim., Ins. p. 309°.
Hab. Payama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—CotomBia! 2 3, Bogota; EcuaDor ?.
The specimen figured is from the Volcan de Chiriqui.
3. Pselaphacus curvipes. (Tab. II. figg. 5, 6.)
Pselaphacus curvipes, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 1571; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 817.
Pselaphacus gracilipes, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 82’.
Pselaphacus distortus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 142, var.*
Hab. Mextco4, Toxpam (Sallé); Nicaragua‘, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama,
Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, La Caldera (Champion).—SoutH America, Bolivia ! 2,
Amazons °.
I am unable to recognize as distinct the species described by Crotch under the
name J. distortus. Some specimens from Mexico and Nicaragua are intermediate in
£* 2
36 EROTYLIDZ.
the form and undulation of the yellow el¥tral fascie, and there is really no structural
difference, or any of importance in the punctuation.
The brown variety with luteous fascie mentioned by Lacordaire is, I believe, only a
less mature example of this species. Fig. 5 is taken from a specimen from Chontales,
and fig. 6 from an example of the var. P. distortus from Toxpam.
4, Pselaphacus nicarague. (Tab. II. fig. 3.)
Pselaphacus nicarague, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 142°; C.O. Waterh. Aid to the Tdent. of Ins.
part 9, t. 72.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson+); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Not common. Mr. Champion met with two specimens at Bugaba, one of which
is figured.
5. Pselaphacus vitticollis. (Tab. II. fig. 7.)
Pselaphacus vitticollis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 142°.
‘« P, dentato affinis, thorace fulvo, margine tenui, vitta discoidali punctoque utrinque nigris; elytris basi nigra,
annulo apicali incompleta. L. ce. 53-6 lin.”
Hab. Nicaraava (Sallé), Chontales (Janson 1, Belt); Panama, Bugaba, La Caldera in
Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovuta America, Colombia !.
A species resembling P. pecilosomus in the colour and markings of the thorax, but
smaller and without the double row of punctures. The single specimen in the Sallé
collection is very small, 10 millimetres only in length. Apparently but few examples
have been sent. |
6. Pselaphacus puncticollis. (Tab. II. fig. 8.) -
Pselaphacus puncticollis, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 158*; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 87’; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. Atlas, t. 131. f. 5; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 421°.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaur); Guvats-
MALA, San Isidro (Champion); Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Volcan de
Chiriqui, La Caldera (Champion).—Guiana, Cayenne?3; Brazin!23; Amazons;
PERU.
One of the commonest. species of the genus, and widely distributed. Our figure is
taken from a specimen from Toxpam.
7. Pselaphacus semiclathratus. (Tab. II. fig. 9.)
Pselaphacus semiclathratus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 88°.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Yucatan!; Britisa Honpuras, Belize, R. Sarstoon
(Blancaneaux\; Guatemata, El Reposo (Champion).
A Toxpam specimen is figured.
PSELAPHACUS.—MEGISCH YRUS. 37
8. Pselaphacus signatus.
Pselaphacus signatus, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 158'; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 142, 421°.
Pselaphacus signatipennis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 84°.
Episcapha signatipennis, Dej. Cat. 3rd edit. p. 187 *.
Hab. Nicaraeva, Chontales (Belt, Janson?) ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, La
Caldera (Champion).—Co.tomBia2; Guiana, Cayenne?4; Ecuapor?; Botivia?; Brazit,
Bahia!?; Amazons 2.
This species varies a little in size, but not much in the markings. Lacordaire
records two varieties, which, as he has observed, do not differ much from the “ type,”
2. e. from the form which he selected for his diagnosis; there was no ground for the
substitution of a mere catalogue name for one under which Guérin had sufficiently
described another and equally typical form.
MEGISCHYRUS.
Megischyrus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 143 (1873), and p. 422 (1876).
Ischyrus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 89 (1842) (pars).
This genus, proposed by Crotch, is equivalent to Lacordaire’s first division of the old
genus Ischyrus, if the only species in the Section B, viz. J. tarsalis, is excluded. The
latter species Crotch refers to Epytus, an opinion I do not share, but which need not
be discussed here, as neither species of Hpytus occurs on the continent of North
America. Megischyrus, therefore, is only characterized by the larger size of the
species mainly composing it, and by the more elongate club of the antenne. It is,
however, convenient as a typical group of species, occurring only in Mexico and
Central and South America. Crotch included twenty-six species in his list, and only
three have been since described, these latter being from Bolivia and Peru
1. Megischyrus mexicanus. (Tab. II. fig. 11.)
Ischyrus mexicanus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 93°.
Megischyrus mexicanus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. 1, p. 423’.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Orizaba 12, Yucatan 1, Tabasco}.
2. Megischyrus nicarague. (Tab. II. fig. 13.)
Megischyrus nicarague, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 1437.
“ M. mexicano proximus, et forte varietas geographica; differt forma paullo convexiore brevioreque, elytris
minus opacis, evidentius punctato-striatis, regione subapicali haud rufo-limbata. L., c. 8 lin.”
Hab. Nicaracua (Sallé), Chontales (Belt, Janson ').
The above is all Crotch has said about this species. In addition I may point out
that the red colour of the elytra in all the specimens I have seen is less vivid, and that
38 . EROTYLIDA.
the black fascia are more indented, often reduced to spots. The species of this genus
are usually very little differentiated, and many of this section depend rather on colour
and size than on any structural character ; the absence of the red submarginal stripe
near the apex seems quite constant.
We figure a specimen from Chontales.
3. Megischyrus guatemale. (Tab. 11. fig. 12.)
Megischyrus guatemale, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 424°.
“ Ater, subnitidus, oblongus, capite thoraceque subtiliter punctulatis, elytris tenue punctato-striatis, fasciis
3 e maculis alternis conflatis sanguineis. L. c. 64-7 lin.”
Hab. British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaur); GuaTemMata!, El Reposo,
Zapote (Champion).
Many specimens of this species were captured by Mr. Champion at Zapote, one of
which is figured on our Plate.
4. Megischyrus sanguinolentus. (Tab. II. fig. 14.)
Ischyrus sanguinolentus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 97".
Megischyrus sanguinolentus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 148, 424°.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan12, Tabasco!; Britisa Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaus) ;
NicaraGua, Chontales (Belt, Janson *).
5. Megischyrus zonalis. (Tab. II. fig. 16.)
Ischyrus zonalis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 102°.
Megischyrus zonalis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 425°.
Hab. British. Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); GuatemMata, Zapote (Cham-
pion).—Bo.tvia 12; Perv, Chanchamayo.
In Crotch’s collection there are three examples of this species, one from that of
Guérin, and two from that of the late Mr. E. Sheppard, with which our insect perfectly
agrees. A single specimen in the same collection named “ M. sicarius” (from Reiche’s
collection) does not appear to me to be different; it is to be observed, however, that
the variety of I. sicarius mentioned by Crotch under the name JM. perizonatus is not
in the Cambridge collectio
The insects I record under the name uw. zonalis agree very well with Lacordaire’s
description; they may be recognized from their allies (except M. sicarius) by the black
discal patch of the elytra having a projection nearly reaching the base. Our examples
have sometimes the yellow margin obliterated in the middle of the suture; and the
colour of the margin is yellow, not blood-red as in UM. discipennis.
The figure is taken from a specimen from Zapote.
MEGISCHYRUS.—ISCHYRUS. 39
6. Megischyrus discipennis. (Tab. II. fig. 15.)
Ischyrus discipennis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 1011.
Megischyrus discipennis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 143, 425.
Hab. Mexico!?, Toxpam, Santecomapan (Sallé); Nicaragua (Sallé), Chontales
(Belt, Janson?); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, La Caldera (Champion).
This insect has apparently a range further north than VW. zonalis. M. discipennis is,
however, comparatively rare in Mexico. The specimen figured is a unique one from
Toxpam ; it is rather larger than usual and very brightly coloured.
ISCHYRUS.
Ischyrus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 89 (1842) (pars) ; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 144 (1873), and
p. 426 (1876).
As restricted by Crotch this genus contains only small species with coarsely granu-
lated eyes. About forty-five species are included in it by him, all from America.
1. Ischyrus quadripunctatus.
Erotylus 4-punctatus, Oliv. Enc. Méth. vi. p. 487 (1791)1; Ent. v. p. 484. t. 3. £. 37.
Ischyrus 4-punctatus, Lac. Monogr. Hrotyl. p. 127°; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 353°;
Cist. Ent. i. p. 426 *.
flab. Norta America, United States! ?34—Guaremata (coll. Gorham).
The only specimen I have yet seen from Central America is one in my own collection.
The supposed Mexican specimens alluded to by Crotch? are not this species but
L. graphicus. It is, however, probable that it occurs in Mexico.
2. Ischyrus frontalis.
Ischyrus frontalis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 127’.
Ischyrus agnatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 426°.
Hab. Mexico? (Flohr) ; PaNaMa, La Caldera in Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutn AME-
RIcA, Colombia 2.
I cannot find any difference of importance between J. frontalis and I. agnatus,
excepting that the latter is smaller ; our specimens agree with I. agnatus in size.
3. Ischyrus tripunctatus.
Ischyrus tripunctatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 144°.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson ').
4, Ischyrus graphicus. (Tab. II. fig. 17.)
Ischyrus graphicus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 125*; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 144, 426”,
Hab. Muxtco1*, Toxpam (Sallé); Nicaracua (Sadlé), Chontales (Belt, Janson 2).
40 EROTYLID.
At first sight very similar to J. guadripunctatus; and Crotch remarks, referring to
the Nicaraguan specimens, “these as well as the Mexican exponents of this species
appear to be a southern form of [. guadripunctatus with the head more or less rufous.”
It has, however, in addition to the colour of the head, the prosternum compressed in
front, projecting in a point, and hence is placed by Lacordaire in a separate section of
the genus. It appears to me to be scarcely distinct from J. subcylindricus, according
to the exponents of that species in the Cambridge collection, and others in my own.
5. Ischyrus vespertilio.
Ischyrus vespertilio, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 112’.
Hab. Mexico, Tabasco !.—Souta America, Colombia}.
I have not. seen this species.
6. Ischyrus elegantulus. |
Ischyrus elegantulus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 121*; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 144, 4267.
fab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson ?).—Soutna America, Colombia ! 2.
Not seen by me from Nicaragua; the specimens in the Cambridge collection are
from Colombia.
7. Ischyrus bogote.
Ischyrus bogote, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 480°.
Hab. GuateMata, Zapote (Champion).—Cotomsia, Bogota 1.
8. Ischyrus proximus. (Tab. II. figg. 21, 22.)
Ischyrus proximus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 113°.
Hab. Mexico!, Toxpam, Santecomapan (Sallé); GUATEMALA, Zapote (Champion) ;
NICARAGUA, Chontales (Belt); Costa Ricd, Cache, Irazu (Rogers).
In this apparently common species the thorax has six spots, the two discal ones alone
being detached, the others placed two on the front margin and two on the base, together
forming acircle. ‘The head is red in the central part and in front, excepting in
the Mexican specimens and in one from Chontales, where it is black. Our figure 21
is taken from a specimen from Santecomapan ; fig. 22 is from an example from Irazu.
9. Ischyrus femoralis.
Dacne femoralis, Chevr. in Guérin’s Icon. Régne Anim., Ins. p. 63, t. 18. f. 10°.
Ischyrus femoralis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 1147; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 430°.
Hab. Mexico! 23,
This, as Crotch remarks, is probably only a colour-variety of I. proximus,
ISCHYRUS. Al
an opinion rendered more probable by the occurrence of the varieties noticed under
that species; but the femora, tibie, and the basal two joints of the antenne (as well
as the head) are red, and the knees dark. I have only seen the specimen in the
Cambridge collection.
10. Ischyrus tetrastictus. (Tab. III. fig. 1.)
Rufo-ferrugineus, minute parce punctatus, antennis pedibusque piceis; capite puncto singulo, prothorace
punctis quatuor transverse dispositis nigris; elytris punctato-striatis, fasciis duabus communibus (una
basali altera pone medium), macula apicali, sutura postice limboque tenuissime nigris. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).
Oblong, rather parallel, chestnut-red above, rusty-red beneath. Head and thorax
sparsely and not deeply punctured; the former with one black spot on the crown; the
latter with four spots, arranged as in J. graphicus. Elytra with a broad basal fascia
deeply indented on the apical side at the suture and in the middle, and not reaching
the margin; a second fascia beyond the middle, widest at the suture, twice indented
on each side and not touching the margin; and an apical spot; the extreme limb of
each elytron is black in the apical half. The legs are pitchy, with the knees darker,
the tarsi reddish. The antenne are pitchy-black, with the club black.
A single specimen.
11. Ischyrus septemsignatus, (Tab. II. fig. 19.)
Oblongo-ovatus, flavo-ferrugineus, parce sat fortiter punctatus; pectore abdomineque medio, capite, prothoracis
punctis duobus, scutello, macula magna scutellari communi et tribus aliis (una humerali lineari, una
mediana rotundata alteraque subapicali minore), sutura pedibusque nigris. Long. 6 millim,
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
Var. a. Capite rufo.
Hab. Guatemata, Capetillo, Pantaleon (Champion).
Var. 3. Major, fortius punctatus, capite rufescente.
Hab. Guatemata, Capetillo (Champion).
Head, thorax, sides of the metasternum, and abdomen rather strongly and thickly
punctured. Antenne short, pitchy, with the club black. The elytra have their
markings distinct; in some specimens the suture is scarcely touched with black; the
punctured striz are distinct, but the seventh and eighth are almost obliterated. In
the markings and in the elytra being narrowed towards the apex, this insect recalls
the Eastern Episcapha australis. The variation in the colour of the head is not
unusual in this genus.
12. Ischyrus scutellaris. (Tab. III. fig. 2.)
Oblongo-ovatus, flavus, parce haud profunde punctatus; prothorace punctis duobus discoidalibus, duobus
BIOL, CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., December 1887. G*
42 EROTYLIDA.
parvulis in margine antica, limbo laterali, elytris macula magna communi tribusque aliis (una subhu-
merali, duabus paullo post medium transverse dispositis), et sutura nigris. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Very nearly allied to I. septemsignatus, but more obsoletely punctured and with the
markings different. The head has no spot; the thorax has two small spots upon the
front margin, and no basal marks of any kind. The two spots on the middle of the
elytra do not represent the one spot in I. septemsignatus ; they are placed further back..
The suture is very narrowly black, and that colour vanishes before the apex. The
underside and legs are pale, but possibly the unique specimen is not fully matured.
One specimen. .
13. Ischyrus undulatus. (Tab. III. fig. 3.)
Oblongo-ovatus, flavo-ferrugineus, subtus subtiliter punctatus; ore, antennarum clava, prothoracis punctis
quatuor (duobus anterioribus approximatis, duobus posterioribus magis distantibus), elytris macula
magna scutellari communi, puncto humerali et subapicali fasciaque mediana, valde attenuata, marginem
haud attingente, sutura pedibusque nigris. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Head red, finely and thickly punctured, the front edge blackish ; antenne pitchy,
their third joint and the club black; thorax less densely and more deeply punctured
than the head, the four spots arranged in a trapezium, the two front ones being
nearest, and not touching the front margin. The punctured strie of the elytra are
very faintly impressed and obliterated at the sides and apex.
This and J. nitidior, Crotch, are the only species of Jschyrus at present known to me
with the spots arranged on the thorax in this way. Allied to J. nitidior, Crotch, but
larger and differently punctured. A single specimen.
14. Ischyrus pictus. (Tab. III. fig. 4.)
Oblongo-ovatus, crebre sat fortiter punctatus, flavus; vertice, antennis, prothoracis punctis duobus discoi-
dalibus et tribus basalibus, scutello, elytris macula scutellari communi subquadrata, gutta oblonga juxta
suturam pone medium, punctisque tribus (una humerali, una mediana prope marginem et una subapicali),
sutura, limbo tenui pedibusque nigris ; pectore picescente. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Guatemaa, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
Rather broadly ovate and convex; the puncturing moderately strong, the strie
evanescent at the sides and apex of the elytra, but fine interstitial puncturing may be
seen. ‘The mouth and palpi are pitchy; the head is yellow above, but the base and the
whole margin of the epistome are blackish. The thorax is about twice as wide as long,
the sides not much rounded, narrowing in front; the three basal spots are connected.
along the base, the two outside ones being somewhat triangular. The tarsi are (as usual)
pitchy-red. The markings of the elytra need not be re-enumerated, as the figure gives
a very good representation of them. A single specimen.
ISCHYRUS. 43
15. Ischyrus insolens. (Tab. II. fig. 20.)
Ischyrus insolens, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 4297.
Hab. Mexico 1, Toxpam (Sal/é).
This is one of the largest of the true Jschyri, and will be recognized by a reference
to our Plate, as the markings are peculiar. It has, so far as I know, only been met
with by M. Sallé. |
16. Ischyrus ephippiatus.
Oblongo-ovatus, subtus subtiliter, supra fortius parce punctatus; niger, capite prothoraceque rufis, hoc vitta
lata et basi nigris, elytris rufis plagia late marginem haud attingente, sutura limboque tenui nigris; tarsis
rufis. Long. 54 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Caldera in Chiriqui (Champion).
Allied to I. auriculatus, Lac., from Cayenne, in the mode in which the thorax is
marked with black; the head is rufous, impressed in front, almost coarsely punctured ;
the antenne are black; the thorax is less thickly but strongly punctured. Elytra
narrowing behind, punctate-striate; in addition to the markings mentioned in the
diagnosis, the extreme limb is black; the suture is black throughout; the black
discoidal patch is indented posteriorly at the suture (and looks as if it would divide
into a single vitta on each elytron), and again indented between the fourth and fifth
strie, both in front and behind. <A single specimen from each locality.
17. Ischyrus chacojz. (Tab. III. fig. 5.)
Sanguineo-rufus, capite et corpore subtus nigrescentibus, sat fortiter punctatus; antennis, pedibus, pronoti
punctis duobus, sutura fasciisque duabus extus abbreviatis (una basali juxta suturam latiore, altera pone
medium), nigris. Long. 53 millim.
Hab. GuatemaLa, Chacoj in Vera Paz (Champion).
The head in this species is black, obscurely dark red in the middle; the thorax is
dark blood-red, with two black dots placed rather near together in the middle, but
nearer the front margin than to the base. The elytra are black at the base, but not
externally to the callus, and more widely so to the third stria; the suture is black
throughout; and there is an abbreviated fascia beyond the middle somewhat constricted
near the suture; the strie have large and deep punctures at the base, and they are
also distinct beyond the middle, but the apex is nearly smooth. The legs are black,
the claws and claw-joint red. A single specimen. .
18. Ischyrus quinquepunctatus. (Tab. III. fig. 6.)
Niger, prothorace rufo, punctis duobus discoidalibus et tribus basalibus nigris; elytris sat fortiter punctato-
striatis, fasciis duabus ad marginem latioribus et fere conjunctis tarsisque rufis. Long. 5 millim,
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
G* 2
44 | EROTYLID A.
Elongate; the head and antenne black; the former sparsely but very distinctly
punctured, the thorax less distinctly so, the extreme margin of the latter dark but
hardly black, the five spots placed so as to indicate the angles of the letter M. The
punctures of the elytral strie are fuscous on the red fascie, so that the strie appear
distinct; they are (as usual) effaced towards the apex. The tarsi are entirely dark
blood-red.
Although this species has the general appearance of so many of this genus it is hard
to compare it with any other. The black head and the arrangement of the five thoracic
spots are alone quite sufficient to distinguish it.
A single specimen.
19. Ischyrus episcaphulinus. (Tab. III. fig. 7.)
Oblongo-ovatus, convexus, postice angustatus, nigro-piceus, sat fortiter punctatus; prothorace piceo, punctis
quatuor nigris, duobus discoidalibus, duobus basalibus; elytris saturate flavis, macula communi transversa
subscutellari, puncto humerali, fascia lata mediana utrinque undulata punctoque subapicali nigris ;
antennis tarsisque rufo-piceis, illis clava nigra. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion).
This species and I. chacoje are distinguished by the very convex oval form. The —
thorax is broad, narrowing slightly in front, the median lobe well pronounced and
black, the punctuation elose and strong, especially near the hind angles. The elytra
are as wide at the base as the thorax, thence the margin widens a little, but is strongly
narrowed to the apex; they are finely punctate-striate. The spots and markings of this
species and of J. undulatus are similar, but I. episcaphulinus is of a wholly different
form. The colour in the latter is obscure, and the black transverse mark near the
scutellum does not touch the base; the central fascia is much wider, and is deeply
indented between the fourth and fifth strie in front, and less deeply so between the
fifth and sixth strie behind; the fascia does not reach the margin, and the latter is
very narrowly black. The interstices of the elytral striz are thickly but finely punctate,
the punctures behind being equal to those in the strie. The tarsi and claws are red.
A single specimen.
20. Ischyrus puncticollis.
Oblongus, niger; prothorace flavo, crebre distincte punctato, subtilissime alutaceo, punctis quatuor nigris
transverse dispositis ; elytris sordide flavis, maculis duabus subscutellaribus conjunctis, puncto humerali,
fascia mediana undulata maculaque apicali obliqua nigris; abdominis segmentis. singulis ad latera rufo-
notatis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Paso del Norte in Chihuahua (Hoge).
A species somewhat resembling J. ¢etrastictus in the disposition of its spots and
markings, but quite distinct from it. The head is black, coarsely and rather sparingly
punctured. The antenne and palpi are pitchy-black. The thorax is small, with very
ISCHYRUS.—CALLISCHYRUS. 45
straight sides, much narrowed in front; the front and hind angles more acute than in
I. tetrastictus; deeply and thickly punctured ; the four black dots in a slightly arcuate
line, the base black in the middle. The elytra are narrower than in J. tetrastictus ; the
humeral spot is separate; the strie are fine and have the punctures packed very closely
all along, but the punctures are very small (and owing to the comparative narrowness
of the insect the strie appear closer together than usual); the fascia reaches the
margin.
I have seen but one specimen of this species.
21. Ischyrus collatinus.
Ischyrus collatinus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 4837.
‘* Fulvus, oblongus, subtus niger, prosterni lateribus rufis; capite rufo, vertice nigro ; thorace crebrius punctatis,
subtransverso, lateribus rotundatis, antice angustiore, linea transversali discoidali nigra (utrinque abbre-
viata) basique nigro marginato in medio; scutello nigro; elytris sublevibus, punctato-striatis, singulo
maculis nigris 7—1 transversa paullo infra scutellum, 1 minima marginem versus, 1 transversa paullo ante
medium, 1 minima marginem versus, 1 obliqua in tertia apicali, 1 subapicali, ad suturam conjuncta.”
Long. 7 millim,
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson).—Sovuta America, Colombia !.
This is a peculiarly-coloured species, and it has the broad depressed form of many
Mycotreti; the eyes, however, are coarsely faceted, and the prosternum is sharply
compressed and carinate in front. Crotch mentions seven spots on each elytron; but
from his description, which we give in full, it will be seen there are but six, which is
the fact.
The body beneath and the legs in our specimens are pitchy, and the colour above is
yellow rather than fulvous.
22. Ischyrus distinguendus. (Tab. II. fig. 23.)
Ischyrus distinguendus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 111°.
Hab. Mexico 1, Toxpam (Sai/é).
A fine species (103 millim.), easily recognized by the tridentate basal mark on the
thorax, and by the elytral markings, the large black patch behind the middle being
somewhat heart-shaped. The colour appears to be either yellow or chestnut-red.
There is one example in Crotch’s collection, which was probably obtained by Chevrolat
from M. Sallé.
CALLISCHYRUS.
Cailischyrus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 434 (1876).
Ischyrus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 89 (1842) (pars).
This genus was proposed by Crotch to include eight species, of which Frotylus
insignis, Laporte, was the type. The eyes are more finely granulated than in Ischyrus
46 EROTYLIDA.
proper. The species are larger in size, though scarcely equal to the smaller forms of
Megischyrus ; and the colour is very different, being usually a beautiful blood-red, with
bluish elytra banded with yellow.
The species all inhabit Central or South America,
1. Callischyrus venustus.
Ischyrus venustus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 109".
Callischyrus venustus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 4847.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan 1 2.—Sovurn America, Colombia! 2.
This species has not been met with by any of our collectors. Specimens labelled
Yucatan are, however, not uncommon in collections.
2. Callischyrus amenus. (Tab. II. fig. 25.)
Lybas amenus, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 155°.
Ischyrus amenus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 107? (nec Atlas Gen. Col.).
Callischyrus amenus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 435°.
Hab. Mextco1!?%, Jalapa, Trapiche (Hége), Orizaba (Sallé); Costa Rica, Irazu
(Rogers). 7
This very beautiful and well-known species appears to be not at all uncommon
where it occurs in Mexico. The capture of two specimens by Rogers in Costa Rica
is certainly a remarkable fact, and shows that many species may be more widely
distributed than is generally supposed ; these examples only differ from typical ones
in having the apex of the elytra wholly blood-red in colour, instead of being marked
with red and black. |
An Orizaba spécimen is figured.
Obs.—The figure in the Genera Col. Atlas, t. 131. f. 6, is not that of a specimen of
this species, but appears to be taken from a specimen of C. candezei; the antenne are
imaginary, and do not represent those of any allied species.
8. Callischyrus candezei. (Tab. II. fig. 24.)
Callischyrus candezei, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 434°.
Hab. Guatemata! (Sallé), Totonicapam, Capetillo, Calderas, San Gerénimo, Purula
(Champion).
- Resembles C. amenus, but is easily to be recognized by the two black spots on the
thorax, by the black epipleure of the elytra, and by the apex of the latter being
wholly black.
| MYCOTRETUS.
Mycotretus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 182 (1842) (Dej. Cat.; Chevr.).
Mycotretus is distinct from Ischyrus as now restricted by the eyes being finely
MYCOTRETUS, 47
granulated, small in size, and little prominent; by the mentum being pentagonal, or
at least roughly speaking so, and not trigonal; and by the apical joint of the maxillary
palpi being wide, and round on its base, with a long truncate sensitive edge (thus.
much as in Zriplar). Superficially the species are less elongate than those of [schyrus,
and we miss the undulate and often oblique posterior elytral fascia which is so charac-
teristic of Ischyrus; on the average they are small in size, oblong, and very varied in
colour and pattern.
Mycotretus is one of the largest and most widely spread of the genera of Erotylide, but
is confined to the American continent. Lacordaire enumerated ninety species, Crotch’s
revision brought up the number to 134, the Munich ‘ Catalogue ’ (1876) records 143.
1. Mycotretus ornatus. (Tab. III. fig. 8.)
Erotylus ornatus, Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 20, t. 2. fig. 31°.
Mycotretus ornatus, Dej. Cat. 8rd ed. p. 4527; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 137°.
Mycotretus pectoralis, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 452°.
Mycotretus terminalis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 184°.
Mycotretus melanostictus, Lac. 1. c. p. 139°.
Mycotretus maculosus, Lac. 1. c. p. 1407.
Mycotretus godartii, Lac. 1. c. p. 146°.
Mycotretus posticus, Lac. 1. c. p. 147°.
Hab. Guatemaua, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui
(Champion).—Cotoma1a¢ §9; Braziu+?4, Rio Janeiro 357,
This is one of the most variable species of the Erotylide, hence descriptions founded
upon colour alone are of little value. The marks on the thorax are tolerably constant,
viz. four spots transversely placed, a tridentate basal, and a broad, apical marginal mark
never produced to the front angles. The spot on the head is (in the type) connected
with the epistome by a line, but this seems unusual. In the type, and in our Cerro
Zunil examples, the elytra are very much suffused with black, leaving towards the
shoulders and scutellum a few fulvous marks. In the Cerro Zunil specimens the legs
are yellow, but in those from the State of Panama they are black, as in the type.
None of the forms appear to be constant as regards the colour of the legs, nor is the
colour of the underside more so. The structural characters of the group, of which this
species may be taken as the type, are as follows:—TIhe mentum is pentagonal.; the
maxillary palpi have the terminal joint widely expanded, but not especially so; the
prosternum is slightly compressed at the middle of its front margin; a fine raised line
or plica is found on each side of the intercoxal process of the basal segment of the
abdomen; the metasternum, including its episterna, is punctured, but sparingly, and
also bears a fine plicate line diverging from the middle coxe; the tibie are only
moderately dilated towards the apex.
The species cited above as synonymous present absolutely no structural difference,
48 EROTYLID ZA.
and probably several others described by Lacordaire are in the same position. Crotch
in his revision [Cist. Ent. i. p. 450] mentions eleven species which he considered to be
synonymous. I feel that no scientific advantage is gained by recording these species
as distinct, but in some cases I have not seen sufficient specimens to enable me to
corroborate his opinion or otherwise.
2. Mycotretus nigropunctatus.
Erotylus nigropunctatus, Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 22, t. 2. f. 34°.
Erotylus puncticollis, Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 25, t. 2. f. 437.
Mycotretus nigropunctatus (Dej.), Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 142°.
Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).—Braziu}#, Rio Janeiro *.
In this species (if indeed it can be treated as distinct from Jf. ornatus) the
tridentate mark has disappeared from the base of the thorax, and all the black marks
tend to disappear, the last to go being the four transverse spots of the thorax and two
spots on the elytra below the shoulders. Lacordaire mentions four varieties, but it is
difficult to find two specimens entirely alike. One of our specimens from Irazu has
the four thoracic spots, the three elytral spots, and black scutellum; in the other
the four thoracic spots are very faint, the others are absent from the elytra, and the
scutellum is yellow.
The legs in the two specimens from Irazu before me vary, being clouded and with
fuscous tarsi in the more maculate example, and entirely yellow in the other.
8. Mycotretus tigrinus. (Tab. III. fig. 9.) |
Erotylus tigrinus, Oliv. Enc. Méth., Ins. vi. p. 4877; Ent. v. p. 485, t. 3. £40; Duponch. Monogr.
Erotyl. p. 22, t. 2. f. 385”.
Mycotretus tigrinus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 145°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 451°.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion).—Guviana,
Surinam !3, Cayenne*; Brazin?; Amazons 4. |
The present insect affords an instance of the uncertainty of using the form of the
mentum as a sectional character: Crotch differs from Lacordaire in regarding it as
“rounded in front.” On examination it appears to me formed just as in JZ. ornatus,
but the angles of the pentagonal raised portion apparently are a little less sharp. The
strie are not at all gemellate in any specimens I have seen. It is a variable species,
the spots on each elytron and even on each side of the thorax not being symmetrical ;
but in our specimens, including one from Mexico, the spots are fewer and larger than
in a typical one from Cayenne (Reiche), and those on the thorax are placed regularly,
four in front in a square, three near the base, and two externally near the front angles,
The scutellum is black in the San Gerénimo specimens, but I do not think there is
ground for considering these distinctions of specific value. The abdominal lines are
MYCOTRETUS. 49
long, nearly reaching to the margin of the basal segment; metasternal lines are evident
in Cayenne examples, but I do not see them in the Guatemalan specimens.
M. leopardus, Kirsch, from Peru, is smaller, and has the markings large and more
condensed ; it also has the normal nine spots on the thorax in some specimens, and may
be regarded as distinct.
Mr. Champion captured five specimens at San Gerénimo.
4, Mycotretus maculatus. (Tab. IV. fig. 1.)
Erotylus maculatus, Oliv. Encycl. Méth. vi. p. 436 (1791); Ent. v. p. 483. 33, t. 3. f. 36; Lac.
Monogr. Erotyl. p. 192°. .
Mycotretus maculatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 438”.
Mycotretus figuratus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 159°.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—
CotomBia 23; Gurana, Cayenne 2 3, Surinam!; Amazons, Para ?.
Olivier’s figure, though very poor, is perhaps sufficient for the identification of this
insect. The number of spots on the thorax is apparently variable: in some Cayenne
specimens the two basal ones are united. The quadrate spot on the elytra behind the
scutellum is often, but not always, divided by the suture, it being yellow at that
part.
5. Mycotretus fasciolatus.
Mycotretus fasciolatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 150°.
Hab. Mexico!, Cordova (Hége), Toxpam (Sallé); Guatemaua, Chacoj, Sabo, and
San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
‘The thorax sometimes is spotless: there are usually four spots arranged in a square.
The elytral fascia varies in width, the other markings are more or less obliterated.
Many specimens.
6. Mycotretus scitulus.
Mycotretus scitulus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 154°; Croteh, Cist. Ent. i. p. 454°.
Hab. Mexico ?, ‘Toxpam (Sallé); Costa Rica (Van Patten).—Co.omBia, Bogota ?;
Amazons, Ega?; Brazit, Rio Janeiro ! 2.
Var. Minor, elytrorum epipleuris nigris.
Hab. Guatemaa, Capetillo, Cerro Zunil (Champion).
This variety has a better claim to specific rank than some others which have been so
honoured, on account of the black epipleure, a difference which in the Erotylide often
indicates a species; but I do not regard this Guatemalan form as being more than a
local race of M/. scitulus.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., April 1888. H*
50 EROTYLIDA.
7. Mycotretus interstictus.
Oblongo-ovatus, fulvus, antennis (basi excepta), verticis puncto, prothoracis punctis sex, scutello elytrorumque
fasciis duabus, e lineolis tribus interstitialibus interruptis, nigris; elytris flavis, leviter punctato-striatis.
Long. 6 millim. ,
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt).
Head and thorax very finely and closely punctured, shining ; the former with a black
dot on the crown, and a punctiform depression behind the dot; the latter with six
black spots arranged four in a square with one on each side, the two basal spots well
separated from the base. Elytra rather light yellow; between the strise in the alternate
interstices are three black lines interrupted by a yellow fascia near the base, the lines
not reaching the base nor the apex; the two internal posterior lines are the longest,
but do not come nearer than one quarter of the elytral length of the apex; posteriorly
there is a minute indication of a fourth line near the margin; the extreme limb and
inner edge of the epipleure are black.
Underneath the body is entirely of 4 clear fulvous-red, with the legs a little paler.
Neither the metasternum nor its episterna are punctured.
The antenne are black, with the two basal joints red, the third joint faintly piceous ;
the last-named joint is elongate, but not so long as the fourth and fifth joints together.
A single specimen.
8. Mycotretus geminus. (Tab. III. fig. 10.)
Oblongo-ovatus, fulvus, capite prothoraceque crebre subtiliter punctatis, hoc punctis sex nigris ; elytris punctato-
striatis, interstitiis subtilissime punctulatis, singulis maculis tribus prope basin (duabus interioribus
geminatis) et duabus paullo pone medium punctiformibus, antennis articulis quinque ultimis, nigris.
Long. 6-63 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion).
This appears to be a very distinct species, the three specimens which Mr. Champion
obtained being alike in markings and almost so in size. In one example from Bugaba
the two inner spots near the base of the elytra just touch each other. MM. geminus has
some affinity with VW. interstictus, but the colour of the whole insect is very different,
and there is no spot on the head. The example from David is of a somewhat clearer
and lighter colour and has only four joints at the apex of the antenne black. The
figure is taken from a specimen from Bugaba.
9. Mycotretus sexpunctatus. (Tab. III. fig. 12.)
M. lepido similis, at verticis puncto et prothoracis punctis sex nigris distinctus. Oblongo-ovatus, lete flavus,
subtilissime punctatus; antennis articulis quinque vel sex ultimis, capite puncto occipitali, prothorace
punctis sex, elytris macula baseos antice et postice indentata fasciaque lata pone medium marginem
haud attingente, nigris. Long. 6-63 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
MYCOTRETUS. 51
This insect is very nearly related to I. lepidus, but the spots on the thorax are very
distinct and constant, though the one on the head is not always present; in addition
the black spot near the base of the elytra is twice indented before and behind (in
M. lepidus there seems to be usually one notch ‘in front), the posterior patch is less
produced up the suture and placed more behind, and the elytral strize are deeper.
Numerous specimens were captured by Mr. Champion at Bugaba, and a few were found
at 2000 to 3000 feet elevation on the Volcan de Chiriqui.
10. Mycotretus normalis,
Oblongus, ovatulus, saturate rufus, capite prothoraceque crebre sat fortiter punctatis ; elytris punctato-striatis,
macula magna basali subrotundata, fascia mediana alteraque subapicali marginem haud attingente,
nigris; scutello piceo. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Hoge).
Rather elongate and parallel, the head and thorax spotless, rather strongly punc-
tured ; antenne rufous, with five joints at the apex black; elytra longer than in
M. fasciolatus, with a large spot on their base just reaching the humeral callus, not
touching the scutellum, a common median fascia not reaching the lateral margins, and
a subapical common lunate fascia before the apex. Legs and underside yellow. A
very puzzling insect, looking like a variety of some other species, but no doubt
distinct, of which there is only one rather discoloured example in Hoge’s collection.
11. Mycotretus leviventris.
Mycotretus leviventris, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 454°.
Hab. Mexico!, Toxpam (Sailé).
Thorax with six punctiform spots. Elytra with two large fascia-like black patches,
the hinder one somewhat heart-shaped: neither of them touch the suture or margins.
The type is in the Cambridge collection. Four specimens of this species in Sallé’s
collection are labelled with the MS. name of U/. parilis, Chevr.
12. Mycotretus ternotatus. (Tab. III. fig. 13.)
Oblongus, leviter ovatus, flavus, pectore piceo, antennarum articulis sex ultimis, verticis macula rotundata,
prothoracis macula discoidali punctisque duobus, elytrorum lunula baseos fasciaque late pone medium
valde indentata, nigris. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége).
The only species known to me which has the thorax similarly marked to this insect
is MZ. signatellus, Crotch. The large central spot on the thorax, with a smaller one on
each side, and the large spot on the head, will separate this species from any other of
this genus. The antenne have five joints at the base yellow. The elytra have the
suture and lateral limb very narrowly piceous; the basal mark is bilobed, somewhat
H* 2
52 EROTYLIDA.
lunulate, with the convex side reaching the base; the fascia is complete, the portion
beyond the fifth stria being much narrower than the central part ; the interstices of the
strie are finely punctulate. A single specimen.
18. Mycotretus pallidior. (Tab. II. fig. 18.)
Ischyrus pallidior, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 4287.
Mycotretus nigrotinctus, Crotch, loc. cit. p. 454°.
Hab. Mxxico 1, Cordova (Hége), Toxpam, Playa Vicente, Teapa® (Sallé); GUATEMALA,
San Isidro, Zapote, Sinanja (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).
This is so evidently a Mycotretus that I am surprised that Crotch should have
described it as an Jschyrus. It is, however, the same species as he has subsequently
described as Mycotretus nigrotinctus. There is a specimen from Teapa in Sallé’s
collection, but it is labelled WU. bisellatus, Chevr.; I ‘have not found any published
allusion to this MS. name, and it is, indeed, applied to a wholly different insect in the
same collection. There is a variety in which the thorax wants the four transverse
spots, and has only two dots to represent the mark on the front margin, but I have
only seen one specimen from Toxpam so marked. The scutellum is usually black; it
is, however, sometimes yellow in the middle.
Many specimens have been received of this insect.
14. Mycotretus bistrigatus.
Mycotretus bistrigatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 188°.
Hab. Mexico ! (Hoge), Toxpam (Sallé).
Var. Elytris nigris, basi apiceque rufis. (Tab. III. fig. 11.)
Hab. Mexico, Parada (Sallé).
Varies from the type form, which has rufous elytra with a narrow black line, to
one in which the black line has almost disappeared (I have not seen a variety with
wholly yellow elytra); and, on the other hand, there is a variety with black elytra,
with rufous marks at the base and apex. J. bistrigatus may, however, always be
known by the black margins of the thorax, broad in front and at the base, and narrow
on the sides, and by the colour of the legs.
A specimen of the variety from Parada is shown in the figure.
15. Mycotretus nitescens.
Mycotretus nitescens, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 445).
“ M. opalescenti affinis, sed totus rufo-sanguineus, antennis clava infuscata. L, 2 lin.”
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); Guaremaua, Las Mercedes, Pantaleon ( Champion) ;
Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Amazons, Ega !.
MYCOTRETUS. 53
Very ovate, narrowed behind almost from the shoulders to the apex of the elytra,
very finely punctured, and having the punctured strie almost obsolete; entirely of a
fine chestnut-red, with the exception of the antenne, of which the seven apical joints
are black. The third to the sixth joints of the antenne are elongate; the seventh
joint is triangular and forms the beginning of the club, the latter being in consequence
long and laxly articulated. The whole upper surface, but especially the elytra, has a
nacreous reflection. This insect is labelled Mycotretus luteipes, Lac., in the Sallé
collection, but does not accord with the description of that species. I have examined
Crotch’s type, and it is clearly conspecific with our insect. About a dozen examples in
all are before me.
16. Mycotretus sallzi. (Tab. IV. fig. 2.)
Mycotretus Sallei, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 452".
Hab. Mexico 1, Toxpam (Sallé), Cordova (Hoge).
This fine species is easily recognized by the thorax having three spots placed in a line
transversely, as in MV. spadiceus. WM. sallwi is equal in size to that insect, but is distin-
- guished from it by the large black patch on the basal half of the elytra. Very few
specimens have come under my notice.
17. Mycotretus spadiceus. (Tab. III. figg. 16, 17.)
Oblongo-ovatus, antice posticeque angustatus, parum convexus, castaneo-rufus; prothorace punctis tribus
transversim dispositis (mediano lineari), elytris puncto laterali, antennis (articulis tribus primis preter-
missis) tarsisque, nigris, his basi apiceque rufis; supra subtilissime punctatus, elytris tenuiter puncto-
lineatis vix striatis, interstitiis levibus. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Var. a. Elytris, macula altera, suturam propiore fasciam obliquam aliquando preebente, nec marginem nec
suturam attingente. Long. 7-8 millim.
Hab. British Honpvuras, Belize (Blancaneaur); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Var. 3. Prothorace bipunctato, elytris puncto laterali minimo.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This is a variable species, and difficult to place; it is, at first sight, very like the
var. B of MW. nigro-punctatus, Duponch., but is really quite distinct—there is an essential
difference not only in the number of thoracic spots but in their position, the antenne
(and I believe the legs) are longer, the tibiee are wider, &c. ‘The lateral spot on the
elytra is near, but not on, the middle of the margin; both it and the inner spot when
present show a tendency to divide, but in the fasciate variety they join, often retaining
the indentate form. In var. @ the linear middle thoracic spot has disappeared. I
54 EROTYLIDA.
have only seen two examples of this form. The body and legs seem to be constant in
colour. The abdominal lines are long, asin M. sobrinus.
‘We figure a specimen of the type (fig. 16), and one of the var. a (fig. 17), both from
Bugaba.
18. Mycotretus panamanus. (Tab. III. fig. 14.)
Breviter ovalis, rufo-testaceus, capitis vertice, prothoracis maculis duabus magnis, scutello elytrorumque fascia
lata, ad suturam interrupta, nigris; antennarum articulis sex ultimis nigro-piceis. Long. 43 millim.
Hab Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
In the markings of the elytra this species a little resembles UM. deyrollét, Crotch, but
in the large spots on the thorax it i is s unlike any other known to me.
Two specimens.
19. Mycotretus sandicatus.
Oblongo-ovatus, lete rufo-castaneus, subtilissime crebre punctatus, elytris basi fasciaque lata subobliqua et
antennis (articulis duobus primis pretermissis) nigris. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Purula, San Gerénimo (Champion).
Oblong; not much, but evenly, narrowed before and behind ; the head and thorax
very finely but closely and distinctly punctured. The elytra are finely punctate-striate,
the interstices scarcely visibly punctate; each with a large black spot around the ©
scutellum, but not reaching the callus, and a fascia just behind the middle, the latter
reaching rather nearer to the apex at the suture than at the sides and being wider in
that part appears somewhat oblique. With the exception of the antenne and these
markings, the colour is uniformly a rich chestnut-red. The mentum is acute in front;
there are no abdominal lines ; and the metasternum and episterna are impunctate.
20. Mycotretus illustris. (Tab. III. fig. 15.)
Mycotretus illustris, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 440°.
Hab. Mexico !, Toxpam (Sal/lé).
One of the largest and most beautiful species of this genus. The apical joint of the
maxillary palpi is much widened in this and the following four species.
21. Mycotretus psittacus.
Mycotretus psittacus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 167°.
Hab. * Mexico 1.
We have not received specimens of this species, nor have I seen any from Mexico.
In Crotch’s collection there is an example labelled “ Bahia,” which is perhaps the correct
locality.
MYCOTRETUS. 55
22. Mycotretus guatemala.
Mycotretus Guatemale, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 441+.
Hab. Guatemata!,
Very nearly allied to WZ. psittacus.
Unique in the late Mr. Crotch’s collection.
23.. Mycotretus pecari. (J. peccari, Tab. III. figg. 18, 19.)
Mycotretus pecari, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 167’.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Panama, Bugaba (Champion)—SovtH
America, Colombia !.
This is a very variable species, so far as the extension of the fasciz on the elytra is
concerned, otherwise I should have been inclined to think that our insect from Panama
was distinct. The two specimens we have received from Nicaragua are even more
divergent in pattern and smaller; but one example from Bugaba is intermediate, and I
have little doubt but that all these are only forms of one species. It is probable that
M. 14-guittatus, Lac., is also only another variety. The constant points are the fuscous
tarsi, and black antenne with two basal joints red; and that the black elytral spots
tend to form three fascize, which at last become confluent. When the two basal fascize
only are confluent we have var. A of Lacordaire; when the three basal yellow fasciz
are complete it is var. B of Lacordaire. The single specimen of WM. pecari in the
Cambridge collection has the black more extended, and occupying the whole apex;
and UM. 14-guttatus seems only to differ from it in having the whitish fascie reduced
to seven roundish spots on each elytron.
The specimens figured are (fig. 18) a specimen from Bugaba; (fig. 19) an extreme
_ variety from Chontales. |
24, Mycotretus elegans. (Tab. IV. fig. 3.)
Oblongus, antice posticeque rotundatus, parum convexus, saturate rufo-ferrugineus, subnitidus ; elytris nigris,
macula transversa basali, puncto subhumerali fasciisque duabus ad suturam anguste interruptis (una
mediana altera subapicali), flavis ; antennis nigris, articulis tribus basi rufis. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion).
_ Head and thorax very finely punctured, red; the latter often suffused with some
indistinct cloudy markings, which show a tendency to represent some of the spots in
other species. Elytra finely punctate-striate, black, with three narrow yellow fascie—
the first interrupted by the humerus, and consisting of adot on the margin, and a
narrow transverse band on the base reaching the scutellum, but leaving a small black
spot on the base next to it; the second in the middle, widest on the margin, anda little
oblique; and the third near the apex, and slightly arcuate; all three are very narrowly
56 EROTYLIDZ.
interrupted at the suture. Scutellum, underside, and legs entirely red. The abdominal
and metasternal lines distinct, but very fine. ‘
This insect has caused me some perplexity, for although it is apparently allied to
M. guatemala, it is slightly different structurally. It does not, however, differ so much
from the form of the If. pecari group as to leave much doubt that it will be best placed,
there. The mentum is, roughly speaking, “rounded,” and the maxillary palpi have the
apical joint lunate and wide.
The antenne have the basal three, and sometimes the fourth and fifth, joints red.
Five specimens.
25. Mycotretus tibialis.
Saturate fulvus, elytris flavis, singulis maculis septém duabus baseos, duabus ante medium fasciam quasi
prebentibus, duabus pone medium obliquis, et lunula ante apicem, nigris; antennis (articulis duobus
primis preetermissis), tibiis tarsisque nigris. Long. 10 millim.
Hab. Nicaraeva, Chontales (Belt).
In form and size this insect is similar to I. pecari; and it might pass for one of the
numerous varieties of that species, but that the markings do not appear as though they
would ultimately form, or had been derived from, the ordinary pattern of fully-
coloured examples of V/. pecari. The black tibiz and tarsi are also abnormal, though
perhaps not of much importance in this genus; in the absence of connecting links it is
impossible to say whether this indicates specific difference or not.
There is only one specimen.
26. Mycotretus picto-piceus.
Oblongus, parum ovatus, nitidus, piceus, antennis nigris, articulis duobus basi pedibusque dilute piceis, elytris
tenuiter punctato-striatis, interstitiis fere levibus, basi singulis annulo duplici flavo, humerum et maculam .
juxta scutellum includente. Long. 74 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This is a species with a puzzling aspect; it is of the form of J. ornatus and its
allies, but by the rather strongly widened palpi should come later on in the genus.
M. picto-piceus is of a nearly uniform pitchy-brown colour above, with the legs and
base of the antenne and underside rusty-red. The head is paler than the thorax, the
punctuation of both being very fine. The elytra are smooth, with fine punctured
strie; the margin and some indistinct indications of a narrow wavy fascia near the
apical third are paler than the ground-colour; two detached spots near the base of
each elytron are surrounded by a luteous line, which is prolonged backwards along the
margin. The underside is very smooth.
A single specimen.
MYCOTRETUS. 57
27. Mycotretus vittatus. (Tab. III. fig. 21.)
Oblongus, parum ovatus, saturate rufo-testaceus, parcius sat profunde punctatus, capite puncto verticali,
prothorace punctis quinque, scutello, elytris sutura, vitta sat lata limbo laterali epipleurisque, antennarum
articulis quinque ultimis et tibiis, nigris; elytris fortiter punctato-striatis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. GuatemMa.a, Pantaleon, Zapote (Champion).
Head red, with the exception of a vertical spot; rather deeply and not very closely
punctured; antenne light yellow at their base, the five apical joints black. Thorax
rather closely and deeply punctured ; deep rusty-red, with the lateral margins narrowly
black, and with two spots touching the front margin and three on the base. The
elytra have the suture as far as the second stria, the entire lateral limb and epipleure,
and a vitta between the fourth and sixth strie (not reaching either the base or the
apex), deep black and sharply defined.
This species has much the appearance of an Jschyrus owing to its parallel form.
Two specimens. We figure the one from Zapote.
28. Mycotretus alternans.
Sordide rufo-testaceus, breviter oblongo-ovatus, fere glaber ; elytris flavis, subtiliter puncto-lineatis, interstitiis
alternis fuscis; antennis (articulis tribus primis exceptis), prothoracis puncto in margine antico et altero
basali triangulari scutelloque, nigris. Long. 6-64 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
A very peculiar species as regards coloration. The head is unspotted; the thorax
bears a minute dot in the centre of the front margin, and another in the middle of the
base. The elytra are lighter in colour than the thorax; the interstice between the
first and second striz and each alternate one is fuscous, the strie themselves being
blacker; the posterior part and also the two adjoining interstices after the fifth stria
are suffused with fuscous; probably, from the appearance of our specimens, in life
these parts have a nacreous hue. Allied to WZ. dorso-notatus, but lacking the double
linear elytral spots. Five specimens.
29. Mycotretus laccophilinus. (Tab. IV. fig. 5.)
Oblongo-ovatus, rufo-testaceus; elytris punctato-striatis, maculis duabus pallide flavis, una laterali infra
humerum, egre discreta, altera transversali, versus apicem; antennis nigris, articulis tribus basalibus
testaceis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This species somewhat resembles W. alternans ; its form is very evenly ovate, nearly
elliptical, and rather convex; the head and thorax are hght chestnut-red, smooth and
shining; the elytra are nearly of the same colour, but the punctured strie are faintly
fuscous, the punctures in them small and very closely placed, but becoming obsolete
before the apex. The spots, two on each elytron, are whitish-yellow; the legs and
underside of the same light chestnut-red as the rest of the body. This and some other
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., April 1888. l*
58 EROTYLIDA,
species of Mycotretus are very suggestive of the genera of Dytiscide after which I have
named them. |
A single specimen.
30. Mycotretus bipunctatus.
Oblongo-ovatus, luteo-flavus vel obscure castaneus, subtilissime crebre punctatus, prothorace punctis duobus
discoidalibus, prope basin, antennisque nigris, his articulis duobus primis testaceis. Long. 5-6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
The form of this species is broader and more ovate than that of IW. alternans; the
colour is clearer, although varying, two of the specimens being of a pale luteous-yellow,
and two others more nearly of a chestnut-red, with the punctures of the striz fuscous,
while one is almost intermediate. MU. bipunctatus also appears to be allied to
M. distigma, Lac., but has no lateral spot upon the elytra. These latter are very
smooth and shining, with eight fine punctate strie, and very minute punctures in the
interstices. ‘The underside is smooth. The maxillary palpi have their terminal joint
securiform, but not lunate or very much widened. The third joint of the antenne is
sometimes partly testaceous.
Five specimens were captured at Bugaba.
31. Mycotretus stramineus.
Oblongus, subparallelus, postice parum attenuatus, pallide testaceus, antennis (articulis tribus basalibus exceptis)
nigris, tarsis fuscis; capite prothoraceque minutissime punctatis, fere levibus; elytris punctato-striatis,
punctis fuscis. Long. 64 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
An evenly oblong, very slightly ovate species, of nearly uniform testaceous-yellow
‘colour, the thorax faintly clouded, and the punctures on the elytra fuscous, the
strie hardly impressed. The underside is smooth; the mentum is subpentagonal,
scarcely angulated. This species is difficult to place: I think its nearest allies will
prove to be WM. alternans and M. dorso-notatus. There is a slight resemblance between
M. stramineus and some species of Brachysphenus (e.g. B. bistripunctatus), but I do not
think it can be placed in that genus. The prosternum is hardly compressed; there
are short abdominal lines. Six specimens.
32. Mycotretus luteolus.
Oblongo-ovatus, dilute castaneus; capite prothoraceque crebrius minute punctulatis, elytris leviter punctato-
striatis, interstitiis sublevibus ; corpore subtus fere levi, metasterno medio minutissime punctulato,
episternis vix punctatis; antennis pedibusque nigris, his trochanteribus, illis articulis tribus primis
rufis, Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Although at first sight this insect appears very similar to Uf. cruentus or M: lesueuri,
MYCOTRETUS,. — 59
and is, indeed, in a manner intermediate, it is quite distinct, and is probably one of a
series of closely allied species. The colour is rusty-red. MV. luteolus is less narrowed
behind than I. cruentus; the punctuation of the thorax is thicker; the episterna
are wholly yellow; and the fine punctures in the striz are fuscous, which gives them a
lineate appearance: I do not find the latter, however, a character of importance, and it
sometimes occurs in various species of red and yellow Triplacides.
33. Mycotretus cruentus. (Tab. III. fig. 22.) ©
Oblongus, postice paullulum angustatus, saturate sanguineus; prothorace minute parcius punctulato; antennis
(basi excepta), pedibus et episternis metasternalibus nigris, his levibus. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Gvuatemata, Zapote, San Juan in Vera Paz, Senahu (Champion).
Much narrower’ and less ovate than WV. lesueuri, to which by its black legs this
species is analogous. The colour is a brilliant and deep blood-red. ‘The head and
thorax are distinctly and rather sparingly punctured; the latter is almost twice as wide
as long, the sides narrowing from the base. Scutellum smooth. LElytra with the striz
deeper and not so regular and with larger punctures than in M/. lesweuri, and narrowing
at once from the base to the apex. Underside very smooth; the episterna and sides of
the breast black, the former quite smooth. Legs black, the tarsi rufous. Antenne
black, with five joints at the base red.
34. Mycotretus hirudo.
Oblongus, subparallelus, saturate sanguineus, antennis pedibusque nigris; capite crebre, prothorace parcius
distincte punctatis; elytris leviter punctato-striatis, interstitiis subtilissime vix visibiliter punctatis ;
corpore subtus levi. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerdénimo (Champion).
Very closely allied to I. cruentus, but differing from it in the following respects :—
the thorax is more sparsely punctulate; the antenne are wholly black, with the
exception that the second joint is pitchy-red; the tarsi are black; the striz of the
elytra have more numerous and finer punctures; and the underside of the body is
wholly red.
It is at the same time rather a narrower and more parallel insect. In the single
specimen received the elytra have a discoloured blackish tinge towards their apex.
35. Mycotretus lesueuri. (‘Tab. III. fig. 20.)
Erotylus Lesueuri, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. tasc. 8. no. 175 (1835)*.
Mycotretus Lesueuri, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 155’.
Hab. Mexico!?, Toxpam, Juquila (Sailé), Cerro de Plumas, Esperanza, Jalapa
(Hoge); British Honpvuras, R. Sarstoon, Belize (blancaneaur); GuatTemana, Las
[* 2
60 EROTYLIDA.
Mercedes, Cerro Zunil, Capetillo, Duefias, Chiacam, Senahu, San Juan in Vera Paz
(Champion).
Among the Mycotreti with the body and elytra wholly red, this is one of the most
easily recognized, the legs being wholly black, and the coxe alone being of the colour
of the body. The punctuation is excessively fine. The metasternal and the abdominal
lines are very distinct, the latter long and plicate (7. ¢. raised at least on one side).
The sides of the metasternum and its episterna are impressed with a few large punc-
tures; and the abdomen is also punctured, especially at the sides. The mentum is
distinctly pentagonal. The maxillary palpi are moderately widened at their apex.
It appears to be a very common insect in Central America.
The figure is taken from a Capetillo specimen.
36. Mycotretus savignyi.
Mycotretus Savignyi, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 156"; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 145 *.
Hab. Mexico, Juquila, Toxpam (Sall/é); Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales -
(Janson2); Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Cham-
pion).—SovutH America, Colombia? ?.
The Costa Rican specimens are large, and there is a small form, which at the same ~
time seems more ovate, from the Volcan de Chiriqui; but I detect no important
difference in them, nor in the examples from Mexico. The latter locality is rather
unexpected, and Herr Hoge does not seem to have met with it.
87. Mycotretus sobrinus.
Brachymerus sobrinus, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 154°.
Mycotretus sobrinus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 186°.
Mycotretus silaceus, Lac. loc. cit. p. 187°.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé).—Braziu! 23, Rio Janeiro, San Paulo.
This species does not appear to be common; and the Mexican locality is interesting,
as I have not seen it from any of the intermediate countries. The femora are wide,
and the tibie (especially the middle pair) widened. The abdominal lines are long
and plicate. Palpi very wide.
38. Mycotretus xgrotus,
Oblongus, parum ovatus, livide testaceus; capite prothoraceque minute crebre punctatis; elytris punctato-
striatis, interstitiis vix punctatis; corpore subtus sublevi, metasterno utrinque punctulato. Antennis
nigris, articulis tribus vel quatuor basi testaceis. Long. 5-6 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).
A species not very satisfactorily discriminated ; but which in its long form and fine
multipunctate elytral striz, pale colour, and punctured thorax may be compared to
M. luteipes. It is, however, much larger than that insect; its thorax is much more
MYCOTRETUS. 61
finely punctate; and its metasternum being very clearly punctate on each side
serves to show that it is a wholly distinct species. The palpi have their terminal joint
strongly widened.
Of six examples obtained, three are rather immature.
39. Mycotretus luteipes.
Mycotretus luteipes, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 189°.
Hab. Mexico1, Toxpam (Sallé), Cerro de Plumas (Hége); Guatemaa, Senahu and
Tactic in Vera Paz (Champion).
Only two or three of the specimens which stood under the name of MV. luteipes in
Sallé’s collection are referable to it. I have carefully studied Chevrolat’s type, which
agrees very well with Lacordaire’s description, but-is somewhat discoloured. /. lutetpes
very much resembles in size and in its oblong form M. pygmaeus; the elytral strie
are, however, much less deep, and have numerous small punctures; the thorax is
thickly, distinctly, and rather deeply punctured.
40. Mycotretus consanguineus. (Tab. III. fig. 23.)
Oblongus, ovatus, postice parum aitenuatus, lete sanguineus; capite prothoraceque parce punctulatis; elytris
sa. profunde punctato-striatis, metasterno medio et scutello leviter punctulatis; antennis nigris, articulis
tribus basalibus rufis. Long. 73 millim. |
Hab. GuatEMata, Cubilguitz (Champion) ; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
‘Very near to M. sanguineus, Duponch., but differing from that species in having the
tarsi red. The head and thorax are distinctly, but not deeply, and rather sparingly
punctured, less distinctly, however, than in I. sanguineus; the breast in both species
is very smooth, but in our insect (under a good lens) a few scattered punctures will be
found on the middle of the metasternum.
The specimen figured is from Cubilguitz.
41. Mycotretus hematicus.
Oblongus, ovatus, saturate sanguineus; capite prothoraceque parce distincte punctulatis; antennis nigris,
articulis tribus basalibus rufis; metasterno punctulato ; scutello subtilissime punctato. Long. 74 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica (Rogers).
The head in this species is rather coarsely punctured, more closely at the front than
at the base; the epistome is impressed on each side with a round fovea. The palpi
have a widely transverse apical joint. The antenne have only three joints red, and
even the tip of the third joint is black. The thorax is sparsely and very distinctly
punctulate; it is transverse, but not twice as wide as long; the sides are a little
rounded, narrowing in front; the base is sinuate, with only a trace of the row of
punctures along the margin. The elytra are long, contracted towards the apex, with
62 EROTYLIDZ.
rather fine and closely punctured strie, and smooth interstices. The sides of the meta-
sternum are distinctly punctured.
One specimen.
42, Mycotretus incarnatus,
Oblongus, parum ovatus, lete sanguineus ; capite prothoraceque parce sat profunde punctatis; antennis nigris,
articulis quinque basalibus flavis ; subtus levis; scutello haud punctulato. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége); Guatemaua, Panima in Vera Paz (Champion); Nica-
ragua, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
This species is smaller than MV. consanguineus or M. hematicus ; it differs from the
former in having five joints at the base of the antenne yellow, as well as in the
wholly impunctate underside. The head is more finely and more thickly punctured
than the thorax; the antennz are about as long as the head and thorax, their
third joint rather longer than the following two joints united; the palpi are not
especially widened, 7. ¢. not as in WM. noterinus. The thorax is transverse, but not
twice as wide as long; it is not very much narrowed, in fact it only has the sides a
little turned in at the anterior angles. The elytra are striate, the strize with deep
punctures. Abdominal lines short and very indistinct; metasternal lines quite distinct.
About a dozen examples in all are referable to this species.
43, Mycotretus rubidus.
M. incarnato summa affinitate, magis ovatus, antennis brevioribus. Oblongo-ovatus, saturate rufus vel
sanguineus; capite prothoraceque parce distincte punctatis, elytris fortius punctato-striatis; antennis
articulo tertio duobus sequentibus longiore, his brevibus, articulis sex ultimis nigris. Long. 5} millim.
Hab. GuaTEMALA, Chacoj, Panzos (Champion).
So like WM. incarnatus as to be with difficulty distinguished from it at first sight.
It is, however, more convex and more oval, not having the sides so parallel in the basal
half of the elytra. The antenne are distinctly shorter ; the fourth and fifth joints are
especially shorter (being distinctly elongate in W/. incarnatus, while in this species these
joints are hardly longer than wide) ; the fifth joint is often infuscate; and the sixth and
seventh joints are very short, and like the club are black. The episterna are very
obsoletely punctured.
One of the specimens from Chacoj is of a ferruginous-red ; but all the red species
vary in the intensity of the red colour, though some never attain the sanguineous hue.
The three specimens received were captured in the Polochic valley.
44. Mycotretus pygmzus. |
Mycotretus pygmeus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 1561; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 145%.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaua) ; NicaRAGvA,
MYCOTRETUS. 63
Chontales (Janson?) ; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—CotomBia!, Bogota ?; GurANa,
Cayenne ! 2,
Entirely of a fine blood-red, with the exception of the terminal six joints of the
antenne, which are black. The last four joints of the latter form a gradual and broad
club; the fourth, fifth, and sixth joints are short, scarcely longer taken together than
the third joint. The head and thorax are distinctly but rather sparsely punctured ;
the base of the latter is bisinuate, with a median lobe, on each side of which it is
depressed, the depression forming a wide fovea. The elytra are punctate-striate, the
striz with many small closely-placed punctures and becoming evanescent before the
apex; they are more convex but not so long as in V/. luteipes. From most of its allies
the comparative shortness of the antenne will separate this species. The legs are
yellow.
I have not seen many examples of this little species. Crotch? refers to it as from
Bahia ; but the specimen from this locality in his collection is a wholly different insect
from the type, of which he appears to have one of Lacordaire’s original examples from
Cayenne. I have not seen any of the Nicaraguan examples referred to it.
45. Mycotretus coccidulinus. (Tab. III. fig. 24.)
Oblongus, ovatus, saturate sanguineus, crebrius sat fortiter punctatus; antennis breviusculis, articulo tertio
duobus sequentibus equali, articulis sex ultimis nigris. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. British Honpvuras, Belize, R. Hondo (Blancaneaux) ; GuateMaLa, Capetillo,
Cubilguitz, Chiacam (Champion).
Rather larger than WM. pygmaeus, of a deeper and not so vivid a blood-red colour.
The punctuation of the thorax is thicker, the large punctures being more numerous,
although at the same time there is often space between them for other punctures of
similar size. ‘The elytra are not so convex, the striz have numerous and distinct
punctures, and there is a very fine and irregular interstitial punctuation. The antenne
have their third joint not longer than the fourth and fifth joints taken together.
The stronger punctuation of the thorax, together with the somewhat shorter elytra
and smaller size, will separate this species from MM. lutezpes.
Not many examples. A specimen from Rio Hondo is figured.
46. Mycotretus crudus.
M. coccidulino summa affinitate, oblongus, saturate sanguineus, subtus fortiter subrugose punctatus; capite
prothoraceque crebre, profunde et distincte punctatis ; elytris leviter punctato-striatis, interstitiis minute
vix punctatis; antennis nigris, articulis duobus basi rufis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Atlisco in Puebla (Hoge).
Very like MW. coccidulinus, but differing from it in important points of structure and
sculpture. The head and thorax are more thickly and more distinctly punctured. The
humeral callus of the elytra is obvious (in WZ. coccidulinus it is indistinct); the strie
64 EROTYLIDA.
are fine ; and the punctures in the latter are more numerous, and not so large or deep.
The antenne are shorter, the third to the seventh joints especially shorter. The most
striking difference is, however, the strong punctuation of the underside, showing an
alliance to UM. pygmeus; but the palpi are less widened at the tip, and are, I think,
longer than in that insect; the underside is also slightly pubescent. It is therefore a
rather abnormal species, and I think has some claim to affinity with Zritoma, the short
scutellar striz being indistinctly indicated. One specimen.
47, Mycotretus cribratus.
Oblongus, ovatulus, saturate sanguineus; capite prothoraceque parce profunde punctatis; elytris punctato-
striatis, striis fortiter profunde punctatis; antennarum articulis quinque ultimis nigris. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Senahu, Chacoj, Teleman, Sinanja (Champion); Panama, Bugaba
(Champion). '
Of the same size as W/. miniatus, and with the head formed as in that and the allied
species ; the palpi very wide at their apex; the antenne rather short and robust, their
third joint as long as the following two joints united. Thorax narrowing in front, the
base distinctly margined. Elytra with very large and distinct punctures in the strie,
especially in the external ones commencing from the fourth stria. Underside rather
strongly punctate ; the prosternum almost rugose in front. Metasternum smooth in
the middle; the sides with large separate, the episterna with close, punctures, the
space between the latter finely alutaceous. A very considerable series of specimens of
this species was obtained by Mr. Champion at Bugaba; single examples only occurred
at each of the Guatemalan localities. The Guatemalan specimens are apparently
referable to the same species; but I regard the Bugaba examples as typical, it being
from them that the description is made.
48. Mycotretus nigripes.
Oblongus, parum ovatus, saturate sanguineus, pedibus, tarsis exceptis, nigris ; capite prothoraceque parcius sat
fortiter punctatis; elytris fortiter punctato-striatis, striis ad ajicem obliteratis. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion).
More parallel and less narrowed in front than M. miniatus. The head is punctured
as in well-developed examples of that species, viz. sparsely. The thorax is more
sparingly punctured than in any example of I. miniatus I have seen; it is also of
nearly equal width before and behind, with the front angles more depressed, so that it
is more convex. The antenne are black, excepting the two basal joints; their third
joint is not much longer than the second. The underside is more roughly punctured
than in If. miniatus, and is entirely clear red. The legs are black, with red tarsi. The
punctuation of the elytra is much stronger, and the punctures in the strie less
numerous than in M/. miniatus,
A single specimen,
MYCOTRETUS. 65
49. Mycotretus dytiscoides.
Mycotretus dytiscoides, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 184’.
Hab. Muxico!, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla (Sai/é).
There are four examples of a very small Wycotretus in Sallé’s collection which I think
should bear the above name; three of these have the breast and legs infuscate, thus
agreeing better with the description of MU. mésellus. The locality of Lacordaire’s type
of that species is unknown; Crotch’s specimen (from Reiche) and his remark, ‘“ under-.
side smooth,” do not agree with Lacordaire’s description.
The present species agrees very well with the description of J. dytiscoides, excepting
in the colour of the legs and breast; this appears to be possibly due to variation only,
as we have one specimen from the same locality with these parts quite yellow. It being
impossible now with certainty to identify If. misellus, I propose to ignore that species
altogether. We have before us a specimen of MV. dytiscoides received from Chevrolat
by Crotch, and with it our species very nearly agrees. It is quite possible, however,
that it is after all only a pallid form of I. miniatus.
It is also a question whether these species should not be placed in Paratritoma, a
genus I propose for some small species which are also much punctured on the sterna,
and in which the mentum, or rather its basal portion, is so much reduced as to be of
no value for classification. This point can hardly be decided till the very numerous allied
forms have been more studied.
50. Mycotretus miniatus.
Mycotretus miniatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 183’.
Hab. Mexico}, Toxpam (Sal/é).
The metasternum, with its episterna, the legs, and generally the scutellum are black ;
the underside, with the exception of the abdomen, is coarsely and deeply punctate.
Pronotum distinctly punctured, narrowed from the base to the front angles, which are
a little acute.
Five examples in Sallé’s collection.
Var.? Metasterno rufo, minus fortiter punctulato, episternis nigris.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion).
One specimen, in other respects agreeing with I. miniatus.
51. Mycotretus noterinus.
Oblongus, modice ovatus, castaneus vel flavus; capite prothoraceque subtilissime minute punctatis, nitidis;
elytris subtiliter punctato-striatis, punctis sat numerosis, interstitiis levibus; antennis, capite cum pro-
thorace longitudine «quantibus, articulis sex ultimis nigris, articulo tertio duobus sequentibus vix eequali ;
palporum maxillarium articulo apicali perlato ; corpore subtus haud punctulato. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). |
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., April 1888. K*
66 EROTYLIDZ.
This is a somewhat abnormal species, and should perhaps form the type of a new genus.
The maxillary palpi are very wide, and as long as in Triplar. The club of the antenne
is very gradually enlarged from the eighth joint, and the terminal joint is narrower than
the tenth. The thorax is transverse, the base sinuate and very finely margined. The
posterior tarsi have their basal joint as long as the following two joints together. The
metasternal and abdominal lines are distinct, fine, and sinuate. In a specimen, which
I think may be the male, there is on the middle of the first ventral segment a small
patch of golden pile, quite distinct if viewed from behind. Numerous specimens were
obtained by Mr. Champion.
52. Mycotretus planus. |
Oblongo-ovatus, testaceus, nitidus ; antennis nigris, articulis tribus basalibus testaceis ; elytris tenue punctato-
striatis, interstitiis subtilissime punctulatis; tarsorum articulo tertio fuscescente. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Not unlike WM. sobrinus and about the size of small examples of that species, but of
a more sordid yellow colour, and also rather broader and less narrowed towards the apex
of the elytra. The punctuation is very fine, yet with a strong lens fine points may be
observed on the head and thorax; the latter is broader and less narrowed in front than
in U. sobrinus. The apical joint of the maxillary palpi is very wide and lunate. The
underside is free from any trace of punctuation. Metasternal and abdominal lines
distinct, and slightly angulated. Tarsi with the bilobed third joint, and the second joint
partly, fuscous. <A single specimen.
53. Mycotretus atricaudatus. (Tab. IV. fig. 4.)
Oblongo-ovatus, ferrugineus, antennarum articulis sex apicalibus, femoribus, tibiis elytrorumque apice nigris ;
tibiarum apice summo tarsisque rufis. Long. 5 millim. .
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet (Champion).
This is a very evenly ovate convex species, elliptical in shape; with the head and
thorax very finely and closely punctured. The elytra have seven very fine series of
small punctures, and the interstices (when seen under a very strong lens) are minutely
punctulate ; the black portion of the apex is about one quarter of the length of the
elytra, but is continued further up the sides than up the suture. The underside is
smooth ; the coxe and trochanters are red, like the body. |
The apical joint of the maxillary palpi is strongly widened. One specimen.
54. Mycotretus melanotus.
Oblongo-ovatus, rufo-ferrugineus, capite, pronoto, elytrorum apice antennarumque clava nigris. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Panama, La Caldera in Chiriqui (Champion).
Head and thorax smooth, but not very shining, owing to their being very thickly,
MYCOTRETUS. 67
though very finely, punctate; they are entirely deep black, but the trophi, prosternum,
and antenne (excepting the last four joints) are red. The elytra are brick-red, obsoletely
punctate-striate, with rather less than the apical third black; and on each elytron near
the base is a trace of a small round obliterated dot. The underside is smooth, the sides
of the breast and episterna obsoletely punctate. Legs rusty-red, rather lighter in colour
than the body. The maxillary palpi have the apical joint widely dilated. Abdominal
' Jines distinct, traversing the basal segment, the metasternal ones short.
Two specimens.
55. Mycotretus cercyonoides.
Oblongo-ovatus, rufus, nitidus; elytris lete sanguineis, margine laterali et apice nigris, leviter punctato-
striatis; prothorace nigro vel nigrescente, antice rufescente ; antennis articulis quinque apicalibus nigris.
Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).
Head deep blood-red, clouded with black at the base ; palpi, base of the antenne,
and legs also clear red. Thorax black above, with a wedge-shaped spot extending from
the front margin to the middle; in one example the whole front is blood-red; its
punctuation is sparse but distinct. Elytra red, the entire lateral margin (in two
specimens) broadly black, with the apex more broadly so; in two other specimens only
the apex is black, the black extending a little up the sides. The maxillary palpi
have their terminal joint only moderately widened. ‘This is a very convex species,
difficult to place. I think the variation in colour may possibly be a sexual distinction.
56. Mycotretus brevis.
Breviter oblongo-ovatus, rufo-ferrugineus, convexus, capite et prothorace crebre fortius punctatis; elytris
punctulato-striatis, interstitiis minute punctatis, singulis punctis tribus fuscis, fere obliteratis, uno in
callo humerali, uno laterali, uno cum eis triangulum prebente. Long. 33 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Above bright chestnut-red, almost sanguineous; underneath with the legs and mouth
paler. Of a uniform short oval form. Thorax at the base twice as wide as long, with
a few indistinct cloudy marks on the disc. The elytra with rather flat interstices; the
spots very indistinct, the discal one between the fourth and fifth strie, the humeral
one almost obliterated ; the punctures in the strie not very close. The apical joint of
the maxillary palpi is very little more dilated than that of the labial palpi. Abdominal
and metasternal lines evident. This little insect is unfortunately unique; it may
probably vary in the distinctness of the three spots. It is shorter than any species of
Mycotretus known to me with the palpi so little dilated, and has much the form of
Tritoma. The tarsi are faintly fuscescent.
R*2
68 EROTYLIDA.
57. Mycotretus hemapterus.
Oblongus, parum ovatus, saturate rufus, capite prothoraceque nigris, ore et subtus rufescentibus, illo crebrius.
hoe parce leviterque punctatis ; elytris sanguineis ad apicem subinfuscatis, punctato-striatis; antennarum
articulis quinque apicalibus nigris. Long. 33-4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Sovrn America, Amazons (Bates).
Rather narrow ; mouth, palpi, base of the antenne, and legs bright red, and nearly
of the same colour as the body beneath. Head and thorax shining black above, reddish
beneath, except at the sides the latter is more or less black. Elytra deep but bright
blood-red ; with small punctures in the series, which are fuscous beneath the epiderm _
in one specimen. Scutellum red. There is no other similarly-coloured species of
Mycotretus yet described, except IM. cercyonoides, which it a little resembles. Two
specimens from the Amazons. in the Cambridge collection appear to be referable to the
same species. The maxillary palpi in our insect are of the moderately widened form ;
in the Amazons examples they seem to have the apical joint wider, and therefore,
though they are identical in colour, it must not be too hastily assumed that they belong
to the same species.
Three specimens from Bugaba.
58. Mycotretus fuscitarsis. (Tab. III. fig. 25.)
Mycotretus fuscitarsis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 180°.
Hab. Mzxico!, Toxpam (Sallé), Jalapa, Cerro de Plumas (Hége); GUATEMALA,
Cahabon, Chacoj (Champion); Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de
Chiriqui (Champion).
The short, almost orbiculate, form separates this species and MV. coccineus, Lac., and
M. sanguinosus, Crotch, from the other red species. The maxillary palpi have their
apical joint very wide. The sides of the metasternum and its episterna are alutaceous
and punctured, but rather obsoletely so. The interstices of the strie of the elytra are
thickly but finely punctured. J. fuscitarsis varies considerably in size; the largest
specimens, which are from Cerro de Plumas, measure six millimetres in length; others
from Chacoj and elsewhere are not more than four and a half millimetres. Some
specimens seem to have the interstitial punctuation deeper than others. We give a
figure of one of the large specimens from Cerro de Plumas.
59. Mycotretus sanguinosus.
Mycotretus sanguinosus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 458°.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama, Bugaba (Champion), Chiriqui (Ribbe).—
South America, CoLoMBIA |.
Extremely close to M. fuscitarsis ; although Crotch has placed sixty-four species
between them, they both belong to the section with much dilated maxillary palpi.
MYCOTRETUS. 69
M. sanguinosus differs from MW. fuscitarsis by having the tarsi of the same colour as the
legs and body, and by the sides of the breast and episterna being impunctate; and also,
at least in our specimens, by the antenne having seven joints red, but one joint before
the club being black. The interstices of the elytra are very faintly punctate.
60. Mycotretus rufipennis.
Oblongo-ovatus, antice posticeque attenuatus, parum convexus, niger; capite, antennarum basi, prothoracis
limbo laterali, elytris, tarsis abdomineque rufis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mzxico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége).
Rather depressed, very finely punctured; elytra only with obsolete traces of serial
punctures, which are more distinct at the sides. Almost exactly. resembling Para-.
tritoma vivida in colour, but larger and certainly distinct; the antenne, as usual in
Mycotretus, with five or six joints at the base yellow; the epistome more produced ;
and the punctuation of the head and thorax excessively fine, the latter pitchy-black
and with the yellow margins shading off into the ground-colour. Legs pitchy-black,
with the knees and tips of the tibie reddish. The maxillary palpi have the apical.
joint feebly lunate. Tarsi red, but fuscous above, especially the front pair. Judging by
the mentum this is a true Mycotretus, but it is difficult to compare with any other ; it has
a little the appearance of species of the I. corallipennis section, from which its feebly
developed palpi, punctuation, &c., at once separate it.
A single specimen. _
61. Mycotretus epopterus. (Tab. IV. fig. 7.)
Oblongus, subparallelus, rufulus; verticis puncto, prothoracis macula transversa, pectore, tibiarum apicibus
tarsisque nigris; elytris flavis, punctis duobus basalibus fascia mediana lata, sutura postice apiceque ©
nigris, Long. 54 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
Head and thorax very shining; distinctly and rather thickly punctured, but finely
(so that the surface is very shining and smooth) ; their colour and that of the basal five
joints of the antenne and of the legs is a rich pitchy-red, almost blood-red. The disc
of the thorax has a transverse and not very regular black mark, united in the middle
to the base. The elytra are yellow, with the exception of two spots at the base, one
on the callus, and one close to the scutellum, a broad middle fascia, the apex, and the
suture behind the fascia; the latter is indented twice on the basal, and once on the
apical side. The tips of the tibiee and the tarsi are black. The form and markings of
this insect are very suggestive of [schyrus, but it belongs to the genus Mycotretus.
A single specimen.
62. Mycotretus (?) oppositipunctum. (Tab. IV. fig. 6.)
Oblongo-ovatus, postice attenuatus, ater; prothorace et capite flavis, crebre ac minute punctatis, hoc inter
70 . EROTYLIDA.
antennas fortiter bipunctato, illo punctis duobus nigris, uno in margine antico, altero in medio basali ;
elytris punctato-striatis ; corpore subtus pedibusque piceo-brunneis, .Long. 43 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, San Gerénimo (Champion).
Head yellow, finely but closely punctured ; mouth pitchy; antenne black, the basal
joints short and stout, the third joint as long as the fourth and fifth joints together ;
_ maxillary palpi pitchy, the apical joint moderately wide. Thorax transverse ; sides a
little arcuate, narrowed to the front angles, which are acute and prominent; basal
margin with hardly any marginal line; in the middle of the front margin is a transverse
black spot, and one opposite on the basal margin. Elytra shining black, with fine
punctured strie, the sutural stria hardly bent at the scutellum; the latter black.
There is only a single specimen of this insect, which has very much the appearance of
a Triplax, but the club of the antenne is more like that of Mycotretus; it bears some
resemblance to WZ. peru, Crotch. The mentum is inconspicuous, and the genus is
doubtful. ;
The following species is only known to me from description :—
63. Mycotretus chontalesi,
Mycotretus chontalesi, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 145°.
“ Ovatus, ochraceus, nitidus; antennis sat elongatis, clava nigra, distincte tri-articulata; capite distincte
punctato, antice leviter impresso; thorace parce punctulato, lateribus rotundatis, basi utrinque sinuato,
leviter foveolato punctatoque; scutello punctulato; elytris albidis, levibus, punctato-striatis, singulis
maculis 2 oblongis parallelis in quartam basalem maculaque communi triangulari (antice paullo producta)
nigris. L.c. 27 lin.”
“ Allied to MW. lepidus.”
Hab. Nicaracua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson +).
The following two species cannot be considered as thoroughly investigated at present,
being possibly variable and the material not being sufficient of either:—
64. Mycotretus nigricollis.
Breviter oblongus, niger, capite, abdomine, elytris tarsisque rufis; capite prothoraceque minute punctatis ;
elytris tenuiter punctato-striatis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
Allied to M. corallipennis, Crotch; distinct by its rufous head and abdomen and the
finer punctuation of its elytra. Both species have the short depressed form of some
Tritome. A single specimen.
65. Mycotretus badius.
Breviter ovatus, valde convexus, badius; elytris fortius punctato-striatis, interstitiis minutissime punctatis, basi
marginibusque flavo-cinctis; capite prothoraceque minute punctatis, fere levibus; antennarum clava
nigra. Long. 5 millim.
MYCOTRETUS.—PARATRITOMA. 71
Hab. Guatemaa, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
Perhaps allied to MW. savignyt, the small form of which from Chiriqui it somewhat
resembles.
MYCOMYSTES.
Characteres plerumque sicut in Mycotreto, tibiis autem ad apices angulariter dilatatis, generi Amblyopi similis
videtur. Species adhuc unicus, corpore oblongo, parum ovato, toto pallide flavo vel ferrugineo. Palpi
maxillares articulo ultimo perlato, valde transverso. Mentum pentagonicum, sed angulis omnibus egre
discretis, basi angustato. Prosterni processu apice emarginato, antice haud compresso.
The single species for which it is necessary to form a new genus on account of the
dilated tibiz has the general appearance of a large pale rusty-red Mycotretus, with
which indeed the majority of its characters agree. Amblyopus is a genus only
inhabiting the eastern tropics, and our insect has no real affinity with it. The
angularly widened tibie of Mycomystes are unlike anything else amongst its true allies,
though they are reproduced in the South-American genus Mycolybas.
1. Mycomystes ferrugineus. (Tab. IV. fig. 8.)
Oblongo-ovatus, pallide ferrugineus, antennarum articulis sex ultimis et mandibularum apicibus nigris; capite
prothoraceque creberrime minute punctatis; elytris striatis, interstitiis creberrime perobsolete punctatis ;
subtus testaceus, metasterni lateribus et episternis subrugose punctulatis, epimeris levibus. Long. 74
millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége).
About the size and form of Mycotretus sobrinus ; entirely pale rusty-red, with the
exception of the apical half of the antenne and the tips of the mandibles. The
punctuation is very fine and close, except that of the sides of the breast, where large
but irregularly shaped punctures are to be found ; these irregular punctures have a
tendency to form longitudinal rows, and are occasionally confluent. The abdomen is
finely punctate. The tibie have their inner side a little sinuate, the outer side
widened and forming an angle at the end, which is somewhat obliquely truncate (the
insertion of the tarsi being quite on the inner side); their upper and under surfaces
are flat and slightly pubescent. Both the abdominal and metasternal impressed lines
are present. Two specimens.
PARATRITOMA.
Mentum pentagonicum., Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo lunato, valde transverso. Corpus subtus rugose
punctatum, pubescens. Prosternum antice haud compressum vel carinatum. Linew metasternales et
abdominales obscuri vel nulli. Cox modice distantes.
I propose this genus to include a number of small species which, on the whole, are
very near to the type of Mycotretus, but have some of the characteristics of Tritoma.
The elytra, at least of some of the species (e. g. P. divisa), have the short stria near the
scutellum, which proves an alliance with the last-named genus. The strongly punctured
72 EROTYLIDZ.
surface of the metasternum and its episterna, and especially that of the anterior part
of the prosternum, is a character not to be found in the true Mycotreti. The legs are
slender. The antenne are long and thin, with a lax three-jointed club; the latter in
Tritoma is closely articulated and short. The different species are pretty little parti-
coloured insects, red and black, and are less convex and less compactly built than the
Tritome. I should include in this genus Mycotretus triplacoides, Crotch, and some
other species.
1. Paratritoma dimidiata.
Oblongo-ovata, nigra, capite, prothorace elytrorumque dimidio basali lete rufis, his punctato-striatis, striis
integris ; capite prothoraceque creberrime, distincte, prosterno subrugose, pectore parcius, punctatis ; elytris. .
circa scutellum interdum nigricantibus ; antennis fuscis, articulis duobus basi rufis, Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hoge), Capulalpam, Juquila (Sallé).
In this species the head, thorax, and basal half (or rather more) of the elytra are of
a fine blood-red ; the elytra are sometimes black round the scutellum, sometimes only
exhibiting an indistinct blackish stain in that region, or they are wholly red; the
scutellum, the underside of the body (the head and prosternum excepted), and the
apical part of the elytra are quite black; the legs and antenne are black with a fuscous
tinge, the latter have two joints at the base red and the two following them are
obscurely red also ; the tarsi are clothed with fuscous pubescence.
2. Paratritoma divisa. (Tab. IV. figg. 9, 10, 11.)
Oblongo-ovata, nigra, nitida; elytris (tertia parte apicali excepta) lete sanguineis; capite antice, antennis.
(clava excepta), pedibus, prothoracis margine laterali, elytrorum epipleuris abdominisque apice, flavis.
Long. vix 4 millim.
fab. Mexico, Esperanza, Jalapa, Cerro de Plumas (Hége), Toxpam (Sallé) ;
GuATEMALA, near the city, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui
(Champion).
Less evenly ovate, more attenuated behind, and with the head more exserted than
the preceding species. The head and thorax are thickly and distinctly punctured ;
the prosternum is very thickly but less rugosely punctured than in P. dimidiata. The
underside of the head is yellowish, except in the middle; the palpi are testaceous.
Prosternum not compressed in front, the process wide and only margined at the apex,
the marginal line not produced in front of the coxe. Mesosternum smooth in the
middle, but with the sides and episterna coarsely punctate. Abdomen very obsoletely
punctured, infuscate at the base, but becoming indeterminately testaceous towards the
apex. Legs rather long, yellowish-red, with the exception that the coxe are black.
Elytra punctate-striate ; there is a short scutellar stria (more distinct in this species
than in P. dimidiata), this being quite separate from the sutural stria. Antenne
rather long, fully as long as the head and thorax; the last three joints only are black,
the base yellow, the intermediate joints becoming obscurely yellow. P. divisa varies a
PARATRITOMA.—MYCOPHTHORUS. 73
good deal in colour and somewhat in size. The elytra in some specimens are more or
less infuscate at the base ; in others the base is quite black, but narrowly so, and the
red portion is then much narrower on the margin than in the middle and forms a
saddle-shaped fascia. The lateral margins of the thorax in some examples are widely
yellow; but in others they are only narrowly so, except at the front angles. We have
received many specimens.
3. Paratritoma caduca. (Tab. IV. fig. 12.)
Oblongo-ovata, flava ; capitis vertice, prothoracis macula discoidali transversa, antennarum clava et corporé
subtus ex parte nigro-piceis, elytris nigris ante medium flavo-fasciatis; capite prothoraceque crebre sat
fortiter punctatis. Long. 24-3 millim.
Hab. Guatemaua, Capetillo, Cerro Zunil (Champion).
This species differs from P. divisa in colour: the head, thorax, and fascia of the
elytra are orange-yellow (instead of blood-red), and the underside is more variegated
with the yellow colour. The thorax is yellow, with a central mark which is often
divided by a yellow line and has a lateral spot-like projection on each side; this mark
touches the front margin, but though it varies and is sometimes reduced to a mere
shade I have not seen any specimen in which it reaches the other margins. P. caduca
is very nearly allied to P. divisa, but is smaller and narrower and more feebly built.
Five specimens, four of which are from Capetillo.
4. Paratritoma vivida.
Oblongo-ovata, nigra; capite, prothoracis angulis anticis, antennarum articulis duobus basalibus et abdomine
aurantiacis ; elytris sanguineis, profunde punctato-striatis. Long. 34 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion).
The elytra in this species are entirely blood-red, with the punctures in the striez
larger and less numerous than in P. divisa. The head is red, but much clouded with
black. The thorax is black, with the front and lateral margins narrowly, and the front
angles widely, yellow; its disc is deeply but rather sparingly punctured. The scutellum,
underside (excepting the abdomen), and legs are black.
A single specimen.
MYCOPHTHORUS.
Mycophtorus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 198 (1842).
Mycophthorus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 470 (1876).
The difference between this genus and Mycotretus is very slight; it consists chiefly
in the antenne having short bead-shaped joints, the third being very little elongate,
and the club short, round, and with its joints connate. The general texture is as in
Lybas, lucid and with a varnished, shining appearance, at least in the species which I
identify with MW. pauperculus.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., June 1888. L*
74 . oe EROTYLIDA.
‘1. Mycophthorus pauperculus. (Tab. IV. fig. 18.)
Mycophtorus pauperculus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 194°.
Mycophthorus pauperculus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 471°.
Hab. Brivish Honpuras, Belize, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneauz) ; Guatemata, Teleman
(Champion) ; PanaMa.—Souta America, Colombia ! 2, Amazons *.
Oblong, slightly ovate, a little contracted at the shoulders; head and thorax very
smooth and | shining, the former with a wide oblique fovea on each side of the front
near the insertion of the antenne, and an impressed stripe above the eyes. Thorax
very short, twice as wide as long, with prominent but depressed rather acute front
angles; base sinuous, the middle lobe scarcely produced and leaving most of the
scutellum free, hardly margined, but with a row of punctures which are conspicuous on
each side of the median lobe. Elytra punctate-striate, and with fuscous marks under
the punctures; the fifth stria more deeply impressed at the base and with seven or
eight larger and deeper punctures there. Antenne very short and stout, with five or six
joints at the base red and the remainder fuscous; the three club-joints are very short
and transverse, the short apical one being reddish. This insect perfectly agrees with
Lacordaire’s description and with a specimen in Crotch’s collection from that of Reiche.
There are three specimens from Teleman and one from each of the other localities.
PSEUDOLYBAS.
Corpus breviter ovatum, subscaphiforme, pernitidum, quasi vernicatum. Antenne mediocriter long, articulis
tribus ultimis transversis, clavam elongatam formantibus. Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo securiformi, -
modice lato. Mentum pentagonicum, sicut in Mycotreto. Prosternum antice valde compressum. Linew
metasternales aut abdominales nulli. Pedes longi, tibiis haud expansis, leviter curvati, tarsis articulo
basali duobus sequentibus longiore.
I propose this new genus for two species of moderate size, both from the State of
Panama. The type is very like Lybas carbunculus. ‘The singular varnished smooth
surface here reaches its maximum, there being no trace of strie or punctures on the
elytra of Pseudolybas glaber.
‘1. Pseudolybas glaber. (Tab. IV. fig. 14.)
Breviter ovatus, antice posticeque angustatus, saturate rufo-ferrugineus, glaber, pernitidus ; antennis nigris,
articulis quatuor primis rufis. Long. 5-53 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion).
Very similar at first sight to Lybas carbunculus, but rather smaller and shorter.
‘The head is quite smooth, with an oblique fossa on each side of the front; eyes
prominent, finely faceted. Antenne of usual length, but a little shorter than those of
L. carbunculus ; the fourth to the seventh joints are especially shorter and scarcely
longer than wide ; the eighth joint is transverse and a little widened; the three club-
joints are transverse, not acute within (as in Lydas), nor with their apical edges curved.
The thorax at the base is as wide as the elytra; the sides are nearly straight and
PSEUDOLYBAS.—LYBAS. _ | 75
narrow very considerably to the front angles; the anterior margin is excavated a little
more deeply than in L. carbunculus ; the basal margin is a little less deeply sinuate,
the middle lobe faintly truncate and not at all covering the scutellum, and on each side
of it are a very few punctures on the extreme base. Elytra convex, and, with the
exception of a fine sutural stria, unsculptured; the latter is entire. Underside smooth
and shining. Legs rather long; tibie a very little curved, as in L. carbunculus.
There are two specimens from Bugaba; the one from David is smaller and of a
lighter colour, with the obsolete punctures indicated by fuscous dots in series, and may
possibly not be specifically identical, a point impossible to be determined from a few
specimens.
2. Pseudolybas vernicatus.
Oblongus, minus ovatus, depressiusculus, pernitidus, late castaneus, glaber. Antennis nigris, articulis quatuor
primis rufis ; elytris interdum punctis obsoletis; subtus fuscis. Long. 43-5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
This species is very close to P. glaber and only differs from it as follows :—It is of a
less evenly ovate form ; the thorax appears more depressed at the base ; the elytra are
not so convex and have the humeral callus rather more evident; the antenne are
thinner, the club especially being more lax and not so broad; and the whole insect is
lighter in colour, and the fuscous punctures beneath the glazed surface are very evident.
LYBAS.
Lybas, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 228 (1842) (Dej. Cat., Chevr.).
Lybas, after the species separated by Crotch as Mycolybas have been eliminated, is a
genus of small extent and contains less than twenty species; it is confined to Central
and South America and extends as far south as the Amazons. The majority of the
species are blood-red in colour, and have a very polished surface ; some of the South-
American forms have black elytra, and some have the thorax variegated. They are,
however, not usually so much ornamented with pattern as the Mycotrett. Lybas 18
separated from Mycotretus by the mentum being acutely lanceolate in the middle, ‘and
by the smooth surface, the more convex and gibbous form, and the more compressed
prosternum. The production of the middle of the base of the thorax into a lobe which
covers part of the scutellum is distinct in the larger species; but it must be confessed
that the assignment of many of the small species to this genus is a matter at present of
much uncertainty.
1. Lybas granatus. (Tab. IV. fig. 15.)
Lybas granatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 231". |
Hab. Mexico 1, Oaxaca (Sallé), Tabasco 1, Yucatan}.
L* 2
76 EROTYLIDA.
Apparently very rare ; I have only seen two specimens, one in Sallé’s collection, the
other in that of Crotch. The punctures in the elytral strie are for the most part only
indicated by fuscous dots in eight series, the series being continued to the apex ; it is
only at the base and in a few instances that they are impressed, the surface of the
elytra being quite even. The figure is taken from the specimen from Oaxaca.
2. Lybas carbunculus. (Tab. IV. fig. 16.)
Lybas carbunculus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 238°. . .
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Tabasco!, Yucatan!; Guaremaua, Senahu in Vera
Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Var.? Major (7 millim.), minus lete sanguineus, prothorace utrinque punctis duobus magnis impressis.
Hab. Guatemaua, Zapote (Champion).
A species usually distinguished by its medium size (vix 6 millim.), dark blood-red
colour, and very shining varnished appearance. The sides of the metasternum have a
few obsolete largish punctures, the rest of the underside being smooth. Metasternal
and abdominal, plicate, raised lines are present. The antenne are black, with two (in
the Mexican) or three (in the Guatemalan specimens) joints red at the base. In the
larger specimen from Zapote I see very little difference, except that two Joints at the
base of the antenne are red, and that the general colour is lighter and less lucid.
3. Lybas interpunctatus.
Breviter ovatus, lete castaneus, lucidus; antennis nigris, articulis tribus basi rufis; elytris punctato-striatis,
punctis haud magnis, interstitiis crebre et distincte punctulatis. Long. 63 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége).
Closely allied to L. carbunculus, from which it differs in its slightly larger size,
yather broader form, and, especially, in the elytra being (under a strong lens) evidently
punctured all over, the fine punctures being placed longitudinally between the serial
ones as well as in the interstices. The head and thorax are very shining, but are
punctate though extremely finely so. The serial punctures on the elytra are small and
obsolete superficially, but distinct as fuscous spots under the surface. The underside
is very smooth and shining, with only a few obsolete but large flat punctures on the
sides of the metasternum. ‘This species and its allies have frequently two or more
quite symmetrical impressions upon the thorax; but the impressions are not constant
and of no use for characters—thus, one specimen of L. interpunctatus exhibits two
oblique depressions near the centre of the thorax, while the other is quite free from
them.
4. Lybas anisotomoides.
Concinne ovatus, convexus, pernitidus, saturate rufo-brunneus ; antennis nigris, articulis tribus basi rufis ;
elytris punctulato-striatis. Long. 5 millim.
LYBAS.—LYBANODES. 17
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Tolé (Champion).
Smaller and relatively shorter than Z. carbunculus, and with fewer punctures in the
series, the punctures being at the same time larger and more deeply impressed near
the base of the elytra.
Two specimens only.
LYBANODES.
Corpus ovatum, subscaphiforme, nitidum, lucidum. Antenne ut in Lybas, articulis tribus ultimis clavam
perfoliatum formantibus, articulo nono et decimo angulis anterioribus acutis intus paullo productis ;
palpi maxillares articulo ultimo quadrato, haud lato. Mentum acutum, subtrianguliforme. Prosternum
antice compressum. Line metasternales et abdominales distincte. Sexus masculinus puncto ventrali
piloso, in medio segmenti primi distinctus. Pedes modice longi; tibiis hand expansis, fere rectis; tarsis
articulis tribus primis subaqualibus. .
The small insect I include in this genus is very like Lybas anisotomoides superficially,
but it cannot be included in either of the allied genera on account of the undilated
maxillary palpi. The sexual distinction so rare in this family, and hitherto not
observed in the ‘ Triplacides,’ is an additional reason for its separation.
1. Lybanodes castaneus. (Tab. IV. fig. 17.)
Oblongo-ovatus, postice parum attenuatus, saturate castaneus vel brunneus; antennis articulis quinque
basalibus et palpis testaceis, clava nigra articulo ultimo rufo; elytris punctulato-striatis, Long. 43-5
millim.
Mas segmento ventrali primo puncto aureo-piloso.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson).
Very smooth and shining, deep chestnut-red ; the head with a few minute punctures,
especially at the base ; the antenne, palpi, and legs rather lighter red than the body.
Thorax narrowed in front, the front margin nearly straight, the sides very finely
margined ; basal margin with an obsolete row of punctures, but no true marginal line ;
its disc convex and glabrous. Elytra very convex, more narrowed towards the apex
than the body is in front; with rows of large punctures, the row before the humeral
callus being more deeply impressed at the base than the others, and all of them
becoming obliterated before the apex; there is no sutural stria, and the surface is
quite smooth between the rows of large punctures. The underside is smooth, but near
the plicate lines on the metasternum are several very large rough punctures; the
whole body beneath is very much keeled; the intercoxal process of the abdomen is
long, and (in the male) the pilose spot, which is not impressed but only clothed with
fine depressed golden hair, is placed rather below the coxe near the base of the
segment. | |
Three specimens of this interesting species have been received, of which two are
males.
78 EROTYLID A.
TRIPLAX. a
Triplaz, Herbst, Natursyst. Insekten, Kifer, v. p. 146 (1798); Paykull, Fauna Suec. iii. p. 346
(1800) ; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 202 (pars) (1842) ; Bedel, L’Abeille, v. p. 19 (1868) ;
Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 463 (pars) (1876).
Triplar is a Palearctic and Nearctic genus containing between twenty and thirty
species which are almost evenly distributed in the Old and New Worlds. The genus
is distinguished by the rather elongate form, trigonal mentum, widely expanded apical
_ joint of the maxillary palpus, and by the colour—usually yellow, with black elytra
unrelieved by pattern. In certain species the body beneath is black, and a few have
the colour of the elytra divided. To include in it, as Lacordaire has done (and Crotch
follows him), the four Madagascar species is to nullify all the conclusions to be drawn
from distribution, for these species differ in almost every particular by which Trip/az is
generically distinct. The Indian and the Japanese representives are quite typical.
4
1. Triplax hogei.
Oblongo-ovata, sat lata, pallide luteo-flava, elytris et scutello ex parte nigris, antennarum clava fusca, capite et
prothorace corporeque subtus crebre sat fortiter punctatis. Long. 43 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége).
This insect comes nearest to the form of 7. thoracica with the scutellum yellow,
and which is itself very close to, but not identical with, 7. scutellaris, Charpentier.
It is, however, smaller and shorter, the punctuation of the head and thorax is closer,
and the interstices of the elytra are smooth. This species and the one described by
Crotch as J. thoracica appear to be distinct from 7. melanoptera, Lec., the few
specimens of which I have seen having the scutellum entirely black and the elytra
quite distinctly though very sparsely punctate between the strie.
About a dozen specimens.
2. Triplax championi. (Tab. IV. fig. 18.)
Breviter oblongo-ovata, flava, elytris, metasterno coxisque posticis nigris, antennarum clava fusca. Long.
4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége); Guatemaa, San Gerénimo (Champion).
Rather smaller than 7. flavicollis, Lac.; the head and thorax closely and minutely
punctured. Antenne clear red, excepting the three club-joints and the eighth joint;
the latter is sometimes partially fuscous. LElytra with the striz closely punctured, the
interstices a little convex and smooth. Scutellum black. Underside red, with the
exception of the metasternum alone (the coxe and mesosternum being red), rather
coarsely punctured ; the abdomen smooth but slightly pilose; the sides of the meta-
sternum with large coarse punctures, less close than those of the episterna.
‘TRIPLAX.—TRITOMA. 79
This pretty little Zriplaxz may be at once known from TJ. flavicollis and from any
other species of the genus by the metasternum alone of the underside being black. In
one or two examples from Cerro de Plumas the abdomen appears to be very dark,
almost black; but as others from the same place do not differ from the type I think
this is due to discoloration. |
3. Triplax mesomelas.
_ Brevior, oblongo-ovata, flava, elytris et metasterno nigris, antennarum clava fusca. Long. 34-4 millim.
Var. metasterno medio rufo,
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaur); Panama, Bugaba (Champion). .
This species comes very close to 7. championi, but is distinct. The following are
the points of difference:—It is on the average smaller, shorter, and more uniformly
ovate; the puncturing of the prosternum and of the sides of the metasternum is much
less coarse and not so confluent; the metasternum is very often red, but infuscate at
the sides and with black episterna; the hinder coxe seem always. to be red (in
T. championi they are black); and the puncturing of the head and thorax is finer.
4. Triplax rediviva. (T7. redivivus, Tab. IV. fig. 19.)
Oblonga, nitida, nigra, capite, prothorace, mesosterno, antennis pedibusque sanguineis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. GuaTEMALA, Quiche mountains 8000 feet (Champion).
Head and thorax blood-red; thickly and rather strongly punctured, the latter more
sparsely so than the head. Antenne entirely red, as are also the mesosternum and
legs. The elytra are deeply punctate-striate, the interstices smooth and not very flat.
Scutellum black. Underneath, the prosternum is punctured and somewhat rugose ;
the metasternum and abdomen are black, the former with scattered large punctures,
the latter distinctly but finely and closely punctured and very indistinctly pubescent.
One specimen obtained by Mr. Champion in the pine-forest region. ‘The only other
species of Triplax known to me that has wholly red antenne is the European 7’. lepida,
from which, inter alia, this differs by its coarser striation and punctuation.
TRITOMA.
Tritoma, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 68 (1775) ; Mant. Ins. p. 44 (1787) ; Ent. Syst.i. p.505 (1792) ;
Panzer, Naturf. Stiick 24, p. 12, t. 1. fig. 17 (1789) ; Paykull, Faun. Suec. iui. p. 346 (1800) ;
Gyllenhal, Ins. Suec. i. p. 208 (1808) ; Redtenbacher, Faun. Austr. ed. ii. p. 408 (1872) ;
Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 218 (1842); Thomson, Skand. Col. v. p. 296 (1863) ; Bedel,
L’Abeille, v. p. 40 (1868).
Cyrtotriplax, Crotch, Ent. Monthly Mag. ix. p. 189 (1873); Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 355.
Tritoma, like Triplax, is essentially a Palearctic and Nearctic genus, predominating
in the latter region. Recently Mr. G. Lewis has enumerated seventeen species from
80 EROTYLIDZA.
the Japanese islands alone; in Western Europe there is only one, the well-known type
of the genus, 7. bipustulata, while America North of Mexico possesses about seven
typical species.
The greatest difficulty exists in satisfactorily defining the genus, as very similar
insects are found in the Oriental region. These latter, however, are obviously not
typical. Throughout the Erotylide, and especially in the ‘Triplacides,’ very minute
differences must be taken as of generic importance ; and if Tritoma is treated with the
same precision that the preceding genera have received, we must exclude various species
from Borneo, Ceylon, and other Tropical countries which have been referred to it.
Tritoma is allied to Triplax by the shape of the raised part of the mentum, which
is, roughly speaking, trigonal ; it differs from it in its shorter form, being narrowed at
both ends, and by the consequently much shorter prosternum ; the latter is compressed
in front, thus causing its submarginal lines to converge in most. species. In 7. bipus-
tulata these lines terminate with a small inflexion, but in some species, as 7’. niponensis,
Lewis, the prosternal process forms a raised delta-shaped plateau. The club of the
antenne is short, with the three terminal joints connate, not perfoliate as in Triplaz.
The tibie are angularly widened, their apices being obliquely cut. |
M. Louis Bedel has, in his monograph of the Old-World species (L’Abeille, v. pp. 1-
50), given an exposition of the characters of both this genus and of Triplax, which
leaves little to be desired but the synthesis of the New-World species and of the
numerous others which have been added from Japan. With regard to the adoption
of the name 7ritoma for this genus, I have given my view of the prescriptive right
which I think the consensus of naturalists for more than one hundred years has
established [cf. Notes from the Leyden Museum, vii. p. 257, note]. Its application to
the genus known to us as Mycetophagus is not justified by Geoffroy’s use of it, in a
sense which was founded on an error, the name of course having reference to the
three-jointed club of the antenne.
1. Tritoma dorsalis, (Tab. IV. fig. 20.)
Breviter ovata, nigra, nitida; ore, antennis (clava excepta), tibiis tarsisque luteis; elytris punctato-striatis,
macula magna communi, extus attenuata interdum marginem attingente ; capite prothoraceque minu-
tissime parce punctatis, fere glabris. Long. 22 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This pretty little Zritoma is the smallest of its genus known to me and is also the
only one I have seen from a locality so far south or from within the tropics. It is
almost evenly oval, not more narrowed behind than in front; the head and thorax
are smooth and shining; the latter is rather convex (under a 4-inch glass, covered
with small punctures), the base sinuate, the middle lobe fairly produced, the sides
finely margined, the basal edge plain. Elytra punctate-striate, the strial punctures
distinct, numerous, and small. Antenne about the length of the thorax, finely
TRITOMA.—HAMATOCHITON. 81
built, testaceous (excepting the well-defined short club, which is fuscous), their third
joint rather longer than the two following. Mouth and palpi testaceous. Legs rather
slight and long for this genus, their tibie less widened than usual, the tarsi long ; only
the femora are dark, the rest being of the same yellow colour as the antenne. Under-
side smooth, black, excepting the abdomen, which is pitchy-red ; the prosternum is
broad, its raised portion forming an equilateral triangle, the side-lines appearing to
meet in front. The middle coxe are a little more distant from each other than the
front or posterior pair.
Three specimens.
HAMATOCHITON.
Corpus oblongum, modice convexum. Antenne longitudine capitis prothoracisque conjuncti, articulo tertio
elongato duobus sequentibus zequali. Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo triangulari, labiales, apice truncato
subovato. Pedes mediocres; tarsi articulis tribus primis subequalibus, posticis articulo basali paullo
elongato. Mentum antice acutum, oblongo-quadratum. Oculi tenuiter reticulati. Lines metasternales
vel ventrales nulle.
The very singular-looking species from Mexico, for which I propose this new genus,
has somewhat the appearance of a Mycotretus; but the more depressed form, the feebly
developed apical joint of the maxillary palpi, the total absence of coxal lines beneath,
the deep and rather coarse puncturing of the head and thorax, the scarlet elytra,
and their firmer texture all point to the conclusion that this insect must represent a
different genus.
1. Hematochiton elateroides. (Tab. V. fig. 4.)
Oblongus, parum convexus, nigerrimus, nitidus; capite prothoraceque profunde crebre punctatis; elytris lete
sanguineis, punctato-striatis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Hoge, Forrer).
Black; the elytra blood-red (similar to those of Hlater lythropterus &c.), but with
their extreme tips black. The antenne are rather short; the club three-jointed, the
eighth joint transverse and but very little wider than those preceding it. Head with
the epistome but little produced, and not distinct ; very even, a little depressed between
the eyes, thickly and distinctly punctured. Thorax transverse; margined very neatly
in front and at. the sides, but scarcely so at the base; the surface very even, and with
oblong, deep, flat-bottomed punctures; the anterior angles acute, but not very promi--
nent; the sides narrowing slightly in front. Scutellum black. Elytra somewhat opaque,
but still shining; with eight series of punctures in finely impressed series—the first or
sutural one disappears in the suture about the middle, the rest are continued nearly to
the apex, but gradually disappear, the eighth being almost obsolete. Legs rather long,
but not especially so; femora a little compressed, not much thickened, keeled on their
posterior edges. Underside smooth. Prosternum not compressed.
This insect has very much the appearance of a small but short red Elater. It has
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., August 1888. M*
Ft
‘,
82 EROTYLIDZ,
very much perplexed me as to its true position, the characters being all very negative
or generalized. Four specimens were captured by Hoge and one by Forrer.
SCAXOTHER.
Characteres plerumque sicut Hamatochitone. Corpus oblongum, supra omnino crebre, infra obsoletius punc-
tatum. Antenne breviuscule, valide. Palpi labiales articulo ultimo subquadrato. Lines abdominales
distincte. Metasternum punctatum. Abdomen pedesque parce pruinosi. Femora compressa, tibie leviter
sinuate, extus et intus carinate.
1. Sceother carbonarius. (Tab. V. fig. 5.)
Oblongus, parum convexus, opacus vix nitidus, niger; capite prothoraceque creberrime sat fortiter punctatis,
hoc transverso, convexo, angulis anticis depressis, acutis, tenuissime marginatis; elytris obsolete crebre
minute punctatis, leviter punctato-striatis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toluca (Hége).
A very obscure-looking insect, which from its opaque punctured surface and black
colour might easily be taken for a Tenebrionid.
In structural characters S. carbonarius seems to agree very nearly with the insect
described above as Hematochiton elateroides; but the presence of abdominal lines, the
more robust build, and the more convex pronotum, in addition to the very different
sculpture, are sufficient indications of its being generically distinct from Hamatochiton.
In the single specimen found by Hége the prothorax is very obsoletely keeled in the
middle, but so faintly as only to be noticed by turning the insect about. The scutellum
is. thickly punctulate like the rest of the upper surface. The tibiz are very slightly
enlarged towards the apex. The base of the thorax is sinuate, with an ill-defined fossa
on each side of the median lobe, and a few larger punctures along the margin at that
part ; the middle of the front cannot be termed “ margined,” but is deflexed.
Subfam. HROTYLIDES.
The genera which are grouped in this subfamily are not so homogeneous as those of
the preceding group; but they agree in having the inner lobe of the maxille bidentate,
that is to say, with two stout hooks near their apex. With the exception of one genus,
viz. Aulacochilus, they are all peculiar to the New World. The more typical genera
(e.g. Hrotylus, Zonarius, Homoiotelus) have long legs and antenne, and the elytra are
frequently elevated in a pyramidal manner or even produced into a spine.
1. Eyes coarsely faceted.
SCAPHENGIS.
Corpus oblongum, postice ovatum et gibbosum. Oculi fortiter granulati. Antenne longs, leviter pubescentes,
articulo tertio quam quartus vix longiore, articulis tertio ad octavum fusiformibus, clava laxe articulata.
Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo leviter securiformi. Epistomate punctato. Pronotum subquadratum,
antice recte truncatum, angulis anterioribus parum prominentibus, basi immarginata, tenuiter plicata.
SCAPHENGIS.—COCCIMORPHUS. 83
Elytra gibbosa, epipleuris latis, ad apicem attenuatis, leviter plicatis. Prosternum obsolete rugoso-
punctatum ; processu longo, subparallelo, apice rotundato. Lines metasternales et abdominales obsolete.
Pedes modice longi, tarsis haud multo elongatis. .
This new genus is necessary for a small but very interesting Mexican insect. It is
allied to the Colombian Euphanistes, one of the most anomalous genera of the Erotylide ;
Scaphengis differs from it, however, in form, being broader in front. The antenne are
differently constructed—in Huphanistes the joints succeeding the third are long, and the
third itself is particularly long; in Scaphengis the corresponding joints are subequal
and fusiform. Other differences of hardly less importance are noticed in the diagnosis.
This singular genus is one of M. Sallé’s discoveries, I have not seen anything else like
it in any collection.
1. Scaphengis picipes. (Tab. V. fig. 6.) |
Oblongus, convexus, gibbosus, postice ovato-attenuatus, niger, nitidus, fere glaber; antennis, palpis pedibusque
rufo-piceis ; prothoracis lateribus anguste marginatis, basi punctato-plicata; elytris sutura ad basin
depressa. Long. 5-6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Salié).
Eyes small, but very coarsely granulate; epistome thickly punctured ; antenne long,
but not much longer than the head and thorax; the latter is subquadrate, the breadth
being rather greater than the length, the sides are parallel for about the basal half, and
the hind angles are nearly rectangular; the base of the elytra is a little excised on each
side near the humeri to receive the thorax, which is closely applied to them, but the
humeri themselves are acute. The thorax and the elytra are quite smooth and glabrous,
with the exception of the few punctures or plice on the extreme basal edge on each
side of the middle. ‘The underside is rather strongly scaphiform; on the prosternum
and in some other parts there are a few obsolete but largish punctures; and bordering
the hind coxe a row of punctures are to be seen which probably represents the edge of
the coxal ‘“‘ plaque abdominal” and abdominal lines, which are otherwise quite absent.
The whole of the hind-body is rather uneven, from a very obsolete coarse punctuation,
and is very faintly pubescent.
This insect has very much the appearance of some small forms of Tenebrionide.
Three specimens.
2. Eyes finely faceted.
COCCIMORPHUS.
Coccimorphus, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 114; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erofyl. p. 266 (1842); Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xii. p. 54 (1876).
Strongylosomus, Chevrolat, Dej. Cat. 3rd edit. p. 451 (1837) ; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 487 (1876).
Coccimorphus is a genus of about fourteen species which are almost confined to
Tropical South America, but with a few representatives in Central America. It is only
M* 2
84 EROTYLIDA.
separable from Egithus by very slight differences of form. The metathoracic lines,
which are very conspicuous in Aigithus, are here absent or almost obsolete.
A. Epistoma squarish, much punctured, separated by a slightly arcuate line.
(Coccimorphus, Hope.)
1. Coccimorphus emys. (Tab. IV. fig. 21.)
Coccimorphus emys, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 518°.
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca!, Mirador (Sallé), Jalapa, Almolonga (Flohr); GUATEMALA,
Aceituno (Salvin), San Gerénimo, San Joaquin (Champion).
2. Coccimorphus frenatus.
AEgythus (Coccimorphus) frenatus, Guérin-Ménev. Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 120°.
Coccimorphus frenatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 271’.
Strongylosomus frenatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 488°.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt)—Sovutu America, Colombia ! 2 3.
A single specimen from Nicaragua. Not recorded previously from the northern
continent.
B. Epistoma cuneiform, smooth, separated by a strongly arcuate line.
(Strongylosomus, Chevr.)
3. Coccimorphus dichrous.
Erotylus unicolor, var., Oliv. Ent. v. p. 481°; Latr. in Humboldt et Bonpland, Obs. Zool. i. p. 184,
t. 17. f. 7? (?); Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 37, t. 3. f. 72 (?)*.
Coccimorphus dichrous, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 274°.
Strongylosomus dichrous, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 489°.
Hab. *Guatemata>; Costa Rica®, Cache (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de
Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet, David, Tolé (Champion).—Co.tomsBi1a! *, Bogota®, Rio
Magdalena‘; Ecuapor (Buckley); VunEzueta (coll. Crotch).
The older authors considered this insect to be a mere variety of C. unicolor, a species
which occurs further south; but it is probable that they confounded with it others of
similar appearance. The references to Latreille and to Duponchel are given, as those
authors probably refer to this species in the text, though their figures do not apply to
it—that in Humboldt’s work probably represents a Coccimorphus, but one more like
C. emys, and the Mexican locality, “ Nouvelle Espagne, Jorullo ” °, pointing also probably
to that species. Crotch gives “Guatemala ;” there is, however, no specimen from that
country in his collection.
EGITHUS. . 85
AGITHUS.
Migithus, Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 9 (1801); Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 276 (1842) ;
Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 55 (1876).
A Tropical-American genus of more than forty species, which are distinguished
generally by their nearly hemispherical form, and red or yellow colour, rarely spotted
elytra, but frequently black head, thorax, or body. As might be expected, Aigithus is
more numerous in species south of the Isthmus of Panama.
A. Elytra smooth, not striate.
1. Agithus melaspis. (Tab. IV. fig. 22.)
Coccimorphus melaspis, Chevr. (Sallé coll.) ined.
Late ovatus, saturate rufus, supra opacus subtus nitescens ; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis), tibiis,
tarsis et scutello nigris. Long. 10-12 millim.
Mas segmento ventrali primo puncto minute setigero.
Hab. Muxtico (Sallé, ex coll. Sturm), Presidio (forrer), Orizaba, Tehuantepec (Saldé),
Chilpancingo in Guerrero (Hége); GuatuMata, San Geronimo (Champion); Nicaracva,
Chontales (Janson).
This species is more elongate and less convex than any other of the genus known to
me, and hence has more the appearance of a Coccimorphus. It is elongate-ovate in
shape, acuminate before and behind, moderately convex, of a uniform dull brick-red
colour, smooth, and a little shining beneath, and without punctuation, excepting only
that the epistome has a few very small indistinct points. The antenne are black, with
two joints at the base red, their third joint elongate; the club is composed of four
joints, and is rather narrow, the eighth, or first club-joint, not so long as the ninth, and
this one longer than the two succeeding it. The margin of the antennal socket bears
a single puncture (present also in Coccimorphus dichrous and some other 4igithi); the
tips of the mandibles are black. The scutellum, tips of the femora, tibie, and tarsi
are black. There are no metasternal nor abdominal lines. Prosternum even, rather
raised in the middle, but not compressed, nor acuminate in front. The punctiform
setigerous dot on the middle of the first ventral segment in the male is a character
unusual in this genus, but occurs in Hrotylus, and rarely in other genera (as we have
seen in Mycotretus); and what is more noteworthy still is that there is a similar but
less conspicuous dot on the middle of the prosternal process in this species. We have
received a large series of this insect. It was found abundantly by Mr. Champion at
San Gerénimo. There is one specimen unnamed in the Cambridge collection.
I have retained the name with which it is labelled in Sallé’s collection.
86 EROTYLIDA.
2. Aagithus cardinalis. (Tab. IV. fig. 23.)
Aigithus cardinalis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fase. 4, no. 5 (1884); Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 2847;
Crotch, Cist. Ent. 1. pp. 146, 492.
Hab. Mexico, Orizaba1, Toxpam, Teapa, Parada, Jalapa (Hége); Guatema.a, Cubil-
guitz, Sabo, Tactic, Totonicapam (Champion).
Var. Minor (long. 9-10 millim.), testaceus.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége).
I cannot agree with Crotch in thinking that 4. rujfipennis, Chevr., and 4. meri-
dionalis, Crotch, can possibly be forms of 4. cardinalis: they are accordingly here
kept distinct; a third species, which has been confounded with 4. cardinalis, is
described below, as there are abundant distinctions, and they occur in different
districts. . |
Mr. Champion’s capture of 4. cardinalis in Guatemala is an interesting discovery.
There are no specimens other than Mexican in Crotch’s collection or my own. The
small variety found by Hoge at Jalapa is peculiar on account of its uniformly small
size: there were about a dozen, specimens all alike. Mere colour variety, such as the
var. A, noticed by Lacordaire, is of no importance, and occurs in all the red and dark
yellow species of Erotylide. | |
Of this insect we have a large series of specimens.
The prosternum is somewhat compressed in the middle, but is not acuminate in
front; the antennal orbit has its margin flattened above, with a small oblong puncture
and striola joining the ocular canthus.
3. Aagithus politus.
Oblongo-ovatus, antice posticeque acuminatus, elytris valde convexis, subcordiformibus, gibbosis; niger,
nitidissimus ; capite, prothorace elytrisque rufo-flavis, glabris. Long. 12-13 millim.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama,
Bugaba (Champion), Volcan de Chiriqui (f2b0e). |
Of the same form as #. cardinalis, but more convex; the elytra more produced and
more depressed towards their apex, and hence more gibbous when viewed laterally.
Although this species so far resembles 4. cardinalis as easily to be confused with it, it
may readily be distinguished by the total absence of any black discoidal mark on the
thorax. It also differs structurally, the prosternum being produced into an acuminate
point in the middle of its front margin. In colour &. politus is usually of a more
yellow- than blood-red; and the elytra, perhaps from their greater convexity, have a
more polished look than those of either . cardinalis or 4. meridionalis.
AGITHUS. | 87
4, Aagithus rufipennis. (Tab. IV. fig. 24.)
Aigithus rufipennis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fase. 4, no. 2 (1834)"; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 284’. |
Agithus cardinalis, var. A, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 146°, et var. a, ibid. p. 492°.
Hab. Mexico? 4, Orizaba!, Cordova, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla, Playa Vicente
(Sallé), Jalapa, Teapa in Tabasco 2, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége), Yucatan 2 (Gauwmer) ;
British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaur); Guatemata, Yzabal (Sallé), Cubilguitz,
Panzos, Teleman, Chacoj, San Juan in Vera Paz, El Reposo, Las Mercedes, Cerro
Zunil, San Isidro, Zapote, Duefias (Champion).
6. Aigithus meridionalis. (Tab. IV. fig. 25.)
Migithus meridionalis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 1467.
“Higithus cardinalis, var. C, Crotch, loc. cit. p. 146, et var. c, ibid. p. 4937.
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Nicaragua, Chontales! (Janson,
Belt); Costa Rica+?, Cache, Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui
(Champion).
Very short and convex; the thorax distinctly shorter and more transverse than in
44. cardinalis or 42. politus, the sides very strongly narrowed and a little rounded.
Deep brick-red above, the antenne, legs, scutellum, and underside black ; specimens,
however, occur with the prosternum pitchy or even reddish. The upper surface is
entirely impunctate (with the exception of the epistome, which is alutaceous and
obsoletely punctate) and the elytra non-striate. There is the puncture and striola above
the antennal socket. The prosternum is not acuminate in the middle of the front, nor
much compressed. The metasternal line is distinct, carinate, running nearly across the
episterna, then deflexed and passing to the corner of the metasternum and merging in
its margin.
There is some confusion about this species—Crotch’s type specimen, bearing the
name £4. meridionalis in his own handwriting, is from Costa Rica, and has the
prosternum quite black. Again, although Crotch says the Chontales specimens all
pertain to @. meridionalis there is no specimen in his collection from that place, and
I have reason to think they were at least partly 4. politus, Gorh., which he did not
distinguish. |
This insect is perfectly distinct from 4. cardinalis, 4A. rufipennis, &c. About a
dozen examples are before me.
6. Aigithus clavicornis.
Chrysomela clavicornis, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. x. p. 370 (1758) *.
Erotylus clavicornis, Oliv. Ent. v. p. 479, t. 2. f£. 28°; Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 42, t. 3. f.59°.
Aigithus clavicornis, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 147* & 493°.
88 EROTYLIDZ.
Coccinella surinamensis, Linn. Cent. Ins. 10 (1763) °.
AEgithus surinamensis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 285’.
Hab. Mzxico, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Tapachula in Chiapas (Hodge); Brivisy Hon-
puras, Belize, R. Sarstoon, R. Hondo (Blancaneauxr); GuatemaLa (Sallé), Panzos,
Teleman, Cubilguitz, Zapote (Champion), Capetillo (Rodriguez); Nicaragua ®, Chon-
tales (Janson); Costa Ricat® (Van Patten); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, David
(Champion).—Cotomata 4 > ; Ecuapor 4 *; Guiana, Cayenne >’, Surinam 1236, Brazi4®,
Rio Janeiro’, Amazons * >,
This species is widely dispersed and well known; it may be easily recognized by its
black head and thorax, brick-red elytra (which are rather smooth and shining), and red
abdomen. Numerous examples.
7. Aagithus uva.
Aigithus uva, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 290°.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama,
Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Co.LomBia 1, Bogota (coll. Crotch); Ecuapor.
Many examples.
B. Llytra gemellate-striate.
8. Adgithus jansoni. (Tab. V. fig. 1.)
Aigithus jansoni, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 146°.
“ Breviter ovatus, convexus, ochraceus, capite antice impresso, cum thorace levibus; hoc marginibus anguste
lineisque tribus nigris (1 discoidali, 1 utrinque disci); scutello magno, testaceo, levi; elytris subtiliter
gemellato-punctato-striatis, interstitiis levibus, margine suturaque anguste nigris, disco toto fusco,
ochraceo-cincto, L.c. 4 lin.” “Intermediate coxal line present.”
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales! (Janson, Belt).
This species is not contained in Crotch’s collection; we have received it from the
late Mr. Belt
9. Agithus varicollis.
Aigithus varicollis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 291*; Crotch, Cist. Ent. p. 491°.
Hab. Guaremata?; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Cotomsia ! ®.
The Guatemalan specimen alluded to by Crotch is not in his collection. A single
example captured by Mr. Champion in the State of Panama differs from South-American
ones just as the Guatemalan one appears to do, the three black thoracic marks not
reaching the front.
10. Aigithus discoideus. (Tab. V. fig. 2.)
Breviter ovatus, convexus, ochraceus; ore, antennis, femorum apicibus, tibiis, tarsis, prothoracis elytrorumque:
ZEGITHUS. 89
marginibus nigris; his flavis, macula magna discoidali nigro-fusca, tenuiter gemellato-punctato-striatis.
Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).
A very distinct species, of which unfortunately only one damaged specimen has been
received. There is, however, no other known species with which it can be confounded.
11. Aigithus hogei.
Ovatus, subopacus, dilute brunneus; antennarum articulis sex ultimis nigris, elytris gemellato-punctato-
striatis. Long. 73 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (Hd6ge).
Rather evenly oblong-ovate, the elytra a little contracted at the base. Head and
thorax smooth; the latter transverse, narrower in front, the sides a little rounded, the
base evenly bisinuate and not much angulated (less so than usual in Agithus). Elytra
dull, but very even; only the two inner pairs of strie are visible, and they are very
faint and almost obliterated, except in the middle. Prosternum not compressed nor
punctured. The colour is uniformly pale brown, or ochraceous inclining to brick-red,
with the sole exception of the six terminal joints of the antenne, which are black.
This insect is not very closely allied to any other described species, but must be placed
near 4. lebasi. I have only seen the four specimens captured by Herr Hoge.
12. Aigithus lebasi.
Aigithus Lebasii, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 285°.
4igithus cassideus, Lac. loc. cit. p. 295’.
Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David,
Tolé (Champion).—Co.omBia 2, Cartagena}.
13. Aigithus quadrinotatus.
Aigithus quadrinotatus, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fase. 4, no. 89 (1884)’; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl.
p- 283°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 146°.
Aigithus clathratus, Lac. loc. cit. p. 282%.
Hab. Mextco!, Orizaba?%, Toxpam, Juquila (Sallé), Cordova (Hége), Teapa%,
Tabasco 4, Yucatan * (Gaumer); British Honpvras, Belize, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneauz) ;
GUATEMALA, Purula, San Gerdénimo, Balheu, Cubilguitz, Chacoj, San J oaquin, San Juan
in Vera Paz, Panzos (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales * (Belt, Janson).
14. Agithus duplicatus.
Ovatus, antice et postice acuminatus, sordide testaceus, nitidus; antennarum clava, verticis macula, prothoracis
basi, sutura tenuiter, scutello, geniculis tarsisque nigris, elytris gemellato-striatis. Long. 8-9 millim.
Hab. Guatemata (Sallé), Capetillo, Zapote, Las Mercedes, San Gerénimo, Chacoj
(Champion) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Bel¢).
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., November 1888. N*
90 EROTYLIDA.
This is a rather variable species and apparently liable to discoloration, but the
amount of variation is not great. Sometimes the tibie are wholly black; in some
examples the thorax has only the base on each side of the middle narrowly black, while
others have three distinct triangular dots (the middle one the most produced) on the
base. In the single specimen in Sallé’s collection (which is the only one I have seen
not discoloured) the general colour is pale ochraceous-yellow; six joints at the base of
the antenne are yellow, but in the Chontales examples, which seem to be otherwise
inseparable, only two are yellow; and the episterna are pitchy-black. The front margin
of the thorax is often narrowly black in the middle. The gemellate series of punctures
on the elytra are distinct, but not large, vanishing one third before the apex, and the
external pair are almost obsolete. The oblong-oval, but acuminate, form distinguishes
this species from any of its section at present described. It is very like Strongylosomus
peruvianus, Crotch, in general appearance, but the longer antenne prevent its being
placed nearer to that species.
A considerable number of specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion. I have only
seen two from Nicaragua.
15. Aigithus strigicollis.
Late ovatus, ferrugineus; prothoracis striga longitudinali, antennis pedibusque nigris, scutello fusco, elytris -
nitidis, gemellato-striatis. Long. 7-9 millim.
Hab. Panama, David, Bugaba (Champion).
Closely allied to @. lineola, Lac.; but rather more acuminate before and behind, more
shining, and of a clearer rusty-red colour. The second joint of the antenne alone is
testaceous, the basal joint and the long third joint being more or less infuscate or
almost black. The epistoma is minutely but obsoletely punctured. The elytra are
very finely but distinctly gemellate-striate, with small close punctures in the striae, as
in 4. lineola. The legs are black, but have the coxe and trochanters of the colour of
the body. Body beneath smooth; the metasternal line distinct, reaching to the
episterna. Five examples, varying in size but not much in colour. The scutellum is
scarcely darker than the elytra in two of them.
16. Aigithus dubius.
Breviter ovatus, convexus, nitidus, brunneo-testaceus; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis), scutello,
tibiis tarsisque nigris ; capite prothoraceque glabris, elytris levibus, obsolete punctulato-striatis, punctulis
ante apicem desinentibus. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Caldera (Champion).
Nearly of the same form as &. lineola; but more polished and shining than either
that species or 4. strigicollis, and the elytral striz are not gemellate. The third joint
of the antenne is partly yellow. The thorax is spotless, very shining, and glazed; its
sides are more rounded than in 4. strigicollis, and very much narrowed from the base
EGITHUS. | 91
to the anterior angles; and the base is not so much angulated, but almost straight
(though slightly bisinuate) and with a broad and indistinct median lobe. ‘The elytra
are very smooth and glabrous and have numerous rows of fuscous dots; the punctures
are larger and more distant than in J. strigicollis, and eight rows are visible though
they terminate at one third from the apex. ‘The underside and femora are rather paler
ferruginous-red than the upperside usually is, glabrous, and shining. The prosternum
is not compressed but convex; the metasternal lines are distinct, and produced back-
wards till they unite with the marginal impressed stria.
This and some other allied species might from the form of the thorax be placed with
equal propriety in Brachysphenus, the V-shaped form having quite merged here into
the ordinary form. 4. dubius is, however, clearly allied to Ayithi of the 4. mono-
chrous and 4. lineola group; and there is really no other distinction than that of
general form between the two genera.
Five specimens from Bugaba and one from Caldera.
17. Adgithus stillatus.
Breviter ovatus, convexus, flavo-ferrugineus, nitidus; capitis puncto, antennarum clava, prothoracis lineis
tribus et limbo laterali, scutello elytrorumque punctis numerosis, sutura margineque tenuiter, nigris ;
elytris punctulis impressis, punctis nigris cingentibus, interdum obliteratis. Long. 6-73 millim.
Hab. Mexico (Sallé); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneauz).
This is a very curious species, not allied to any other known to me; but from the
numerous black dots on the elytra recalling 4. burmeistert. The head and thorax are
smooth and shining—of a rich fulvous-red in the Mexican example, yellowish in the
Belize specimens. ‘The antenne have a four-jointed club; these joints and one or two
preceding them are black, the basal joints being testaceous. The elytra are brownish-
yellow (as in &. punctatissimus and 4. burmeisteri); the suture and lateral margins in
the Mexican example being of the rich red colour of the thorax, but in the Belize
specimens very narrowly black. ‘The legs and underside are fulvous, the tibie exter-
nally and the tarsi infuscate, the episterna pitchy. The metasternal lines are visible.
Two specimens from British Honduras and one from Mexico are all I have seen of
this species.
18. Adgithus (?) grammicus. (Tab. V. fig. 3.)
Ovatus, valde convexus, nitidissimus, glaber, saturate flavus; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis),
prothoracis maculis quatuor oblongis, transverse sitis, scutello, elytrorum sutura, macula communi
suturali et tribus aliis irregularibus, geniculis, tibiis tarsisque, nigris. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. GuatEMALA, Sabo, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
Head and thorax smooth, yellow, the former inclining to ferruginous and pitchy at
the base; the latter with four elongate pitchy-black spots, its sides much narrowed
from the base, the front margin almost semicircularly cut out, the base angular.
N* 2
92 EROTYLIDZ.
Elytra yellow, with ferruginous clouds and black spots, strongly convex ; very delicately
punctate-striate, the punctures only distinct in the central part, and the sutural row
almost entire, but with this exception they are smooth; the black spots are—one
near the base (like a Hebrew character, with a small projection joining it to the base),
one median (like three oblong spots united), one subapical (heart-shaped), and one
in the middle of the suture, common to both elytra, oblong. Legs testaceous-red, the
extreme tips of the thighs and the tarsi dark pitchy-red, the tibie almost black.
Underside testaceous. ‘Two examples. |
BRACHYSPHENUS.
Brachyspheenus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 296 (1842); Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 496 (1876).
Morphoides, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 111; Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 356.
Megaprotus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 297.
Habrodactylus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 311.
Acronotus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 332.
Sternolobus, Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 118; Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 333.
Iphiclus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 337.
_ Aigithomorphus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 374.
Oogaster, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 377.
Barytopus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 379.
Brachymerus, Lacordaire, loc. cit. p. 405.
The synonymy quoted above will show that this is a very extensive genus whose
limits it is difficult to define. In treating of a local fauna it would be undesirable to
revive any of the above names. Lacordaire only notices them as subgenera. We
quote them as they have been so generally used in collections. Brachysphenus contains
about one hundred and eighty described species, but many more exist in collections.
They are all American, and are confined to the tropics. The species are generally of
moderate size, and very varied in colour and pattern.
Sect. 1. (Mrcaprotvs.)
1. Brachysphenus delineatus. (Tab. V. figg. 7; 8, var.)
Brachysphenus delineatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 806°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 497°.
Hab. PanaMa?, Bugaba, David (Champion).—Co.LomBia!; Guiana, Cayenne!;
Brazin 2, Rio Janeiro (coll. Gorham); Amazons, Para (coll. Gorham).
The specimens which Mr. Champion collected of this beautiful species are con-
siderably larger than the two from Panama in Crotch’s collection, being a little over
eight (instead of from six to seven) millimetres in length. It is distinguished from the
species which follows, and with which it might easily be confused, by the more oblong
form, by the different denticulations of the yellow fasciz (which a reference to the
BRACHYSPHENUS. 93
figures will explain better than any description), and also by the yellow margin of the
thorax. The single example from David (fig. 8) is a distinct variety, in which the
pitchy-black disc of the thorax is divided into four spots.
2. Brachysphenus pulcher. (Tab. V. fig. 9.)
Ovalis, postice subacuminatus, dilute piceus, supra saturatius piceus vel nigro-piceus, nitidus; elytris striis
tribus vel quatuor dorsalibus tenuissimis, fasciis duabus valde denticulatis (anteriore ad scutellum et
ad humerum reflexa, denticulis duobus interioribus, tribus exterioribus; posteriore arcuata, denticulis
tribus exterioribus, duobus interioribus, et ad suturam versus apicem reflexa), late flavis. Long. 8-8}
millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
More convex and more widely oval than B. delineatus; the head and thorax pitchy-
black, the front of the former and the front angles of the latter paler, but never with
any defined yellow margin. The much indented yellow fasciz are somewhat similar to
those of B. delineatus; they do not, however, as in that species, form two round black
spots at the base of the elytra, but one bifurcate spot. The posterior fascia is reflexed
at the suture towards the apex of the elytra, whereas in B. delineatus it is retiexed
towards their base. The underside in both species is plain pale pitchy-red. The
prosternum is rather more acutely compressed in front in B. delineatus. The legs in
both are pale pitchy-red.
Mr. Champion captured many examples of this very beautiful insect.
3. Brachysphenus catillifer. (Tab. V. figg. 10; 11, var.)
Brachysphenus zonula, Crotch, Cist. Ent. p. 147° (pars).
Oblongo-ovatus, parum convexus, flavo-ferrugineus, verticis puncto, prothoracis disco elytrisque piceis, his
fascia basali cum altera pone medium obliqua per vittam lateralem conjuncta; antennis piceis, articulis
duobus basalibus rufis. Long. 74-9 millim.
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson1, Belt); Costa Rica, Cache
(Rogers).
I have carefully compared this insect with Crotch’s type-specimens of B. zonula in
his collection, and come to the conclusion that it is a distinct species from the Ecuador
insect. It differs as follows:—It is shorter and more robust; the ring-like band in
B. catillifer covers the shoulder, instead of leaving it of the pitchy-black ground-
colour; and the posterior part of the hind fascia is more produced towards the apex of
the elytra.
Janson’s specimens have the basal fascia denticulate, but Belt’s have the band nearly
or quite simple, as is also the case in one from Cache.
4, Brachysphenus dilectus.
Oblongo-ovatus, parum convexus, niger ; capite utrinque prope oculos, ore, palpis, antennarum articulis duobus
94 - BROTYLIDZA.
primis tarsisque, rufo-piceis; elytris punctato-striatis, striis ad basin et ad apicem obliteratis, fasciis
duabus flavis, una basali, altera postmediana obliqua, latiore, subdenticulatis. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (bbe).—Perrv (coll. Gorham).
This insect though evidently allied to B. fasciellus and its allies is less convex; the
thorax especially is flatter, and it is entirely black. The body moreover is black,
instead of being, as usual in species of that section, yellow or pitchy. The basal yellow
fascia of the elytra leaves the shoulder and a double spot near the scutellum black ;
the black portion between this and the postmedian fascia is much narrowed towards
the margin; the epipleure are yellow; and the seven series of rather large punctures
are quite distinct. Only one example of this species has been received from Chiriqui,
and its antenne are almost entirely gone. I possess, however, two specimens of the
same species collected in Peru by the late Mr. Buckley, which only differ in being
slightly larger, and in one of them having a small pitchy spot on the thorax near the
front angles, while in the other the head is entirely black.
5. Brachysphenus nuculus.
Ovatus, convexus, nitidissimus, niger, abdomine elytrisque fulvis, ore rufo. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
The head and thorax are black and very shining; the former is broadly impressed in
front, with the labrum and palpi rufous; the antenne are black and as long as the
head and thorax; the front margin of the latter is semicircularly excavate; scutellum
black, partly covered by the median lobe of the thorax; elytra quite smooth and
without striee, although darker lines faintly indicate their position ; body and legs quite
black and smooth; the prosternum compressed and elevated in front; abdomen bright
red, of the same colour as the elytra. This species is coloured exactly like B. fulvi-
ventris, but is smaller and has precisely the form of a Megaprotus.
Sect. 2.
6. Brachysphenus cereus.
Oblongus, parum ovatus, convexus, nitidissimus, lucide ochraceus, fere glaber; antennis, pedibus, scutello,
palporum et mandibularum apicibus nigris, unguibus rufis, elytris leviter et tenuiter punctato-striatis.
Long. 84-9 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Head a little produced, the epistoma distinct, very minutely punctured; labrum
distinct; ocular striola and the puncture above the antennal socket well defined.
Antenne as long as or longer than the head and thorax, with a distinctly four-jointed
club, but the eighth and apical joints narrower than the ninth and tenth. ‘Thorax
much narrowed anteriorly, the sides gently rounded, the front emargination deep,
nearly semicircular, but straight in the middle; the basal margin bisinuate, its median lobe
BRACHYSPHENUS. 95
not very strong. Elytra broad, very even, with fine punctured striz, the interstices
quite flat and even, the series evanescent towards the apex. Underside quite smooth
and even. The prosternum has a broad intercoxal process, with a minute impressed
puncture on each side, the front not much compressed and terminating in a point which
is but little produced or elevated. The central part of the mesosternum is transverse ;
the metasternal lines are very distinct, terminating before reaching the episterna, the
latter with the epimera broad and smooth. The abdomen is not quite so even as the
rest of the underside; the segments are vaguely impressed on each side, and these
impressions are sometimes infuscate. The legs are black, including the trochanters,
but the coxe are entirely of the waxy-yellow colour of the body, and the claws are red.
Eight specimens of this very neat though plainly-coloured species were obtained, two
of them at elevations between 4000 and 6000 feet, the others at lower altitudes on the
Volcan de Chiriqui.
7. Brachysphenus exiguenotatus.
Ovatus, convexus, brunneo-castaneus, antennis (articulis duobus basalibus exceptis) nigris; elytris postice
subacuminatis, seriatim punctulatis, singulis puncto basali obsolescente alteroque mediano, marginem
lateralem versus, interdum geminato, nigris ; tibiarum basi tarsisque fuscis. Long. 7-8 millim.
Hab. Nicaraaua (Sallé); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Of the form and size of B. spadiceus, or nearly so; very polished and shining; the
thorax very short and transverse, its disc convex and very smooth, its sides narrowing
from the base and very faintly rounded, the base gently bisinuate and with a few
obsolete punctures along the margin, the median lobe feeble. Scutellum red. Elytra
very convex, ovate-cordate, slightly gibbous; each with seven rows of rather distinct
punctures, vanishing towards the apex, and each with a black dot, made up of two or
three black punctures, at the base of the third and fourth striz, and a similar but often
double dot on the sixth and seventh strize near the middle. Prosternum strongly
compressed and pointed in front. Margins of the epipleure blackish; the base of the
tibiz infuscate.
Two specimens from Nicaragua and one from the Volcan de Chiriqui.
8. Brachysphenus brevicollis.
Oblongo-ovatus, lucide ferrugineus, nitidus, glabratus; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis), scutello
tiblisque basi nigris, tarsis infuscatis. Long. 54-7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Head and thorax glabrous, shining, pale rusty-yellow; the latter very short, and with
the disc convex, the sides strongly contracted to the front angles and very evidently
rounded, the front angles acute and prominent, the base bisinuate and with a well-
defined median lobe. EHlytra almost smooth, but with striz formed of fuscous punc-
tures visible beneath the surface and only minutely impressed above. Scutellum black.
96 EROTYLIDZ.
The antenne are as long as or a little longer than the head and thorax; the two basal
joints yellow, the third pitchy or varied with yellow and black, the fourth and fifth
elongate and fusiform, the sixth and seventh a little shorter and more obconic, the
eighth obconic, scarcely forming part of the club; the last three joints wider, produced
on each side; the apical joint about as wide as long, but compressed and contracted at
the tip.
Three specimens from Bugaba agree very closely with the description I have given,
and in size; a fourth is much smaller, and has not the fuscous punctures, but the
strie rather more distinctly impressed; while one specimen, also from Bugaba, has the
elytra rather more produced at the apex, entirely smooth and unicolorous, but with
numerous most minute punctures both in the obsolete strie and irregularly in the
interstices. This species is allied rather closely to B. concolor, but appears (according
to a specimen of that species from Reiche’s collection) to differ from it in having the
thorax shorter, more convex and shining, and (according to Lacordaire’s description) by
the strie and punctures being more effaced.
9. Brachysphenus striatipennis.
Oblongo-ovatus, convexus, flavo-testaceus, nitidus; antennis (basi excepta), scutello tarsisque nigricantibus ;
elytris tenuiter distincte punctato-striatis, striis fere integris, punctis fuscis, Long. 63-8 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This species is so very near to B. brevicollis that it will suffice to point out-the
differences:—The antenne are thinner; the thorax is not quite so short, and less
convex, and the median lobe at the base is less distinctly produced and truncate ; the
. punctures of the elytral striz are more distinctly impressed; and the legs have only the
tarsi infuscate. B. striatipennis appears to agree very closely with Lacordaire’s
description of B. concolor; but to differ by not having the tibie infuscate, and by the
strie being continued almost to the apex of the elytra. It differs also from the repre-
sentative of that species in Crotch’s collection. |
10. Brachysphenus pallidipennis.
Oblongus, elytris longioribus, testaceis, nitidus, fere glaber; prothoracis disco convexo, rufo-testaceo, lateribus
late et elytris pallidioribus, his fusco punctato-striatis, vix impressis; antennis (articulis duobus primis
exceptis), scutello, tibiis tarsisque nigris. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This species is exceedingly close to, and difficult to separate satisfactorily from,
B. brevicollis. If, however, great latitude is not to be allowed to proportionate form
in this genus, the longer and rather flatter thorax, and the much longer, more pointed,
and gibbous elytra indicate a distinct species. In three specimens, which seem to
agree in this respect, 1 notice also that the median lobe of the base of the thorax is
very narrowly black at the tip; the tibie are quite black in two examples, in the third:
they are rufous at the tarsal end.
BRACHYSPHENUS. 97
11. Brachysphenus jejunus.
Oblongus, parum ovatus, lucide rufo-testaceus, pernitidus; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis), scutello
tarsisque nigris ; prothorace brevi, convexo, lateribus fortiter rotundatis, antice angustatis ; elytris olivaceo-
luteis, versus suturam indeterminate rufo-testaceis, fusco punctato-striatis, fere levibus. Long. 84-9
millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sailé).
Allied to, and about the same size as, B. ictericus, but in that species the thorax is
not so. short and the scutellum is yellow. Head, thorax, and body beneath of a clear
reddish-testaceous colour, and very glabrous and as it were varnished. Antennee short,
hardly so long as the head and thorax; in one specimen the second joint is infuscate.
Sect. 3. (HAaBRODACTYLUS. )
12. Brachysphenus conspicillatus. (Tab. V. fig. 12.)
Ovatus, antice et postice acuminatus, flavo-testaceus ; antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis), scutello, tarsis
annulisque duobus elytrorum (anteriore obcordato) nigris; elytris confuse punctato-striatis, interstitiis
obsolete punctatis, striis nonnunquam subgemellatis. Long. 8-9 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten), Cache (Rogers).
This insect is rather nearly allied to and resembles B. perspicillatus, Lac., from
Colombia. B. conspicillatus differs in being rather larger, more acuminate before and
behind, and by the curious and generally indistinct rings of the elytra being blacker and
larger, and not united (they are often formed by the punctures at that part being black,
with a blackish appearance under the surface between them); but more especially by the
strie not being so regularly and evenly disposed—there is generally a wide space in the
middle between the fifth and sixth. The anterior ring has an angular projection just
reaching the base of the elytra; the posterior one is nearly round, almost touching the
margin, but it is often open at that part for a short distance. About a dozen examples
have been received from Cache.
Sect. 4. (IPHICLUs.)
13. Brachysphenus sedecim-maculatus. (Tab. V. fig. 13.)
Erotylus 16-maculatus, Buquet, Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 173°.
Brachysphenus 16-maculatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 348°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 510’.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).—CotomBiA! 23; Prru (coll. Gorham).
Sect. 5. (MoRPHOIDES.)
14. Brachysphenus fulviventris.
Ovatus, valde convexus; niger, elytris abdomineque fulvis, illis punctato-striatis. Long. 10 millim.
Hab. Guatemaua, San Gerdénimo and Chiacam in Vera Paz (Champion).
Allied to and of the same form as B. lacordairii, Crotch ( =B. clavicornis, Lac.),
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., November 1888. O*
98 EROTYLIDZ.
black, with the elytra and abdomen dark fulvous-red ; the former punctate-striate,
but with the first four strize only distinct at the base, and all obliterated before the
apex, and those external to the short fifth stria also quite obliterated. The head and
thorax are glabrous; the antenne entirely black. The prosternum is compressed, but
not elevated or pointed, in front. The scutellum is pitchy-red in the San Geronimo
specimen; in two others from Chiacam it is black. B. fulviventris is the only known
species of this convex oval form, acuminate before and behind, with the abdomen red,
which has the strie obliterated externally. In the San Gerdnimo specimen the cox
are red also, but it does not appear to be distinct from those from Chiacam. ©
15. Brachysphenus scutellaris.
Oblongus, ferrugineus; antennis (articulis duobus basi scutelloque rufescentibus), femorum apicibus, tibiis
tarsisque nigris; prothoracis lateribus antice angustatis, angulis anterioribus et posticis acutis, disco
opalescente. Long. 10 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa
Rica (Van Patten).
Very nearly allied to B. rubidus, Duponch.; but differing from it in having the
scutellum black and the upper surface of a less sanguineous-red colour, as well as in
minor details.
The antenne are thinner and have all the joints (especially those intermediate
between the second and the club) longer. The lobe in the middle of the base of the
thorax has its tip black in two examples, viz. in the one from Guatemala, and in
another from Costa Rica, and these have also the extreme limb of the lateral margins
of the thorax and elytra black. The opalescent tint of the prothorax appears to be a
specific character ; but none of the specimens received (there being only one from each
locality) are in good condition.
16. Brachysphenus hematocephalus.
Brachysphenus hematocephalus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 361°.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David, San Feliz (Champion).—Co.omBia!.
Var. Elytrorum macula discoidali nigra, abbreviata.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (£20ée).
The basal segment of the abdomen is black, and bears a pubescent dot in one sex;
the following three segments are red with black spots on the sides; the apical segment
is red, rarely spotted. Many examples.
17. Brachysphenus adamsi.
Brachysphenus Adamsi, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 366°.
Hab. Panama, Tolé (Champion).—CoLoMBia?.
A single specimen.
BRACHYSPHENUS. 99
18. Brachysphenus melanopus.
Oblongus, antice angustatus; elytris ovatis, convexis, gibbosis, rubidis; antennis pedibusque nigris. Long.
9-10 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion).
This species is of a deep but lucid brick-red colour, with black antenne and legs; the
tips of the palpi and the mandibles are blackish, but the coxe are red like the body.
The head and thorax are smooth and shining, the former often with two impressions
between the eyes; the latter narrowing in front, with slightly rounded sides, the
base bisinuate, forming acute hind angles, and the middle lobe separated by a shallow
transverse depression from the disc. Elytra very convex, and a good deal wider in the
middle than the thorax, punctate striate, the interstices a little rough, but the sculpture
obsolete and not distinct, so that the surface is shining. There are no true coxal lines,
but the area over which the middle femora move is faintly indicated by an obsolete
carina. This species is nearest, I think, to B. rubidus, but is more convex. We have
received three specimens from Caldera and one from the Volcan de Chiriqui.
Sect. 6. (BaRyTopus.)
19. Brachysphenus nigropictus.
Brachysphenus nigropictus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 887+; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 147’, 502°.
Hab. Nicaracua®, Santo Domingo in Chontales? (Belt, Janson).—Cotomsia! 3 ;
VENEZUELA2.
The variety recorded by Crotch? from the Amazons under the name B. decoloratus
is, I think, a distinct species. B. nigropictus is not uncommon at Chontales.
20. Brachysphenus fragmentatus, (Tab. V. fig. 16.)
Oblongo-ovatus, modice convexus, piceo-brunneus, nitidus; capitis punctis duobus, prothoracis maculis sex
punctoque medio nigris; elytris nigro-piceis (sutura apiceque dilutiore), lunula humerum subcingente ad
basin hamata, maculis tribus, fasciaque subapicali dentata flavis. Long. 10—11 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion).
The form of this species somewhat resembles that of a Prepopharus; but the
antenne are not so long, being only a little longer than the head and thorax, and they
are pitchy-black with two joints at the base red. The thorax is narrower at the base
than the elytra (which latter widen gradually from the shoulders to the middle); it is
transverse, considerably narrowed in front, and the front margin is almost semicircularly
emarginate ; on each side of the middle are three spots of irregular shape (disposed in
a triangle), and there is one small round spot in the middle near the base; the disc is
obsoletely punctate, and there is an uneven fossa before the hind angles. The
elytra are striate only at the base, where several short rows of punctures are
present ; the humeral lunule is sometimes united with another lunular marking which
O* 2
100 EROTYLIDA.
turns the reverse way, 7. é€. towards the suture, but both lunules are more frequently
broken into two or more irregular spots; beyond the middle on each elytron are two
squarish spots, placed somewhat obliquely, and an apical undulate fascia. The
underside and legs, as well as the elytral epipleure, are pitchy-red ; all the segments of
the abdomen have a dark spot on each side. ‘The antenne are pitchy-red at the base,
with five or six joints at the apex blackish-brown.
21. Brachysphenus spectabilis ?
Brachysphenus spectabilis, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 392°.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Cotomsia!.
A single specimen, which is, I think, probably referable to this species. I have not,
however, seen any authenticated specimen of B. spectadilis. The Bugaba insect is
black with the abdomen and elytra yellow; the latter with two fascie very narrowly
interrupted at the suture, and not touching the margin, and the apex black. This
insect is somewhat allied to B. venezuele, Crotch.
Sect. 7. (BRACHYMERUS.)
22. Brachysphenus festivus. (Tab. V. fig. 14.)
Brachysphenus festivus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 332".
Priotelus festivus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 555.
Hab. Mexico! ?, Toxpam, Cordova, Playa Vicente (Sad/é).
I see no advantage in transferring this insect to the genus Priotelus, from typical
species of which it differs very much in form.
23. Brachysphenus multiguttatus. (Tab. V. fig. 15.)
Oblongus, elytris ovatis, pallide flavescens, glaber, nitidus ; antennis (basi excepta), tibiis tarsisque fuscis ;
elytris singulis maculis quatuordecim et linea juxta suturam undulata nigro-piceis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guaremata, Senahu in Vera Paz
(Champion).
Antenne long and thin, the basal three or four joints pale testaceous, the rest
blackish; the third to the seventh joints all elongate, but the third the longest; the
eighth elongate and widened at its apex, so as to commence the long and lax club.
The head has the muzzle produced rather more than in typical Brachysphenus, and
conical, the antenne inserted in sockets which have a raised, slightly tubercular
ridge above; the crown has an obscure fuscous spot. Thorax twice as wide as long,
glabrous, testaceous, with a fuscous cloud in the middle; the hind angles are acute,
the sides nearly straight at the base, but rounded in front to the front angles, the front
broadly and deeply excised. The elytra are moderately convex and slightly gibbous,
BRACHYSPHENUS.—EROTYLUS. 101
the apex much depressed, without striation, but rendered uneven by obsolete irregular
and feebly impressed punctuation; close to the margin is an impressed line in which are
rather deeper punctures. The fourteen spots are of various sizes, and sometimes one or
two pairs are confluent; there are three basal (the one on the callus the largest), three
subapical, five forming a sort of fascia before the middle (the two inner ones oblong and
adjacent and larger), and three placed transversely between these and the three subapical
ones, Underside and legs testaceous, the knees, tibiee, and tarsi pitchy-black. Allied
to B. festivus; the spots more defined and not broken up, also differently disposed.
Five specimens from Senahu, and one from Teapa, the latter, however, not altogether
agreeing with the others.
24. Brachysphenus —— ?
Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).
A single specimen of a small Brachysphenus of the Megaprotus section, allied to
B. catillifer, but not in a sufficiently perfect condition for description.
The following species is unknown to me.
25. Brachysphenus oblitus.
Brachysphenus oblitus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 325°.
*‘ Ovatus, leete luteo-flavus, antennis, scutello, pectore pedibusque piceis; elytris convexis, punctato-striatis,
singulo punctis tribus baseos in triangulum digestis. Long. 33, lat. 27 lin.”
Hab. Mexico !.
EROTYLUS.
Erotylus, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 123 (1775) ; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 416 (pars) ; Crotch,
Rev. Erotyl., Cist. Ent. i. p. 525; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 62 (pars).
Erotylus as restricted by Crotch contains only the species of Lacordaire’s first
division ; his remarks, however, apply to the whole genus as constituted by Lacordaire..
As adopted by me it includes only such species as have the front of the head not
constricted at the point of insertion of the antennz, and the elytra more or less
variegated or entirely black. About sixty-five species have been described, all from.
Tropical America, and the genus is in great part confined to the Southern continent.
Some of the members of this and the following genus bear a very close resemblance
to certain Tenebrionide, e.g. Cuphotes (=Spheniscus) ; and (according to Mr. Cham-
pion) they are frequently to be found together about the fungoid growth on decaying
trees in the forest.
102 | EROTYLIDZ.
1. Erotylus leopardus. (Tab. V. figg.17, 18,19; 20, var.)
Erotylus leopardus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 442°.
Erotylus confluens, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 531”.
Hab, Mexico!2, Toxpam, Cordova (Sallé), Jalapa (Hége), Juquila (Boucard),
Yucatan?; GuateMaLa? (Sallé), Cubilguitz, Panima, Purula, Senahu, Sinanja, Zapote
(Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt) ; Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).
This species is subject to a good deal of variation, and the markings are seldom
symmetrical on the elytra. The numerous examples from different localities now
before me show conclusively that £. confluens, Crotch, is only one of the numerous
varieties in which the black markings are very much reduced in size. The single
specimens from Chontales and from Cache are of a bright orange-yellow with rufous
margins and epipleure, and are very similar to L. nicarague.
The figures 17, 18, and 19 are of varieties of this species from Jalapa; figure 20 is
taken from a specimen of the variety EL. confluens, Crotch, from Purula in Vera Paz.
2. Erotylus nicarague. (Tab. V. fig. 21.)
Erotylus Nicarague, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 148 ', 582.
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 1, Belt).
“ Ovatus, niger, nitidus, thorace punctato, elytris lete flavis, sat regulariter gemellato-striatis, maculis nigris
tessellatis, margine epipleurisque rufis. LL. ¢. 73 lin.”
It seems probable that this is only a local variety of EL. leopardus in which the black
markings are divided into spots by the geminate striz, so that the interstices between
the second and third, and between the fourth and fifth are free from black marks, and
the spots are thus clathrate. I see no other difference, as the bright orange colour is
repeated in aspecimen from Chontales which is certainly H. leopardus. Two examples
captured by the late Mr. T. Belt agree with Crotch’s type.
3. Erotylus nigronotatus. (Tab. VI. fig. 1, ¢.)
Oblongus, modice convexus, niger, nitidus; elytris albido-flavis vel pallide ochraceis, margine reflexo,
epipleuris, apice maculisque punctiformibus in singulis circa sedecim, nigris, punctorum seriebus pone
medium obliteratis. Long. 14-16 millim.
Mas pedibus longioribus, femoribus anticis parum incrassatis, segmento primo ventrali areola piligera.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet (Champion).
This curious species of Krotylus is not very closely allied to any other yet described ;
it perhaps comes nearest to LE. herpestes, Lac. The elytral spots are not impressed, the
series of punctures running over them; the humeral callus is black, this spot being
united to the base; the central lateral spot is also usually, but not always, united to
the margin ; and there is a black dash running a little way up the suture from the
EROTYLUS.—CYPHEROTYLUS. 103
black apex. The piliferous spot in the male is a small patch clothed with blackish-'
brown hair. |
Twelve specimens, seven of which are males.
CYPHEROTYLUS.
Cypherotylus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 148 (1873), & p. 537 (1876).
Under this name Crotch included all those species of Lacordaire’s genus Erotylus
which have the front of the head coarctate, the elytra with black impressed punctures,
and the thorax margined at the base. ‘Many of the species are remarkable for the
way in which their elytra are elevated. This genus attains a higher degree of latitude
than the true Hrotyli, several species being found in Mexico, and one or two passing
the Rio Grande, while comparatively few are known as existing south of the Amazons.
Section I. Elytra strongly gibbose, the middle of the suture acuminate.
1. Cypherotylus debauvei. (Tab. VI. figg. 2, 2a, 3.)
Erotylus Debauvei, Demay, Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 23*; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 457 *.
Cypherotylus Debauvei, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 588 °.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 feet (Champion).—Cotombia??; Guana ! ?,
Cayenne??; Botivia?; Braziu 3.
Two specimens, a male and a female, of this species are all I have seen from Central
America. It is easily recognized among other species of the same section by the two
posterior pairs of legs having the femora coral-red in the middle.
2. Cypherotylus dromedarius.
Erotylus Dromedarius, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 455 *.
Cypherotylus dromedarius, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 148 *, 538 °.
Hab. Nicaraeua, Chontales ? (Belt, Janson).—Gutana, Cayenne ! 3,
Section II. Elytra gibbose, the suture forming an even keel.
8. Cypherotylus gibbosus? (Tab. VI. figg. 3, 3 a.)
Chrysomela gibbosa, Linn. Cent. Ins. p. 10 (1763).
Erotylus gibbosus, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 4; Oliv. Encycl. Méth. vi. p. 482; Herbst, Kaf. viii.
p- 366, t. 137. f.5; Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 7, t. 1. f. 22; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 453’.
Cypherotylus gibbosus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 538”.
Erotylus tigrinus, Voet, Cat. Syst. Col. ii. p. 62, t. 44. f. 2.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt) ; Panama, Volean de Chiriqui (Trdtsch) —Souru
America; Guiana, Cayenne ! 2, Surinam.
104 EROTYLIDZ.
Two specimens, which I refer with some doubt to this species, only differ from
examples in Crotch’s collection in the central and lateral black spots on the elytra
being united and forming a broad fascia, indented on the basal side. In form they
agree precisely with others from South America; but they are rather larger than the
average. Considerable doubt exists as to what species should be referred to the Chryso-
mela gibbosa of Linneus; the description, however, agrees with the form here recorded.
The example figured is from Chontales.
4, Cypherotylus elevatus. (Tab. VI. figg. 4, 4a, var.)
FErotylus elevatus, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 4; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 459°.
Cypherotylus elevatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 538"
Hab. Panama, Caldera in Chiriqui (Champion).—Co.omBia, Bogota?; GUIANA,
Cayenne ! *,
Var.? Elytris subalbidis, punctis minus variolosis.
Hab. PanaMa, Bugaba (Champion).
One specimen only from each locality.
5. Cypherotylus impressopunctatus. (Tab. VI. fig. 5, 3.)
Cypherotylus impressopunctatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 148 *, 540.
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 12, Belt); Panama, Bugaba,
Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
The male has the thorax more convex, and with the sides sinuate, and the base with
deeper impressions ; the front tibie slightly bent inwards close to their apices; the
first two joints of the tarsi wide; and the basal segment of the abdomen with a patch of
black pile in the middle. Many examples *
* The following allied species appear to be undescribed :—
Cypherotylus patellatus,
Oblongus, niger, elytris alte carinatis, vix gibbosis, testaceis, punctis nigris ad apicem magis confluentibus et
in seriebus subdigestis, apice tenuiter nigro. Long. 19-22 millim.
Hab. Pzrv (coll. Gorham).
Varies in the amount of black at the apex of the elytra. Distinct from C. stillatus or C. impressopunctatus
by the much more acutely keeled ridge of the suture.
Cypherotylus anthracinus. |
Niger, nitidus, elytris alte carinatis, subgibbosis, punctis magnis variolosis. Long. 20-21 millim.
Hab. Perv, Chanchamayo (coll. Gorham).
This is the only wholly black Cypherotylus known to me. In form it is similar to C. patellatus. Two
specimens, apparently both females.
CYPHEROTYLUS. 105
6. Cypherotylus ——?
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt).
An imperfect example of a distinct species allied to the Brazilian C. aptatus, but
with the breast and the middle of the femora and a line on each side of the thorax
reddish-yellow.
Section III. Elytra evenly convex, the suture not keeled.
7. Cypherotylus vicinus. (Tab. V. fig. 24, 3.)
Erotylus vicinus, Guérin-Ménev. Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 116°; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 465 °.
Cypherotylus vicinus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 539 °.
Erotylus melanostigma, Lac. loc. cit. p. 466 *.
Cypherotylus Jansoni, Crotch, loc. cit. pp. 149°, 539°.
Hab. Mexico! 234, Yucatan? ; Guatemaa *, Cubilguitz in Vera Paz (Champion) ;
Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson ® °).
C. jansoni, Crotch, differs in nothing from C. vicinus but in the more reduced black
elytral spots, which in the present species often form an interrupted oblique fascia ;
and both are so very nearly allied to the Colombian C. gory that I see no more
important distinction than a further extension of the black fascia, so that its oblique
disposition is lost. They are probably only local forms of one species.
We figure a male specimen from Cubilguitz.
8. Cypherotylus guatemalez. (Tab. VI. fig. 6, ¢.)
Cypherotylus guatemale, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 540°.
“CO, vicino proximus, convexior, thoracis lateribus anguste rufo-cinctis ; elytris punctis nigris multo majoribus.”
Hab. GuatemMaua!, Las Mercedes, Cerro Zunil, Zapote, Mirandilla, San Gerénimo,
Purula, Tactic, Coban, Sinanja (Champion).
The distinguishing character of this species is the narrow lateral rufous margin of the
thorax. The elytra have their black markings, especially the apical one, more developed
than in C. vicinus ; but I do not see any difference in their convexity, and the size of
the black punctures is very variable. The male characters are:—the widened front
tarsi, thickened front femora, and pilose dot on the ventral basal segment; the thorax
scarcely differs, and the front tibiz are very little bent or compressed. A few examples
were found in each locality.
9. Cypherotylus costaricensis. (Tab. VI. fig. 7, ¢.)
C. guatemale proxime affinis, oblongus, equaliter convexus, niger, nitidus; elytris flavo-testaceis, basi, apice
maculisque duabus medianis (oblique sitis, fere confluentibus) punctisque numerosis, nigris. Long. 22
millim.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., November 1888. p*
106 | EROTYLIDZ.
Mas tarsorum articulis duobus primis latioribus, femoribus anticis parum incrassatis, segmento ventrali primo
puncto piligero.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten).
This insect scarcely differs from C. guatemale, excepting that the thorax is wholly
black. In the male, however, there is a structural difference in the apex of the front
tibiee, this in C. costaricensis being grooved on the inner side for the reception of a
small carina in the femoral groove, upon which the tibia closes. |
Two specimens, both males.
10. Cypherotylus gaumeri. (Tab. VI. fig. 8, ¢.)
Breviter oblongus, postice ovatus, convexus, niger, nitidus; prothorace transverso, utrinque oblique foveolato ;
elytris testaceis, punctis impressis sat magnis, humeris, maculis duabus magnis, fasciam obliquam in
medio fere interruptam formantibus, apice epipleurisque nigris; pedibus quatuor posticis corallino-
annulatis. Long. 16 millim. |
Mas femoribus anticis incrassatis, segmento primo ventrali puncto piligero.
Hab. Mexico, Temax in North Yucatan (Gawmer).
There is no known species with which this can be very well compared. The form is
that of C. boisduvali, but no other species of that group with the hind femora ringed
with red is known to me; the rings are similar to those of C. annulipes, though rather
wider. The single specimen received is a male, and the thorax is wide and formed
almost as in the male of C. boisduvali, but the elytra are shorter.
11. Cypherotylus boisduvali. (Tab. V. fig. 23, 2.)
Erotylus Boisduvali, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fase. 4, no. 90'; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 466.
Cypherotylus Boisduvalii, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 540°.
Erotylus californicus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 4674. (Var.)
Hab. Nortu America, California *+—Mexico ! 23, Puebla, Orizaba, Tlatingo, Parada,
Chiapas (Sallé), Jalapa, Las Vigas (Hége); GuatemaLa, Calderas 6000 feet, San
Geronimo, Purula (Champion).
The elytra in this species are convex, even, with largish, not very numerous, black
dots; their colour is ochraceous. The thorax is uneven, with two oblique fovee on
each side, and a deep transverse one at the base. ‘The elytra are more firm in texture,
and more shining than in the following two species; the suture is finely raised, but
there is not a stria. We have received a large number of examples.
The true C. bovsduvali does not occur in the United States; the species thus
identified by Crotch (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 3858), is described below under the
name of C. aspersus. The variety might perhaps be now restored to specific rank, but
the number of examples in the collection before me is hardly sufficient to enable
CYPHEROTYLUS. 107
me to decide the point. The thorax, nevertheless, is always more opaque in
C. californicus (Lac.) ; and in.the male the sides are very strongly rounded.
One specimen from Jalapa, which I refer to this variety, differs, however, so much
from the usual form of it as greatly to invalidate these distinctions.
The figure is of a female specimen from Jalapa.
12. Cypherotylus alutaceus. (Tab. VI. fig. 10, ¢.)
Oblongus, parum convexus, niger, subopacus ; elytris pallide flavis, punctis parvis, macula laterali epipleurisque
nigris, stria suturali distincta. Long. 15-18 millim.
Mas tarsorum articulis duobus primis latioribus, femoribus parum incrassatis, segmento ventrali primo puncto
piligero.
Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).
This insect is perfectly distinct from C. boisduvali, and also from its variety C. calt-
fornicus (Lac.). It is longer and the elytra are notably more depressed, so that the
contour when observed laterally is much less arcuate. The surface of the elytra
between the black dots is also sculptured with a fine irregular but alutaceous punc-
turing.
13. Cypherotylus fenestratus. (Tab. V. fig. 22, 2.)
Oblongus, parum convexus, niger, subopacus ; elytris pallide flavis, punctis numerosis (sepe confluentibus),
macula laterali epipleurisque nigris; prothorace aurantiaco, maculis duabus magnis, clathratis, nigris.
Long. 14-17 millim.
Mas tarsorum anticorum articulis duobus primis latioribus, femoribus anticis parum incrassatis, segmento
ventrali primo puncto piligero.
Hab. Mexico, Refugio, Ventanas in Durango (Hoge).
Similar to C. alutaceus in form. On the elytra the black dots vary in depth and
size, being more confluent in some examples than in others ; the lateral spot is sometimes
confused, and it is composed of three or four confluent dots only. The thorax in the
male has its sides a little more rounded than in the female, in which sex the sides are
nearly straight though narrowing towards the front; the disc is almost opaque; the black
spots are slightly notched on their front and posterior sides, and in the single example
from Ventanas this notch is so deep that they are almost divided. The prosternal process
is edged with black. The elytra are very pale, almost whitish-yellow, and not shining,
but are scarcely alutaceous, though faintly rugose between the black dots; the latter
in some examples are so numerous as to form confluent patches, while in others they
are nearly all distinct.
This distinct new species was discovered by Herr Hoge during his second Mexican
expedition; we have received fifteen specimens from Refugio and one from Ventanas.
P* 2
108 EROTYLIDZ.
14, Cypherotylus aspersus. (Tab. VI. fig. 9, 2 .)
Oblongus, antice posticeque acuminatus, niger, opacus; prothorace trapezoideo, lateribus fere rectis, antice
angustato ; elytris sordide ochraceis, pallidis, punctis numerosis impressis nigris (spe confluentibus,
in serie duplici interdum positis). Long. 14-17 millim. 9.
Hab. Mexico, Pinos Altos in Chihuahua (Buchan-Hepburn), Santa Clara in Chihuahua
(Hoge).
Var. Elytris punctulis minus numerosis, lateribus macula nigra.
Cypherotylus Boisduvali, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 858* (nec Chevr., Lacord.).
Hab. Nortu America, Colorado! (Snow, coll. Gorham), New Mexico}.
Very closely allied to C. fenestratus, but with the thorax black. Both species are at
once separated from C. boisduvali by the depressed and apparently always soft elytra,
by the small trapezoidal thorax, and by the whole insect being dull. I have not seen
a male which I can refer to this species. The specimens from Colorado in my collec-
tion were received under the name C. boisduvali, but they are not referable to that
species.
' 15. Cypherotylus ——?
Hab. British Honpuras, Cayo (Blancaneauz).
A single discoloured specimen of a Cypherotylus of a species unknown to me, and not
matured when captured.
MICREROTYLUS.
Micrerotylus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 541 (1876).
The species which Crotch took for his type of this species, viz. I. gronovit (Herbst),
was placed by Lacordaire in Brachysphenus, in the section Barytopus, with other
members of which, however, it has little connection. The six species included by
Crotch have a very similar form and mode of pattern, and one or two are doubtfully
distinct as species. There is nothing but general form and style of pattern to separate
them generically from either Brachysphenus or Erotylus; and they approach very
closely to some Zonarii, such as Z. indicus. They are all from Tropical South America,
from the Amazons northwards, and one species occurs in Central America.
1. Micrerotylus lunulatus. (Tab. VI. fig. 13.)
Erotylus lunulatus, Oliv. Encycl. Méth. vi. p. 485 (1791).
Brachysphenus (Barytopus) lugubris, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 383 '.
Micrerotylus lunulatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 541%.
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt), Rio Acoyapo (Janson); Panama, Bugaba
(Champion).—CotomBia 12; Gurana, Cayenne 2.
Not uncommon at Bugaba.
ZONARIUS. 109
ZONARIUS.
Zonarius, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 111; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 468.
Zonarius is separated from Erotylus by very trifling differences of structure, and it is
impossible to give any definite reason for its distinction from Micrerotylus. Yet there
is a peculiarity of pattern and a similarity of form among the species which render
its members easy of recognition as pertaining to a distinct natural group. About
twenty species are known, all from Tropical South America and Central America, but
not passing further north than Mexico.
1, Zonarius cacicus. (Tab. VI. fig. 14.)
Zonarius cacicus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 4741; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 542.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Misantla (Hége), San Andres Tuxtla, Toxpam (Sallé), Orizaba },
Yucatan 1; Guatemata, Purula and Senahu in Vera Paz (Champion).
An example from Toxpam is figured.
2. Zonarius zebra.
Erotylus zebra, Fabr. Mant. Ins. i. p. 92+; Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 16, t. 1. f. 21.
Zonarius zebra, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 478.
Zonarius quadrifasciatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 5433.
Zonarius guatemale, Crotch, loc. cit.*
Hab. Mexico 3, Toxpam (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith) ; Brivis Honpuras,
Belize (Blancaneaux); GuatemMata*, Zapote (Champion). —Cotompia 2; Gurana2
Cayenne +? ; Ecuapor, Quito?; Trintpap (coll. Gorham).
9
A well-known and widely distributed species.
Z. quadrifasciatus is only a variety with the bands on the elytra rather narrow.
The specimens we have received from Zapote agree perhaps more nearly with
Z. jansoni than with Crotch’s type of Z. guatemale ; but serve to show that the forma-
tion of species on mere colour-varieties, especially when few specimens are available,
leads to no settled result.
3. Zonarius jansoni. (Tab. VI. figg. 15, 16.)
Zonarius jansoni, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 149 *, 548.
Hab. Nicaracva, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 1, Belt); Costa Rica, Cache
(Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David ( Champion).
This insect is probably a local variety of Z. zebra. We have received an extensive
series of specimens of Z. jansont; Mr. Champion met with it frequently on the
Volcan de Chiriqui, up to an elevation of 4000 feet. These Chiriqui examples agree
in having the anterior band interrupted so as to form an oblique oval spot on each
110 | EROTYLID.
elytron, yet vary very much both in the width and form of the second band. Others
from Costa Rica have this band very narrow and sometimes undulate, and these
represent a distinct variety.
We figure two examples, one from Bugaba (fig. 15) and one from Cache (fig. 16).
SCAPHIDOMORPHUS.
Scaphidomorphus, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 111; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 66.
Scaphidomorphus (div. 1), Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 481.
Chapuis, adopting Erichson’s name Prepopharus for the second and third divisions,
restricts this genus to two large species which have their prosternum with a keel and
the labium emarginate.
Crotch seems to have regarded these two species as forms of one variable insect ;
Gemminger and Harold, on the other hand, retain them as distinct. I have not seen
specimens of 8. 5-punctatus from Central America.
1. Scaphidomorphus bosci. (Tab. VI. fig. 11.)
Erotylus (Scaphidomorphus) Bosciit, Guérin-Ménev. Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 117°.
Scaphidomorphus Boscii, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 482’.
Scaphidomorphus quinque-punctatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 545, var.’
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion), Volcan de Chiriqui (/2bde).—Cotomsia ! 2,
Bogota?; Gurana, Surinam 2; Ecuapor; Perv.
This is a large and showy species, varying very considerably in size (one example
from Chiriqui measuring only 13 millim., while others reach 20 millim. in length), and
also in the dimensions of the red spots. The second spot is more or less divided, and in
several specimens from Bogota (in Crotch’s collection) forms only two small spots; in a
singular variety in my own collection the internal one only of the two spots remains.
The colour of the spots also varies from blood-red to pale yellow.
PREPOPHARUS.
Prepopharus, Erichson, in Wiegmann’s Archiv fiir Naturg. 1847, i. p. 177; Chapuis, Gen. Col.
Xl. p. 67.
Scaphidomorphus, Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl]. p. 484 (pars).
This genus includes the second and third divisions of Scaphidomorphus of Lacordaire.
Eighteen species have been described. Prepopharus is peculiar to Tropical America,
Mexico being the northern limit of the genus.. The species have frequently an opaline
reflection. The genus is evidently rather closely allied to Zonarius.
PREPOPHARUS.—PRIOTELUS. 111
‘
1. Prepopharus duponcheli. (Tab. VI. figg. 17, var.; 18.)
Erotylus Duponchelii, Chevy. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fasc. 4, no. 91 (1834)’.
Scaphidomorphus Duponchelii, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 488°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 546°.
Prepopharus Duponchelii, Germ. & Har. Cat. Col. xii. p. 3718.
Hab. Mexico!?%, Cordova (Hége, Sallé), Toxpam, Orizaba, San Andres Tuxtla
(Salté); GuaremMata, Cerro Zunil, Zapote, San Gerdnimo, San Juan in Vera Paz,
Panima (Champion); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de
Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion). |
This species is very variable, especially in the markings on the thorax: these normally
consist of four black spots—a transverse one in front, just touching the margin, two
lateral oblong ones, and a median one on the base—but these are varied, divided, and
united in every conceivable way. In the Mexican examples the disc of the thorax is
often dark, and the front and lateral margins yellow; but even then the disc shows
some traces of the divisions between the typical spots. Many examples.
We figure a variety from San Andres Tuxtla and one (more typical) from Caldera.
2. Prepopharus xanthomelas. (Tab. VI. fig. 12.)
Scaphidomorphus xanthomelas, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 150', 546.
Prepopharus zanthomelas, Gemm. & Har. Cat. Col. xii. p. 3718.
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 1, Belt); Costa Rica, Cache
(Rogers).
3. Prepopharus spilotus. (Tab. VI. fig. 19.)
Oblongus, ovatus (elytris cordatis), convexus ; antennis, femorum apicibus, tibiis, tarsis elytrorumque punctis in
singulis sex (uno basilari, tribus in fasciam angulatam dispositis, duobus post medium obliquis), nigris ;
elytris punctato-striatis, ad apices levibus. Long. 9 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
This insect has very close relationship with some Brachyspheni; but from the scaphi-
form shape of the body beneath I think it belongs here. The strie are somewhat
gemellate, ¢.¢. the second and third and the fourth and fifth, and these pairs approach
at the apex; but at the base of the elytra the first (or sutural) stria unites with the
second, and the third with the fourth.
Five specimens of this interesting species were captured by Mr. Champion.
PRIOTELUS.
Priotelus, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 112; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 493; Chapuis, Gen. Col.
xii. p. 70; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 550.
Lacordaire included nine species in this genus, which is characterized by the thinness
of the antenne, and their comparative length—in this respect resembling, but often
112 EROTYLIDZ.
surpassing, those of the Scaphidomorphi and Prepophari. The elytra are at the same
time very parallel, and often have their apices truncate or even serrate, and are some-
times spotted with black in a peculiar manner. One or two of Lacordaire’s species, as
Crotch remarks, do not seem to belong to the genus; but Crotch has himself added
fifteen species, very few of which I can recognize as Prioteli. A few have been
described by Erichson and Kirsch. Altogether, of true Prioteli, about twenty species
are described. They appear to be almost exclusively confined to the tropics of South
America; but one species, originally described from Mexico, is distributed all over
Central America, and, according to Lacordaire, extends its range to Colombia.
1. Priotelus apiatus. (Tab. VI. fig. 20.)
Erotylus apiatus, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fase. 5, no. 122 (1835)'.
Priotelus apiatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 498°; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 552°.
Hab. Mexico1%, Toxpam, Catemaco, Santecomapan (Sallé), Jalapa, Tapachula in
Chiapas (Hoge), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); British Honpuras, R. Hondo
(Blancaneauz) ; GuaTEMALA, El Reposo, San Isidro, Zapote, Purula, Panima, San Juan
in Vera Paz, Sabo (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Cache
(Rogers); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—CoLomBIa ?.
Numerous specimens of this species have been sent; these vary in length from seven
to twelve millimetres. In most examples the thorax has two dots in front and one very
small one immediately before the scutellum on the base; but in some, as in those
from Chontales, it is spotless. P. apiatus is very like P. tigrinipennis, Lac., from
Colombia ; but differs from it in the apex of the elytra being entire, instead of being
obliquely truncate. I have not seen examples of P. apiatus from south of the Isthmus
of Panama, and its presence there is doubtful. An individual from El Reposo is figured.
HOMMOTELUS.
Omoiotelus, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 112; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 71; Lacordaire, Monogr.
Erotyl. p. 506.
Homeotelus, Krichson, in Wiegmann’s Archiv fiir Naturg. 1847, i. p. 177; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i.
pp. 150, 559.
Homeotelus, like Priotelus, is distinguished among the ‘ Erotylides’ by its long, thin
antenne ; but is separated from it by its more or less scaphiform body, acuminate in
front and behind, and by the small head with small eyes.
The elytra are never spotted, but are red or dark with the margins and suture lighter ;
in one instance the suture is produced in the middle into a remarkable spine. Lacordaire
enumerates nine species, but in Crotch’s catalogue the number is brought up to twenty-
two; and several others undescribed as yet are known tome. Priotelus limbatus, Crotch,
from Guayaquil belongs here, The distribution is the same as that of Priotelus, but the
species are more numerous. We have received four species from Central America.
HOM(COTELUS. 113
Section A. Elytris confuse punctato-striatis.
1. Homeotelus confusus. (Tab. VI. fig. 21.)
Homeotelus confusus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 150, 559 *.
“FT, testaceo affinis, sed minor, magis depressus, regulariter ovatus, thorace scabro-punctato, scutello rufo, elytris
haud flavo-marginatis, femoribus apice extus, tibiis tarsisque nigris. LL. c. 54-64 lin.”
Hab. British Honpuras (Blancaneaux); Guatemata!, Cubilguitz in Vera Paz
(Champion); Nicaragua (Sadlé), Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 1, Belt); Costa
Rica, Cache (ogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Tolé (Champion).
The numerous specimens now before me show that this species is not so nearly allied
to H. testaceus as the above diagnosis would lead one to suppose. It is much more
difficult to separate it satisfactorily from H. wmbonatus, Lac., and H. hepaticus, Crotch.
The colour is very variable, it being sometimes as dark as that of H. umbonatus ; but
the thorax has never more than faint shades in the place of the vittee, and the scutellum
is not dark as in H. umbonatus. The antenne, however, in H. confusus are entirely
black at their apices. Crotch alludes! to specimens from Venezuela which have the
femora entirely yellow; these are not in his collection, and they may be specifically
distinct. A specimen from Bugaba is figured.
Section B. Elytris gemellato-striatis.
2. Homeotelus gemellatus, (Tab. VI. fig. 22.)
Omoiotelus gemellatus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 513°.
Homeotelus gemellatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 5617.
Hab. Guatemata, El Tumbador, Las Mercedes, San Isidro, Cerro Zunil, Zapote,
Capetillo, Sabo in Vera Paz (Champion); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Rio Sucio, Cache,
Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui
3000 to 5000 feet (Champion).—Sovutn America, Colombia ! ?.
A great number of specimens of this insect have been sent ; these show considerable
disparity in size, and some difference in form and sculpture. The largest examples are
those from Costa Rica, several of these being 14 millim. long, and the smallest are some
from Capetillo (8 millim.). These latter very much resemble H. jansoni, but may be
known from it by being less convex and with the margins of the elytra a little more
reflexed, and also by the interstices of the striz being flat and not so deeply and less
thickly punctured. :
Many of the larger examples have the elytra with an expanded production at the
tips, but I cannot ascertain that this is a sexual distinction.
Lacordaire ! also gives Mexico as a locality, but I have no doubt that his specimens
from that country belong to the following species. |
A specimen from Capetillo is figured.
" BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., February 1889. Q*
114 EROTYLIDA.
3. Homeotelus mexicanus. (Tab. VI. figg..23; 24, var.)
Homeeotelus mexicanus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 561°.
“ H, gemellato affinis, sed postice minus acuminatus, magis depressus, obsoletius punctato-striatus, interstitiis
obsolete punctulatis, tibiisque nigris sat distinctus. L. 4-43 lin.” )
Hab. Mextco!, Toxpam (Sallé); GuaTema.a, Sinanja in Vera Paz (Champion).
Var.? capite, prothorace elytrisque basi et lateribus pone medium nigro-piceis.
Had. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
The elytra are of a sordid pale yellow, with the suture darker, and the reflexed
margin pale, the head and prothorax and body beneath being of a rufo-testaceous
colour; the antenne are black with the two basal joints clear red ; and the femora are
red, with their tips and the tibize and tarsi black. The specimens from Sinanja, two in
number, agree precisely with the others, except that the series of punctures are a little
more deeply impressed, and the interstices are more distinctly punctured. The example
from Chiriqui, which we figure (fig. 24), is very different in colour, and should perhaps
be considered a distinct species; but it agrees very closely in form and punctuation with
others from Mexico.
Lacordaire did not (according to Crotch) distinguish this species from H. gemeliatus,
and it is therefore to this species rather than to H. gemellatus that his quotation—
“des provinces orientales du Mexique,” refers.
4. Homeotelus jansoni. (Tab. VI. fig. 25.)
Homeeotelus Jansoni, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 150°.
¢ H, mewicano affinis, sed corpore abrupte ovato, antice posticeque magis acuminato, colore lete aurantiaco
(scutello nigro), thorace longiore, antennis longioribus, interstitiisque elytrorum distinctius punctulatis
facile distinguendus. L. c. 43 lin.”
Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson 1, Belt); Panama, Bugaba,
‘Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Approaches very near to small specimens of H. gemellatus, but is certainly more
convex and more acuminate before and behind, and the sculpture is rather coarser.
A specimen from Chontales is figured.
CORYNOMALUS. 115
Fam. ENDOMYCHIDZE.
The passage to the Endomychide from the Erotylide through Hom«otelus seems
natural enough, and some species of Brachysphenus, such as B. festivus, have quite the
facies of the present group. The family, however, is concisely separated by the tarsi
having one less apparent joint ; while certain genera which have been admitted, part
of which form the ‘‘ Endomychide adsciti” of Gerstacker, will here be treated as
equally aberrant from both families, the foot-structure in these showing very important
differences.
The genera of Endomychide inhabiting the New World are more differentiated from
those of the East than is the case in the Erotylide. We altogether miss here any
representative of the Humorphi or Spathomeles, while Corynomalus is equally the
special form of Tropical America, and the former accordingly form a subfamily
unrepresented in our fauna.
The family is somewhat more specialized, but on the other hand its representatives.
are far inferior in number, both in genera and species, to the Erotylide. The Pale-.
arctic and Nearctic zones and low Southern latitudes possess few and feeble forms; as.
a group, they area tropical development of a peculiar type that has never been dominant,
dependent on special circumstances for their existence, and therefore rare in nature.
The learned treatise by Dr. A. Gerstacker in Wiegmann’s Archiv fiir Naturg. xxiii.
(1857) was followed by a more complete Monograph in 1858, which includes a most
valuable contribution to insect-anatomy.
Subfam. CORY NOMALIDES.
CORYNOMALUS.
Corynomalus, Erichson, Archiv fiir Naturg. xiii. p. 181 (1847) and in Schomburgk’s Reise. Guian.
ili. p. 579; Guérin, Arch. ent. i. p. 263; Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 143 ; Gorham, Endom..
Recit. p. 14; Chapuis, Gen. des Col. xii. p. 81.
Amphiz, Castelnau, Hist. Nat. Ins. Col. ii. p. 522.
About thirty species of this genus are known to me, chiefly from Tropical South
America. <A few pass the Isthmus of Panama northwards, but they are not common
in our region; and but one species, and that an abnormal one, is found in Mexico,
where, however, it is very common.
The larva of Corynomalus discoideus has been described by the late Dr. Chapuis
(Gen. des Col. xii. p. 98).
Q* 2
116 ENDOMYCHID.
1. Corynomalus rufipennis.
Corynomalus rufipennis, Gerst. in Wiegm. Archiv fiir Naturg. xxiii. 1. p. 235°; Monogr. Endom.
p. 147, t. 2. fig. 8°; Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 14°.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).—Cotomsia ! 2 3,
A single example only has been received from Central America.
2. Corynomalus femoralis.
Corynomalus femoralis (Dej.), Gerst. in Wiegm. Archiv fir Naturg. xxiii. 1. p. 235°; Monogr.
Endom. p. 148’; Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 14°.
Hab. Panama, Volean de Chiriqui (Zrétsch), Bugaba (Champion).—CoLoMBIa,
Bogota ? 2 3.
3. Corynomalus auronitens. (Tab. VII. fig. 1.)
Nitidissimus, piceus; antennis, femoribus tibiisque nigris; elytris valde convexis, gibbosis, auro-nitentibus,
singulis seriebus quatuor punctorum irregularibus, externe confusis ; tarsis pallide ferrugineis. Long.
8 millim.
Hab. Nicaraava, Chontales (Janson).
Pitchy-brown, very shining, with a golden lustre, the legs and antenne black, the
tarsi ferruginous. Head with a few very small punctures, the epistoma distinctly
marked by a slightly curved line between the antenne ; labrum distinct and pubescent
in front. Thorax twice as wide as long, the sides a little sinuate, contracted at the
front angles, the latter prominent, the hind angles somewhat acute. Hlytra strongly
swollen, the margins and apex being rather retracted ; with four series of irregular
punctures which are almost geminate, and terminate behind the middle; the interstices
are very smooth and flat, with a few small scattered punctures, the punctures behind
the middle becoming more distinct though confused; the margins are very little
expanded; and the apex is slightly produced, although from the convexity of the
surface it is not visible when the insect is viewed from above.
4, Corynomalus cinctus. (Tab. VII. figg. 2, 3.)
Afgithus cinctus, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 10 (1801)’.
Erotylus cinctus, Schénh. Syn. Ins. ii. p. 328.
Eumorphus cinctus, var. ?, Hoffm. in Wiedem. Zool. Mag. i. 2, p. 74.
Corynomalus cinctus, Gerst. in Wiegm. Archiv fiir Naturg. xxiii. 1. p. 287; Monogr. Endom. p. 162’;
Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 14.
Hab. Guatemata?; Costa Rica (Sallé); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David,
Caldera (Champion).—Sovutn America!; CoLomBia?; VENEZUELA; Guiana, Cayenne ;
Peru; Trinrpap (coll. Gorham).
4
This insect is very abundant in Colombia, and is common at Bugaba and at Caldera ;
CORYNOMALUS. 117
it appears to be rarer further north. We have not received it from Guatemala; it
is, however, recorded from there by Gersticker. In a variety from Venezuela the
elytra are reticulated, having a longitudinal striga in addition to two fascie, the striga
dividing the black of the disc into seven or more spots.
We figure a specimen of the type-form (fig. 2), and a male example of var. 6 of
Gerstacker (fig. 3), both from Caldera in Chiriqui.
5. Corynomalus saturatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 4.)
Piceus, prothoracis disco elytrisque saturatius nigro-piceis; antennis dilutius rufo-piceis, clava nigra; elytris
disperse profunde punctatis ; prothorace fortiter transverso. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volean de Chiriqui 2500 to 3000 feet, David (Champion).
This species is allied to C. interruptus and C. cinctus, but is smaller than average
examples of either, and darker; the thorax is very short, and more than twice as wide
as long; and the elytra are very deeply and sparsely impressed with large punctures
which increase in size towards the margins. In one example the thorax and elytra are
of a uniform pitchy-black, while in two others the suture and margins are pitchy-red.
The interstices between the large punctures of the elytra are nearly smooth and are
shining, but under a quarter-inch lens numerous minute punctures are visible. The
underside is of the same pitchy colour as the thorax, and is shining and smooth, but
with minute punctures.
Four specimens.
6. Corynomalus castaneicolor.
Castaneus vel ferrugineus, antennis, palpis pedibusque nigris, prothorace brevi transverso, elytris disperse
punctatis. Long. 74-8 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas tibiis intermediis apice interne exciso et incurvato.
Hab. Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson, Belt).
Very like the South-American C. levigatus, Gerst., and formerly referred by me to
that species; but the Nicaraguan insect differs from it in the following particulars :—It
is broader, with the margins a little more expanded ; the thorax is wider, especially at
the base; and the elytra are distinctly punctured. The coxe, trochanters, and the
extreme base of the thighs are yellow. A very considerable number of specimens of
this species were collected by the late Mr. E. Janson at Chontales, and I have seen a
few captured by Mr. Belt.
7. Corynomalus dentatus. (Tab. VII. figg. 5; 6, var.)
Erotylus dentatus, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. ii. p. 7*; Lacord. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 516.
Corynomalus dentatus, Gerst. in Wiegm. Archiv fiir Naturg. xxiii. 1. p. 238°; Monogr. Endom.
p- 166°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 15 *.
Corynomalus pantherinus (Dej. ined.).
Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente, Santecomapan (Sallé), Cordova, Tapachula in Chiapas
118 ENDOMYCHIDS.
(Hége); Brrtiso Honpvras, Belize, R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA,
El Reposo, Cerro Zunil, Pantaleon, Zapote, Tamahu, Chacoj, Teleman, Panzos, San
Juan in Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua 4, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica
(Sallé); Panama, Bugaba, Tolé (Champion).—Souta Ammrica!; CoLomsia, Bogota ? 34;
Amazons, Ega 4.
Widely dispersed and often abundant; Mr. Champion met with it in numbers at
El Reposo.
C. dentatus has some claims to generic distinction, it being not only flatter than
the other species of the genus, but the males have the first abdominal segment with a
distinct carina.
The form which has the elytra with seven distinct spots is much commoner than that
described by Gerstiacker as the type, of which indeed no example is contained in the
large number of specimens now before me. Of the variety (fig. 6), which has the
thoracic spots united, and the elytra black, with the margins, a single interrupted
fascia, and the suture in the middle red, we have received three examples from
El Reposo.
Fig. 5 is taken from a specimen from Belize.
ACINACES.
Acinaces, Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 178 (1858).
Four species of this genus have been described by Gerstaécker, and no additional
representative has been added since the publication of the Monograph ; nor has any
species hitherto been recorded from the northern continent, but one is found as far
south as La Plata.
1. Acinaces lebasi. (Tab. VII. fig. 9.)
Corynomalus Lebasii, Dej. Cat. 38rd edit. p. 463°.
Acinaces Lebasii, Gerst. Monogr. p. 180, t. 2. £. 117; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 15 *.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Co.omB1a 2 3, Cartagena }.
From the State of Panama we have received a single specimen of this species, which
we figure. Gersticker only figures the prosternum and mesosternum diagrammatically.
Subfam. LYCOPERDINIDES.
PHALANTHA.
Phalantha, Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 202 (1858) ; Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 17; Chapuis,
Gen. des Col. xii. p. 108.
Phalantha is a genus remarkable among the Endomychide for its depressed form and
PHALANTHA. 119
pallid hue, in these respects resembling the European genus Dapsa. The thorax is
often curiously angled at the sides, and the elytra are rather cordate. Three species
have been described, all from South America; Gerstacker figures one, P. exsanguis, from
Colombia ; and Gorham figures a second, P. vartegata, from the Amazons, and describes
a third, P. pictipennis, from Para.
We have now to record two new species from Central America.
1. Phalantha championi. (Tab. VII. fig. 7.)
Sordide testacea, crebre punctata, parcius pubescens; antennis articulis septimo, octavo et nono, prothorace
vitta submarginali elytrisque maculis duabus, haud bene discretis, oblique sitis, nigris. Long. 54-6 millim.
Mas tibiis anticis denticulo parvo adjacente prope medium armatis.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 4000 feet (Champion).
Allied to the Amazonian P. pictipennis, Gorham, and resembling it in having the
two apical joints of the antenne pale and the three preceding them black; but differing
in the angulation of the sides of the thorax and in the marking of the elytra. Head
and thorax very closely and finely, the elytra less closely, but still thickly and confluently,
punctured; basal joint of the antenne stout, the second joint bead-shaped, the third
half as long again as the fourth, this latter and the succeeding joints subequal and
elongate, the apical joint compressed at the tip. Thorax rather wider than long; the
sides slightly angulated a little before the middle, and again before the base acutely,
so that the hind angles appear to be cut off. Elytra with the shoulders rather promi-
nent, the middle appearing a little wider than the base (but only because the margin is
a little expanded there), and from the middle rather suddenly narrowing towards the
apex (this part is rather obtuse, but it cannot be termed truncate); the markings consist
of two spots obliquely placed on each, the one nearer the suture being also nearer to
the apex, and behind and outside the spots the surface is slightly infuscate, but the
margins and apex remain of the ground-colour. The sides of the thorax are also
infuscate. The hind tibiz are sinuate, more distinctly so in the males.
A large series of this new species were obtained by Mr. Champion. This insect
secretes itself in the dry rolled-up leaves of bananas.
2. Phalantha intricata. (Tab. VII. fig. 8.)
Brunneo-testacea, crebre fortiter punctata, parcius pubescens; antennis articulis septimo, octavo et nono, pro-
thoracis lateribus elytrorumque humeris marginibus ante medium maculisque duabus (anteriore arcuata),
interdum per lineam conjunctis, nigris ; elytris ovatis, postice paullo angustatis. Long. 4~4} millim.
Mas tibiis denticulo parvo paullo pone medium armatis. ,
Hab. British Honpvuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaur); GuatemaLa, Cahabon in Vera
Paz (Champion); Panama, David (Champion).
This species may be distinguished by its small size, dark brown colour, variegated
elytra, and the close, but rather coarse, punctuation of the whole upper surface. It is
120 ENDOMYCHIDZ.
subject to a good deal of variation, the head and thorax being quite dark in the specimen
from David, while in two examples from R. Hondo these parts are rusty-red with
the sides alone of the latter blackish. The thorax is indistinctly margined; the sides
are acutely angled about one third below the front, and from thence contracted towards
the base; the disc is even, but strongly and very closely punctured. The elytra are
oval, having scarcely any shoulders, and rather pointed behind: the central black mark
is like an undulate fascia, and is united with the black margin, and sometimes (as in
the example figured) by a line crossing it with the hinder indistinct black spot. The
joints of the antenne are all shorter than in P. championi, the basal ones ferruginous,
the apical two always bright yellow.
EPIPOCUS.
Epipocus (Chevrolat, Dej. Cat. ed. 3, p. 463), Germar, Ersch & Gruber, Allgem. Encycl. d.
Wissensch. Th. xxxix. p. 86 (1843) ; Leconte, Proc. Ac. Phil.vi. p. 358; Guérin, Arch. ent. i.
p- 265; Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 240; Chapuis, Gen. des Col. xii. p. 121.
Epipocus is a natural and well-defined genus, and, among the Endomychide, is the
most characteristic of the Central-American fauna. Of fourteen described species
but two are peculiar to the Southern continent, while six are known from districts
north of the Rio Grande. Its distribution extends eastwards as far as Tennessee and
Georgia, and it is therefore almost certain that several new species will be added from
the vast districts of New Mexico and Texas. The unicolorous brown, and more pubes-
cent, species are those from the northern region, while the two Colombian representatives
are black. The Central-American species are intermediate between these forms.
Section I. Body and elytra black.
1. Epipocus rufitarsis.
Endomychus rufitarsis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. ii. fasc. 5, no. 123 (1835) *.
Epipocus rufitarsis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 243; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 21%.
Hab. Mexico! 23, Cordova (Hége, Sailé), Toxpam (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge) ; GuaTemaa,
Cerro Zunil, Capetillo, Senahu, San Juan in Vera Paz, Sinanja (Champion), Coban |
(Conradt); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Cache, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).
Small specimens, such as two examples from Coban, which at the same time have a
dense short pubescence, are duller than the average of larger examples, and are very
like the South-American FE. fuliginosus, Guér., which, however, may be distinguished
by the apex of the abdomen being red. ‘This latter species is very likely to occur in
the State of Panama or Costa Rica. .
EPIPOCUS. 121
Section II. Body red or pitchy-red.
A. Elytra pitchy, margined with red.
a. Apex of the elytra truncate.
2. Epipocus figuratus. (Tab. VII. fig. 10.)
Epipocus figuratus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 247, t. 3. f. 3°.
Hab. Mexico}, Jalapa (Hdge), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpvras,
R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); GuateMaLa, San Juan and Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion).
This species and the following one, LE. difidus, are extremely hard to distinguish from
each other. Apparently there is hardly any difference beyond the presence of a second
lateral thoracic spot, this being wanting in LZ. difidus. Gerstacker did not know the
female; and the figure he gives of the male would seem to be that of a specimen of
E. bifidus. We have examples from several localities of the female of £. figuratus,
which, in addition to having simple tibie, are rather broader, and have the apex less
obliquely and less deeply truncate than in the male. The figure is of a male example
from North Yucatan, where Gaumer obtained a series of specimens.
8. Epipocus bifidus.
Epipocus bifidus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 248° (t. 3. f. 3=£. figuratus ?).
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica}.
The male has a very small denticle on the inner side of the front tibiz, easily over-
looked, as it is not seen unless the leg is well extended ; the tibia is compressed from
below this tooth to the apex. Three specimens.
4. Kpipocus cinctus. (Tab. VII. fig. 11, ¢.)
Epipocus cinctus, Lec. Proc. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 358*; Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 246°.
Hab. Norra America, Texas ! 2.—Muexico, Catemaco (Sallé), Jalapa (Hége).
Mexican specimens of this insect are labelled E. /iguratus in Sallé’s collection ; these,
however, are clearly referable to the E. cinctus of Gerstacker. The present species
resembles FE. bifidus very closely, but it has the abdomen always dark, and often nearly
black, excepting the margins of the segments and the apex; and the thorax has the
central spots united, forming a broad letter M, and its disc is more deeply but less
closely punctured than in LE. difidus.
I have referred examples of a species hardly differing from this from Guatemala to
E. mutilatus, as they differ slightly; but it will be seen that I cannot at present regard
them as actually distinct.
The specimen figured is a male from Catemaco.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1889. R*
122 -ENDOMYCHIDZ.
5. Epipocus mutilatus. _ |
Epipocus mutilatus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 249°. a
Hab. Norta America, Texas 1.-—Mexico, Vera Cruz+; Guaremaza, Capetill
(Rodriguez), Zapote, San Juan and Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion).
A difficult species to determine: the punctuation seems closer, and hence the whole
insect is duller than its allies; the thorax is marked as in E. cinctus. The difficulty
arises from the fact that Gersticker has described the species from female specimens
‘only, in which sex the apex of the elytra is usually more straightly cut off than in the
males, The colour of the abdomen is variable and of little value as a specific character.
An example from Capetillo which I refer doubtfully to this species is a male; and I am
inclined to think that #7. cinctus, Lec., and E. mutilatus, Gerst., represent one and the
same species.
b. Apéx of the elytra simple, rounded.
6. Epipocus tibialis. |
Endomichus tibialis, Chevr. Col. Mex: Cent. i. fasé. 4 (1834) *.
Endomychus (Epipocus) tibialis, Chevr. Icon. Régne anim. p. 317, t. 50. £. 9”.
Epipocus tibialis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 251°.
Hab. Muxico 23, Orizaba (Lesueur1), Jalapa (Hége), Cordova, Toxpam, San Andres
Tuxtla, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); British Honpvuras,
R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GuatEMALa, Las Mercedes, Zapote, Capetillo, San Gerdénimo,
Sabo, Teleman, Chiacam, Senahu, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion), Coban (Conradt).
This insect is very abundant in some places, as at Jalapa. Certain specimens from
Zapote, Teleman, &c., have the abdomen entirely yellow, but in other respects so
entirely agree with typical examples that I cannot regard them as distinct.
7. Epipocus bivittatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 12, ¢.)
Epipocus bivittatus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 253'; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 361°.
Hab. Norra America, Tennessee!, South Carolina 2—Mexico, Villa Lerdo in
Durango, Jalapa (Hége), Cordova (Sallé), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer).
The identification of our insect with this species, which was only known to Gerstacker
by a single female example from Tennessee, is made with some hesitation; but the
examples received agree more nearly with the description than with that of Epipocus
punctatus, the chief discrepancy between our species and &. bivittatus, to which,
however, I do not attach much importance, being that usually only the two basal joints
of the antenne and the apical one are red. It is also rather larger than one would
expect, being from six to seven millimetres in length. A male example from Jalapa is
EPIPOCUS. 123
figured. ‘This sex is only distinguishable from the female by the presence of a very
minute denticle near the apex of the front tibia.
B. Elytra unicolorous brown.
a. Apex of the elytra truncate.
8. Epipocus longicornis,
Epipocus longicornis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 255 *,
‘Obscure ferrugineus, unicolor, antennis elongatis, basi apiceque exceptis nigro-piceis ; elytris apice oblique
truncatis, supra crebre punctatis, prope suturam longitudinaliter subcostatis. Long. lin. 3. 9.”
Hab. Mexico}.
I have not seen any examples which I can refer to this species.
9. Epipocus subcostatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 13, ¢.)
Oblongus, brunneo-ferrugineus, breviter pubescens ; antennis (articulis duobus primis apiceque exceptis), tibiarum
basi et prothoracis maculis quatuor nigris; elytrorum apicibus oblique et arcuatim truncatis. Long.
11 milliim. ¢ 9.
Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca, Yautepec in Morelos (Hége).
Oblong, pubescent; head very finely punctured; antenne long, the third joint nearly
equal to the fourth and fifth joints united, the two basal joints and the apical one
(except at its base) yellow. Thorax not twice as wide as long; the sides parallel near
the base, much rounded in to the front angles, especially in the female ; the disc vaguely
and deeply, the sides thickly and confusedly, punctured; the sulci curving inwards, very
distinct and linear; a distinct round black dot on each side, and a less distinct and
irregular blackish spot in the shallow fovea on each side of the middle. Scutellum
punctured. Elytra very finely punctured, and with a short shining golden pubescence,
their apex rather deeply excised. Legs unicolorous with the body, excepting that the
bases of the tibiee are black.
The males have an indistinct tooth or angular widening at one third from the apex
of the front tibia. .
One male from Cuernavaca, one female from Yautepec. The male specimen is
figured.
10. Epipocus unicolor.
Epipocus unicolor, Horn, Trans. Am, Ent. Soc, 1870, p. 96*; Croteh, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1878,
p- 361°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 21°.
Hab. Norra America, Arizona ?, Colorado 13.—Muxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).
The small size (seven millimetres), unicolorous thorax and antenne, and obliquely
R* 2
124 ENDOMYCHIDA.
truncate elytra distinguish this species. It is common in Northern Mexico and in the
United States, west of the Rio Grande..
b. Apex of the elytra rounded.
11. Epipocus binotatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 14, ¢.)
Oblongus, parum ovatus, rufo-ferrugineus, parce pubescens ; antennis (articulis duobus basalibus apiceque
exceptis), tibiarum basi punctisque duobus prothoracis nigris; prothoracis disco vage, elytris crebre
punctatis. Long. 7-10 millim. ¢ 9.
_ Mas tibiis anticis denticulo parvo ante apicem armatis.
Hab. Mexico, La Noria in Sinaloa, Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Zapotlan in Colima,
Yautepec in Morelos, Mexico city, Cordova (Hége).
Head finely, the thorax distinctly and rather sparingly punctured, the disc of the
latter very vaguely so. Antenne black, with the two basal and the apical joints rusty-
red, the second joint often infuscate in the middle. Elytra distinctly and thickly
punctured, the punctures shallow; without trace of strie or costation; the apex not
truncate, but yet almost so, the sutural angle being rectangular and still more sharply
so in the female. Legs of the colour of the body, with the bases of the tibiee infuscate.
Body beneath quite unicolorous, the breast smooth, the abdomen distinctly punctured.
This insect is obviously very closely allied to the following species, L. mollicomus.
It appears to differ in some minor details, among which are the darker red colour, the
entirely red apical joint of the antennz, the golden colour of the pubescence, the
subtruncate elytra, and the uniform red colour of the underside. From the evidence
now before me it is clear there are many species of this group of the genus yet to be
discovered, and closely allied; and I therefore think it advisable to describe the present
insect under a fresh name, rather than to refer it to a species of which the types are
not now in my possession, and with the description of which it does not quite accord.
A male example from Yautepec is figured.
12. Epipocus mollicomus.
Epipocus mollicomus, Gorham, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1875, p. 15’.
Hab. Mexico! (Trugui, coll. Fry).
13. Epipocus brunneus.
Brunneus, parcius pube concolore vestitus ; prothorace crebrius fortiter, elytris subtiliter creberrime punctatis,
his obsolete costatis, apice rotundato ; antennis (articulo basali et apice extremo exceptis), prothoracis
disco punctis duobus ( ¢ ) vel quatuor (2) tibiarumque basi nigris. Long. 9-10 millim. g 9.
Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).
Very close to £. dinotatus, but apparently distinct. The difference in the number
of the thoracic black dots may be accidental; but the much more ‘finely punctured
EPIPOCUS.—ANIDRYTUS. 125
elytra, and the thicker punctuation of both the thorax and elytra (especially the costation
of the latter in the female), and other minor differences indicate, I think, a distinct
species.
14. Epipocus sallei. (Tab. VII. fig. 15.)
Epipocus Sallei (Guérin, ined., coll. Sallé).
Oblongus, elytris ovatis, piceus, nitidus, prothoracis elytrorumque marginibus modice explanatis et reflexis ;
antennarum articulo basali et apice, prothoracis lateribus, elytrorum macula parvula humerali, apiceque
abdomine et pedibus rufo-ferrugineis, tibiis (apicibus exceptis) piceis. Long. 9-10 millim.
Hab, Mexico, Jacale (Sallé), Jalapa (Hége).
Head pitchy, the front, mouth, palpi, and the basal and two or three apical joints of
the antenne red. The latter nearly half as long as the body, their third joint elongate,
nearly or quite equal to the fourth and fifth united, the ninth and tenth joints very
little produced on the inner side; all the joints finely pubescent. Thorax transversely
squarish, not deeply excavated in front, and with the anterior angles rather blunt, the
surface pitchy-black, the sides broadly red, expanded, and nearly smooth, the disc
obsoletely punctured, the basal sulci indistinct ; on each side of the pitchy part of the
disc is a tumid dark spot. Elytra much wider than the thorax, moderately convex,
their margins a little expanded, the epipleure very wide at the base, their disc closely
and very finely punctate; pitchy-black, a small portion of the margin at the shoulder
and the apex red. Underside rufous, the breast and the base of the abdomen pitchy.
This insect will no doubt form the type of a new genus. It is allied to Epipocus by
the elongate third joint of the antenne, and by the form of the prosternum; but it has
the appearance of an Anidrytus, and the epipleure are very wide and quite different
to those of any other species of either genus. As the four specimens seem all to be
females, I do not think L. sall@i should at present be separated.
ANIDRYTUS.
Anidrytus, Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 256 (1858) ; Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 21; Chapuis,
Gen. des Col. xii. p. 122.
This genus is more numerous in species in the southern than in the northern conti-
nent of America, and is, so far as we know at present, confined to the tropics. The
species are less pubescent than those of Epipocus, and are usually of a uniform black
or chestnut-brown colour. They are found associated with fungoid growth on dead
and fallen trees.
About twenty species have been described ; they are, like those of Epipocus, closely
allied to each other and hard to discriminate.
126 -ENDOMYCHIDR.
Section A, Body ovate, moderately convex.
1, Anidrytus liquefactus. (Tab. VII. fig. 16, 3.)
Anidrytus liquefactus, Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 47’; Proc. Zool. Soc. 1886, p. 160°.
“ Oblongus, elytris obovatis, rufo-piceis, nitidus, parcius punctatus ; antennis articulis } quatnor hi rufis.
Long. lin. 33. ¢.”
Had. Guatumata, San Joaquin in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba( Champion).
—Cotompia!; Perv? (coll. Gorham).
There are some slight differences between the single specimens captured by
Mr. Champion, and between them and the type; but I do not consider these differences
of sufficient importance to warrant me in describing them as new species. The
example from Bugaba is a male, 83 millim. in length. It has the three basal joints of
the antenne of a clear red, the fourth joint pitchy in part, and the following joints
black, the apical joint being very narrowly tipped with reddish-brown; the whole body
and the legs and the elytra of a clear, almost lucid, chestnut-ted inclining to pitchy ;
the punctuation distinct and rather thick, that on the disc of the thorax less close than
at the sides; and the pubescence of the elytra golden-brown. In the specimen from
San Joaquin, also a male, the fourth joint of the antenne is less pitchy and even the
fifth joint is partly rufous at its apex; and the elytra have a darker discoidal cloud,
and even the disc of the thorax is faintly infuscate. ‘The front tibie of the male in
both specimens are curiously distorted, being angularly deflexed below their middles,
and flattened and again reflexed upward close to the apex, so that they form a kind of |
spoon; there is, however, no internal tooth.
2, Anidrytus nitidularius ?
Anidrytus nitidularius, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 262°.
Hab. Mexico}, Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer).
Of this species, described by Gersticker from a single specimen in Dohrn’s collection,
I have not seen an authentic example. The single specimen obtained by Gaumer
agrees well enough with the description, but it is a female; and the character given by
Gerstacker, viz. the semicircular emargination of the last ventral segment, may be
that of the male sex. It is not present in our insect, The identification is therefore
quite uncertain.
8. Anidrytus nigropiceus.
Late oblongo-ovatus, nigro-piceus, subnitidus, antennarum basi et apice, corpore subtus pedibusque dilutius
piceis. Long. 7 millim. ¢.
Mas tibiis anticis intus fortiter late dentatis, ad dentem fossulatis, tibiis intermediis sinuatis.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
ANIDRYTUS. 127
Deep pitchy-black above, pitchy-brown below. ‘The five basal joints of the antenna,
the legs, the margins of the thorax and elytra pitchy, the latter shading off quite by
degrees into the nearly black colour of the general surface. The whole insect is
clothed with a short but thick greyish-brown pubescence. The thorax is twice as
broad as long, very finely and closely punctured, with the basal sulci distinct, the
punctures a little larger and not so close at the base between the sulci; the front
angles are acute and prominent but deflexed; the hind angles are rectangular. The
elytra are oblong-ovate, also very finely but distinctly punctured; the surface is
shining, and the pubescence is only distinct at the sides and apex (being probably soon
abraded); the punctuation is finer and more crowded at the sides; the margin is
narrowly reflexed, and bears a few irregular impressions, but is without larger punctures.
On the first ventral segment of one specimen there is a patch of golden hairs; but I
do not observe it in the other, and it is probably not a sexual distinction in this genus.
The apical or fifth segment has its margin bisinuate.
The antenne are stout and rather short; the third joint is hardly longer than the
fourth, this latter and the fifth being longer than wide; the sixth to the eighth joints
are nearly bead-shaped ; the apical joint is reddish-brown at the tip. |
Allied to A. nitidularius, but apparently shorter and broader.
Two specimens, both males.
4. Anidrytus contractus. (Tab. VII. fig. 17,3.)
Anidrytus contractus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 263°.
Hab. Costa Rica1; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Although I have not seen an authentic specimen of this species, which was only
(so far as I am aware) known to Gerstacker from the female type in the Berlin
Museum, I have no doubt that the Bugaba insect, of which Mr. Champion collected
ten examples, including the male sex, is identical with it. The males resemble the
females; but have the front tibie slightly bent in their basal half, and from below the
middle compressed and straight, forming a faint angle without any tooth on the inner
margin.
A. contractus may be known by its short and very convex form and very transverse
thorax ; the third joint of the antenne is hardly longer than the fourth, and the five
apical joints only are black.
5. Anidrytus dolosus. (Tab. VII. fig. 18.)
Breviter ovatus, subtiliter punctatus, valde convexus, nitidus, rufo-ferrugineus ; elytrorum disco (ultra medium
juxta suturam) et antennarum articulis quinque ultimis nigris. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Extremely close to the species from Bugaba which I have identified with 4. con-
128 ENDOMYCHIDA.
tractus; but differing from it by the thorax being rather longer, and with its sides
not so parallel at the base, and hence having the hind angles somewhat acute
instead of rectangular. The head is very finely punctured, the thorax more deeply
‘and distinctly so, evenly over the whole surface. The antennw are short; the five
terminal joints and the tip of the sixth joint jet-black. The elytra have a very sparse
golden pubescence, which (as in A. contractus) probably soon wears off ; their disc is
black, but the apical third, however, is of the deep red colour of the body, and the
basal and side-margins and humeral callus and scutellum are also red.
6. Anidrytus
Hab. Guatemaa, San Joaquin in Vera Paz (Champion).
A single male example of an Anidrytus which I cannot at present determine. It is
apparently near A. plagiatus, Gerst., and is rufous in colour; the last six joints of the
antenne are black ; and the elytra have the disc of each infuscate, but with the suture
and margins red. In size it is rather larger than the specimen from North Yucatan
which I refer to A. nitidularius, measuring eight millimetres.
Section B. Body subparallel, and not convex.
7. Anidrytus humilis.
Anidrytus humilis, Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 48'; Proc. Zool. Soc. 1886, p. 160°.
Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt 2, Janson +).
The male of this species has, in addition to the character mentioned in the original
description, the hind tibie sinuate and slightly bent inwards at their apices, in the
same manner as they are in the following species. .
Two specimens, a male and a female.
8. Anidrytus depressus.
Oblongus, subparallelus, depressus, nitidus ; prothorace crebre, elytris subrugose creberrime punctatis ; ferrugi-
neus, prothoracis disco, elytris macula basali plagiaque discoidali indeterminate nigro-piceis, antennis
articulis sex ultimis nigris. Long. 74 millim. ¢.
‘Mas tibiis anticis dente acuto interne armatis, tibiis posticis sinuatis ad apicem incurvatis.
Hab. GuatemMa.a, El Tumbador (Champion).
Head rusty-red, with a faint double impression between the eyes, sparingly and finely
punctured. Antenne with five joints pale rusty-red, the succeeding ones black, all
rather pubescent. Thorax transverse, the disc sparingly, the hind angles more thickly
and strongly punctured; the sides parallel at the base (in 4. humilis they are a little
contracted towards the front); the front angles widely, the margins very narrowly red,
the disc pitchy. Elytra very thickly and confluently punctate, the punctures joining
in irregular transverse rows, and being coarser and thicker towards the base and suture ;
ANIDRYTUS.—EPOPTERUS. 129
there is on each an indeterminate black spot touching the base, and the greater part of
their disc is black, leaving the margins, the apex more widely, the suture, and a ring
surrounding the black spot deep rusty-red. Legs and body beneath paler red.
This species is allied to A. humilis; it differs not only in colour, but in the punc-
turing and a little in the form of the thorax, which being less narrowed in front appears
wider. The male characters are the same as in A. humilis.
A single specimen.
EPOPTERUS.
Epopterus (Dejean Cat. 3rd edit. p. 463), Erichson, in Wiegmann’s Archiv fir Naturg. 1847, 1.
p- 181; Gerstiicker, Monogr. Endom. p. 274; Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 22, & P. Z. S. 1886,
p. 160.
Epopterus is a Tropical-American genus, and is known to contain about twenty-five
species; its representatives, however, unlike those of Anidrytus, present great beauty
and variety in the pattern of their upper surface. The species of the first section bear
a remarkable likeness in form to those of the European genus Mycetophagus. 'They are
to be sought for in similar places and in similar substances to the Anidryti.
Section A. Body oblong, of nearly even width before and behind.
1. Epopterus ocellatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 19, var. d.)
Eumorphus ocellatus, Oliv. Ent. vi. p. 1067, t. 1. f. 6°.
Epopterus ocellatus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 275°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 22°.
Hab. Cotompia; Guiana, Cayenne*; Brazin! 2 3.
Var. 6. Epopterus myops, Guérin, Arch. Ent. i. p. 268%.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).—Cotomaia‘.
Var. d. Epopterus maculosus, Reiche, MS.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); British Honpvuras (Blancaneaua) ;
GuaTEMALA, Cahabon, Cubilguitz (Champion); Nicaracua®, Chontales (Belt, Janson).
This insect is so widely distributed and is so variable that it is difficult to determine
whether all the forms belong to one species. ‘The richly coloured typical specimens
from Colombia and Brazil have a very different aspect from the varieties which occur
in our district; yet it appears to me impossible to separate them satisfactorily. The
variety d, which seems to be rather common in Nicaragua, has four distinct thoracic
spots, and the elytra yellow, with two basal spots, an interrupted fascia, an apical spot,
‘and one common wedge-shaped one on the suture. Specimens from Guatemala agree
with these, excepting in having the fascia not divided in the middle of each elytron.
The variety 6, which I have seen labelled “ myops, Guérin,” has two subapical spots
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1890. S*
130 ENDOMYCHIDZ.
and the fascia very much reduced. All the forms agree in the general disposition of
the markings, and nearly so in puncturing.
2. Epopterus partitus.
Epopterus partitus, Gerst. Monogr. p. 277*; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 23°.
Hab. Norta America, Texas ! ?.—Mzuxico, Yucatan ! 2 (Gauwmer).
Possibly this is another variety of E. ocellatus, to which it corresponds in its
markings; it is, however, always darker yellow, less pubescent, broader, and less
parallel. The district of its distribution is the northern limit of the genus.
3. Epopterus comptus. (Tab. VII. fig. 20, ¢.)
Oblongus, rufo-piceus, nitidus, antennarum basi pedibusque flavis, illis articulis sex ultimis nigris; prothorace
transverso, lateribus sinuatis antice parum attenuatis, angulis posticis acutis, maculis tribus basalibus
elongatis duabus anterioribus seepe confluentibus et plagia laterali antice abbreviata nigris; elytris flavis
vel ferrugineis, maculis duabus (una basilari, una subapicali) fasciaque lata utrinque valde undulata nigro-
piceis, sutura postice parum infuscata. Long. 6 millim. ¢ 9.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson, Belt).
Allied to E. ocellatus, but distinguished from any of the varieties of that species
known to me by the marking of the thorax: the four transverse spots are, as it were,
united by streaks to the base, with the addition of two on the front margin, which are
often confluent, and have each an angular projection inwards, and one central basal
one. The markings of the elytra are also different, as there are but one basal and one
apical spot, the latter being large, and there is no spot on the suture; the suture is in
some cases pitchy-red in the centre of the fascia. The elytra are more convex in the
longitudinal direction than in the allied species, with the least appearance of pubescence
at the margins and apex, very finely, but distinctly, punctured. ‘The legs are rather
long, entirely yellow; the male characters, as usual, not very pronounced.
There are four specimens of this insect collected by Janson and one by the late
Mr. Belt before me, which do not vary among themselves to any extent. It is a species
which will compare favourably for beauty with any in this genus.
A male specimen is figured.
4. Kpopterus scalaris. (Tab. VII. fig. 21.)
Oblongus, latiusculus, niger, nitidus; capite, prothoracis macula quadrata ad angulum anticum, ramum postice
emittente, elytrisque flavis, his sutura antice late, fascia mediana undulata, puncto subhumerali, apiceque
nigris; abdomine versus apicem tarsisque flavescentibus. Long. 64-7 millim. ¢ 9.
Mas tibiis anticis curvatis, ad apicem rectis, et compressis.
Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Head yellow, rather thickly punctured; antenne black. ' Thorax smooth, sparsely
and rather deeply punctate; the basal sulci sharp and clear, starting from triangular
EPOPTERUS.—EPHEBUS. 131
fosse at the base, fully twice as wide as long; the hinder angles right angles; the
upperside is black, but the front angles are widely yellow, this yellow portion having
a square projection parallel to the margin just outside the sulci. The elytra are
orange-yellow, with the suture at the base widely, an undulate fascia (which looks as
if composed of three oblong gutta), a punctiform dot near the shoulder, and an oblong
spot common to both elytra on the apex, black; behind the fascia there is an ill-defined
pitchy spot on the suture. The underside and legs are black; but the sides and tip of
the abdomen, the pro- and mesosterna, and the tarsi are reddish-yellow, and the
epipleural margins of the elytra are yellow, with the extreme limb dark.
E. scalaris is allied to E. tigrinus, Gerst., and also rather closely to E. testudinarius,
Gorh. It is wider and more convex than the latter, and is distinguished from both by
the black legs, the wholly black antenne, &c.
A good many specimens were found by Mr. Champion at Bugaba, from one of which
the figure is drawn.
Section B. Body ovate, the thorax more or less narrowed in front.
5. Epopterus pantherinus. (Tab. VII. fig. 22.)
Late oblongo-ovatus, fortiter convexus, crebre subtiliter punctatus, nitidus, dilute piceus; prothoracis margine
antico in medio, limbo laterali infra medium, et basali tenuiter nigris; elytris nigro-reticulatis, macula
humerali triramosa, duabus medianis, tribus apicalibus sat magnis, nigro-cinctis, pallide flavis; scutello,
antennis (articulis duobus primis exceptis) et tibiarum basi, nigris. Long. 5z-6 millim,
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion).
This beautiful species is easily distinguished from any other in our district by its
convex oval form. In this respect, and also in the three-branched shoulder-mark, it
exhibits some affinity with EH. ryei, an Amazonian species figured in the ‘ Endomycici
Recitati.’. The three subapical spots are whitish in the specimen from Bugaba, and the
two central ones are confluent in the single example from David. The entire limb of
the elytra is very narrowly black.
. EPHEBUS.
Ephebus, Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 293 (1858); Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 24; Chapuis,
Gen. des Col. xii. p. 125.
Ephebus is chiefly distinguished from Stenotarsus by the absence of an impressed line
inside the lateral margin of the thorax. Seven species have been described, all from
Tropical South America.
1. Ephebus piceus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 1.)
Breviter oblongus, rufo-piceus, nitidus; antennis validis, nigris, articulis tribus basalibus rufis; capite minute,
prothorace elytrisque parcius distincte, punctatis, his parce rufo-pilosis. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, Zapote (Champion). |
S* 2
132 _ ENDOMYCHIDZ.
Var.? (vel alterius sexus). Antennis paullo longioribus, articulis quatuor basalibus rufis.
Hab. Guatemata, Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion).
The short form, distinctly punctured thorax and elytra, stout antenne with the club
“ connate,” %. é. with the joints not laxly articulate, and the sides of the thorax very
finely margined (without a band as in Stenotarsus), distinguish this species from the
allied forms. It might be taken for a very small Anidrytus. The head is nearly
smooth. The antenne are about half as long as the body, their joints 3-5 very little
longer than wide, the second, sixth, seventh, and eighth bead-shaped, the club hardly
wider at its commencement than the eighth joint, but gradually increasing in width.
The thorax is twice as wide as long, the sides considerably rounded in front, the hind
angles a little acute, the sulci distinct and slightly arcuate, the punctures small but
quite distinct. Scutellum faintly punctate. Elytra distinctly and evenly punctured,
the punctuation obsolete on the apical third; there is a very fine, not deeply impressed,
sutural stria.
This insect is, unlike other Ephedi I have seen, almost smooth. ‘The example from
Teleman only differs in the structure of the antenne, and this is probably of sexual
import only. There is only one specimen from each locality, and it would be perhaps
impossible upon these to decide whether or not they are the sexes of one species. The
example from Zapote is taken as the type.
2. Ephebus chontalesianus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 2.)
Oblongo-ovatus, ferrugineus, prothoracis disco parcius minute, lateribus presertim ad angulos posticos crebre
punctatis; elytris parcius rufo-pubescentibus; antennis nigris, articulis quatuor basalibus rufis. Long.
5 millim.
Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson).
In this insect the antennee have four joints clear rusty-red and the following ones
black; it is thus clearly distinct from E. cardinalis or either of the species described
by Gerstaécker. The antennal joints are all rather short, the third and fourth being
equal, and each a little longer than the second, the fifth to the eighth not longer than
wide, the club gradually widened and compact, the apical joint subquadrate. The
thorax is depressed, the basal sulci short; the sides narrowing in front, nearly straight
for three-quarters their length, then suddenly rounded in to the front angles, their
edges a little reflexed; the excision for the head has a very fine marginal line. A
single specimen.
SYSTACHEA.
Characteres plerumque ut in Stenotarso. Antenne articulo tertio quam secundus vix longiore, quarto ad
sextum his subsqualibus, octavo transverso; clava magna, laxe articulata. Palpi maxillares articulo
ultimo subulato. Prosternum: processu latiusculo, apice suleato-impresso. Mesosternum transversum.
Pronotum transversum, tenuiter marginatum, sulcis basalibus leviter impressis, angulis anticis acutiusculis,
modice productis.
SYSTACHEA. 1338
I propose this new genus for two species evidently allied to Stenotarsus. The thorax
is without a lateral impressed line, and is formed differently to that of any species of
Stenotarsus ; and neither it nor the elytra are so hairy as is usual in that genus. The
puncturing of the elytra is deep, and of the irregular “stellate ” type of Stenotarsus,
while the bluish colour of their disc is peculiar.
1. Systzchea cyanoptera. (Tab. VII. fig. 24.)
Castaneo-rufa ; antennis articulis quinque ultimis nigris; capite prothoraceque levigatis, elytris nigro-cyaneis,
sutura, margine lateralis, apiceque latius rufis, fortiter irregulariter punctatis, versus apicem pube aurea
brevi vestitis. Long. 53 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Head and thorax chestnut-yellow, shining, very finely punctured; antenne with six
joints clear yellow, rather pubescent, the seventh infuscate, the following joints black,
the club-joints subequal—the first obconic, the first and second slightly acuminate on
the inner side. Thorax very narrowly margined, the margin a little reflexed. Scutellum
red. Elytra oblong, the sides rather parallel, with scattered obsolete stellate punctures,
the surface between the punctures very finely coriaceous; blue or bluish-violet, with
the suture and entire margin, the apex more widely, red; a very soft, short, golden
pubescence is visible, but is much denuded in one specimen. Underside wholly
yellow.
2. Systechea championi. (Tab. VIII. fig. 3.)
Fere hemisphericus, rufo-ferrugineus ; antennis articulis sex ultimis nigris; prothoracis disco basali, scutello
elytrisque nigro-plumbeis, his sparse cano-pubescentibus, confertim minute punctatis, limbo laterali rufo.
Long. 54 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
More orbiculate and shorter and wider than S. cyanoptera, and with the first two
club-joints more sharply acuminate within. The thorax is much narrowed in front,
and has the front angles depressed and acute, the margins very finely reflexed, the
basal sulci linear and converging, the disc very finely and obsoletely punctate; the
basal margin is gently bisinuate, the middle being faintly truncate, and it is not
margined nor reflexed. Elytra fully half as wide again as the base of the thorax, in
their middle clothed with a sparse, and apparently fasciate, grey pubescence; nearly
black, with the margin very narrowly red, this colour continuing a little way up the
suture at the apex. SS. championi is a remarkably neatly made and compact insect,
in form recalling Corynomalus or Acinaces, to which it is, perhaps, really allied;
but the pubescent elytra and structure of the antenne are more in accordance with
the genus now proposed. We have, unfortunately, only received one specimen.
134 ENDOMYCHID.
STENOTARSUS.
Stenotarsus, Perty, Del. Anim. Artic. Brasil. p. 112 (1838) ; Gersticker, Monogr. Endom. p. 298;
Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 24; Chapuis, Gen. des Col. xii. p. 127. -
Stenotarsus is the largest genus in the Endomychide, the described species amounting
to about seventy. They are generally distributed in the Tropics. The American repre-
sentatives can usually be distinguished from those of Africa and the East by not having
the punctures on the elytra arranged in striae. Its species are more thickly pubescent
than most of the family; they are usually of a rich brown or rusty-red colour, often
clouded with black, but seldom spotted, and are only of medium or small size.
According to Mr. Champion, they are of similar habits to Anidrytus and Epopterus.
Section A. Antenne with the third to the seventh joints longer than broad.
1. Stenotarsus cordatus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 4.)
Breviter ovatus, convexus, saturate rufo-ferrugineus ; pectore abdominisque segmento primo, prothoracis disco,
elytrorumque plagia discoidali indeterminata in singulis piceis; antennis basi rufis, articulis quatuor
ultimis nigris. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Teleman and Senahu in Vera Paz (Champion).
The form of this species is broadly ovate ; the elytra are cordate, less convex than in
S. coccineus. The head and thorax are very minutely punctured. The thorax has the
disc shining and almost glabrous, the margin flat, wide, and scarcely narrowed behind ;
the sides are very much narrowed to the front angles from the hind angles, which are
acute, and are also gently and evenly rounded. The elytra have the usual unequal
puncturing, the larger irregular punctures being numerous on the sides and towards
the apex; their margins are finely reflexed. The antenne are rather long and thin,
with a lax club, the first seven joints clear red; in the example from Teleman the
third, fourth, and fifth joints are very little longer than wide, but in the one from
Senahu these joints are much longer. The specimen from Senahu also has the legs
longer, and the hinder pair of tibie a little bent; I have, therefore, doubts whether
this is the male sex or a distinct species. |
The length of the legs is a good specific character: I do not known any other species
with them so formed. The male (?) from Senahu will be the type for this species.
2. Stenotarsus orbicularis.
Stenotarsus orbicularis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 322*; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 25°.
Hab. Guatemaa! 2, Teleman and Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Volcan
- de Chiriqui below 4000 feet (Champion).
The specimens which I assign to this species agree fairly well with Gerstacker’s
description, and are distinct from any other known to me; I have not, however, ever
seen an authenticated example of S. orbicularis. I will, therefore, give the characters
STENOTARSUS. 135
of the species before me :—The size is about that of 9. obtusus, viz. six millimetres; the
colour is rich rusty-red, almost blood-red; the elytra each with a long but ill-defined
pitchy cloud, leaving the margins (widely at the base) and the suture red; the thorax is
wide, much contracted in front, the margin flat and wide, a little narrowed behind, the
sides rather strongly but evenly rounded; six joints at the base of the antenne are red.
3. Stenotarsus obtusus.
Stenotarsus obtusus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 310’.
Stenotarsus brevicollis, Erichs. in Schomb. Reisen in Brit.-Guiana, iii. p. 579” (nec Perty).
Hab. Guatemaa, Sinanja in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—
Guiana! 2, Cayenne.
The identification of this species is a little uncertain: I have not seen the type. Our
specimen from Sinanja is slightly oblong, and has four joints at the apex of the
antenne black.
4. Stenotarsus nigricans.
Oblongo-ovatus, nigro-fuscus, nitidus, fulvo-pubescens ; antennis rufis, articulis quatuor ultimis nigris; pro-
thoracis margine laterali deplanato et paullo elevato, postice subangustato. Long. 54-6 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion).
The almost uniform dark fuscous colour separates this species from any other, except
the Colombian S. sericatus, Gerst., in which the antenne are wholly black. In
S. nigricans the antenne are dark red as far as the eighth joint; and the thorax is
very finely, the elytra more distinctly and deeply, punctured. In an example from
San Juan, which is apparently not specifically distinct, the head and thorax are rufo-
piceous, as well as the legs. WS. nigricans is also allied to S. rubicundus, Gerst.; but
the terminal joint of the antenne is wholly black. It isa more oblong species than
either S. rubicundus or S. sericatus.
5. Stenotarsus pilatei.
Stenotarsus Pilatet, Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 53°.
“ Oblongus, rufus, cinereo-pubescens, antennis articulis quinque ultimis nigris, elytris confertim irregulariter
puhctatis disco infuscatis.” Long. 5-63 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan!; British Honpvuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); GUATEMALA,
Panzos, Teleman, and Chacoj in Vera Paz (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).
Specimens of an oblong, unicolorous species before me from several localities appear
to present no important difference from the type of S. pilatei, with which I now
compare them: four joints only at the apex of the antenne are black; the size varies
—the type of S. pilatei being of the smallest dimension ; and the punctuation is strong.
The faint cloud on the elytra of the type is hardly a character to be depended on, but
is present in at least one of the Chontales and in some of the Guatemalan examples.
136 ENDOMYCHIDA.
S. pilatei is very near to a Stenotarsus I have received from M. Chevrolat as S. ovatulus,
Gerst.; but I do not place any reliance upon the authenticity of this name, as the
specimens do not well accord with the description of S. ovatulus, the latter, moreover,
being described from Brazil.
6. Stenotarsus discipennis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 5.)
Statura et summa affinitate S. circumdati, saturate rufus; antennarum clava, prothoracis disco, pectore
elytrisque nigris, nitidis, his rufo-marginatis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil, Capetillo (Champion); Costa Rica (Rogers).
This species is very like 8. circumdatus, Gerst.; but is less pubescent, and is at once
distinguished by the five basal joints of the antenne and the legs being red. The.
rufous parts are not orange-red as in S. circumdatus, but almost blood-red. The head
and front angles of the thorax, and the underside of the latter, are of this colour; while
the meso- and metasterna and the basal segment of the abdomen (except at its sides) are
deep pitchy-black. The legs are rather long, and (with their tarsi) entirely red. The.
margin of the thorax and the proportions of the antenne are as in S. circumdatus.
Three specimens. .
7. Stenotarsus circumdatus. (Tab. VII. fig. 25.)
Stenotarsus circumdatus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 823°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 257 (nec
S. globosus, Guér.).
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa! ? (Hége), Cordova (Sailé).
A very easily recognized species, if the black antenne and legs and the red head and
abdomen are noticed. The thorax is usually wholly black, but has sometimes the sides
red in front.
8. Stenotarsus globosus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 6.)
Stenotarsus globosus, Guérin, Arch. Ent. i. p. 270°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 25.
Hab. Mexico 12, Playa Vicente (Sallé); Guarema.a, Tactic in Vera Paz (Champion).
The specimens of 8. circumdatus in Sallé’s collection are labelled S. globosus. The
latter, however, is quite distinct, as testified by Guérin’s type, which I purchased with
his other Endomychide. JS. globosus is somewhat smaller than S. circumdatus; it is
of a bright rusty-red; the thorax has the disc only black; the patch on the elytra
consists of a roundish spot, not invading the apical third; and the legs are entirely red.
We have received many specimens from Tactic.
9. Stenotarsus thoracicus.
Breviter ovatus, postice acuminatus, niger; capite, prothoracis angulis anticis, prosterno, abdomine (basi excepta)
elytrorumque margine toto aurantiacis. Long. 47-5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hoge), Cordova, Toxpam (Sal/é).
STENOTARSUS. 137
Very similar to S. circumdatus, but smaller; the head and thorax distinctly but
closely punctured; the antenne black; the marginal line of the sides of the thorax
very lightly impressed, the margin flat or a little concave (as it is in S. circumdatus) ;
the scutellum black; the elytra thickly clothed with depressed golden hairs, the
margins and suture neatly defined with an even orange band; the abdomen yellow,
excepting the middle of the basal segment; the legs black, including the tarsi, which
are pitchy at least.
An example of this species is labelled ‘‘ Stenotarsus thoracicus, Guér., type,” in the
Sallé collection ; it is, no doubt, distinct from S. cireumdatus.
10. Stenotarsus tarsalis.
S. thoracico summa affinitate, antennis articulis duobus, scutello tarsisque rufis, elytris distinctius pubescentibus.
Long. 5 millim.
Mas femoribus posticis minute dentatis.
- Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hége), Cordova (Sallé).
This species is extremely close to both 8. circumdatus and S. thoracicus; from the
former the red angles to the thorax and smaller size, from the latter the red tarsi, and
from both the red scutellum, appear to separate it; and it is more probable that there
are several closely allied species than that they vary in such points as these. It is,
however, labelled S. cirewmdatus in the Sallé collection ; one example from Jalapa has
a pitchy scutellum. The toothing of the femora in the male is similar to that of
S. rubrocinctus; I have not at present observed this character in the other allied
species.
11. Stenotarsus rubrocinctus.
Stenotarsus rubrocinctus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 324; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 25°.
Hab. Mexico! 2, San Andres Tuxtla, Playa Vicente (SaJ/é).
The insect which I refer at present with some doubt to this species differs from
Gersticker’s description in having the scutellum red; it must, however, be very close
to, if not identical with, S. rubrocinctus, and is easily known from its near allies by the
red legs, and by the antenne being yellow, with the exception of the four terminal
joints. In one example before me the teeth on the hind femora are quite distinct.
12. Stenotarsus militaris. |
Stenotarsus militaris, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 825°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 25°.
Hab. Mexico 12, Jalapa (Hége), Cordova, Playa Vicente (Sallé).
S. militaris may be distinguished from the other similarly coloured species by its
oblong form and rather acuminate elytra, as well as by the rather distinct but irregular
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1890. T*
138 ENDOMYCHIDZ.
punctuation of the latter. The example from Playa Vicente is very small, viz. five
millimetres; but can hardly be distinct from those from Cordova in Sallé’s collection,
which are almost six millimetres in length.
13, Stenotarsus oblongulus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 7.)
Oblongo-ovatus, densius fulvo-pubescens, sublevis, nitidus, rufus; antennis (articulis duobus basalibus exceptis)
nigris ; prothoracis macula discoidali, elytrorumque plagia, nigris. Long. 5 millim.
' Hab. Guatema.a, Capetillo (Champion).
Very close to S. militaris, but distinct from it by the antenne -having the two basal
joints alone red, and the elytra scarcely punctured, the latter also a little less parallel
at the sides, and having the apex less acuminate, being, in fact, evenly rounded there.
These distinctions, though minute, are sufficient in this difficult genus to indicate
a separate species. The metasternum and the middle of the basal segment of the
abdomen are pitchy-black.
One specimen.
14. Stenotarsus angustulus. (Tab. VII. fig. 23.)
Stenotarsus angustulus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 327*; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 26.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hoge), Juquila (Sallé); Guatzmata (Salvin), Capetillo, San
Gerénimo (Champion).—Sovutn America, Rio Janeiro !.
If I am right in referring the Central-American specimens to the species described
by Gerstacker, the range is extraordinary, and I have seen no examples from intermediate
localities. The elongate-oval form, scarcely margined thorax, and (with the exception
of the long antenne, of which five or six apical joints are black) the uniform ferruginous
colour render this an easy species to recognize. The intermediate and hinder tibie are
slightly bent (in the male).
Many examples; we figure one from Jalapa.
15. Stenotarsus panamanus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 8.)
Oblongo-quadratus, parum ovatus, sanguineo-rufus; antennarum clava elytrisque nigris, his margine laterali
tenuiter, humeris apiceque latius, rufis, pube brevi cupreo vestitis. Long. 6 millim.
Hab, Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Head, thorax, and antenne (excepting the club), and the whole body beneath, clear
deep blood-red ; front of the head subrostrate, being contracted in front of the insertion
of the antenne. Thorax twice as wide as long, with the lateral margins flattened and
raised, narrowing towards the base; basal sulci deeply impressed but short. Scutellum
red, Elytra oblong, with the humeral callus strongly raised, the disc thickly and
confluently, the sides more deeply, punctured; the sides are nearly straight, but
STENOTARSUS., 139
narrow towards the apex; the colour is deep black, with the shoulders and apex widely
red, the narrow reflexed margin at the sides being of the same colour.
Many specimens of this handsome Stenotarsus were obtained by Mr. Champion.
16. Stenotarsus cuprivestis.
Ovatus, valde convexus, castaneo-rufus; antennis articulis quinque ultimis nigris ; elytris pube cupreo-micante
vestitis, disco parum indeterminate adumbrato, fere levigatis; prothoracis lateribus antice angustatis,
margine laterali deplanato, Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet (Champion).
Var. Elytris concoloribus.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba 1000 feet (Champion).
Antenne with the six basal joints red, the tip of the sixth being more or less
infuscate; the second joint as long as wide, the third to the eighth only a little longer.
Thorax scarcely twice as wide as long at the base, and with its sides contracting to the
front angles and very little bowed, the margin flattened but very little raised, and not
narrowed behind. The elytra are somewhat evenly ovate, and clothed with a rather
long coppery pubescence, which has a purplish tinge in certain lights; the punctuation
is almost obsolete, the disc being nearly smooth, but towards the sides it is a little more
distinct. The ovate, convex form, the colour of the pubescence, nearly uniform chestnut
colour of the whole insect, the elytra being very faintly clouded upon the middle portion,
and the very slightly arcuate sides of the thorax separate this species from any in its
section known to me. .
Many specimens.
17. Stenotarsus lemniscatus.
Breviter ovatus, subrotundatus, depressiusculus, saturate rufo-brunneus; antennis articulis sex ultimis nigris ;
prothoracis margine lato, leviter reflexo, postice parum angustato. Long. 33-4 millim.
Hab. Guatemaa, Zapote (Champion).
Among the species of the first section of this difficult genus this one may be
recognized by its very small size and dark colour; and, if I am right in referring all
the examples to one species, the male has the antenne nearly as long as the whole
body, thin, and with the joints succeeding the second gradually increasing in length,
the seventh and eighth joints being twice as long as wide, the club long and very little’
widened. ‘The specimens which I think to be the females are larger, and have shorter
~-antenne. The elytra are as wide as long in the smaller (male?) specimen, rather more
expanded than in the more convex females. ‘The pubescence in these latter is thick but
silky, and golden in colour.
T* 2
140 ENDOMYCHIDA.,
18. Stenotarsus sallzi.
Stenotarsus Sailei, Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 25°, App. p. 62.
“Ovalis, ferrugineus, nitidus, pube cupreo-micante vestitus, thorace antice angustato, margine laterali
deplanato, sulcis basalibus brevioribus fortius impressis, antennarum articulis sex ultimis nigro-fuscis.”
Long. 4-44 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Toxpam (Sallé); GuateMaLa, Tactic, Sinanja, and Sabo in
Vera Paz (Champion).
Oblong-ovate, of a uniform rusty-red colour (with the exception of the last six joints
of the antennz), rather thickly clothed with a short, soft, golden pubescence. The
antenne are about three-quarters the length of the body, with the third to the sixth
joints clearly elongate; the club is not heavy, but is long and laxly jointed. The
thorax is nearly smooth, and the puncturing of the elytra is close and fine. This is
one of several species in Sallé’s collection named and labelled by Guérin, but unde-
scribed: S. antennatus, Guér., so named, does not differ, so far as I can see, from this
species. S. sall@i was originally referred by me in error to Colombia}.
19. Stenotarsus adumbratus.
Stenotarsus adumbratus, Gorh. Endom. Recit., App. p. 637.
Oblongo-ovalis, rufo-brunneus, nitidus; antennis breviusculis, articulis quatuor ultimis nigris; prothoracis
diseo elytrisque indistincte infuscatis, fere levibus. Long. 33 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, Tactic in Vera Paz (Champion).—Cotomsta, Sante Fé},
Smaller and less oblong than 8. sall@i. The antenne are shorter than in that
species; joints 3-6 very little longer than wide, 7 and 8 bead-shaped, the latter trans-
verse; the club has its first two joints at their apex rather wider than long. The
thorax is transverse, not visibly punctate, the flat side-margin not narrowed behind nor
much raised, the basal sulci short but deep. The elytra are very smooth, with only a
few deep punctures about the shoulders and sides; the breast is slightly infuscate. The
pubescence is short, rufous.
20. Stenotarsus smithi. (Tab. VIII. fig. 9.)
Breviter ovatus, elytris subcordatis, castaneo-rufus ; antennis articulis quinque ultimis nigris; prothoracis disco
infuscato, margine lato, postice vix angustato; elytris disperse haud profunde punctatis, breviter aureo-
pilosis. Long. 23 millim.
Hab. Mxxtco, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Antenne about half as long as the body, with the first six joints clear red, and longer
than wide, the seventh blackish, the remainder black, the first two club-joints not
longer than wide. Thorax with the wide lateral margins well marked ; the basal sulci
deep and wide at the base; the sides not much curved (the anterior angles in conse- .
quence rather prominent), narrowing, however, towards the front; the disc is darker,
STENOTARSUS. 141
almost pitchy. The scutellum is obscure in tint, almost pitchy. The elytra have the
apex a little recurved, and the margin there is contracted; the punctuation is vague,
but distinct towards the shoulders, where a few large shallow punctures are visible.
This is the smallest Stenotarsus I have seen; in general appearance it resembles a small
Rhymbus. A single example only.
21. Stenotarsus exiguus.
Breviter oblongus, piceus vel nigro-piceus; antennis articulis quatuor ultimis nigris, articulis secundo ad
octavum gradatim brevioribus; prothorace transverso, disco levi, margine deplanato, antice latiore et
elevato; elytris parcius punctatis et parce aureo-pilosis; tibiis et femoribus posticis nigricantibus. Long.
3 millim. , .
Hab. British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaur); Guatemata, San Juan and
Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion).
Smaller than the Guatemalan example of S. maculicollis recorded in this work, and
of a very dark pitchy-black colour, excepting the portions described here as black.
The antenne are much thinner than in that species, and the structure of the joints
necessitates its being placed in a different section of the genus. The disc of the
thorax is not nearly so much scooped out at the side adjoining the margin as in
S. maculicollis; but still the margin is well defined and raised. The punctures on the
elytra have a slight tendency to arrange themselves in longitudinal rows. The legs
are very stout for the size of the insect.
Section B. Antenne with the third to the eighth joints not longer
than wide, bead-shaped.
22. Stenotarsus claviger. (Tab. VIII. fig. 10.)
Stenotarsus claviger, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 381°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 26.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Toxpam, Playa Vicente (Sai/é); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de
Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutu America, Bahia 1, Santa Catarina 1.
Although in our specimens the pubescence is certainly coppery-red, rather than grey,
as stated by Gerstacker, I do not think they pertain to a different species. JS. claviger
is easily to be recognized by the antenne having the joints preceding the club very
short, the club itself as long as the rest taken together; the first eight joints are clear
red; the club is black, and its terminal joint is twice as long as the ninth or first club-
joint. This insect is labelled “ Stenotarsus (s. g. Ephebus) antennatus,’ Guér. (type), in
Sallé’s collection. It is, however, not an Ephebus.
There are three specimens from Mexico and six from Chiriqui in our collection.
23. Stenotarsus maculicollis, (Tab. VIII: fig. 11.)
Stenotarsus maculicollis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 333'; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 26.
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion).—Soutn America, Pernambuco ?.
142 ENDOMYCHIDA.
The small size, almost quadrate form, and colour render this insect easy to recognize,
there being so few of the section to which it belongs with short joints to the funieulus
of the antennz. The wide raised margin of the thorax and the sparse deep punctuation
of the elytra are characters unusual in New-World Stenotarsi. |
With the exception of the one from Guatemala, I have never seen any other example
of this species than the type, which is now in the possession of Mr. G. Lewis.
The following two species, represented by single examples only, are apparently
distinct from any of the foregoing; but they are not in a sufficiently good condition to
make it desirable to describe them, and, at the best, are very obscure and difficult
insects to deal with.
24, Stenotarsus —— ?
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
A small species about the size of small S. adumbratus, but more oblong, and with the
terminal joint of the antenne red.
25. Stenotarsus —— ?
* Hab. Panama (Boucard).
Another small species, with bead-shaped short joints to the base of the antenne ;
allied to S. maculicollis, but smaller, and with unicolorous dark brown elytra.
RHYMBUS.
Rhymbus, Gerstaicker, Monogr. Endom. p. 347 (1858); Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 27.
Bystus, Guérin, in Thomson’s Archives Ent. i. p. 270.
Rhymbus is a genus which approaches the Coccinellide in its hemispherical form,
but is properly associated with the present family. The tarsi are more filiform than
in the genera we have hitherto been treating of, but do not differ essentially from the
Endomychidous type, ¢. ¢. they are four-jointed, with the first two joints produced
beneath, and the apparent long claw-joint with a suture near the base. The antenne
have nine or ten joints; their structure is very like that of Panomea, an eastern genus
in which the joints are also sometimes reduced in number. About ten species of
Rhymbus are known to me, all from the New World.
Section A. Antenne nine-jointed.
1. Rhymbus limbatus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 12.)
Rhymbus limbatus, Gorh. Endom. Recit., App. p. 63°.
Rotundatus, fere. hemisphericus, nigro-piceus, nitidus, breviter fulvo-pubescens; capite, antennarum basi,
RHYMBUS. 143
prothoracis marginibus pedibusque dilutioribus rufo-piceis; elytris ferrugineis, plagia magna discoidali
nigra, distincte crebre punctatis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico !, Cordova, Toxpam (Sallé), Jalapa, Esperanza (Hég¢e).
This insect is labelled Bystus limbatus by Guérin in Sallé’s and other collections, but
is not described in the ‘Archives Entomologiques.’ The Stenotarsus limbatus of that
work appears to refer to some different insect which it is impossible now to identify.
2. Rhymbus hemisphericus.
Rhymbus hemisphericus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 349, t. 3. f. 6°; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 277.
Hab. Mexico (Truqui, coll. Fry), Toxpam (Sallé), Acapulco in Guerrero (Hége) ;
British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaus); GuatemMaLa, San Gerénimo and Panzos in
Vera Paz (Champion) ; Costa Rica!?; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion). .
The specimens from Guatemala, which I refer rather doubtfully to this species, are
smaller than typical ones, and have the tip of the apical joint of their antenne reddish,
but there are one two from Toxpam in Mexico which agree with them. The colour of
the apical joint may be. only a sexual character, and can hardly be relied upon, and
some specimens have it pitchy-red. The punctuation is a better character, and in this
species it is close and fine, but distinct. Most of the examples from the Volcan de
Chiriqui are very dark, almost pitchy in colour, and some of them have the punctuation
deeper and more confluent; probably this is a sexual character.
3. Rhymbus apicalis.
Rhymbus apicalis, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 350’; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 27.
_ Hab. Mexico !? (Truqui, coll. Fry); Guatemaua, Zapote (Champion).
Two specimens obtained by Mr. Champion at Zapote have the apical joint of the
antenne clear red, but otherwise agree with the larger specimens of £. hemisphericus
from Toxpam.
I think it is very probable that R. apicalis, which was described by Gersticker from
a female specimen, is only. that sex of 2. hemisphericus. This point, and whether
there are more than one species with similarly coloured antenne, can hardly be deter-
mined except by close observation in those localities where the species occurs.
4, Rhymbus piceus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 13.)
Rotundatus, fere hemisphericus, saturate brunneus vel rufo-piceus, breviter sed dense aureo-pilosus; elytris
perspicue et subconfluenter punctatis ; antennis, clava nigrescente, basi dilutioribus. Long. 3 millim.
_ Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion).
Of the same size as the smaller specimens referred to R. hemisphericus, but of a dark
pitchy-red colour, the legs and antenne partaking of the same pitchy tint. The distin-
144 ENDOMYCHIDZ.
guishing character is, however, the rather deep and confluent puncturing of the elytra.
The thorax is short and transverse, at the base more than twice as wide as long; the
sulci are linear, and rather more arcuate than in R. hemisphericus.
Fight specimens.
5. Rhymbus pallidulus ?
? Rhymbus pallidulus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 351*; Gorh. Endom. Recit. p. 27.
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaur).— Brazin', Rio Janeiro.
In three specimens from Belize the antenne have the club-joints shorter than in
R. hemisphericus, the punctuation of the elytra is very fine and close, and the thorax is
short. The identification is, however, uncertain. The species appear very little dif-
ferentiated and require revision.
Section B. Antenne ten-jointed.
6. Rhymbus fibulatus.
Orbicularis, rufo-piceus, nitidus, sutura et marginibus indistincte dilutioribus; antennis capitis protho-
racisque longitudine, clava valida, nigra, articulo ultimo oblongo, apice summo rufo; elytris creberrime
minute sed distincte punctatis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
This little Rhymbus is very near to a species from Guiana, which I have described
[Endom. Recit. p. 56] under the name f. seminulum; but it has the elytra less
distinctly margined with yellow, and the punctuation much closer and finer; the
pubescence is also very distinct in RB. fbulatus and hoary. The antenne are rather
long, and have the last four joints with part of the preceding one black. The thorax
is transverse, its sulci distinct, and a marginal line on the base between them.
Two specimens.
7. Rhymbus vestitus.
Orbicularis, rufo-piceus, nitidus, aureo-pilosus; antennis concoloribus, articulo ultimo subquadrato; prothorace
transverso, sulcis basalibus latiusculis, extus carinatis ; elytris vix perspicue punctatis. Long. 12 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet (Champion).
Easily distinguished from 2. fibulatus by the shorter and less stout antenne, and by
their entire rufo-piceous colour. The sulci of the thorax are also wide depressions
extending half across the thorax, edged on the outside with a short but somewhat
plicate carina. The elytra are unicolorous, thickly clothed with a shining, pale
golden, pilose pubescence. The thorax (in the single specimen obtained) is a very
little deeper in colour than the elytra. The puncturing of the latter is very fine,
requiring the microscope to see it.
EXYSMA. 145
EX YSMA.
Corpus orbiculare vel suborbiculare, parvum. Antenne 10- vel 11-articulate ; clava triarticulata, haud elongata,
laxe articulata; articulis duobus basalibus validis, intermediis (sex) subquadratis, tertia haud elongata.
Pronotum breve convexum, transversum, lateribus tenuiter reflexis; sulcis tenuibus, basi latius impressis.
Prosternum latum, lanceolatum, punctatum. LElytris pubescentibus, punctatis. Sutura (#. parvule)
stria leviter impressa, vel (LZ. levigate &c.) estriata. Tarsi 4-articulati, filiformes. Palporum labialium
articulis duobus ultimis latis trapeziformibus, maxillarium articulo ultimo subulato, apice subtruncato.
Eaxysma is apparently very near to Mycetwa and Symbiotes. I have described as
belonging to the latter genus two very small species from Japan, which have also very
close relationship with the small insects for which I now propose this new name. It
would be difficult to assert in what essential particular these insects differ from
Symbiotes ; but it would be equally unsatisfactory to place them in that genus. The
form is orbiculate, the antenne much stouter, the thorax quite different in shape. I
think it likely that the Japanese species alluded to may pertain to the genus, and that
Microxenus, Wollaston, from the Cape of Good Hope, is a close ally.
Eaysma is easily distinguished from Dialeria by the thorax having basal sulci, and
by the superior number of joints in the antenne.
A. Antenne eleven-jointed.
1. Exysma parvula.
Breviter oblongo-ovalis, saturate ferruginea; elytris crebre distincte punctatis, stria suturali distincta, mar-
ginibus subexplanatis, parcius pilosis. Long. 14-14 millim.
Hab. Guatremata, Capetillo (Champion).
Suborbiculate ovate. Antenne short and rather stout, about as long as the thorax
and head together; rusty-red, rather paler at the base and apex. Thorax transverse,
narrower in front, convex, the sides a good deal rounded, the front and hind angles
acute; the sulci deep and wide at the basal margin, plicate externally, continued as
fine impressed lines to the front margin. The elytra are as wide as long; the widened
margin is separated from the convex discoidal part by a rather evident sulcus, which
commences outside the small humeral callus; upon the margin itself is a row of
obsolete but larger punctures.
B. Antenne ten-jointed.
2. Exysma levigata.
Breviter rotundata, fere hemispherica, ferruginea, parce pubescens, antennis pedibusque dilutioribus, prothorace
minutissime punctulato, elytris levigatis, stria suturali nulla. Long. vix ultra 1 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
This little insect is allied to EL. parvula, and is about the size of the smallest
specimens of that species, but is more convex. The antenne are of a clear ferruginous
colour; the club is more compact than in that species, and the length of it is equal
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VIT., February 1891. U*
146 ENDOMYCHID.
to the rest of the antenna. The thorax is more contracted at its base, the hind angles
appearing rectangular, so that the elytra are very clearly wider than the base of the
thorax. The punctures are only visible under the microscope, and upon the elytra,
although pitchy clots are to be seen, no punctures are visible. The legs and tarsi are
pale rusty-red.
One specimen from Teapa, two from Toxpam.
3. Exysma orbicularis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 14.)
Orbicularis, badia ; antennis in medio infuscatis, clava laxe articulata. Long. 1 millim.
Hab. Guatemata (Sallé), El Tumbador (Champion).
There is one specimen from each of the above localities, differing from HL. levigata
in having the antenne longer, all the joints more loosely connected, the club longer,
and the three or four joints preceding the apical one infuscate or at least darker than
those at the base. The thorax appears to be a little more finely punctulate ; but as
regards this the series is too small to render the observation of much use.
4, Exysma (?) tenuicornis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 15.)
Oblongo-ovata, suborbiculata, castanea, tenuiter breviterque pilosa, perobsolete minute punctata; antennis
pedibusque gracilibus, testaceis ; prothoracis basi sinuata, medio lobato, lineis basalibus tenuissimis. Long.
1 millim.
Hab. GuaTEMALA, Zapote (Champion).
About the same size as FE. orbicularis, but more convex. The antenne are very
much thinner, and have the joints elongate; the basal joint is especially long and club-
shaped, a little curved at the base; the second stout, but longer than wide; the form
of the five succeeding joints thin (I am not able to state the number certainly); the
apical three joints forming a long and very lax club; all the joints are pale testaceous-
yellow. The thorax is deflexed in front, concealing the head, the sides are narrowly
margined, and the margin a little reflexed ; the fine sulci are short and converge; the
hind angles are acute. The elytra at the base are rather wider than the thorax, very
convex, a little pointed at their apex, and finely pilose; obsolete punctures surrounded
by darker chestnut dots are visible all over their surface, with small points between
them here and there; the margin is very fine, and has a very fine stria adjoining it;
the suture is without stria.
A single specimen.
DIALEXIA.
Corpus breviter subglobosum, fere hemisphericum, parvulum. Antenne breves, novem-articulate; clava
valida, triarticulata. Pronotum convexum, antice angustatum, lateribus leviter marginatis, basi sinuata,
medio valde lobato, disco haud sulcato. Elytra convexa, perobsolete punctata, breviter pilosula, fere
setulosa. Tarsi 4-articulati, articulo basali antico apice lobato-producto. Prosternum spathulatum, pone
coxas leviter ampliatum, apice rotundato.
DIALEXIA. | 147
This name is proposed for some small species, which at first sight bear a very striking
resemblance to the European genus Alexia. In reality they are not very closely allied.
The structure of the antenne is very different; e.g. in Aleaia the sixth joint is
widened and forms part of the club, and its apex furnishes a base for the seventh,
whereas in the species of Dialexia it is of the same form as, and not wider than, those
preceding it. The tarsi are formed on quite a different plan: in Alexia they are
robust, the two basal joints are produced beneath, and the third is a very short and
small joint easily distinguished from the somewhat thickened fourth or claw-joint; in
Inalexia they are thin and long, and it is the basal joint only that is produced,
while the third joint is with difficulty to be distinguished from the claw-joint. The
shape of the thorax is also very different, the base in Alexia being straight.
I have not seen an example of any of the species from the United States referred by
Dr. Horn and the late Mr. Crotch to Alexia, although one species described by myself
as Rhymbus minutus is said by the former gentleman to be the same as Alexia minor,
Crotch ; this identification, however, requires corroboration, and under the circumstances
there is no evidence that Alexia exists in the New World.
1. Dialexia setulosa. (Tab. VIII. fig. 16.)
Rotundata, fere hemispherica, ferruginea, breviter pilosa, crebre subtiliter punctata, nitida; antennis brevibus,
clava magna, nigra, laxe articulata, articulis preecedentibus superante. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion).
Head rather broad; eyes moderate and round, somewhat prominent. Antenne in-
serted close to the eyes; their basal joint very stout, longer than wide; the second stout
but shorter, internally setulose; the third elongate subcylindrical, thickened a little
towards the apex; the fourth, fifth, and sixth short and equal in width to the third at
its apex; the two basal club-joints obconic, about as wide as long, the apical joint
compressed and rather longer. Thorax convex, the sides much rounded, the shape
nearly semicircular, pilose, and rather sparsely punctured; the sides margined, and the
edge a little thickened and flattened. Scutellum distinct, triangular, faintly rugose.
Elytra obsoletely punctured, the punctures not being deeply impressed, thickly pilose,
the pile golden aud shining; the margin not expanded, only just visible from above.
Legs moderately long; their tarsi long, the hind pair three quarters the length of the
tibie. -
A single specimen.
The position of the following genera is uncertain. They agree in having the tarsi
apparently four-jointed ; but the structure of these joints varies in the different genera,
and it is often very difficult to say whether a small] additional joint at the base of, and
connate with, the claw-joint does or does not exist. Such a joint is present in the
Erotylide generally, and in the Endomychide it forms a true third joint.
Further remarks on the peculiarities of these genera will be found under each.
U* 2
148 ENDOMYCHIDZ.
CREMNODES.
Cremnodes, Gerstacker, Monogr. Endom. p. 412 (1858); Gorham, Endom. Recit. p. 27; Chapuis,
Gen. des Col. xu. p. 129.
Catapotia, Thomson, Musée Scientifique, p. 13 (1860).
The characters of this genus have been set forth at great length by Gersticker; but
although he has compared it with Rhymbus, and has admitted it among the Endomy-
chide with better reason than Thomson had for placing it with the Nilionide, it must
be confessed Cremnodes has no other affinity than general resemblance to Rhymbus, and
that it is only a very superficial one which disappears on examination.
The antenne are 11-jointed and very thin; the thorax is declivous, and formed like
that of Chilocorus, without any trace of sulci; the elytra are very convex and glabrous,
with very wide epipleure, having thus a really Coccinellid form. |
The four-jointed tarsi, of which the joints are linear, the first three produced a little
beneath the base of those succeeding them, are not unlike those of Rhymbus.
Thomson has taken very little notice of this important question, dismissing it with
two words—“ tarsi subzequales””—and in his figure showing five joints to the two front
pairs, which is incorrect*. He concludes his description of Catapotia with these
remarkable words, which one would have thought would have led their author to
exclude the genus from his Monograph :—“A nilio eque capite, oculis, antennis,
palpis, mento, prothorace, prosterno, mesosterno, abdomine, coxis anticis, tarsisque
forma et dispositione maxime variat.” The figure given (t. 2. f. 2) of the prosternum
and its adjuncts, though beautifully executed, is no less unfortunate, for it is wholly
incorrect and misleading :—the prosternum is smooth, and sutures or lines forming
any such rhomboidal middle structure are imaginary; the front part is in fact not
carinate, and the intercoxal process is evenly widened and spathulate, and overlaps
the mesosternum, and is not received into a notch. Other details (as of the antenne)
are incorrect.
Cremnodes, so far as known to me, includes at present only three species—one from
Brazil, one from Colombia (cf. Chapuis, Joc. cit.), and the present one.
1. Cremnodes levissima.
Catapotia levissima, Thomson, Musée Scient. p. 14, t. 2. f. 2, &c., t. 4. £. 57.
Hab. Mexico1, Cordova (Sallé); GuaTEMALa (Champion); Nicaracua, San Domingo
in Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Boquete (Champion).—
EcuaDor, Quito (coll. Gorham) ; PERv.
This insect might readily be taken for one of the Coccinellide ; the four-jointed tarsi
are not easily recognized as being such, and the antenne, though thicker and more
strongly clubbed than usual in that group, are not very different. The colour of the
* Cf. B. C.-A., Col. IV. pt. 1, p. 470.
CREMNODES.—MICROPSEPHUS. 149
Mexican and Panama specimens is usually shining ferruginous, the club of the antenne
being the only dark part; but the example from Chontales has the margin of the elytra
pale yellow, and those from Peru in my collection have the suture, and the greater part
of the thorax in addition, of the same pale colour, while one from Quito is nearly black,
with the underside, legs, and base of the antenne paler. I think, therefore, that this
is a widely spread and variable species; it appears to be not uncommon where it occurs.
According to Mr. Champion, it is found in fungi growing upon trees.
MICROPSEPHUS.
Corpus parvum, orbiculare, semiglobosum, glabrum. Tarsi quadriarticulati, filiformes, articulis tribus primis
subtus apicibus productis, tertio breviore, articulo quarto longo; ungues simplices. Antenne umdecim-
articulate, articulis duobus primis validis, tertio ad octavum cylindricis, subeequalibus, inter se prope
adjunctis, tribus ultimis claram elongatam formantibus ; clava valida, articulos sex preecedentes superans.
Caput parvum ; epistoma cum labrum clypeum quasi prebens, per lineam rectam bene indicata, labrum
haud bene discretum. Oculi rotundati, minute granulati. Prothorax transversus, convexus, antice
declivus, basi sinuato-lobata, linea recta transversa lobum separante. Elytra valde convexa, leviter
marginata, epipleure late. Coxe valde separate, processu prosternali lato deplanato. Pedes graciles.
I propose this name for a genus of which at present I have only seen one species,
represented by three specimens—one from Mexico, the other two from Guatemala.
These little insects remind one at first sight of the European Aspidophorus orbiculatus,
to which in the size and outward form this species is very similar; but the resemblance
is but superficial. Its real location is difficult, and it would, for anything I can see, be
as appropriately placed in the Mycetophagide as anywhere else, if the structure of the
tarsi be taken as of primary importance, and it is to be remembered that several authors
place in that family Symbiotes, Mycetea, and Leiestes.
The fact appears to be, however, that none of those genera are satisfactorily placed
near Mycetophagus, in which the coxe are very little separated and the antennal
structure is very different.
1. Micropsephus mniophilinus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 17.)
Orbicularis, subglobosus, piceus, fere glaber; capite prothoraceque dilutioribus, interdum rufo-piceis, antennis
pedibusque pallide rufis. Long. 14 millim.
Hab. Mxxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guatemana, Senahu in Vera Paz
(Champion).
Pitchy-black, shining, nearly glabrous, the head and thorax more inclining to pitchy-
red (in the two Senahu specimens they are entirely deep blood-red), the front part of
the head with a few hairs (only visible under the microscope). Antenne nearly as long
as the thorax is wide, the club nearly half their length, the apical joint rather longer
and wider than either of the others. Thorax nearly twice as broad as long, the anterior
margin depressed, but not cut out for the head, not much narrowed in front; a basal,
transverse, fine line reflexed at its ends so as to re-enter the base, marks off the ante-
150 COCCINELLIDA.
scutellar lobe. Elytra punctured, but so finely as not easily to be seen except under
the +-inch objective. One specimen from Teapa and two from Senahu, the latter
apparently only differing in the more dilute coloration of the head and thorax.
Fam. COCCINELLIDZ.
This Family is adopted as equivalent to the “Coccinellides ” of Chapuis in vol. xii.
of the ‘Génera des Coléoptéres,’ and of Mulsant’s ‘Monographie des Coccinellides.’
They are the “ Coléoptéres Triméres sécuripalpes ” of Mulsant’s first monographic work
(published in 1850), and briefly the “Sécuripalpes” of the ‘ Histoire Naturelle des
Coléoptéres de France’ (1846). The older authors, as Westwood, recognized the
family, and placed them as they are in this work, as forming the third division of a
larger group, the Pseudo-trimera, and as fitly terminating a lineal arrangement of the
Coleoptera which was mainly founded on the tarsal system. It has been the fashion
with some modern systematists to place this group as forming part of the Clavicorn
Stirps.
Mulsant divided the family into two groups, the “ Gymnosomides”’ and the “ Tricho-
somides,” from the more pubescent character of certain genera. Chapuis in the
‘Génera’ points out the difficulty and even confusion attending this method, as
certain pubescent genera are still found in Mulsant’s first section; and he proposes a
division founded on a more important character—the form of the mandibles. He thus
makes two tribes of equal value, the ‘“‘ Coccinellides aphidiphages ” and the ‘‘ Coccinel-
lides phytophages,”"—the latter tribe being nearly the same as the “ Trichosomides ”
of Mulsant, but excluding the Scymnides, which are insectivorous.
In this work I shall, however, simply regard the subfamilies, which are equal to
Mulsant’s “ Branches,” as of co-ordinate value with the subfamilies of the preceding
families, without attempting to unite them in larger groups. Mr. Crotch’s system as
it appears on pages xi-xv of his ‘ Revision” was apparently left undeveloped, and is,
even with Mr. R. F. Rippon’s notes on page xv, unintelligible. His subfamilies were,
however, adopted from Mulsant, but some are termed tribes and some groups.
The habits of the majority of the members of this family, and their aphis-devouring
mode of life, both as larve and as perfect insects, have been so often described that it
is not necessary to do more here than allude to the subject as one of great importance
to the agriculturist and fruit-grower, and one that has recently only attracted the
attention it merited. The “Scymnides” and their allies have long been noticed as
invaluable in reducing the numbers of the Phylloxera and other plant-parasites. And
quite lately by the introduction of certain species of ‘“‘ Rhizobiides” from Australia,
the orange-growers of the United States have been able to clear their trees of scale,
and have thus been enabled to combat successfully a threatened calamity.
MEGILLA. 151
The “ Epilachnides,” which are numerous in species and individuals in the fauna
under investigation, are phytophagous, and remarkably different in their habits from
the rest of the Coccinellide. Some of the species, according to Mr. Champion, are very
abundant at times on cultivated Cucurbitaceous plants.
Subfam. HTPPODAMIIDES.
The Hippodamiides are an essentially northern group of the Coccinellide, and
although one or two widely dispersed species extend in the New World as far south as
the Straits of Magellan, I am not aware of any being found in the Eastern Tropics,
Australia, or New Zealand, with one exception, Hippodamia variegata, Goeze, which
from its wide distribution has reached India. They are characterized by their oblong
depressed form, and by the absence, or nearly so, of the depressed spaces (called
“ plaques abdominales” by Mulsant) on the first ventral segment for the reception of
the femora of the hinder pair of legs.
MEGILLA.
Megilla, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 24 (1850) ; Monogr. des Coccin. p. 16 (1866) ; Crotch,
Rey. Coccin. p. 92 (1874).
Crotch [Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 365 (1873), and Rev. Coccin. p. 91] has separated
three species, two under the generic name Humegilla and one under that of Cerato-
megilla; as thus restricted Megilla consists of only three species, which are widely
distributed in the New World, and are very variable.
1. Megilla maculata. (Tab. VIII. figg. 19, 20.)
Coccinella maculata, De Geer, Mém. Ins. v. p. 392, t. 16. £. 22 (1775) °.
Megilla maculata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 28°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 20°.
Chrysomela 10-maculata, Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 105 *.
Coccinella decemmaculata, Oliv. Ent. vi. no. 98, p. 1016, t. 3. f. 40°.
Coccinella limensis, Philippi, Stett. ent. Zeit. xxv. p. 402 °.
Nemia fuscilabris, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 22°.
Hab. Nortu America??, Canada, United States 2°, Louisiana 2, New Orleans 7.—
Mexico, Paso del Norte, Vera Cruz, San Juan Bautista in Tabasco (Hége), Teapa in
Tabasco (H. H. Smith), San Blas, Presidio (Forrer), Etla, Tlacotalpam (Sallé); Guats-
MALA 2, near the city, Duefias, Panajachel, Paso Antonio, Teleman (Champion) ; Costa
Rica, Rio Sucio, Volean de Irazu (Rogers)—Sourn America? *>; CoLOMBIA; VENE-
ZUELA, Caracas ?; Trinipap®; Gutana, Cayenne, Surinam 17; Amazons; Perv, Lima ®;
CuiLi 23; ANTILLES ®,
The figures represent two varieties of this species from Mexico: fig. 19 taken from
152 COCCINELLIDA.
one from Paso del Norte on the United States frontier; fig. 20 is from one from
Oaxaca.
Nemia fuscilabris, Muls., is a very small and poorly developed form of this species
from New Orleans, and there are specimens of it from Canada in Crotch’s collection.
The locality given by Fabricius 4 is ‘“‘ America.”
NAUMIA.
Nemia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 30 (1850) ; Monogr. Coccin. p. 21; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 92.
Mr. Crotch in his Revision of the Coccinellide of the United States [Trans. Am.
Ent. Soc. 1873, pp. 864, 369] divided the species of this genus between Megilia and
Anisosticta, apparently abandoning the character drawn from the claws.
1. Nemia vittigera. (Tab. VIII. fig. 21.)
Hippodamia vittigera, Mann. Bull. Mose. xvi. p. 312 (1848) °.
Coccinella (Hippodamia) vittigera, Guérin, Icon. du Régne Anim. iii. p. 332°.
Nemia vittigera, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 83°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 23°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 93°.
Megilla vittigera, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 364°.
Hab. Norra America, Hudson’s Bay >, United States, California 172456, Kansas > %,
Colorado.—MeExico 23 456, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Durango city, Jalapa (Hége),
Parada, Guanajuato, Puebla (Sallé), Mexico city (Hége, H. H. Smith).
Crotch remarks > that this curiously coloured species exactly resembles a common
Californian Galeruca.
2. Nemia seriata. (Tab. VIII. fig. 18.)
Coccinella seriata, Melsh. Proc. Acad. Phil. iii. p. 177°.
Nemia seriata, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 21°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 92°.
Anisosticta seriata, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 369%.
Nemia litigiosa, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 31’.
Hab. Nortu America 235, Pennsylvania !, Middle and Southern States +4-—MExico?3°,
Vera Cruz (Hoge, Sallé)—Sovta America, Colombia ?? >.
HIPPODAMIA.
Hippodamia, Chevrolat, in Dejean’s Catalogue, 8rd edit. p. 456 (1887) ; Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col.
de France, Sécurip. p. 30 (1846).
This genus, with which Adonia, Mulsant, is usually united, is a north-temperate
form containing about eighteen species, divided almost evenly between the old and the
' HIPPODAMIA. 153
new worlds. One species only reaches Central America, where it is very abundant
in the more elevated parts.
1. Hippodamia convergens. (Tab. VIII. figg. 22, 23, 24.)
Coccinella (Hippodamia) convergens, Guérin, Icon. du Régne Anim. iii. p. 321°; Mauls. Spec. Col.
Trim. sécur. p. 22°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 14°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 96*; Trans. Am. Ent.
Soc. 1873, p. 367’.
Hab. North America!, United States 2345, California ! 23 4,—Muexico 175 4°,
Northern Sonora (Morrison), Pinos Altos in Chihuahua (Buchan-Hepburn), Alvarez
Mountains, San Luis Potosi, Hacienda de Bleados, Guajuco in Nuevo Leon, Parras,
Monclova and Saltillo in Coahuila (Dr. Palmer), Ventanas and Ciudad in Durango,
Presidio de Mazatlan (Forrer), Tenango del Valle (Richardson), Durango city, Cholula
in Puebla, Amecameca, Las Vigas, Jalapa, Teapa (Hoge), Cordova, Etla, Guanajuato,
Oaxaca, Yolos (Sallé), Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman); Guatemata (Sallé),
Quiche Mountains 7000 to 9000 feet, Capetillo, Duefias, Guatemala city (Champion) ;
Costa Rica (Van Patten).
Mulsant recognizes four varieties of this widely dispersed and sometimes very
abundant species. Thus :—
Var. A. Elytra without spots.
Var. B. Elytra with the scutellar spot only.
Var. C. Elytra with a scutellar spot, and some spots in addition to the normal pattern.
Var. D. Elytra marked with black spots irregularly placed.
The var. B is rather common; we have seen it from Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Etla,
Puebla, Cordova, Tenango del Valle, and Amecameca. But a variety in which the
scutellar spot is wholly absent is not among the very numerous specimens that have
come under my notice; nor have I seen varieties corresponding to vars. C or D, with
more than the normal number of spots, that is to say three basal and three apical
spots on each elytron besides the very small scutellar dash on the suture. Varieties in
which one or all of the three basal spots are wanting or reduced to points are common.
Subfam. COCCINELLIDES.
This subfamily contains really only the two genera Adalia and Coccinella, for
Mulsant’s Adonia is by most authors now generally merged in Hippodamia, and
the genus Cisseis, containing but one species, has been shown by Crotch to be a
Verania. esis, Mulsant, has no character whereby it can be separated from the
Halyziides, and Bulea is only separable from Coccinella by having simple instead of
“ appendiculate ” claws.
The only question now is whether it is worth while maintaining the Halyziides in a
separate division, or as a subfamily at all.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., May 1891. | X*
154 COCCINELLID.2.
ADALIA.
Adalia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 49 (1850); Monogr. Coccin. p. 34; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 99.
Idalia, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr., Sécurip. p. 44 (1846).
The abundant Adalia bipunctata (Linn.) is the type of this genus, and, though this
insect has found its way from Europe to North America, it has not yet been recorded
from south of the United States. dAdalia is chiefly confined to the temperate zone;
but some few species are found at high altitudes in India, and two or three are also
known from South America. |
1. Adalia deficiens.
Adalia deficiens, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 62°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 49°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 102°.
Hab. Guatemata (Melly 12%)—Sovurn America, Chili! 23, Monte Video ! 23,
None of our collectors seem to have met with this insect, nor have I seen specimens
from the northern continent. The locality “ Guatemala” requires confirmation.
COCCINELLA.
Coccinella, Linneus, Syst. Nat. ed.1 (1735); ed. 10, i. p. 364 (1758); Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr.,
Sécurip. p. 71; Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 93; Monogr. Coccin. p. 78.
Harmonia, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr., Sécurip. p. 108; Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p- 75; Monogr.
Coccin. p. 55; Crotch, Trans. Am. ‘Ent. Soc. 18738, p. 378.
The differences proposed for the separation of Harmonia are not satisfactory, nor
sufficiently constant to render such a partition of the genus of any practical value. As
thus constituted, Coccinel/a includes about sixty-five species, which are chiefly confined to
the northern temperate zone; a few species are tropical, and New Zealand and Australia
have one each.
1. Coccinella picta.
Coccinella picta, Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 51 (1838) *; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 105?
Harmonia picia, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. 373°.
Coccinella concinnata, Melsh. Proc. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 177 *.
Harmonia contexta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 87°.
Hab. Norru America, Vancouver 2, Hudson’s Bay *, Nova Scotia 3, United States 1 2 4
from Lake Superior southwards ?.—MeExico ? 3 (coll. Chevrolat ®), Yolos (Sallé).
One specimen in M. Sallé’s collection, though not precisely agreeing, is yet apparently
identical specifically with one in Crotch’s, and judging by the ‘description may be
referred to this species.
COCCINELLA. 155
2. Coccinella quinquelineata.
Harmonia quinque-lineata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 89*; Monogr. Coccin. p. 67”. —
Coccinella quinque-lineata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 106°.
Hab. Mexico (coll. Chevrolat!?°, Sailé), Ciudad in Durango, Las Vigas, Mexico
city, Jalapa (Hége); Guatemata, Totonicapam (Champion).
Crotch remarks? that this species is “closely allied to C. pieta.” The markings on
the thorax are similar, viz. five wedge-shaped dots—three on the base and two above—
forming an M-shaped mark. In Crotch’s specimens the spots are confluent or (in the
type of quinquelineata) confused in two lateral groups, with three central ones forming
the point of the M-like mark. |
3. Coccinella luteipennis. (Tab. IX. fig. 1.)
Harmonia luteipennis, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 67°.
Coccinella luteipennis, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 109’.
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Boucard 1, Sallé}?), Etla (Sallé), Cordova, Las Vigas (Hége) ;
GuateMaa, Capetillo, Duefias, San Gerénimo (Champion); Costa Rica (Van Patten).
4. Coccinella cyanoptera.
Harmonia cyanoptera, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 81’.
Coccinella cyanoptera, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 108°.
Harmonia viridipennis, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 60°.
Hab. Mexico !? (coll. Chevrolat 12, Sallé? 3).
Apparently very rare. ‘The types of Mulsant’s two species, /7. cyanoptera, in the
Cambridge collection, and H. viridipennis, in that of M. Sallé, are before me, and I
agree with Crotch in thinking they are probably the sexes of one species. |
5. Coccinella emarginata. (Tab. VIII. fig. 25.)
Coccinella emarginata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 97°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 81 *; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 107°.
Hab. Mexico!2%, Hacienda de Bleados, San Luis Potosi, Saltillo in Coahuila
(Dr. Palmer), Presidio de Mazatlan, Ventanas, Milpas in Durango 5000 feet (forrer),
Aguas Calientes city, Durango city, Ciudad in Durango, Jalapa (Hége), Cordova,
Capulalpam, Etla, Toluca, Oaxaca, Guanajuato (Sallé), Mexico city (Flohr, H. H.
Smith), Orizaba (F. D. Godman and H. H. Smith), Cuernavaca in Morelos, Amula,
Omilteme 8000 feet, Xucumanatlan 7000 feet, R. Papagaio, Fortin in Vera Cruz
(H. H. Smith); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneauz) ; Guatemaa? (Sallé ! 2),
near the city, Capetillo, Duefias, Quezaltenango 7800 feet, Zapote (Champion); Nica-
Raaua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Caché, Volean de Irazu (ogers) ;
. X* 2
156 COCCINELLIDA.
Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).—EKcuaDor, Corazon 12,000
feet (Whymper), Quito (coll. Gorham).
The figure is taken from a specimen from Orizaba in Mexico.
6. Coccinella venusta.
Coccinella venusta, Melsh. Proc. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 178’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 108°.
Harmonia venusta, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 61°.
Harmonia notulata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 83 *,
Hab. Norta America? 4, United States 1 2X—Mexico (coll. Gorham), Yucatan 2.
This insect is not represented in M. Sallé’s or any of the recent Mexican collections
which have been sent; specimens of the black variety with a red transverse spot are,
however, contained in my own collection.
7. Coccinella ampla, (Tab. IX. fig. 2.)
Harmonia ampla, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 81'; Monogr. Coccin. p. 61”.
Coccinella ampla, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 108 °.
Harmonia soularyi, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 63°.
Hab. Mexico, Yautepec in Morelos (Hége: var.), environs of Mexico (coll. Chev-
rolat 123), Playa Vicente (Sallé+), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); GuaTEMALA, Panzos
(Champion).
Mulsant’s types of Harmonia ampla and H. soularyi are now before me, that of
H. ampla* being included in the Crotch Collection at Cambridge. ‘They are specifically
identical, there being scarcely any d fference even in the number of spots; in the typical
form the second transverse band does not show any trace of the fourth spot nearest the
suture, this spot even in C. soularyi being often evanescent. There is no difference in
punctuation, form, or structure. Mulsant must have forgotten the original type when
he described this as new from M. Sallé’s collection. The species has very much the
markings of Cycloneda abdominalis (which Mulsant has redescribed, Monogr. p. 64,
under the name of Harmonia V-nigrum); but is more depressed, and has the closely
punctured, alutaceous sculpture of Harmonia.
8. Coccinella quinquepunctata.
Coccinella quinque-punctata, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, i. p. 865 (1758); Muls. Hist. Nat. Col. Fr.,
Sécurip. p. 76°.
Hab. Evrorr !1.—MeExico (Sallé).
Of this species, which has not before been noticed in the New World, there is a
single specimen labelled “ Mexico” in M. Sallé’s collection.
COCCINELLA. 157
9. Coccinella transversoguttata. (Tab. VIII. fig. 26.)
Coccinella transverso-guttata, Fald. Mém. Ac. Petr. (Sav. étr.) ii. p. 454 (1835)'; Muls. Spec. Col.
Trim. sécur. p. 117°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 116°.
Coccinella quinque-notata, Kirby, Faun. Bor.-Am. iv. p. 230‘; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1878,
p. 370°.
Coccinella ephippiata, Zett. Ins. Lapp. p. 235°.
Coccinella transversalis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 117”.
Coccinella novem-stigma, Muls. loc. cit. p. 121°.
Coccinella sedakovii, Muls. loc, cit. p. 1020°.
Coccinella nugatoria, Muls. loc. cit. p. 1021".
Coccinella californica, Mann. Bull. Mosc. xvi. p. 312 (1848) ”.
Hab. Boreau Evrors, Lapland ®, Dauria®, Siberia 123°, Irkutsk! 2°, Greenland 23>,
Behring and Kurile Islands?; Japan? (Lewés)—Norra America, Hudson’s Bay 2°,
Canada?4, Vancouver (coll. Crotch), United States?*°, Kansas®, Utah®, Calt-
fornia 3 5 ..—Mexico?> (coll. Chevrolat’), Atlixco (fF. D. G.), Chalchicomula, Toluca
(Sallé), Cordova, Las Vigas, Jalapa, Salazar ( Hoge).
As might be expected in such a widely distributed species, a good deal of variation in
size and marking occurs. The Siberian and Greenland specimens often have the scutellar
spot united with the humeral one, forming a transverse band; but examples occur in
Siberia with the spots detached, as they usually are in the specimens I have seen from
North and Central America, and then they so much resemble C. novem-notata as to be
frequently confounded with it. C. ¢ransversoguttata may, however, be distinguished
by the head having the front and the labrum almost entirely white, and by the front
margin of the thorax being narrowly edged with the same colour. Other fine distinc-
tions are also present. It is less ovate, and the surface of the elytra is scarcely
perceptibly punctate, even when viewed under a Coddington lens. The species is
common at times, and Herr Hoge obtained a good series of it at Las Vigas.
10. Coccinella novem-notata. |
Coccinella novem-notata, Herbst, Kifer, v. p. 269, t. 55. fig.8'; Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 123°;
Monogr. Coccin. p. 99°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 117*; Trans, Am. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 370°.
Coccinella franciscana, Muls. Opusc. ent. ii. p. 19 (1853) °. |
Hab. Norta Americal, Canada, Montreal (coll. Gorham), United States? 34, Atlantic
region °, California °.—Mextico 2245; Guatema.a‘* > (Sallé? 3).
I include this North-American species on the authority of Mulsant’s works. It is
not represented in any collection I have examined from either Mexico or Guatemala,
and C. transversoguttata is often so difficult to separate from it, that the record needs
confirmation. |
Although Crotch 4® gives Mexico and Guatemala for this species, he is in this and
158 COCCINELLIDZ.
other cases simply following Mulsant, and there are no examples from these countries
in his collection. .
C. franciscana is a variety with the elytra without spots (excepting the scutellar one)
parallel to C. californica. :
11. Coccinella cyathigera. (Tab. IX. fig. 3.)
Oblongo-ovata, lutea, subtus cum pedibus rufo-piceis; prothorace subtilissime punctato, macula discoidali
M simulante, interdum interrupta vel e maculis distinctis formata, nigra; elytris creberrime fortius
punctatis, punctis uno in collo humerali, tribus paullo ante medium fasciam prebentibus, duobus pone
medium suturaque tenuissime rufo-piceis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Quiche Mountains 7000 to 9000 feet, Quezaltenango 7800) feet,
Calderas 7000 feet (Champion).
The general colour of the upper surface is pale luteous-yellow; the head bears a_
double black spot at its base, usually concealed by the thorax. The thorax is trans-
verse, not deeply emarginate in front, the front margin straight ; the sides moderately
arcuate, narrowing in front, faintly reflexed. Scutellum black, punctured. Llytra
very thickly punctured, and the sculpture quite visible under an ordinary lens of one
and a half to two inches focus, scarcely margined; the spots ordinarily very small,
placed—1 humeral, 3 fasciate (the one near the suture and the external one a little
nearer the base than the middle one), and 2 at one third before the apex,—the suture
very narrowly rufo-piceous. The underside and legs of a pitchy-red colour, the breast
and head being of a deeper tone than the episterna and abdomen.
In about a dozen examples of this species there is no variation in the number of
elytral spots nor any trace of additional ones. The prethoracic M-shaped mark is very
clearly defined ; its upper angles are upon the front margin; its middle is formed by
a prolongation of the junction of the oblique lines, so as to form a Y when detached
from the side lines; the bases of the side lines are in the form of triangular spots on
the base, sometimes detached. ‘This insect has much the appearance of various other
species, as the European C. variabilis, Psyllobora configurans, Cycloneda abdomi
nalis, &e.
12. Coccinella albo-picta. (Tab. IX. fig. 4.)
Oblongo-ovata, nigro-picea, nitida, capite prothoraceque albis, hoc disco macula M latum simulante, interdum
interrupta, punctoque laterali; illo basi binotato, punctisque nonnullis in epistomate notatis; elytris
singulis maculis quinque albis—una basali, juxta scutellum, una discoidali juxta suturam, tribus late-
ralibus, seepissime conjunctis ; prosterno et epimera mesosternalis albis. Long. 3-33 millim.
Hab. Mexico, near the city (Hége); GuatemaLa, San Gerénimo (Champion).
Only five specimens of this species have been sent, four of which are from Mexico city.
It is of a puzzling aspect, looking as if it might be a variety of some other species,
but it is, I believe, quite distinct. C. albo-picta seems to come nearest to C. areata,
Muls., a Bolivian insect. The head is white, with the base marked, as is so often the
COCCINELLA. 159
case, with a double spot, concealed by the thorax, the epistome often with a V-shaped
spot; the mouth-parts are yellow. The thorax is about twice as wide as long, smooth,
and impunctate, the front margin straight with the angles prominent and deflexed; the
markings consist of a broad M—this in the darker individuals may be a broad patch
enclosing two angular white spots, or may be composed of five or more spots, variously
united in different specimens, but it never quite reaches the front margin, and the two
triangular spots on the base are always distinct; sometimes an additional “lateral ”
comma-like spot is joined to the sides of the M. The elytra are only very finely and
obsoletely punctured; they are pitchy-black or pitchy-brown; the humeral and apical
white marks are elongate, following the margin, and narrowly joined to the middle
lateral spot, so that the whole margin with the epipleure is white; the discoidal
white spot may be joined to the lateral median one, forming a broad fascia, and occa-
sionally it is united with the anterior one so as to form a common discoidal spot in the
less deeply coloured specimens. ‘The legs are yellow. |
13. Coccinella maculosa. (Tab. IX. fig. 5.)
- Oblongo-ovata, subdepressa, piceo-brunnea, creberrime subtilissime punctata, supra rufo-brunnea ; capitis basi.
prothoracis maculis septem, elytrorum maculis octo, duabus juxta basin, duabus juxta marginem, una
mediana, ad suturam herente, tribus subapicalibus, fasciam obliquam undulatam prebentibus, nigris :
pedibus rufo-brunneis. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (fége)}.
The features by which this insect may be recognized are :—The rather flat depressed
form, like that of C. venusta; the dark red-brown colour; and the seven thoracic spots
—the two upper ones large and wedge-shaped, the two lower ones (or those repre-
senting the lower branches of the M) also large, and for the most part separate from the
upper, the middle one in the form of a dot, a little above the base, the two lateral ones
in the ordinary position. The elytra have spots of a deep blackish-brown colour :
the two discoidal or middle ones are large, joined to the brownish suture by a recurving
streak (somewhat as in C. venusta); the two lateral spots are a little behind the two
basal ones, and are elongate, and either very narrowly divided or united; of the three
subapical spots, the external two are confluent in both of the two examples obtained,
forming an undulate V-like mark, and are also just in contact with a square sutural
spot (which, however, would obviously be often detached); the punctuation is distinct
under a Coddington lens, but is very close and fine ; the entire limb is very narrowly
brownish; the margin is hardly at all expanded.
‘This species would, I think, be best placed next to C. venusta, on account of its flattish
form and the style of marking. I have only seen two specimens.
14. Coccinella compta. (Tab. IX. fig. 6.)
Breviter oblonga, parum ovata, nigra, nitida, fere glabra, supra alba; prothorace nigro, margine antico et
laterali, linea mediana basin haud attingente albidis; elytris albis, macula in callo humerali, alteraque
160 COCCINELLIDA.
duplici laterali pone medium parva, sutura latius, pone medium in maculam subquadratam dilatata,
margineque apicali nigris pernitidis; antennis pedibusque rufis. Long. 33 millim.
Hab. Guatema.a, Totonicapam, San Gerdénimo (Champion).
The short and rather convex form of this insect is somewhat suggestive of Brachyacantha,
and it a little resembles B. lepida in pattern. There is a slight metallic appearance in
the black pattern of the thorax and elytra. The head is white and spotless, the eyes
rather large. The thorax is very short at the margins, longer in the middle (as the basal
margin is arcuate), and has the sides strongly deflexed ; the black pattern of the disc is
divided by a middle line, and is notched opposite the front angles so as to form a square
spot there. The elytra vary a little in pattern in the two specimens before me—the
one from San Gerénimo has two large transversely squarish spots on the suture united
by the black sutural line, and a large and rather angular spot occupying the callus, and
on the margin, nearly opposite the hinder sutural spot, is a small spot (this being double
in the Totonicapam example); the apical margin is less distinctly black, and in both
specimens only as far as the lateral spot.
This is an exceedingly neat, pretty species. It is difficult to compare it to any other
I have seen without fear of misleading; the markings are somewhat suggestive of those
of Propylea conglobata, but the insect is more convex and more shining than that species.
The Totonicapam specimen is figured.
15. Coccinella concinna.
Oblonga, depressa, subobovata, albida, subtus nigro-picea ; capitis basi et epistomate, prothoracis lineis duabus
ad basin ampliatis, marginem anticam haud attingentibus, scutello, sutura, macula pone medium fasciiforme
et nonnunquam duabus alteris parvulis, una in callo humerali, una quam hee paullo posteriore nigro-
piceis; elytris creberrime obsolete punctatis; pedibus luteis. Long. 34 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 8000 feet (Champion).
This little species has the form of Adalia, but at present I prefer associating it with
C. compta, to which it bears some resemblance. The sides of the thorax are evidently
rounded and contracted in the hind angles, so as to form a break in outline with the
elytra. The margins of the thorax and of the elytra are moderately expanded and
reflexed. ‘The elytra are widest behind the middle opposite the larger spot; this latter
is of an irregular form, but indicates an oblique fascia nearer to the base at the margin
than at the suture (in none of the three examples before me does it reach either); in
one example the two smaller spots are wholly wanting, they are both submarginal, the
first actually on the callus; the sutural pitchy-black line vanishes near the apex, where
the limb alone is pitchy.
The body beneath is black, smooth, and not punctured; the mesosternum has a
shallow impression for the reception of the prosternal process; the coxal depressions
on the first ventral segment are ill defined, the lines proceeding from the intercoxal
process being shortened and not touching the hind margin of the segment. The middle
and hind femora have a dusky cloud in the middle.
COCCINELLA., 161
16. Coccinella pantherina. (Tab. IX. fig. 9.)
Breviter oblongo-ovata, convexa, lutea, nitida, capitis basi maculaque duplici epistomatis piceis; prothoracis
disco nigro, margine antico et laterali (ad angulum anticum latiore) lineaque mediana basin haud attingente
luteis ; elytris sutura late, margine apicali tenuiter, plagia suture parallela in medium desinente, macula
oblonga pone medium suture conjuncta, et tribus lateralibus irregularibus, attamen distinctis, una in callo
humerali cuneiformi, nigris; pedibus luteis. Long. 23 millim.
Hab. GuatEmaa, Totonicapam 10,000 feet (Champion).
This little species is of about the size and form of Brachyacantha lepida. The black
markings of the elytra are developed so as to leave only a reticulate yellow pattern,
and the puncturing is hardly visible, except under a Coddington-lens. ‘The body
beneath is pitchy, with the exception of the abdomen, which is luteous. Two specimens
were captured in the pine-woods at Totonicapam.
17. Coccinella quichensis. (Tab. IX. fig. 10.)
Breviter ovata, lutea, elytris creberrime vix visibiliter punctatis ; capitis basi, epistomate, prothoracis signatura
litteram Y simulante, maculisque duabus basalibus nigris ; elytrorum sutura plagiisque quatuor (interioribus
vittam interruptam prebentibus) exterioribus, his parallelis sed punctiformibus, nigro-subeneis ; corpore
subtus pedibusque rufis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. GuateMaLa, Quiche Mountains 7000 to 9000 feet (Champion).
This is a broad, rather squarely built, depressed species, the markings of the thorax
somewhat suggestive of those of Chilomenes. Only one specimen has been received, and
the figure will convey a better idea of it than a long description.
18. Coccinella ——?
Hab. GUATEMALA, near the city (Champion).
A single specimen of a black variety of some species with the thorax narrowly
bordered in front and on the sides with yellow. The elytra each with an irregular
rather large red spot in their basal half. The legs red.
19. Coccinella (?) ——?
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
A single specimen of a small species. Sordid whitish-yellow. ‘The thorax blackish
in the centre, the elytra each with a transverse black spot nearly in the middle. A
little like Cycloneda abdominalis *.
Subfam. HALYZIIDES.
This subfamily corresponds to Mulsant’s “Troisitme branche” — Halysiaires —
(Monogr. des Coccin. p. 101); it contains a very large proportion of the true Cocci-
nellidee from all parts of the world.
* The reference to the figure of C. concinna (Tah. IX. fig. 7) was accidentally omitted on p. 160.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1892. y*
162 COCCINELLIDZ.
I have retained it as a convenient temporary working division, mainly distinguished
by the less convexity of the species, their longer antenne, and some other quite unim-
portant characters which are partly common to other groups. But I am unable to
discover any real ground for separating it from the “ Coccinellides,” or of any one
character that will distinguish it.
MYSIA.
Mysia, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr., Sécurip. p. 128 (1846) (nomen przeocc.).
This boreal genus consists at present of four species found where Conifere are
abundant; the only species known from Central America was referred to Pelina by
Mulsant, probably owing to its having the margins of the elytra widened. This
species is not represented in our collections, and, indeed, its precise origin is doubtful.
It is very probable, however, that the genus occurs in high altitudes in Northern
Mexico.
1. Mysia gerstaeckeri.
Pelina Gerstéckeri, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 192 (1866)’.
Mysia Gerstéckeri, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 125”.
“‘Briévement ovalaire. Prothorax et élytres d’un jaune d’ocre un peu foncé: le premier sans taches: les
secondes ornées chacune de quatre bandes longitudinales d’un rouge roux ou fauve: trois constituant
une sorte d’N:: Ja 2° courte, naissant de la base et presque unie au tiers du cété externe de la plus voisine
de la suture. Dessous du corps et pieds d’un roux fauve.” Long. 7-8 millim.
Hab. Mexico (Boucard *).—Soutn America, Brazil ?}.
I have not seen an example of this insect.
PELINA.
Pelina, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 27 (1850).
Palla, Mulsant, loc. cit. p. 273; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 126.
Three species may be assigned to Felina, all from Central or Tropical South
America. The allied genus Ballia, which has been united with it in the Munich
Catalogue, is, however, confined to India.
1. Pelina hydropica. (Tab. 1X. fig. 8.)
Pelina hydropica, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 273°.
Palla hydropica, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 126°.
Hab. Mexico1?, Capulalpam, Etla, Juquila, Totosinapam, Parada, Peras, Chiapas
(Sallé), Las Vigas, Jalapa (Hoge); Giuatemaa (Saldé), Panima in Vera Paz, Calderas
(Champion), Tepan (Conradt).
The specimen figured is one from Totosinapam.
EGLEIS.—HALYZIA. 163
EGLEIS.
. Egleis, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 151 (1850).
Practically this genus, at least so far as the New-World representatives are concerned,
is not distinct from Halyzia ; three species assigned to it from Australia are probably
not congeneric.
1. Egleis adjuncta.
Egleis adjuncta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 156; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 131°.
Hab. Mexico 2 (Mus. Paris +).—Co.tompia! 2,
A species very much resembling Cycloneda abdominalis, but with the body and legs
black. The Mexican locality needs confirmation.
NEOHALYZIA.
Halyzia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 163 (partim).
Neohalyzia, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 133 (1874).
The single species for which Crotch proposed this genus has a peculiar aspect, but
the characters upon which he separated it from Halyzia seem to me to be illusory.
1. Neohalyzia perroudi. (Tab. IX. fig. 11.)
Halyzia Perroudi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 163*; Monogr. Coccin. p. 125’.
Neohalyzia Perroudi, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 133°.
- Hab. Mexico (Boucard?), Capulalpam, Yolotepec (Sallé), Jalapa (Flohr, Hége),
Temax in North Yucatan (Gawmer) ; GuaTEMALA, Quiche Mountains 7000 to 9000 feet,
Capetillo, Duefias, Aceituno, San Gerénimo, Panzos ( Champion), Volcan de Fuego
(Salvin); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 feet (Champion).—CoLomsra? ?*.
Specimens from Guatemala and from Chiriqui are sometimes very small, and are a
little more shining than the full-sized examples, but they do not apparently differ
| specifically. , |
HALYZIA.
Halyzia, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr., Sécurip. p. 148 (1846). |
Halyzia, in the restricted sense used by Crotch in his ‘ Revision,’ contains only five
species. In the Munich Catalogue, on the contrary, fifteen of Mulsant’s genera and
four of Crotch’s are sunk under this name; and it is there made one of the largest
aggregates in the Coccinellide, containing more than one hundred very diverse species
from all parts of the globe.
The proper definition of this and other genera has yet to be made. One of the
species I propose to refer to Halyzia is allied to the type of the genus, ZH. 16-guttata,
by its slightly widened margins, by the form of the thorax, which has the sides thin
Y* 2
164 COCCINELLID.
and expanded, with round posterior angles, by the mesosternum having no fossa in the
middle of the front margin for the apex of the prosternum, by its longish legs, &c. ;
but in other points, as its round and convex form, it superficially resembles Cycloneda
abdominalis. While I do not feel at present able to offer systematic characters for the
reconstruction of the genera of this group, I think the presence or absence of the
mesothoracic fossa (which is much more than a mere emargination) will prove of far
greater value than the character drawn from the abdominal coxal fossa, “ plaque abdo-
minale,” which seems to me to be very vague.
1. Halyzia emaciata, (Tab. IX. figg. 12, 13.)
Pallide testacea, fere albida, prothorace lineolis duabus basalibus, elytris Junula parvula juxta medium
suturee punctisque duobus submarginalibus brunneis; elytris creberrime, obsoletius, subconfluenter punc-
tatis. Long. 3-43 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Head in repose quite covered by the front of the thorax, which, being almost
translucent, permits the eyes to be seen through it from above; front margin of the —
thorax not emarginate; antenne moderately long, all the joints longer than broad,
the terminal ones fully thrice as long as wide; the tarsi and the extreme basal
margin and suture of the elytra very narrowly brownish. ‘The elytral spots are very
indistinct; in one example, however, the sutural lunules are united and form a
common spot. Viewed laterally, the outline of the elytra from the base to the apex
is gibbous. .
About a dozen examples of this obscure and very plain-looking species were obtained
by Mr. Champion at various altitudes above 2000 feet on the slopes of Volcan de
Chiriqui. .
2. Halyzia epistictica. (Tab. IX. figg..14, 15.)
Oblonga, albida vel albo-testacea, prothorace maculis tribus oblongis, elytris singulis maculis nonis guttiformibus,
2, 3, 3, 1 dispositis,. brunneo-testaceis, creberrime obsoletius punctatis. Long. 5-6 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, San Gerénimo (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to
3000 feet (Champion). |
This insect is more clearly of the form and structure of H. 16-guttata than is
H. emaciata. The thorax is much narrower than the elytra, and is shining and
diaphanous at its margins; the front is not excavated and conceals the head, the
eyes showing through. ‘The elytra are shining, and only seem to be punctured when
seen under a quarter-inch lens; in one of the two Guatemalan specimens they are
white, in the other and in the Chiriqui example they are of a bright but pale yellow.
The spots are, for the most part, elongate streaks pointed at their lower end, or at
both ends; the three thoracic spots are irregularly triangular; of the elytral spots, two
are basal (the internal one more elongate than the external one), and the internal or
HALYZIA.—PSYLLOBORA. 165
sutural one of the succeeding three is hooked outwardly and recurved towards the
base on the sutural side—this spot is usually detached from the suture, but in one
example it forms a common pear-shaped spot on the suture.
We have received three examples of this species, two of them being from San
Ger6nimo. A specimen from each locality is figured; the one from Panama is rather
smaller than the Guatemalan representatives.
8. Halyzia championi. (Tab. X. fig. 1.)
Oblonga, lete, dilute flava; prothorace quam elytra multo angustiore, basi punctis duobus nigris lateribus
modice explanatis et reflexis, subdiaphanis; elytris creberrime minute punctatis, singulis punctis novem,
2, 3, 3, 1 dispositis, nigris. Long. 43 millim. .
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 8000 feet (Champion).
The sides of the thorax converge towards the front, but are considerably rounded at
the hind angles; the front margin is almost straight, and the head can be retracted at
least as far as to hide the eyes beneath it; the base is sinuous, and is marked with two
round dots (like those in the Eastern Thea cincta), and this character alone will distin-
guish H. championi from any Halyzia known to me. Of the elytral spots, two are near |
the base, one of them being on the humeral callus, and one between it and the suture ;
then three almost in a straight row, but the inner one a little nearer the apex than the
others, then three in a chevron; and one subapical small dot. In the number and
position of the elytral spots the species resembles Neohalyzia perroudt.
Only one example of this pretty Halyzia has been found, which I dedicate to its
captor, Mr. G. C. Champion.
| PSYLLOBORA.
Psyllobora, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 166 (1850) ; Monogr. Coccin. p. 126.
Psyllobora is, as Crotch has remarked, the New-World representative of Thea. Itis.
simply a convenient geographical division, several species of Thea, e.g. T. vartegata (from _
St. Helena and Africa) &c., being absolutely conformable to the type of Psyllohora,
and some others having the expanded margin of typical Halyzia. The Psyllobore are,
however, generally to be distinguished by the style of marking; and among them are
found the smallest species of Coccinellide, not exceeding the smaller Scymni in stature.
. About forty species are recorded by Crotch, chiefly from the South-American continent,
one or two species only being found in the United States. .
According to Mr. Champion some of the Psyllobore are found commonly on
orange-trees.
1. Psyllobora decipiens.
Psyllobora decipiens, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 177'; Monogr. Coccin. p. 184°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 186°.
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Hége).—CotomBia!?°; Braziu! 2, Santarem °.
166 -- COCCINELLIDA.
One specimen of this species, without head or thorax, is all I have yet seen from the
northern continent of America.
2. Psyllobora confluens. (Tab. IX. fig. 18.)
Coccinella confluens, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. i. p..373°. | |
Psyllobora confluens, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 174; Monogr. Cocein.. Pp: 133°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 136.
Hab. Mxxtco, Jalapa ( Hoge); GUATEMALA, Mirandilla 1 700 feet, Zapote (Champion).
—Sovutn America! 2%, Colombia? 3, Cayenne? 3, Brazil ? °. |
Four examples from Zapote and one from each of the other localities are all I have
seen as yet from Central America. ‘The figure is taken from the specimen from Jalapa.
3. Psyllobora germari.
Psyllobora Germari, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 202"; Monogr. Coccin. p. 145°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 140°.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). —Brazit! 2, Rio
Janeiro (Fry °).
Two specimens from the Volcan de Chiriqui agree so nearly with one of Mr.'Fry’s
examples from Rio Janeiro now in Crotch’s collection, that I hardly think they can
represent more than a local variety of the same species. They are smaller, the ground-
colour of the elytra is a bright “ gamboge ”-yellow (indicating that they were freshly
emerged from the pupa when caught), and the markings are rich brown, or chestnut-red.
The posterior spot on the elytra is rounder than the corresponding one in the exponent
of P. germari alluded to. :
4, Psyllobora luctuosa. (Tab. IX. fig. 16.) -
Psyllobora luctuosa, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 1791; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 141”.
Psyllobora tardigrada, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 135°.
Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (H. H. Smith), Mexico city (Hage,
H. H. Smith), Guanajuato (Sallé), Orizaba (H. H. Smith and F. D. Godman); Guats-
MALA, Cerro Zunil, Zapote, Capetillo, Duefias, Guatemala city, Aceituno (Champion).—
CotomBiA! 3, Bogota 2.
- Smail examples of this species come very close to P. 20-maculata. It may, however,
be generally distinguished from that species by being larger, of a whiter colour, by the
spots being less confluent, and by having a small basal spot external to the two large
ones just below the humeral callus. Mulsant describes! the thorax as having only
four spots; but he had only one example, in which the two central spots were probably
united. ‘There are five spots, distinctly separated in the great majority of specimens,
-PSYLLOBORA. | 167
and our examples agree absolutely with the type of P. tardigrada now in Crotch’s
collection. Two spots near the centre of the elytra unite so as to forma kind of paren-
thesis € D, and the upper end of this mark is often united to a spot near the suture,
which then on the right hand forms a rough figure of 5. |
We have received many specimens. The figure is taken from one from Guanajuato.
5. Psyllobora viginti-maculata. | 2 |
Coccinella 20-maculata, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. iv. p. 96 (1824)*; Complete Writings, ii. p. 234 * |
Psyllobora viginti-maculata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 183°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 137‘;
Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 141°.
Psyllobora tedata, Lec. Rep. Surv. Pacif. ix. p. 70 (1857) °.
Psyllobora viginti-signata, Bohem. Kongl. Svenska Freg. Bugen. Resa, Ins. p. 204".
Psyllobora intersparsa, Bohem. loc. cit. p. 204°.
Hab. Nortu America! 2, United States 345, San Francisco ® , California 58 —Maxtco 345,
Northern Sonora (Morrison), Toxpam (Sallé) ; British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaua) ;
GuateMmaLA, San Isidro, Aceituno (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson) ; PANAMA,
Bugaba (Champion). |
This little species, which is widely distributed in the Northern continent of America,
is very variable both in size and in the degree to which the markings are confluent.
It may be generally distinguished from its nearest allies by its small size (one of the
Belize specimens :is about 1°5 millim. only in length), by the presence of only two basal
spots (which are rather larger than the corresponding spots in P. luctuosa), by the two
central and two subapical spots often being united to form a broad letter z, and-by the
thoracic spots being often united in the longitudinal direction (which they are not in
_ P. luctuosa). Often the elytral spots are all united, and P. ¢edata is a variety of |
this class.
_ It is probable that some other so-called species are but local varieties of this insect.
Both this and P. luctuosa occurred together at Aceituno.
According to Crotch ®, the locality “ Colombia” quoted by Mulsant * * belongs to
P. liliputiana. Boheman’s locality Tahiti? is in all probability incorrect.
6. Psyllobora. lutescens. ,
Psyllobora lutescens, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 188°.
Hab. Guatemata (Mus. Brit.1).
“ Allied to P. rufosignata, with the ground-colour pale yellow; the markings are:
1 elongate; 2 ovate, simple; 3 elongate, sutural, recurved outwards at an acute angle
at its base; 4 oblong, united by a line to 6; 4 oblong; 6-9 subequal, disposed in a
cross. Length 2 lin.”
I have not seen an example of this species.
8
168 COCCINELLIDZ.
7. Psyllobora roel. (Tab. IX. fig. 17.)
Psyllobora roei, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 187"; Monogr. Coccin. p. 141°; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 142°.
Hab. Mexico !23 (Hope); Guatema.a, near the city, Capetillo, Duefias, San Ger6-
nimo, San Joaquin in Vera Paz (Champion).
This insect does not appear to have been met with by any of our Mexican collectors.
The specimen figured is one from Guatemala city.
CLEIS.
Cleis, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 208 (1850) ; Monogr. Coccin. p. 148.
This is a most unsatisfactory genus, consisting of three species, which, according
to Crotch’s collection, seem to have little to do with each other. The characters,
moreover, given by Mulsant, depending chiefly on the degree of emargination of the
prothorax in front, are absolutely valueless. (leis lynx, however, is a more elongate
and depressed form than any Psyllobora, and reminds one of Anisosticta. What
Mulsant says of the mesosternum, “a peine échancré,” applies equally well to Thea or
Psyllobora, besides being vague and unmeaning.
1. Cleis mirifica.
Cleis mirifica, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 2091; Monogr. Coccin. p. 149’.
Cleis lynx, var., Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 142.
Hab. Mexico?! 2,
In Crotch’s collection there is placed under the name Cleis lynx a specimen of the
species I have described above (anted, p. 158) as Coccinella albopicta. ‘This specimen
is one from Chevrolat’s collection, and is certainly (as I think) not a variety of C. lynz.
On comparing it with Mulsant’s description of C. mirifica I find such discrepancies
that I cannot accept the identification. I am therefore unacquainted with the true
C. mirifica, Muls.
2. Cleis lynx. (Tab. IX. fig. 19.)
Cleis lynv, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 210'; Monogr. Coccin. p. 149’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin.
p. 142°.
Hab. Mexico 123, near the city (Hége).
3. Cleis concolor.
Cleis concolor, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 142°.
Hab. Mexico}, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (H. H. Smith).
There is one specimen of a very obscure Coccinellid amongst Mr. H. H. Smith’s
CLEIS.—CYCLONEDA. 169
captures which appears to agree better with the type of this species in Crotch’s collec-
tion than with any other, but it has no special relation with C. lyna.
NEOCALVIA.
Neocalvia, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 129 (1874).
Calvia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 143 (pars). j
Neocalvia is the New-World exponent of the old genus Calvia. It has not hitherto
been recorded from the Northern continent.
1. Neocalvia duodecim-guttata. = coseunernsis Gauelrnr
Coccinella 12-guttata, Fabr. Mant. Ins. ii., App. p. 879 (1789) ‘(nec Poda). ‘
Neocalvia duodecim-guttata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 129°.
Coccinella cayennensis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. 4, p. 1659°.
Calvia cajennensis, Muls. Spec. Trim. sécur. p. 148*; Monogr. Coccin. p. 118°.
Hab. GuateMaua, San Gerénimo (Champion).—Soutn America, Cayenne ! 23 45,
Three specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion in Guatemala. They have the
white markings rather more diffuse than in typical representatives from Cayenne.
2. Neocalvia areolata. (Tab. IX. fig. 20.)
Convexa, subhemispherica, fere levis, pallide albo-flavescens; prothorace vitta lata, elytris signatura reticu-
lata brunneis, areolas in singulis septem includente, duas basales, duas postmedianas, duas transversas
apicales, unam discoidalem subquadratam. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
The pattern of the elytra of this species is very elegant. The brown reticulate line
is thin, except where it crosses the suture below the basal aree. The ground-colour is
pale whitish-yellow, the pattern red-brown. The thoracic vitta is narrowly bordered
with darker brown, and the entire limb of the thorax and elytra is narrowly brown. In
one of the two specimens the apical transverse areolet is united with the large semi-
circular lateral one; but in the other, which we figure, the two are quite separate.
The two large postmedian aree may be termed “ common’”’ to the two elytra.
CYCLONEDA.
Cycloneda, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 162 (1874).
Daulis, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 296 (nec Erichson, in Wiegm. Archiv fiir Naturg. viii.
1, p. 241).
The characters upon which this genus is founded are, as Crotch himself has remarked,
not satisfactory. In the Munich Catalogue Cycloneda and the various divisions of Neda
proposed by Crotch are all again combined under Neda. By this method, however,
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., May 1892. Z*
170 . COCCINELLIDA.
Oriental species possessed of good differential characters are mixed, forming a medley
of heterogeneous elements.
Thirty species are included under Cycloneda by Crotch.
1. Cycloneda sallei. (Tab. IX. fig. 21.) te speeves grguvedt vs
Daulis sallei, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 303°. C. costaricae Cha pra
Cycloneda sallei, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 163 °.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de
Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet (Champion).—VENEZUELA, Caracas}; West Inpiss (Mus.
Brussels *). '
2. Cycloneda callispilota.
Coccinella callispilota, Guérin, Icon. du Régne Anim., Ins. p. 320°.
Neda calispilota (sic), Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 2947; Monogr. Cocein. p. 202°.
Cycloneda callispilota, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 163 *,
Hab. 1 Mexico ?34,—Sourn America, Colombia 34, Brazil 1 234,
Guérin ! gives. “‘ Brazil” as the locality for this species; but Mulsant asserts? that
the type came from Mexico.
3. Cycloneda retrospiciens. (Tab. X. fig. 2.)
Cycloneda retrospiciens, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 163’.
Hab. Mexico! (coll. Crotch, ex Deyrolle); Brrmish Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blan-
caneaux); GUATEMALA, Capetillo, Duefias (Champion).
In the five specimens we have received of this species the two thoracic lines are not
completed as in the type, and the elytra are rather more distinctly margined with black.
“The insect is evidently allied to Neda marginalis.
Var.? Lutea, capite prothoraceque dilutioribus, pedibus flavis, tarsis subfuscis. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Guatemaa, Duefias (Champion).
In the single example which I, with some doubt, refer to C. retrospiciens as a variety
the head and thorax are testaceous-yellow, without any trace of markings, except that
the base of the latter is very narrowly margined with black. The elytra have the limb
so narrowly black as scarcely to be noticeable, and the legs are pale.
4, Cycloneda sanguinea.
Coccinella sanguinea, Linn. Amoen. Acad. vi. (Cent. Ins. no. 11) p. 893 (1763)'.
Daulis sanguinea, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 3267; Monogr. Coccin. p. 224°.
Daulis steinit, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 222+.
Cycloneda sanguinea, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 164°.
CYCLONEDA. . 171
Hab. Nort America, Georgia, Colorado, California ®,—Mexico, Paso del Norte,
Ciudad in Durango (Hége), Presidio de Mazatlan, Ventanas (Forrer), R. Papagaio,
Tierra Colorada 2000 feet, and Amula 6000 feet, all in Guerrero, Cuernavaca, Atoyac
in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), Puebla, Etla, Atlixco, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Juquila,
Orizaba, San Andres Tuxtla, Toxpam (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge, Sallé), San Juan Bautista
in Tabasco (Hége); Brivis Honpuras (Blancaneaux); GuateMaua, near the city,
Capetillo, Duefias, San Joaquin, Teleman, Panzos (Champion), Chinautla (Salvin) ;
Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Caché, Volcan de
Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Champion).—SoutTs AMERICA ®
to Coquimbo* in Chili?, and Buenos Ayres in the Argentine Republic; ANTILLES,
Cuba 2, San Domingo *, Guadeloupe 2, &c.
One of the most widely distributed and common of the Coccinellide in the New
World. Coccinella munda, Say, is hardly to be distinguished from small examples of
this species.
5. Cycloneda rubida.
Daulis rubida, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 340+; Monogr. Coccin. p. 230°.
Cycloneda rubida, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 165°.
Daulis vigilans, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 340*; Monogr. Coccin. p. 340°.
Hab. British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaux); Guatemata, Cubilguitz in Vera
Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, San Feliz(Champion).—Sourn Amzrica, Colombia ?*°,
Cayenne !23, Amazons ®, Ega3.
Var. Elytris viridibus vel obscure flavis.
Daulis pallidula, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 329°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 224”.
Cycloneda pallidula, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 164°.
Daulis deflorata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 330’.
Daulis gutticollis, Muls. loc. cit. p. 332°.
Hab. Mexico, Puebla, Vera Cruz (Sail/é); Guatemata, San Gerénimo and Panzos in
Vera Paz (Champion).—South America !°, Colombia?8®, Venezuela ®, Cayenne °’,
Brazil ® 7,
I am obliged to add Daulis pallidula, D. deflorata, and D. gutticollis to the synonym
already pointed out by Crotch 3, for I find no difference but that of colour; pale yellow
specimens from the River Hondo and from Cubilguitz appear to me as well placed with
D. rubida as with D. pallidula. | .
Mulsant has described what seems to be the less abundant variety first, though he
does not mention the green colour: this fades to a dirty yellow; but in some specimens
it is well preserved, as in the examples in Sallé’s collection and in several of those
collected by Mr. Champion. _ |
Mr. Champion obtained a very large series of the typical C. rubida at Bugaba.
Z* 2
172 | COCCINELLIDZ.
6. Cycloneda abdominalis. (Tab. IX. figg. 22-24.) |
Coccinella abdominalis, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. iv. p. 95 (1824) *.
Daulis abdominalis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 316 *.
Cycloneda abdominalis, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 163 °.
Harmonia V-nigrum, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 64°.
Coccinella V-nigrum, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 109 °.
Hab. Nortsu America 1, United States 2? —Mzxtco 23, Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas,
Villa Lerdo and Ventanas in Durango, Chilpancingo, Mexico city, Cordova, Las Vigas
(Hoge), Monclova in Coahuila, Guajuco in Nuevo Leon, Valle del Maiz (Dr. Palmer),
Presidio de Mazatlan ore: Puebla, Etla, Guanajuato, Orizaba, Oaxaca *® (Sal/é),
Misantla (H. H. Smith), Temax in N. Yucatan (Gawmer); GuateMa.a, near the city
(Champion); Nicaragua (Sal/é).
Var.? Elytris singulis maculis duabus magnis basalibus et duabus majoribus medianis transversim conjunctis,
nigris. (Fig. 24.)
- Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sallé).
From an inspection of the types of Harmonia V-nigrum in Sallé’s collection there is
no doubt of the correctness of the synonymy given above. |
C. abdominalis is a very abundant insect, but it becomes rarer below lat. 15°. There
is only a single specimen from Nicaragua in Sallé’s collection. —
The specimens figured are—one of the typical form from Mexico city (fig. 22); one
of a pretty variety (fig. 23) which occurred rather commonly at Temax in Yucatan ;
and one (fig. 24) from Vera Cruz, which is the only one I have seen thus marked.
7. Cycloneda oculata.
Coccinella oculata, Fabr. Ent. Syst. i. 1, p. 287 (1792)’.
Cycloneda oculata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 166°. |
Coccinella binotata, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. v. p. 302 (1826) *.
Daulis binotata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 322 *.
Hab. Nortu America!4, United States?3, Texas——Mexico, Monclova in Coahuila
(Dr. Palmer), Guanajuato (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Crotch seems latterly to have regarded this insect as the black form of C. abdominalis ;
it is so placed in his “ Revision of the Coccinellide of the United States,” Trans. Amer.
Ent. Soc. iv. p. 372 (April 1873). In his general “‘ Revision,” however, he remarks ”, ‘I
do not know its pale form”; and, considering the blood-red colour of the elytral spot
and the total absence of intermediate varieties, as well as the fact that among the large
series of C. abdominalis we have received there is not one specimen varying in this
direction, I do not think they can be so united.
Crotch? refers this insect to the C. oculata of Fabricius; it ought to be observed,
however, that Fabricius’s words, “Thorax ater, nitidus, utrinque macula magna, ro-
CYCLONEDA. 173
tunda, marginali, albida,” do not apply to this insect, which has the thorax narrowly
margined with white in front and just round the hind angles, the white margin often
with three linear denticulations in front; also that it is described as a little larger
than C. cacti.
8. Cycloneda meander.
Daulis meander, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 335°.
Cycloneda meander, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 166°.
Hab. Mexico !?.—Sovurn America, Cayenne ! 2, S. Paulo ?.
Mulsant! gives “Mexico” as a locality for this species on the authority of Hope.
_ [have not seen any specimens from there, and think the statement needs corroboration.
9. Cycloneda gilardini. (Tab. IX. fig. 25.)
Daulis gilardini, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 214’.
Cycloneda gilardini, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 166’.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sal/é).
The unique type is now before me from Sallé’s collection. The locality “ Colombia”
seems to be an error of Mulsant’s 1, and Crotch following him does not seem to have
seen the insect. A second error is that Crotch says?, “elytra each with ten spots:”
this is due to a misprint in Mulsant’s description, where ‘‘ dix” is printed for “ six,” as
may easily be seen by the context.
10. Cycloneda electra. (Tab. X. fig. 3.)
Subhemispherica, nigra, perobsolete alutacea, vix punctata; capite prothoracisque lateribus late albidis ;
elytrorum basi, macula apicali subquadrata epipleurisque flavis. Long. 7, lat. 6 millim,
Hab. Guatemata (Sallé), San Gerénimo (Champion).
This species is evenly but not very strongly convex, the margin of the elytra a little
expanded. The head is white; the antenne and palpi yellowish. The thorax is black
in the middle, this colour extending narrowly along the base on each side of the rather
wide central vitta; the extreme apex of this vitta is, however, whitish. The base of
the elytra is yellow for about a quarter of their length, but more widely so a little ©
before the margin than at the suture. In one of the two examples before me the entire
limb of the elytra is black; but in the one from Sallé’s collection the black margin
ceases at the shoulders and at the apex. ‘The legs are black; the tibie on their
internal sides and the tarsi are fuscous. :
This species might almost be placed with Neda, but it has the elytra less expanded
than in XV. marginalis. |
The specimen figured is the one from Sallé’s collection. oy
174 COCCINELLIDA.
NEDA.
Neda, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 274 (1850); Monogr. Coccin. p. 195 (pars).
The larger size and widened elytral margins are the only characters whereby this
genus can at present be separated from Cycloneda; as restricted by Crotch it includes
about eight American species.
1. Neda ostrina.
Coccinella ostrina, Erichs. Archiv fiir Naturg. xii. 1, p. 182°.
Neda ostrina, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 199°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 168°.
Neda orbignyi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 280+.
Neda peruviana, Muls. loc. cit. p. 281°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 199°.
Hab. Mexico ?.—Sovuta America, Colombia 24, Brazil ?, Peru 1235 6,
Not received by us from Mexico; there is a specimen (perhaps the one alluded to by
Mulsant) in Crotch’s collection, from that of Chevrolat, so labelled, and this is the sole
authority for the occurrence in the Northern continent of this species.
2. Neda marginalis.
Neda marginalis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 277*; Monogr. Coccin. p. 1977; Crotch, Rev.
Coccin. p. 168 *.
Neda flavens, Muls. Opusc. Ent. iii. p. 41°; Monogr. Coccin. p. 197°.
Hab. Mexico!23, Ventanas in Durango, Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Jalapa (Hége),
Omilteme 8000 feet, Amula 6000 feet (H. H. Smith), Misantla (Flohr), Cuernavaca,
Cordova, Orizaba, Oaxaca (Sal/é); Guatemaa (Sallé), Tepan (Conradt), Duefias, San
Gerénimo (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers).
Crotch quotes? Brazil, but with doubt. I have seen no specimens of WV. marginalis
from the Southern continent. The locality of NV. flavens was unknown to Mulsant 4°.
Subfam. CHILOCORIDES.
This is one of the most natural divisions of the Coccinellide, well characterized
by the front of the head forming a sort of clypeus surrounding the eye, and cover-
ing (in Chilocorus at least) the point of insertion of the antenne, which thus lie in
2, fovea beneath it. The inner edge of the epipleure of the elytra is also generally
divided behind the middle into two ridges, with a narrow channel between them
_ for the reception of the margin of the hind body, thus closing very effectually the
passage between it and the elytra. I do not find this character mentioned by authors,
but it exists in several of the genera I have at present studied. |
The species are distributed very widely over the whole world, Chilocorus alone being
_ CHILOCORUS. ee 65)
represented almost everywhere ; I have not, however, seen examples of it from further
south in America than Brazil. Exochomus has one representative in Europe, /. nigro-
maculatus, which is, perhaps, the most widely distributed of any species of the family,
being found from Northern Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, and from Siberia to
Australia, yet, strangely enough, it seems to have disappeared from England.
Crotch has included Platynaspis in the Chilocorides, and that genus agrees with the
rest of the subfamily in the structure of the clypeus, and on this ground I include
Corystes; but some other genera (as, for instance, the Eastern Cryptogonus) are much
more nearly related to the Hyperaspides, the presence of a seventh abdominal segment
in the male externally, depending very much upon its extrusion or otherwise, being no
doubt present, though possibly modified, in both subfamilies. Cryptogonus is indeed
treated by Weise as congeneric with Hyperaspis.
CHILOCORUS.
Chilocorus, Leach, in Brewster’s Edinb. Encycl. ix. p. 116 (1815) ; Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur.
p- 452; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 244.
Chilocorus is a genus of about thirty-five species, distributed all over the world.
One species has lately been described from Australia, but Chzlocorus has hitherto been
considered to be represented by the allied genus Orcus in that continent. Two species
are found within our limits.
1. Chilocorus cacti.
Coccinella cacti, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th edit. p. 584 (1767)*; Fabr. Ent. Syst. i. p. 287 (1792) ?,
and Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 279 (1801)°; Oliv. Encycl. Méth. vi. p. 744, and Ent. vi. p. 1044, t. 1.
£.8°; Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. i. p. 202°.
Chilocorus cacti, Leach, in Brewst. Edinb. Encycl. ix. p. 116 (1815) "; Hope, Col. Man. iii. p. 157°;
Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 459°; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. iv. p. 376%, and Rev.
Coccin. p. 184”.
Hab. Norra America!, United States, California !011, Texas 11, —Mexico 9 10 11, Pinos
Altos in Chihuahua (Buchan-Hepburn), Guajuco in Nuevo Leon, Alvarez Mountains,
Hacienda de San Miguelito, San Luis Potosi, Mexico city (Dr. Palmer), Ventanas in
Durango, Tacambaro and Huetamo in Michoacan, Esperanza, Jalapa, Oaxaca (Hége),
Puebla, Parada, Capulalpam, Santecomapan, San Andres Tuxtla, Vera Cruz, Campeche
(Sallé), Orizaba (Sallé, H. H. Smith, F. D. Godman), Chilpancingo, Cuernavaca (H. H.
Smith), Temax in North Yucatan (Gauwmer); British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blan-
caneaux); GUATEMALA (Sallé), Duefias, Guatemala city, San Gerénimo (Champion)
Nicaraeua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten).—Sovutnh AmeERica!!; Wausr
Inpvigs !!,
This insect has been long known to European entomologists, as well as the habit of
176 COCCINELLID.A.
its larva of feeding upon the cochineal insect (Coccus cacti). The larva has been
figured by Prof. Westwood in his ‘ Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects,’
i. p. 392, fig. 49 (24).
Chilocorus cacti appears to be abundant in those districts where the particular species
of Cactaceze grow which are infested by the Coccus, or to which it has been introduced,
as in the case of Nopalea coccinellifera; but I have no direct evidence myself of the
distribution of the Chilocorus in South America.
2. Chilocorus bivulnerus.
Chilocorus bivulnerus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 460°; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv.
p. 376’, and Rev. Coccin. p. 185°.
Hab. Nortu America!, United States ? °.—Mexico, Guanajuato (Sal/é).
CURINUS.
Orcus, subgen. Curinus, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 472 (1850).
Curinus, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 190.
A genus of doubtful value; it, however, separates the American from the Australian
species of Oreus. According to Crotch it includes five representatives.
1. Curinus ceruleus. (Tab. X. fig. 4.)
Orcus ceruleus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 472°.
Curinus ceruleus, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 190”.
Hab. Mexico!?, Cordova, Jalapa, Oaxaca (Hége), Orizaba (Sallé, H. H. Smith)
GUATEMALA (Sallé), Zapote, Capetillo, Duefias, Chacoj in Vera Paz (Champion), Guate-
mala city 5000 feet (Salvin, Champion), Tepan (Conradt).—Soutn AMERIca, Brazil} 2,
Chili? 2,
Obtained in considerable numbers; the specimen figured is from Cordova.
AXION.
Exochomus, subgen. Avion, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 477 (1850).
Axion, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 191. |
The trivial character upon which Mulsant proposed this name for the first section of
Exochomus hardly warrants its adoption. Three species from the United States, as
well as the one from Mexico, belong to it.
1. Axion plagiatus.
Coccinella plagiata, Oliv. Ent. vi. p. 1044. no. 86, t. 7. fig. 102 (1808) *.
Exochomus plagiatus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 477.
Axion plagiatus, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 191°.
Hab. Mexico ?*, Puebla, Guanajuato (Sallé), Morelia in Michoacan (£/6ge).
=~
EXOCHOMUS. 17
EXOCHOMUS.
Exochomus, Redtenbacher, Tentam. dispos. gen. et spec. Col. pseudotrim. p. 11 (1844); Mulsant,
Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 476 (pars) ; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 246.
Exochomus, besides having the abdominal coxal fossettes “‘ complete,” has the tibize
not toothed, but they are sometimes dilated angularly. About twelve species belong
to it.
1. Exochomus contristatus.
Exochomus contristatus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 492*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 193° (nec
Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 377°). .
Hab. Mexico123 (Sallé), Vera Cruz (Sallé), Jalapa (Hége).
This is not, as Mr. Crotch originally supposed it might be 3, a variety of /. childreni,
Muls. |
The type from Chevrolat’s collection, now in the Cambridge Museum, is the only
exponent of it in Crotch’s collection; it is larger and more oval than E. childrent, and
has the body beneath red.
2. Exochomus marginipennis. (Tab. X. figg. 5, 6.)
Coccinella marginipennis, Lec. Ann. Lye. N. York, i. p. 173, t. 11. fig. 157%.
Exochomus marginipennis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 485°; Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv.
p. 377°, and Rev. Coccin. p. 193 *.
Exochomus pretextatus, Melsh. Proc. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 180°.
Brumus septentrionis, Weise (sec Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xiii., Proc. Ent. Sect. p. xiv).
Hab. Norta America 45, Unitep States?, Colorado, New England, and Western
States °, Georgia!_—Mexico, Guajuco in Nuevo Leon (Dr. Palmer), Ventanas in
Durango 2000 feet (Yorrer), Cuernavaca in Morelos, Iguala in Guerrero, Cerro de
Plumas, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége).
We figure a specimen from Iguala (fig. 5) and one of a variety (fig. 6) from Cerro de
Plumas.
3. Exochomus championi. (Tab. X. fig. 7.)
Transversim orbicularis, valde convexus, sanguineo-rufus, subtus corallinus; prothorace nigro, lateribus late
et capite albis, elytris sanguineo-coccineis, macula scutellari et apice late nigris, scutello nigro, Long.
43-5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).
Head whitish yellow, narrowly black at the base; clypeus scarcely produced round
the eye, and the basal joint of the antenne visible from above; antenne and palpi
yellow. Prothorax black, the edge in front sometimes very narrowly whitish, but often
the black colour extends to the margin, the sides widely whitish yellow; the surface
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., January 1894. 2 A*
178 COCCINELLID&.
visibly but very minutely and closely punctured. The elytra are together wider than
long, the shoulders produced (but not so much as they often are in Chilocorus); blood-
red, very obsoletely and finely punctured; the black scutellar mark is wanting in one
example, but in another the suture is very narrowly black; the apex is occupied by a
large squarish black patch, returning a little up the suture, and in the specimen with a
black suture a little farther along the margin. The legs are coral-red. The front tibic
are simple, grooved externally for the reception of the tarsi, which are nearly as long as
the tibie. |
Seven specimens were obtained, one of which is orange-red, but was obviously
captured when quite freshly emerged and soft.
This species has the form of Curinus, and might have been placed in that genus, but
for its wholly different colour, and that I do not consider there are structural differences
to separate it from Hrochomus.
4. Exochomus tricoloratus. (Tab. X. fig. 8.)
Transversim orbiculatus, niger ; capite albo, ore, pedibus abdomineque flavis, prothoracis lateribus late albido-
flavis, elytris crebre ac minute punctatis, macula subhumerali alteraque subapicali rotundata sanguineis.
Long. 4, lat. 43 millim.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt).
Head whitish yellow, the base black (but this part is generally hidden by the thorax),
the mouth and trophi yellow. Thorax black, with the sides white, this colour taking
the form of a round spot; in one example there is a triangular white spot in front.
Elytra black, each with a small but very bright red spot at the shoulder, but not on the
base, and another near the apex ; in one specimen there is a minute red dot near the
centre of each elytron. The elytra taken together are wider than the whole length of
the insect; epipleure red, so as to correspond with the spots.
We figure the example with two red dots on each elytron, and the thorax with a
white spot in front.
Two specimens.
5. Exochomus scapularis. (Tab. X. fig. 9.)
Nigro-subceruleus, subtus rufus; epistomate, labro prothoracisque margine laterali anguste rufis, elytrorum
angulo antico, macula quadrata, margineque subapicali gutta parva lete sanguineis; tibiis anticis angu-
lariter dilatatis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége).
Var. margine subapicali concolore.
Hab. Mexico, Iguala in Guerrero. (Hége), Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (HZ. 4.
Smith); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).
Head yellow beneath, and with the mouth, front, and trophi of the same colour, the
EXOCHOMUS. 179
base black in an indeterminate manner between the eyes. Thorax and elytra blue-
black, scarcely visibly punctate; the former with the lateral margins very narrowly
yellowish, the latter with a bright red spot at the front angles, and, in the two speci-
mens from Jalapa and Vera Cruz, with a small linear spot of the same colour, and very
indeterminate, just within the margin before the apex. |
The humeral spot varies a little in size and shape: in the specimen from Chontales
it is square, and a little more oblong than in any of the others, in which it is trans-
verse and placed just below the callus.
In all the specimens the front tibiz are angularly widened. The specimen from
Iguala has the elytra very slightly brownish, and with brown translucent margins,
being probably less matured. I think it possible that this insect should be associated
with Cladis nitidula, a species from Cuba and other West-Indian Islands. I do not,
however, regard Cladis as differing materially from Hxochomus.
One specimen from each locality are all that have been obtained. Our figure
represents the example from Jalapa.
6. Exochomus apicatus.
Orbicularis, nigro-cyaneus ; capite, corpore subtus, prothoracis limbo antico et laterali, elytroramque margine
reflexo, et apicibus, luteis ; elytris distincte subtiliter crebre punctatis. Long. 23 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Head pale yellow, infuscate towards the base, in one example entirely black ; thorax
with the anterior margin only brown at the extreme edge, the sides narrowly margined
with yellow, but in certain examples (as the one with the head black) this is reduced
to a faint mark at the front angles; elytra blue-black, with the reflexed narrow margin
brown-red, widening at a third from the apex, but the yellow cclour narrowed again
at the sutural angle ; legs and body beneath yellow.
Six specimens of this insect were obtained, three of them near Bugaba. It is possible
that the darker-headed specimens are of one sex, but this is uncertain.
7. Exochomus bishinotatus. (Tab. X. fig. 10.)
Niger, eque ac distincte punctatus; prothoracis margine antico, lateribus, elytrorum margine laterali et
epipleurali, maculisque duabus rotundis, una basin attingente, una subapicali, tibiis tarsisque flavis,
femoribus infuscatis. Long. 2 millim.
Var. capite etiam flavo.
Hab. Mexico (Sallé), Motzorongo in Vera Cruz (Flohr); Britis Honpuras, Belize
(Blancaneaue) ; Guaremaua, Coban in Vera Paz (Champion).
Head pitchy black or yellow (probably differing in the sexes), Thorax in the black-
headed examples only faintly reddish at the anterior margin, and with the front angles
yellowish ; in the examples with yellow heads, the front margin narrowly yellow with
the sides more broadly yellow. The reflexed margin of the elytra and the epipleure
2 A* 2
180 COCCINELLID.
yellow, each elytron also with two yellow spots, the basal one of which is the larger.
The body beneath is pitchy with pale sutures, and the legs indeterminately pitchy, with
paler tibie and tarsi. Four examples.
Obs. This insect is labelled ‘“‘ Exochomus heirricht” in the Sallé collection, but I
have not found the description of such a species.
8. Exochomus sallzi.
Ater; elytris coccineis, singulis macula subapicali rotunda nigra. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. Mexico (Sallé).
Smooth and shining, the punctuation scarcely visible; the size and coloration
somewhat similar to that of Z. contristatus, Muls., but, besides the two spots of the
elytra, the body is black. The extreme limb of the elytra is, as usual, blackish. One
example.
9. Exochomus hogei. (Tab. X. fig. 11.)
Ater, nitidus ; elytris coccineis, singulis punctis duobus parvulis discoidalibus, et uno communi apicali suturaque
in medio, nigris. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Villa Lerdo in Durango (Hoge).
Smooth, shining, and with the elytra very convex for this genus. The margins are
scarcely, if at all, expanded, the limb very narrowly black. Of the elytral spots that
nearest the base is, in our single specimen, the smaller of the two, and is placed on
the scarcely perceptible callus; the second is placed a little behind the middle; the
apical spot is similar to that of the East-Indian £. uropygialis. The body and legs
are black, only the tarsi are reddish. One example.
PENTILIA. |
Pentilia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 502 (1850) ; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 234.
Three species only have at present been referred to this genus, which is very
unsatisfactorily characterized. It has the appearance of a small Chilocorus.
1. Pentilia egena.
' Chilocorus egenus, De}. Cat. 3rd edit. p. 460°.
Pentilia egena, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 502’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 199°.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—BraziL?, Rio Janeiro ®, Bahia 3.
The males are greenish; they have the head yellow and the angles of the thorax
broadly margined with the same colour. The female, of which we have received but
one example, is entirely black above.
PENTILIA.—CRYPTOGNATHA. 181
2. Pentilia (?) convexa. (Tab. XI. fig. 1.)
Breviter ovata, valde convexa, nigra, nitida ; capite, prothoracis margine antico et angulis anterioribus tenuiter,
pedidus abdomineque flavis, prothorace elytrorumque basi eneo-micantibus, subtiliter crebre punctatis.
Long. 4 millim. ¢.
Mas capite prothoracisque margine antico flavis.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Bluish black above, the thorax and base of the elytra brassy ; ; head, legs, and
abdomen, and the sides of the thorax nearly as far as the hind angles, and also the
front margin, very narrowly, yellow. Elytra very convex, and viewed laterally rather
gibbous, the humeral callus distinct, very finely but thickly and distinctly punctured.
The tibie are compressed on the outer side, and a little expanded towards their base.
This insect, of which we have only obtained a single male example, is twice as large
as Pentilia egena, and is more convex than that species; the base of the thorax is also
less V-shaped, the bases of the elytra being less inclined. 1 cannot at present associate
any specimens from Bugaba with P. convexa as females, the only example of that sex
from that locality being apparently referable to P. egena, the male of which, in addition
to the differences pointed out above, has the front angles of the thorax broadly yellow
and more rounded.
3. Pentilia castanea.
Pentilia castanea, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur., App. p. 1036; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 199’.
Hab. Mexico ?,—Soutu America ! 2,
The specimen referred to by Crotch ? isin his collection, but it is without precise
indication of the locality. The Mexican habitat needs confirmation.
4. Pentilia discors.
Atra, nitida; capite, prothorace, abdomine pedibusque albido-flavis, corpore subtus nigro-piceo.
Mas? elytris disco apiceque indistincte sanguineo notatis, prothorace toto flavo.
Femina ? prothoracis dimidio basali nigro. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, Rio Maria Linda 500 feet (Champion).
This little species is of a broadly ovate form, almost orbiculate ; it is very finely, but
distinctly punctate, and has the humeral callus rather distinct and the lateral margins
a little expanded. .
We have received only one specimen of each of the supposed sexes; they were both
met with at the same time and place, and, though differing in colour, I have little
doubt they are correctly associated as one species.
CRYPTOGNATHA.
Cryptognatha, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 497 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 206 ;
Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 236.
Gineis, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 500.
182 COCCINELLIDZ.
Chapuis, following Crotch, has united these genera. I have not seen a true neis ;
the three species from Ceylon referred to it are probably not congeneric. Exclusive of
these, about fifteen species of Cryptognatha have been described; the area of its
distribution appears to be from the Southern States of North America to Brazil.
1. Cryptognatha auriculata.
Cryptognatha auriculata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 497"; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 206°. -
Hab. Mexico, Teapa (col. Crotch).—Soutn Amurica, Colombia! 2, Cayenne ”.
I record this species, on the authority of a specimen in Crotch’s collection labelled
Teapa; it is entirely yellow and shining.
2. Oryptognatha circumdata. (Tab. X. fig. 12.)
Atra, nitidissima ; capite, prothorace (medio excepto), elytrorum marginibus, pedibus et corpore infra sanguineo-
rufis. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. GuateMALA, Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion).
Hemispherical, very shining, almost glabrous, the sparse and fine punctuation being
easily visible only on the sides.
8. Cryptognatha gemellata.
Cryptognatha gemellata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 498°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 206 ’.
Hab. Mexico?t!?.—Sovutn America, Cayenne ?.
We have not received specimens of this species; and the Mexican locality is not
well authenticated.
4, Cryptognatha flaviceps.
Cryptognatha flaviceps, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 207°.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan! (coll. Crotch); Brrmish Honpvras, Rio Hondo (Blanca-
neaux); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 feet, Tolé (Champion).— Amazons, San
Paulo 1, Santarem }.
This small species is a little more than one millimetre in length: ‘“ hemispherical,
shining, black; head ochreous, thorax with the sides ochreous, base finely margined,
rather closely punctulate; elytra black, sparsely and finely punctulate, more strongly
so near the margin ; legs whitish ochreous.”
** © head black.”
CORYSTES.
Corystes, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 506 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 208; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xi. p. 249.
A single species only is known of this genus. It is allied to Chilocorus by the
CORYSTES.—THALASSA. 183
structure of the epistome, which partly divides the eye. Crotch, however, placed it at
the beginning of the ‘“‘ Hyperaspides.”
1. Corystes hypocrita. (Tab. X. fig. 13.)
Corystes hypocrita, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 507°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 208’.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson).—Gutana, Cayenne12; Amazons, Ega 2,
Santarem 2, San Paulo ?. .
The example figured is from Chontales.
Subfam. HY PERASPIDES.
The Hyperaspides are, as Chapuis remarks, chiefly distinguished by the epipleure of
the elytra being furnished with fossee, which are usually deep, and which permit the
knees of the middle and hind legs to move over them with facility. In addition to
this character, we here meet with another, possessed by very few Coccinellide, viz. the
presence of a tooth on the front tibie.
The subfamily as here restricted, by the exclusion of Corystes, Pentilia, and Crypto-
gnatha (the two latter of which were included in the Hyperaspides by Chapuis),
contains but few genera, yet the species are numerous, those of the genus Hyperaspis
alone amounting to about two hundred. By far the larger number of these are from
the New World, several, however (including the type of Hyperaspis), are European,
_ and a few have been described from Africa.
THALASSA.
Thalassa, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 511 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coce. p. 209.
Menoscelis, Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 233.
Chapuis has united Thalassa with Menoscelis. Crotch, however, while placing
M. glauca in Thalassa, retained the name Menoscelis for M. insignis, which is a large
and differently coloured South-American insect.
1. Thalassa pentaspilota. (Tab. X. fig. 14.)
Chilocorus pentaspilotus, Chevr. Col. Mex., Cent. ii. no. 124 (1835) ’.
Thalassa pentaspilota, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 209°.
Thalassa pentastigma, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 512°.
Hab. Muxico 123, Jalapa (Hége); GuatemMaLa, Capetillo (Champion).—CuBa ?.
An apparently rare insect, of which we have only received three examples; it was
originally sent by Sallé to Chevyrolat.
2. Thalassa montezume. (Tab. X. fig. 15.)
Thalassa montezume, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 512°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 209’.
Hab. NortH America, New Orleans ?7.—Mexico 1?, Ventanas in Durango, Matamoros
184 COCCINELLID.
Izucar, Puebla, Jalapa (Hége), Vera Cruz, Playa Vicente, Yolos (Sallé); GUATEMALA,
El Reposo (Champion).
This insect occurred singly for the most part at each of the localities given, and does
not appear ever to be common.
The head is entirely yellow in the male, and the thorax in the same sex has the
anterior margin and angles very narrowly margined with yellow.
The figure is taken from a male from Jalapa, where Hége met with both sexes.
3. Thalassa glauca,
Menoscelis glauca, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 510°.
Thalassa glauca, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 209°.
Thalassa reyi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 515 (¢)*.
. Hab. Guatemaua (Sallé), near the city (Champion), Tepan (Conradt); Costa Rica
(Van Patten).—Sovutu America}, Brazil 23,
This insect varies somewhat in colour, the blue specimens being probably the
males.
Our examples have yellow heads, but in nearly all the head is greenish at the base
and on the inner side of the eyes.
BRACHYACANTHA.
Brachyacantha, Chevrolat, in d’Orbigny’s Dict. Univ. d’Hist. Nat. ii. p. 705 (1842); Mulsant,
Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 520; Crotch, Rev. Cocc. p. 210; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. P 377 ;
Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 228.
Brachyacantha consists of a little group of species which, with two exceptions, are
peculiar to the northern continent of America, and are remarkable for their strong
resemblance in form, as well as in structure, to some genera of Phytophaga, especially,
perhaps, to those of the Cryptocephaline, such as Monachus and Scolochrus. The
genus is not well separated from Hyperaspis, both Crotch and Chapuis referring to the
arming of the front tibie with a spine as a permanent distinction. Good sexual
characters, however, exist in several species of Brachyacantha on the underside of the
ventral segments. No author, excepting Crotch for one species (B. dentipes), appears
to have noticed these. About twenty species have been described ; but from the undue
importance given by Mulsant and others to the markings alone, it is clear that several
of these can only be regarded as varieties. The males of the species of the whole sub-
family may generally be recognized by their yellow heads, and the paler colouring of
their legs and other parts; but the structural characters above alluded to, and the
presence of an additional segment (the seventh ventral one), should always be noticed.
The absence of a basal marginal line to the thorax is, I think, quite illusory, for
BRACHYACANTHA. 185
this line, merely indicating the finely impressed margin, cannot be seen in many cases
when the thorax is not detached from the base of the elytra. And this is the view
Chapuis has taken of the value of this character, which Mulsant has used with some
insistance.
1. Brachyacantha lepida, (Tab. X. fig. 16.)
Brachyacantha lepida, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 523°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 2107; Trans.
Am. Ent. Soe. iv. p. 378%.
Hab. Nortu America, United States !, Texas 3.—Mexico 123, Toxpam, Mirador (Saldé),
Cordova (Sallé, Hoge), Orizaba (Sallé, H. H. Smith, and F. D. G.), Atoyac in Vera
Cruz (H. H. Smith), Jalapa (Hoge, Flohr), Cerro de Plumas, Tapachula (Hoge); Brittsi
Honpuras, R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GuaTeMALA, near the city
(Salvin, Champion), Chiacam, Senahu, Sabo, and Purula in Vera Paz, Zapote, Capetillo,
Duefias (Champion) ; Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten).
Var. a. Maculis rufo-piceis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Var. 3. Maculis confluentibus.
Hab. Mexico, Tapachula in Chiapas (fHége); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blan-
caneaux) ; GUATEMALA, San Gerdénimo (Champion).
B. lepida is very variable as regards size (the larger examples being 4 millim. long,
while some occur of scarcely half that size) and colour, and also in the degree to which
the markings become confluent.
Of the var. a, the colour of which may be due to immaturity, Mr. H. H. Smith met with
a very large number at Teapa in Tabasco; and these appear to be all of the typical
form, 7. ¢@. the spots are detached. Varieties with the two discoidal spots just united by
a line occurred, in company with typical forms, at the city and elsewhere in Guatemala.
In the variety which I designate 6 the discoidal spots are united together and to the
central spots, as well as to the subapical spot, leaving six triangular yellow spots on
each elytron—one on the base near the scutellum, with two others following almost in
a line, and the yellow margin is dilated into three spots corresponding to these. Of
this variety numerous specimens were met with at Tapachula. I have not observed
any structural character in the abdomen of this insect.
2. Brachyacantha westwoodi. (Tab. X. fig. 17.)
Brachyacantha westwoodi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p.520 (3 )’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211’.
Brachyacantha bipartita, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 521 ( 2)"; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211°.
Hab. Mexico !~4, Toxpam, Yolos (Sadlé), Jalapa (Hodge), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H.
Smith).
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., January 1894. 2 B*
186 COCCINELLIDZ.
An inspection of the type of B. bipartita in the Crotch collection leaves no doubt in
my mind that the above names apply to the sexes of the same species. It is apparently
not common.
We figure a male from Toxpam.
3. Brachyacantha aymardi. (Tab. X. fig. 18.)
Nigra; capitis fronte maculisque duabus magnis transversis ad angulos anticos prothoracis flavis; elytris rufis,
sutura tenuiter, macula communi suturali juxta basin, et duabus alteris discoidalibus, una subhumerali,
una majore subapicali, nigris. Long. 4:5 millim. 9.
Hab. Mexico, Parada (Sallé).
Two specimens of this species are before me, agreeing very closely ; they are clearly
allied to B. westwoodi, but are larger than that species (with the exception of one
specimen from Yolos, of which the determination is a little doubtful), and differ,
moreover, in the large yellow mark on the anterior angles of the thorax. This mark
occupies the whole angle, and extends along the side almost to the base; it is
prolonged obliquely into the disc, leaving the front margin black. ‘The body beneath
is black, the tibie and tarsi yellow.
This insect was labelled Brachyacantha aymardi in the Sallé collection.
4. Brachyacantha cryptocephalina. (Tab. X. fig. 19.)
Nigra ; elytris sanguineis, sutura tenuiter, punctisque tribus nigris, uno subhumerali, duobus pone medium
trausversim approximatis, nigris. Long. vix 6 millim. 9.
Hab. Mexico, Ventanas in Durango (Hége).
Entirely black, with the exception of the elytra, which are of a rich blood-red colour,
with the suture (narrowly at the base, more widely at the apex), and three small spots
on each, black.
This fine species cannot be confounded with B. aymardi, as it is larger, the head and
thorax are wholly black, and the elytral markings are different.
The single specimen obtained by Hége is the only one I have seen. It is apparently
a female. |
5. Brachyacantha dentipes.
Coccinella dentipes, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 381 (1801) '.
Brachyacantha dentipes, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 525°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211°;
Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 378‘.
Hab. Nora America, United States?, Carolina 1, Georgia*, Kansas 4, Illinois 4,
Texas *.—Mexico +, Jalapa (MU. Trujillo), Atoyac and Chilpancingo (H. H. Smith), Temax
in North Yucatan (Gawmer).
Var.a. ‘ Ovalis, valde convexa, nigra, nitida, dense punctulata, thorace macula magna laterali rotundata, elytris
altera subreniformi, subapicali flavo-rufis ornatis; antennis, palpis pedibusque flavo-rufis, femoribus infus-
catis.” (Leconte.)
BRACHYACANTHA. 187
Brachyacantha quadrillum, Lec. Proc. Acad. Phil. 1858, p. 89°; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 378°;
Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211’.
Hab. Norta America, Texas 5-7.
Var. 3. Prothorace flavo, basi fusco-notato.
Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).
Var. y. Elytris macula subapicali deficiente.
Brachyacantha subfasciata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 527°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211’.
Hab. Mexico °°.
Var. 6. Elytris nigris, macula apicali flava.
Brachyacantha erythrura, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 5830"; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211"'.
Hab. Mexico!°4, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), Temax in North Yucatan
(Gaumer); Guatemata (coll. Gorham); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu 6000
to 7000 feet (Rogers).
Var. e. “ Spots confluent, thorax entirely orange, elytra black at the base and with two medial spots black.”
( Crotch.)
Brachyacantha tau, Lec. Col. of Kansas and Eastern New Mexico, p. 28 (1859) *; Crotch, Trans.
Am. Ent. Soe. iv. p. 378"; Rev. Coccin. p. 212”.
Hab. Norta America, Fort Riley, Kansas 2714,
The male of this species, besides having the head and legs entirely yellow, has the
third ventral segment with the hind margin raised into two tubercles in the middle,
the fourth, fifth, and sixth segments each with a semicircular impression forming a sort
of fovea.
I find great difficulty in determining whether certain specimens from various localities
in Mexico and Guatemala are to be referred to this species or to B. erythrocephala.
When the two anterior spots on the elytra of the latter are united, the colour-
distinction is lost, and the more oblong form of this species passes insensibly into
that of B. erythrocephala. I have joined B. erythrura, Muls., with B. dentipes, as
beyond colour there is really no difference; it seems to be a rather scarce variety
in which the anterior fascia is obliterated, and intermediate forms occurred with it
at Atoyac. For the same reason B. subfasciata is now sunk in a synonym.
6. Brachyacantha pygidialis.
Brachyacantha pygidialis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 534°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 212”.
Hab. Muxico1?, Oaxaca (Saldé).
There are three specimens of this species in the Sallé collection. These are of the
size of the larger examples of B. dentipes, and with the oblong form of that species,
but with four distinct and large yellow spots on each elytron, the basal one ot which is,
in the male, prolonged outwardly so as to extend along the whole of the base; then
follow two median spots (not united) and a subapical spot. In the male the head and
thorax are yellow, the base of the latter black for rather more than half its length in
2 B* 2
188 COCCINELLIDA.
the middle; and the abdomen from the third segment is broadly impressed, but the
margin of the third is not raised or tubercular.
7. Brachyacantha conjuncta. (Tab. X. fig. 20.)
Brachyacantha conjuncta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 5386 *; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 212’.
Hab. Murxtco}?, Ventanas in Durango (Hége), Capulalpam, Etla, Yolotepec, Juquila
(Sallé); Costa Rica, Caché (Logers).
This species is labelled Brachyacantha compromissa, Muls., in the Sallé collection ;
it is allied to B. pygidialis, but is a shorter and rounder insect. B. conjuncta varies
considerably in size, from about 24-5 millim.in length. In one large female from Etla
the head and thorax are black, only a small dot on the former and the tips of the front
angles of the latter being red, and the underside and legs are black in this specimen ;
while in a smaller male, from Yolotepec, the head, the greater part of the thorax, and
the legs are yellow.
The specimen figured is one from Etla.
8. Brachyacantha erythrocephala.
Coccinella erythrocephala, Fabr. Mant. Ins. p. 61 (1787) ’.
Brachyacantha erythrocephala, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211’.
Coccinella bistripustulata, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 383°.
Brachyacantha bistripustulata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 528 *.
Hab. Norta America, United States? +—Muxico+, Presidio, San Blas (Forrer),
Ventanas in Durango (Forrer, Hoge), Jalapa (Hége), Cordova (Hoge, Sallé), Orizaba
(Sallé, H. H. Smith, and F. D. G.), Guanajuato, Capulalpam, Puebla, Toxpam, Oaxaca
(Sallé), Xucumanatlan, Tepetlapa, Amula, La Venta, and Venta de Zopilote in Guer-
rero, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Atoyac and Fortin in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H.
Smith), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blanca-
neaux) ; GUATEMALA, Aceituno 5000 feet (Salvin), Chiacam, Purula, Senahu, Sinanja,
and San Gerdnimo in Vera Paz, Guatemala city, Duefias, Capetillo, Zapote, Paso
Antonio (Champion) ; Honpuras (Sal/é); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Costa
Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet, Caché (Rogers); Panama,
Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet, David, Tolé (Champion).—Sovurn America 3,
Colombia‘, Peru. —
9. Brachyacantha decempustulata.
Hyperaspis 10-pustulata, Melsh. Proc. Acad. Phil. iii. p. 179 (1847) *.
Brachyacantha decempustulata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211’.
Brachyacantha octostigma, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 589°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 212+.
Brachyacantha ursina, var. a, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 878°. .
Var. Elytris maculis flavis confluentibus.
Brachyacantha bollit, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 879°.
BRACHYACANTHA.,. 189
Hab. Nortu America, United States 25, Pennsylvania}, Texas &.—Mexico ? 4, Orizaba,
Tuxtla, Toxpam (Sallé), Cerro de Plumas, Zacualtipan in Hidalgo (Hége) ; GuaveMa.a,
Chiacam, Senahu, Sinanja, and San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, Duefias (Champion) ;
Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).
After the inspection of a large number of specimens, and of the types in Crotch’s
collection, there is no other course open to me than to unite the various names quoted
above under one species, while I cannot concur in regarding them as synonymic with
B. ursina—the latter being a more oblong insect.
The females of B. decempustulata have but four yellow spots on each elytron,
while in the males there is a small yellow spot on the humeral angle as well; the
males have also the abdomen impressed in the middle from the second segment to
the fifth.
From Hyperaspis jucunda and H. jocosa, Muls. (which are similarly marked), the
generic character of a sharp tooth on the exterior edge of the anterior tibie will at once
separate it; but it will be observed that the shoulder-spot is always more prolonged
down the side in the males of H. jocosa, and that the three large apical spots are more
closely packed, the lateral one in the middle being always a little nearer the apex in
H. jucunda.
B. decempustulata varies very much in size. The punctuation, as Leconte has
remarked, is deeper and more distinct than in B. wrsina.
B. bollii, Crotch, appears to me to be nothing but a colour-variety of this insect, and
occurs with it at Dailas in Texas.
Obs. Three exponents of Hyperaspis billoti, Muls., in Crotch’s collection, labelled
‘¢ Philad.,” and which are Brachyacanthe, belong to this species ; but they may probably
be wrongly identified with Mulsant’s insect, which is South American.
10. Brachyacantha ursina.
Coccinella ursina, Fabr. Mant. Ins. i. p. 61 (1787)’.
Brachyacantha ursina, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 532°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211°; Trans.
Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 878 (partim) *.
Hab. NortaH America!?, United States, from Lake Superior to Texas 4—Mexico,
Ciudad in Durango (Hoge, Forrer), Ventanas in Durango (//6ge).
Crotch + united B. flavifrons, Muls., B. decempustulata and B. basalis (Melsh.), and
B. albifrons (Say) with this species; but this view is not borne out by his collection,
and it seems to have been arrived at rather hastily on the exponents of those species
in Leconte’s collection. Judging from the specimens of B. decempustulata in Crotch’s
collection and my own, and also from those from Mexico, I think the insect is distinct
from small examples of B. ursina with very small spots, which may be recognized by
their more oblong form, more narrowed in front.
190 COCCINELLIDZ.
11. Brachyacantha cachensis.
Pallide albido-testacea, nitida, corpore subtus piceo; prothorace maculis tribus cuneiformibus conjunctis, una
mediana, duabus basalibus, elytris sutura maculisque duabus in singulis, nigris. Long. 4 millim. 6.
Mas segmentis ventralibus medio late impressis.
Hab. Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers).
At first sight resembling B. lepida, but to be immediately distinguished from it or
from any other Brachyacantha known to me by the marking of the prothorax, which is
like a broad-arrow gy, with the barbs lying on the V-shaped base. The suture has not
a distinct spot (as it has in B. lepida), but is more widely pitchy-black immediately
below the scutellum than at the apex. The legs are entirely pale testaceous.
The male character of an impressed fossa along the middle of the abdomen is very
distinct, but its sides are apparently not tubercular. .
A single specimen, in rather bad condition.
12. Brachyacantha fenestrata.
Breviter ovata, nigro-picea, nitida ; capite, prothoracis lateribus late, et maculis duabus discoidalibus, elytrorum
maculis quinque pedibusque, flavis. Long. 3:25 millim.
Mas capite et prothoracis margine antico albido-flavis, abdomine medio fossulato.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers); Panama,
Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Champion).
This species is one of a series which, with some Hyperaspides, have the elytra
marked almost exactly alike, viz. with five yellow spots on each, as in B. decempustulata.
B. fenestrata may, however, be easily recognized by the thorax having two pale oval
spots near the middle of the base, almost but not quite touching it. Of the two
discoidal elytral spots, the posterior one seems always to be a little smaller than the
basal one; of the three marginal ones, the humeral spot is small, occupying the angle,
the middle one is just between the two discoidal spots, and the apical one is more
oblong than in most of its allies. These markings are also very pale yellow, almost
white in some male examples.
The fossa on the abdomen of the males is very distinct, and the middle of the
metasternum is also impressed ; the margins of the segments are raised in the middle
and at the sides of the fossa almost tuberculate. This structure is common to the
Brachyacanthe that have the abdomen impressed, but seems to vary in degree.
The female has the head yellow, but the front of the thorax is pitchy-black.
A very extensive series of specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion, but I have
only seen one from Costa Rica.
The specimens from Teapa diverge a little from the type in having the dark mark
on the thorax divided by a wedge-shaped spot in front, so as to resemble the letter M
more than in the Panama specimens.
BRACHYACANTHA.—HYPERASPIS. 191
The Bugaba examples, of which there are about a dozen, have the dark markings of
a pitchy-red colour.
HYPERASPIS.
Hyperaspis, Chevrolat, in D’Orbigny’s Dict. univ. d’Hist. Nat. vi. p. 780 (1849) ; Redtenbacher,
Germar’s Zeitschr. v. p. 122; Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 649; Chapuis, Gen. Col.
Xli. p. 229; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 213.
Cleothera, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 541.
Hinda, Mulsant, loc. cit. p. 518.
Hyperaspis differs from Brachyacantha in having the front tibie unarmed; in some
species the front tibie are angularly widened, but they cannot be termed “ denticulate.”
The abdomen in the male is impressed and fossulate in some species, while in others it
_ appears not to be so.
A very large number of species must be referred to the genus—the typical species
(H. reppensis) and a few others are European, a few are Asiatic or African, but by far
the larger number of those described are from America, where the genus has an ex-
tensive range, from Lake Superior to Brazil. About 168 species have been described.
I have seen no species from the far East or from Australia which can properly be
referred to this genus, but in Africa it appears to be distributed over the whole
continent. The species are generally of small size.
Section A. Front tibie externally compressed, and with a foliate expanded edge and
an angular projection before the apex. 3 with the abdomen impressed.
1. Hyperaspis cercyonoides. (Tab. X. figg. 21, 22.)
Oblongo-ovata, picea, nitida; creberrime, minute, distincte punctata ; capite, prothorace (basi pretermisso),
pedibus elytrorumque marginibus flavo-testaceis ; prothoracis basi, elytrorum disco nigris. Long. 3-4
millim. ue . . nA
Var. a. Elytrorum disco sanguineo, singulis plagia nigra sepe ante apicem confluente.
Var. 7. Elytris disco sanguineo, flavo-marginatis, juxta callo humerali fusco-maculatis.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Head and thorax yellow or blood-red, the base of the latter having a black transverse
patch, which is indeterminate in front, shading off there into red, or sometimes divided
almost to its base by a red line. Elytra margined with yellow or blood-red, the apex
very widely, so as to appear like a spot, their disc very variable in colour—wholly
black, or black with a blood-red oblong spot from the base along the suture to the
middle, or. with this spot occupying all the sutural region and joining the apical
yellow margin: in some specimens they are red, with a yellow margin and two or
three fuscous dots near the humerus; in others, again, they are entirely rich castaneous-
red, with a dark spot near the apex on the suture, or even without any marking or
border. ‘The sterna are pitchy-black, the abdomen pitchy.
192 COCCINELLIDZ.
The legs are red or pale; the tibie all a little dilated, and with a minute denticulation
near their apices, from which to the apex they are cut off obliquely.
Numerous specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion.
Section B. Front tibie simple.
i. Elytra black, with five yellow spots on each, at least in the male.
laela 4 vrs
2. Hyperaspis jocosa? ‘(Tab. XI. fig. 2.)
Cleothera jocosa, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 682 (¢)'.
Hyperaspis jocnsa, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 222 (2) ®.
Cleothera bis-quatuorpustulata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 634°.
Breviter ovata, nigro-picea, nitida; capite, prothoracis lateribus late, elytrorum maculis quinque pedibusque
flavis. Long. 3-25 millim.
Mas prothoracis margine frontali lineaque mediana postice abbreviata flavis, metasterno medio haud profunde
impresso. .
"Femina prothorace lateribus tantum late flavis, macula elytrali humerali deficiente.
Hab. Mexico!?; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).—
CoLomBta °.
This insect exactly resembles certain varieties of Brachyacantha decempustulata, so
much so that but for the absence of the spine of the front tibiz I cannot distinguish
the females. The males have no fossa on the abdomen, and the shoulder-spot of the
elytra is a little more prolonged down the margin, so as sometimes to unite with the
middle marginal spot.
Iam unable to determine with certainty whether this species is the C. jocosa of
Mulsant’s description or not, for the following reasons:—It appears that there are
several species so closely allied that the females are hardly separable. We have not
received a specimen of the species here described from Mexico, nor have we seen the
type of #. jocosa from Chevrolat’s collection. A single specimen labelled “St. Paul” is
in Crotch’s collection, and this appears to belong to the same species as ours, excepting
that it has a nearly black head.
I do not think that H. bis-quatuorpustulata differs specifically from it. The type is
now before me; it agrees with our female specimens in all respects, except the most
trivial form of the apical spot.
To identify these most closely allied species from female types alone, from such
distant places, seems hardly possible.
3. Hyperaspis levrati.
Cleothera levrati, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 613".
Hyperaspis levrati, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 2212,
- Hab. Mexico 12,
HYPERASPIS. 193
This belongs to a little group of species which have five yellow spots on each elytron
—two on the base, two in the middle transversely, and one apical. These species are
so exceedingly like Brachyacanthe, such as B. decempustulata, that they can only be
known by the structure of the front tibie and of the abdomen in the male. Iam unable
to identify an insect taken by Mr. Champion on the Volcan de Chiriqui with Z. levratz,
because the female of it has only four elytral spots, the shoulder-spot being absent;
while H. levrati, female, the only sex known to Mulsant from Mexico, is described
as having five spots. The solitary example representing H. levratt in Crotch’s collection
is a male; but it is from Brazil, and is apparently from Reiche’s collection. Mulsant
did indeed describe an insect from Brazil as the male of Cleothera levrati [Opusc. Ent.
p. 89 (1853)]; but how he identified it with the Mexican female I do not know.
The Chiriqui insect is nearer still to H. gacognii, Muls., another Brazilian insect,
according to Crotch’s typical example ; but I hesitate to refer it to that species without
seeing female examples.
4, Hyperaspis distinguenda.
Cleothera distinguenda, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 622°.
Hyperaspis distinguenda, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 221°.
Hab. Panama, David, Caldera, Volcan de Chiriqui, Tolé (Champion).—CoLomBIa ?? ;
BraZIL ?.
Rather easily known by the thorax having two yellow spots near the middle of the
base, or being yellow with a hamate black marking, and by the apical elytral spot
being lunate.
5. Hyperaspis chiriquensis. (Tab. X. fig. 25, ¢ .)
Ovata, nigra; capite prothoraceque albido-flavis, hoc maculis duabus magnis triangularibus basi conjunctis,
margine antico haud attingentibus, punctoque laterali his annecto nigris ; elytris singulis maculis sex,
pedibusque flavis. Long. 23-3 millim.
Mas capite toto flavo.
Femina capite nigro, puncto occipitali flavo.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 8000 feet (Champion).
In this species the thorax has the sides widely yellow, and the central black vitta
divided nearly to the base by a wedge-shaped line; while the two lateral dots are just
united with the central black portion. The elytra have each six yellow marks—one
near the scutellum, one on the shoulder, rather linear, a pair transversely placed, almost
united and transverse themselves, in the middle, and a pair near the apex, often united.
In the female the central thoracic line is not wider in front, where, indeed, it scarcely
divides the black portion ; the head is black, with a yellow spot, and the whole insect
is more suffused.
A male example is figured.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., Judy 1894. 2 C*
194 COCCINELLID ZA.
6. Hyperaspis coronata. (Tab. X. fig. 26.)
Ovata, nigra; capite, prothoracis lateribus, margine antico et macula basali coronam simulante, elytrorumque —
humero, maculis quatuor apiceque, flavis ; pedibus rufis. Long. 3 millim.
Mas capite toto flavo.
Femina capite nigro, puncto flavo coroniformi.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 8000 feet (Champion).
Punctuation very thick. Head yellow in the male, black in the female, with a spot
on the crown similar to that on the thorax, 7. e. with a projecting point in the middle
and narrowed at its base. Thorax with the sides widely yellow; the lateral spot hardly
indicated by a faint stain; the front margin very narrowly yellow; a crown-like spot on
the middle at the base. Elytra with the shoulder and a pair of spots placed a little
before the middle, the marginal one of which is joined with the shoulder-stripe, yellow ;
there is also a pair of subapical spots, joined together, and also with the yellow apex
along the margin; these spots are sometimes suffused, so as to form a heart-shaped
yellow apical patch enclosing an angular black marking.
7. Hyperaspis billoti.
Cleothera billoti, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 619*.
Hyperaspis billoti, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 221’.
_ Hab. Muxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Frontera in Tabasco (Hoge) ; Guats-
MALA, Chiacam, Teleman, Mirandilla, Pantaleon, El Reposo, Zapote (Champion) ;
Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).—SovTuH AMERICA,
Brazil ! 2,
This insect so closely resembles Brachyacantha decempustulata that it is difficult to
separate the two species unless the generic characters are observed; nevertheless, most
specimens of H. billoti are very much smaller than any of the allied forms. The males
have the shoulder-spot clearly defined, and it seems to be present sometimes in the
female, though obscure and very much reduced in size, being, in fact, a mere point.
A very large, and on the whole uniform, series of specimens were taken by Mr. H. H.
Smith at Teapa; some of these scarcely exceed one millimetre in length.
ii. Elytra black, with four yellow spots.
8. Hyperaspis undulata.
Coccinella undulata, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. iv. p. 92 (1824) *.
Hyperaspis undulata, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 3812.
Var. Exochomus 4-oculatus, Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, 2, p. 383°.
Hyperaspis quadri-oculata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 231‘; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 381°.
Hab. Norta America 1, California ?45,—Mzxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).
This insect does not accord with H. elegans, Muls. (which is sunk by Crotch as syno-
HYPERASPIS. 195
nymous with H. undulata), if a specimen in the Sallé collection is correctly so named,
and which certainly agrees with Mulsant’s description. Neither species is represented
in Crotch’s collection, and it is certainly better to keep them distinct. The present
species, of which we have received a series from Morrison under the name H. undulata,
agrees with Crotch’s description, and no doubt occurs in the adjoining State of California.
The other localities quoted by Crotch? may refer to H. elegans.
iii. Elytra black, the humerus and two spots yellow.
9. Hyperaspis lateralis. (Tab. X. fig. 24, 3.)
Hyperaspis lateralis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 657*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 235%.
Hab. Muxico 12, Guanajuato (Sallé).
The male has the head, and the front margin and sides of the thorax, narrowly yellow.
The elytral markings are blood-red, and they do not differ in the two specimens now
before me. The head and thorax in the female example are entirely black.
We figure a male from Sallé’s collection.
iv. Elytra black, with a median and a subapical fascia, more or less united, yellow.
10. Hyperaspis lunulata.
Hyperaspis lunulata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 680'; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 235 *,
Hab. Mexico 12,
I have not seen an authenticated example of this species; it is not represented in
Crotch’s collection. The male, as in so many of the species described by Mulsant, was
unknown to him. Two specimens from Guanajuato in Sallé’s collection (¢ and @ ), so
named, are clearly referable to H. connectens. It is possible that the name H. lunulata
may be a synonym of H. connectens.
11. Hyperaspis connectens.
Coccinella connectens, Schonh. Syn. Ins. ii. p. 157, nota’.
Hyperaspis connectens, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 662°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 230°.
Hab. Mexico® (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge), Orizaba (H. H. Smith), Guanajuato (Sallé) ;
GUATEMALA, near the city (Champion); Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson).—ANTILLES °,
St. Eustatius 12, St. Bartholomew 2.
12. Hyperaspis cincticollis. (Tab. X. fig. 23.)
Cleothera cincticollis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 553°.
Hyperaspis cincticollis, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 230°.
Hab. Panama, San Miguel in the Pearl Islands (Champion).—CoLomsta ! 2.
Crotch remarks that this may be merely a variety of H. festiva. Mr. Champion met
; 2 C# 2
196 COCCINELLIDA.
with it abundantly ; and in the series collected by him, amongst which there is a good
deal of variation, the red spots (which are distinct in H. festiva) are usually united both
laterally and along the suture, forming a squarish ring on each elytron.
13. Hyperaspis festiva.
Hyperaspis festiva, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 659*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 230’.
Hab. Norta America, California 2.—Mexico, Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H.
Smith); BrivisH Honpuras (Sal/é); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David, Peta
Blanca (Champion).—CoLomsia!?; Amazons, Santarem?; Braziu!?, Minas Geraes?;
Botiv1a 2.
Variable, but usually to be distinguished by the uncinate apical spot, which is
reflexed towards the suture as if to join the discoidal central spot. Crotch also? quotes
“Chili;” but the specimens so labelled in his collection belong to a different species.
14. Hyperaspis compedita.
Cleothera compedita, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 631+.
Hyperaspis compedita, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 230.
Hab. Mexico ! 2.
Not in Crotch’s collection, and not known to me.
15. Hyperaspis bicruciata? (Tab. XI. fig. 3,2.)
Hyperaspis bicruciata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 664°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 230”.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 feet (Champion).—Cotompta ! 2,
A single example of a Hyperaspis collected by Mr. Champion on the Volcan de
Chiriqui may possibly be identical specifically with H. bicruciata, the type of which is
now before me. It differs mainly in the coloration of the thorax, which in the type of
HH, bicruciata (a male) is yellow, with the middle and base rather narrowly infuscate,
the head being yellow. In our example (a female) the head and middle of the thorax
are black. There is, however, nothing in this inconsistent with the supposition that
they represent one species.
v. Llytra with three yellow spots.
16. Hyperaspis sexverrucata. (Tab. XI. fig. 4.)
Coccinella 6-verrucata, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 383 (1801) *.
Cleothera sexverrucata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 639”.
Hyperaspis sex-verrucata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 222°.
Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet,
Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guatumaa, Capetillo, Zapote, Cahabon (Champion) ;
Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovuru
America } 2,
HYPERASPIS., 197
Crotch appears to have known this species, but it is not represented in the Cambridge
collection. There are, however, in our collection several specimens which agree very
well with the description, and which I accordingly refer to it, besides some others sent
by Morrison. Fabricius! gives as locality “ America meridionalis,” and our insect has
certainly a wide range in Central America. The specimens from Sonora differ from
the others in having the lateral spot on the elytra elongate, reaching almost to the
apical one. H. sexverrucata is not included by Crotch among the Hyperaspides of
the United States.
We figure a specimen from Chilpancingo.
17. Hyperaspis kunzii. (Tab. XI. fig. 5, 3.) He sorharae Kor.
Hyperaspis kunzii, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 672°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 237°.
Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Saillé).
The locality for this species was unknown to Mulsant! and Crotch?. There are two
examples of it from Mexico in the Sallé collection. :
vi. Elytra with two yellow spots.
18. Hyperaspis deyrollii.
Hyperaspis deyrollii, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 229°.
Hab. Mexico!, Teapa; British Honpuras, R. Hondo (Blancaneaur).—Amazons,
Santarem; Brazit, St. Paulo!.
“‘ 3. Subovate, slightly convex, rather closely and visibly punctate, black with pale
yellow markings; head yellow; thorax with the sides (very broadly) and front yellow,
the lateral patch angulated on its inner edge; elytra each with two moderately large
pale yellow spots—one discoidal, subtransverse, at the middle, one subapical, free,
nearer the external margin. L. 1-14 lin. (2-3 millim.).— @ . Head and front of thorax
black.”
A single example from British Honduras in our possession agrees entirely with
Crotch’s type, which is from Reiche’s collection. There is a second example in Crotch’s
collection, from Santarem on the Upper Amazon.
vii. Elytra with one yellow spot.
19. Hyperaspis centralis. (Tab. XI. fig. 6.)
Hyperaspis centralis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p.685*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 229°.
Hab. Mexico!?, Toxpam (Sallé), Cuernavaca in Morelos, Jalapa, Cordova, Oaxaca,
Tapachula in Chiapas (Hoge); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA,
Guatemala city (Salvin, Champion), El Reposo, Zapote, Calderas, Chiacam, Chacoj
(Champion); Panama, Bugaba, David, Caldera, Taboga I. (Champion).
k rr.) A
Vitter deel ss pan
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ONS tea &
198 : COCCINELLIDZA.
The single example in Crotch’s collection is labelled “‘ type,” but there is no locality-
ticket upon it now. This agrees with our specimens, and is a male, and as Reiche’s
types of this family were acquired by Crotch it is probably the true type.
The female, of which we have examples from Jalapa, Cordova, and Oaxaca, as well
as one from Calderas in Guatemula, have the head black.
The various examples differ greatly in size, some being nearly three millim. long, while
others from Belize, Zapote, and Chacoj are scarcely more than one millim. long; and
they also vary in shape, some small specimens appearing to be shorter than others.
20. Hyperaspis panzose. (Tab. XI. fig. 7,9.)
Breviter ovata, convexa, nigra, crebre subtiliter punctata; elytris sanguineis, margine basali, suturali et apice
late nigris. Long. 2°5 millim. 9.
Hab. GuateMa.a, Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion).
The body and legs are black. The elytra have the large red patch extending to the
margin, just leaving the reflexed edge black; the suture and base are rather widely, and
about a quarter of the elytra at the apex, black; there isa spot on the callus, not free,
but united with the black of the base.
This is an embarrassing insect to deal with, as a single female specimen only has
been received. It is probable, however, that it belongs to a species distinct from any
that has yet been described.
21. Hyperaspis diversa. (Tab. XI. fig. 8, 3.)
Breviter ovata, valde convexa, nigra; maris capite, prothoracis lateribus late, margine antico tenuiter,
elytrorum maculis duabus, una basilari sutura approximata, altera pone medium majore, magis distante,
suturam et marginem sque appropinquante, flavis; pedibus ferrugineis, femoribus infuscatis. Long.
2 millim.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson, ¢ ).
Femina capite prothoracisque margine antico nigris.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
In size and form this species resembles H. centralis ; the punctuation, though fine,
is distinct and very close. ‘The head of the male is entirely yellow, that of the female
entirely black. The thorax has the sides rather widely yellow, the inner edge being
nearly straight and parallel with the margin; the front margin is narrowly yellow in
the male. The anterior elytral spot is on the base near the scutellum, but the limb of
the base is black and it is flattened on the basal side; the posterior spot is much
larger, round, equally distant from suture and margin, and (in the male example) a
little emarginate on the apical side.
We figure the male from Chontales. |
HYPERASPIS. 199
viii. Elytra black, with the margin yellow.
22. Hyperaspis elegans. Ab. of Aradas tary cx
Hyperaspis elegans, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 658 '.
Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Sallé), Cuernavaca in Morelos (Hége).
I am unable to follow Crotch in connecting this species with H. undulata (Say). It
is a smaller, more oval insect, with the border of the elytra neatly yellow from the
humeral angle to the apex; the pale margin is sinuate on its inner side, almost termi-
nating at the sutural angle, where it is widened just before the angle, thus representing
the apical spot ; and there is one discoidal spot.
fH. elegans is evidently a different species to the one I have recorded here as H. undu-
lata, and it agrees well with Mulsant’s description 1. ~The single example in the Sallé
collection is a male, with the head yellow; it was named JH. elegans in his collection.
H. elegans has not therefore, so far as I am aware, been found in the United States.
I observe that the lateral margin of the thorax in the single male specimen of
H. elegans before me is much narrower than in H. undulata, and that the front margin
is not yellow.
23. Hyperaspis fimbriolata.
Hyperaspis fimbriolata, Melsh. Proc. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 180* (1847) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 233°;
Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 379°.
Hyperaspis rufomarginata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 661 *.
Hyperaspis cincta, Lec, Proc. Acad. Phil. x. p. 89° (1858).
Hab. Nortu America 24, Kansas 3, Lake Superior 3, Pennsylvania } 3, California 3 5.—
Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).
This insect is very closely allied to the species here recorded as H. elegans, principally
differing from it, in the males, in the absence of a discoidal spot, and in the yellow
border of the elytra being distinctly terminated before the sutural angle. The thorax
in the male of H. fimbriolata is also very narrowly yellow in front, this not being the
case in the single male of H. elegans that I have been able to examine.
24. Hyperaspis calderana. (Tab. XI. fig. 9.)
Ovato-subquadrata, aurantiaca ; corpore subtus elytrorumque disco nigris, prothoracis disco interdum infumato,
_ abdominis apice pedibusque rufis. Long. 3 millim.
Mas? prothorace dilutiore, scutello flavo.
Hab. Panama, Caldera in Chiriqui (Champion).
The head is yellow. The thorax is of the same colour (a rich orange-yellow), with
the exception that in some specimens the base in the middle and the outline of a
roughly-shaped M-like mark are indicated,and in these the scutellum is also dark.
The disc of the elytra is black, with a ramus extending to the callus, and a sécond
200 COCCINELLID 2.
projection on each side about one-third from the apex, the black being also prolonged
down the suture almost to the apex; thus there is an irregular but wide orange margin.
The punctuation is exceedingly fine.
This species somewhat resembles H. fimbriolata, but it is broader. Six specimens
were obtained.
25. Hyperaspis guatemalensis. (Tab. XI. fig. 10.)
Breviter ovata, convexa, nigra; capite, prothoracis lateribus late, elytrorumque marginibus sinuatim aurantiaco-
flavis ; abdominis apice pedibusque flavis. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. GuatEMata, Capetillo, Zapote ( Champion).
A little larger and more convex than H. calderana, and with the punctuation more
distinct than in that species. The thorax has the centre black, narrowing in front, and
the front margin very narrowly yellow, the black disc being less indented by the yellow
margin along the sides. In one example from Capetillo there is, in addition, a lunulate
yellow spot on the base just joined with the margin. In a second example from the
same locality there is a minute yellow dot near the scutellum, while the single specimen
from Zapote has the base of the elytra wholly black. Judging from the exposed pygidium,
the Zapote specimen is a female ; it has the abdomen in great part bright yellow.
H. guatemalensis is very nearly allied to H. calderana, but will, I think, prove to be
distinct.
ix. Llytra black, with the apex white.
26. Hyperaspis panamensis. (Tab. XI. fig. 11.)
Suborbicularis, convexa, nigra: capite, prothoracis margine antico anguste, lateribus late, elytrorumque apicibus
oblique, albidis; abdomine pedibusque flavis. Long. 3°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet, Boquete, Caldera,
David (Champion).
This species is very closely allied to the Brazilian H. albopunctata, of which I have
the type before me. It is strongly punctured like that species, but among a consider-
able series collected by Mr. Champion none have the white dot on the centre of the
elytra. The head is yellow, nearly white.
x. Thorax yellow, with black markings.
27. Hyperaspis noticollis? (Tab. XI. fig. 12.)
Cleothera noticollis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 588’.
Hyperaspis laticollis, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 219’.
Hab. Costa Rica, Caché (Rogers)—CotomBia!2; Brazit, Rio Janeiro 2, Minas
Geraes 2,
A single example sent by Rogers from Costa Rica is probably not distinct from the
HYPERASPIS. 201
South-American H. noticollis, Muls. It differs only in having the markings on the
elytra reduced, so that the inner anterior spot is not curved or hamate, as may be seen
by a reference to the figure. Mulsant notices variations both of the elytra and the
thorax in marking.
xi, Elytra yellow.
28. Hyperaspis adelaida, (Tab. XI. fig. 13.)
Breviter ovata, valde convexa, flava, creberrime subtiliter punctata ; prothorace maculis quatuor, elytris singulis
guttis sex rufo-piceis, scutello et pectore piceis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam, Playa Vicente (Sallé), Jalapa (Hége), Atoyac in Vera Cruz,
Teapa in Tabasco (Hl. H. Smith); GuatemMata, Teleman (Champion).
The ground-colour above is bright yellow. The thorax is deflexed at the sides,
strongly transverse, and with the base rounded, as in all the very convex species ; with
four irregular and ill-defined spots—one in the middle of the disc, often partly divided,
a small one before the scutellum, sometimes only indicated on the margin, and one
on each side on the base. ‘The elytra have each two spots near the suture, the anterior
one of which is oblong or hamate, and the posterior one is very near to its fellow on
the other elytron, and four exterior to these—three submarginal, one discoidal.
This species is somewhat like the Brazilian H. triacantha, Muls. A specimen from
Teleman is figured.
29. Hyperaspis albicollis.
Orbicularis, convexa, flavo-testacea; prothorace dilutiore, sepe albido-testaceo fusco-notato; subtilissime
punctata, elytrorum stria suturali, e punctis fuscis haud impressis formata. Long. 3-4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera, David, Tolé, Taboga I., San
Miguel in the Pearl Islands (Champion).
Very variable in size, and more uniformly coloured than H. subsignata. The head
and thorax are usually whitish-yellow, the latter having occasionally some indistinct
fuscous markings; in specimens from Caldera these take the form of five spots—two
discoidal arcuate ones with an antescutellar spot form a sort of Y, the stem of which is
sometimes wanting, and in these examples there are two basal spots. The elytra have
usually a series of brown punctures near the suture, and indications of similar obsolete
punctures near the callus and along the margin. The anterior tibie are compressed,
and slightly widened on the exterior side in the middle.
A great many examples were met with by Mr. Champion.
30. Hyperaspis subsignata.
Hyperaspis subsignata, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 226°.
Hab. Norta America, Texas!.—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (Sallé, H. H. Smith),
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VIL., July 1894. 2 D*
A
202 COCCINELLIDA.
Campeachy in Yucatan!; GuatremaLa, San Juan, Chacoj, La Tinta, and Tamahu, all
in Vera Paz (Champion).
Apparently a common insect where it occurs. A large number of examples were
obtained at Teapa.
31. Hyperaspis pauperula.
Luteola vel albido-testacea, elytrorum macula pone medium, haud bene discreta, nigro-picea; sutura, disco et
margine tenui plus minusve infuscatis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Guatemaua, San Gerénimo (Champion).
Near H. subsignata, but smaller. The elytral spot is distinctive, but is not constant,
and the thorax has the middle only very obscurely darker than the sides.
32. Hyperaspis marmorea.
Oblongo-ovata, albido-lutescens ; prothoracis basi et disco (medio profunde diviso) nec angulos posticos nec
marginem anteriorem attingente nigris ; sutura (ante medium dilatata) punctoque calloso nigro-piceis.
Long. 3-3°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
In form this species resembles those of the first section. In colour it is a little like
the Brazilian H. insignis, Crotch. The head is quite yellow in the male; in the female
it is obscure piceous, with a brownish-yellow spot. The thorax in the male has a black
stripe along the base, which is produced into two horns in the middle; while the
female has the disc more widely black, with a narrow division, not reaching the base.
The suture is not darkened at the scutellum, but below it, and is bordered with darker
brown than the rest of the elytra; in some examples it has a very obscure, transverse,
subapical cloud. |
Five specimens were obtained.
33. Hyperaspis terminata. (Tab. XI. fig. 17.)
Suborbiculata, pallide lutea; capite prothoraceque albidis, illo disco nigro; elytris aurantiacis, apice scutelloque
nigris. Long. 2°5 millim.
Mas capite prothoracisque limbo antico et lateribus late albidis.
Femina capite nigro.
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Cham-
pron). :
Head in the male white, in the female black, with only the mouth yellow. Thorax
black, with the sides in the male white for a quarter the width, and the front margin
also narrowly so, invading the front of the black in the middle, but not dividing it; in
the female only a spot on the sides is white. Scutellum black or rufous. The elytra
have sometimes the extreme edge at the base blackish ; the callus, a line of punctures
HYPERASPIS.—HYPERASPIDIUS. 203
along the suture, and one or two series near the margin are fuscous; they have the
tips black for about a quarter of their length, forming a common transverse spot at
the apex; the general colour is orange-yellow. The punctuation of the head and
thorax is very fine, scarcely visible in the male; that of the elytra is rather stronger,
but still very fine and close. The body beneath is yellow; but in the female it is
often infuscate in the middle. The three specimens from Zapote, all females, are more
orbicular than the type, and they have the thorax wholly black (or nearly so), while
the apical spot is small; but I do not believe that they represent more than a variation
of the same species.
Numerous specimens, including both sexes, were met with on the Volcan de Chiriqui,
at elevations of from 2500 to 4000 feet. Amongst the few received from Bugaba,
one, a female, pretty closely resembles the Zapote specimens, and has the apical spot
almost obsolete.
HI, terminata rust, I think, resemble Cleothera melanura, Muls.; but I have not seen
a specimen of that species, and our insect does not well agree with the description
of it.
34. Hyperaspis —— ?
Hab. Mexico, Tacambaro in Michoacan (Hége).
A single specimen of a large black Hyperaspis with the thoracic margin widely red
and a blood-red spot on each elytron behind the middle.
I cannot identify this with any species described, but the example is a female and
had better remain unnamed at present.
HYPERASPIDIUS.
Hyperaspidius, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 382 (1873).
The species which forms the type of this genus is referred to the Linnean Chrysomela
trimaculata; it was separated from Hyperaspis by Crotch, on the ground that the
epipleure of the elytra are not foveolate. Chapuis in the ‘Genera des Coléoptéres’
does not notice the genus. Three species are referred to it by Crotch.
1. Hyperaspidius trimaculatus.
Chrysomela trimaculata, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th edit. 1. 2, p. 592°.
Hyperaspis trimaculata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 668°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 227°.
Hyperaspidius trimaculatus, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 382 *.
Coccinella trilineata, Schall. Abhandl. Ges. Halle, i. p. 262 (1788) °.
Hyperaspis vittigera, Lec. Proc. Acad. Phil. vi. p. 183 °.
Hab. Norta America, Kansas? 4, Dacota%, Missouri &.—Mexico? 3, Guanajuato,
Parada (Sallé), Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith ; var. 9 ).
2 D* 2
204 COCCINELLID.
This is a depressed, rather oblong species; the head and sides of the prothorax are
yellow; the elytra have the basal and lateral margins yellow, the latter joined to a
vitta, which runs parallel to the black suture, at the apex. In the specimen from
Chilpancingo, which I think is a female variety of this species, the head is black,
the thorax only narrowly margined at the sides, and the subsutural vitta is joined to
the yellow margin at the base and is interrupted at the apex; it is also smaller than
the typical examples.
Obs.—I have very carefully examined one of the specimens from Guanajuato, and
also a specimen from Crotch’s collection labelled “ Chevr. ex Muls.” Neither of these
bears out Mr. Crotch’s statement that the epipleure are “not foveolate”; in fact,
the fovee are perfectly apparent, and those for the hind knees are marked as usual by
a sinuation of the margin, which can be seen without turning up the insect. Both
our specimens from Guanajuato are males: the yellow vitta in one of these is joined to
the margin at both ends, and in this respect is perfectly similar to Crotch’s specimens ;
the one I have examined is a female.
Subfam. DISCOTOMIDES.
The Discotomides are a group of five or six genera peculiar to the New World, of a
highly developed form, containing very glabrous species of great beauty, of the average
size or above it, and often distinguished by having one or two joints of the antenne
coalescing so as to give them the appearance of being from eight to ten in number.
Their position is doubtful, but they certainly do not come in well where Crotch
placed them, following Lithophilus. Chapuis places them as his third Group between
the “ Coccinellites” and the “ Cariites.”
We here place them as conveniently closing the smooth section.
They form a very natural link with the Endomychide through Endomychus, and
seem worthy of a higher rank than can be given them in a linear arrangement.
SELADIA.
Selasia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 216 (1850) (nomen preocc.).
Seladia, Mulsant, Monogr. Coccin. p. 154 (1866); Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 304; Chapuis, Gen.
Col. xii. p. 187.
Seladia is a genus which of all the Coccinellide exhibits the greatest divergence
from the normal type, and very closely recalls the Endomychidous form in some of its
characters. The antenne are robust and have the club absolutely as in some genera
of that family, while the tarsi, no less by their clearly tetramerous structure, might
almost cause these insects to be attributed to the same family. The colour and
markings and the depressed form are suggestive of either the Endomychide or the
SELADIA. 205
Erotylida. And the same remark applies to the South-American genus Micaria,
which at present has not been found in Central America.
Mulsant has described several species, but, according to Crotch, five of these are but
varieties of one. They are insects of great beauty and variety, and above the average size.
1. Seladia nigricollis.
Selasia nigricollis, Muls. Spec. Coll. Trim. sécur. p. 217°.
Seladia nigricollis, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 155°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 304°.
Var. Seladia visceralis, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 155 *.
Hab. Mexico }~4, Jalapa (Hoge), Toxpam, Cordova (Sal/é).
A considerable series of specimens were obtained by Hége. The variety S. visceralis
appears to differ only by having the abdomen red; none, however, of the examples
sent by Hoge are of this form.
2. Seladia augustiniana.
Seladia augustiniana, Muls. Monogr. Coccin. p. 155°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 304%.
Hab. Mexico ! ? (Sallé), Jalapa (Hoge).
3. Seladia beltiana. (Tab. XI. fig. 14.)
Rufo-testacea; antennis, palpis, geniculis, tibiis tarsisque nigris ; elytris albido-flavis, maculis duabus magnis,
limbo laterali et sutura tenuiter (hac ad apicem in macula dilatata) nigris. Long. 7°5 millim,
Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt).
Head and thorax reddish ochreous, the sides of the latter whitish, a little refiexed, and
subdiaphanous. The scutellum, the body, and femora are ochreous; the tibie, tarsi, and
‘knees are black. The elytra are of a very pale yellow, each with the extreme edge and
suture black; the sutural marking expands suddenly at the apex, forming a pear-shaped
spot, and on each elytron is a large black spot near the base, equally distant from the
base and margin and suture, and of which the apical side is nearly straight ; and another
somewhat transverse spot near the apex, of which the inner edge is straight, thus leaving
a distinct yellow cross on the elytra taken together. The whole upper surface is very
smooth and shining, nor are distinct punctures visible anywhere. The abdomen is
rather paler, especially towards the apex, than the rest of the body. This species is
allied to S. augustiniana, but the colour of the body is different.
Two specimens obtained by the late Mr. Belt, one of which we figure, are all I
have seen. .
4. Seladia alboguttata. (Tab. XI. figg. 15; 16, var.)
Sanguineo-rufa; antennis, palpis, tibiis, tarsis, prothoracis maculis duabus in margine antico, et duabus alteris
basalibus, his sepe conjunctis, nigris ; elytris nigris, singulis maculis duabus basalibus, tribus fasciam
medianam prebentibus, et una subapicali obliqua, albis. Long. 5-7 millim.
Var. a. Elytrorum maculis rubidis.
Var. @. Elytris albis nigro-limbatis, maculis duabus magnis sepe conjunctis apiceque nigris. (Fig. 16.)
206 COCCINELLIDZ.
Hab. Guaremata, Capetillo (Champion).
Rather smaller on the average than any of the preceding species; the head and
thorax of a beautiful blood-red colour, the latter with a black central marking, which
is very variable, consisting of either two spots on the front margin, and two large ones
usually united on the base, or these may all be united forming a broad central vitta
with a central linear red spot, and even with the hind angles black. The elytra are
black and shining, with two white spots on the base, but not quite touching it nor the
suture (the external limb of the elytra being always black), one subscutellar and the
other subhumeral ; three spots form a slightly arcuate fascia about the middle, and
there is an oblique spot (formed of two united, occasionally divided) near the apex.
The whole body beneath, with the legs up to the knees, is of a clear blood-red colour.
The antenne are black, with the first three or four joints reddish beneath; the palpi
are pitchy, paler at their bases; the tibize and tarsi are black.
The variety « is similarly coloured, but the spots on the elytra have become
brownish-red, but I think only from discoloration since death.
The variety B results from the more or less complete fusion of the white spots on
the elytra. Only two specimens of this variety were obtained, and they differ slightly
in the degree to which the white colour has extended: in one of them the anterior
large black spots unite at the suture, but are separated from the margin; while in the
other they are just interrupted at the suture, but are united with the posterior black
spots by two narrow lines, indicating the position of the middle white spot of the fascia
in the type. |
Numerous specimens of this beautiful species were taken at Capetillo by Mr. Cham-
pion, including the two of the variety 8 above described ; they were all found estivating
under bark, on the slope of the Volcan de Fuego.
We figure a specimen of the type, fig. 15, and one of the variety , fig. 16.
Subfam. PORIIDES.
With the Poriides we commence the section of the Coccinellide which have the
entire surface more or less pubescent. While the classification of the family by this
character presents considerable difficulty, there is nevertheless a true affinity between
many of the hairy genera and their subdivision into subfamilies, and their relative
position both with regard to each other and to the foregoing divisions is to be regarded
as, at present, an unresolved problem. Crotch placed Porta at the head of his Rhizo-
biides, but the genus diverges in its eyes not being coarsely facetted, and I prefer to
regard them, with Mulsant and Chapuis, as forming a separate group peculiar to
America. |
PORIA. 207
PORIA.
Poria, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 885 (1850); Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 288; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xii. p. 204.
Poria is an assemblage of species of two types of colour—blue or green or blackish
insects ; and red species agreeing in having an irregular stellate punctuation, and long
rather well-developed antenne. They would appear to be more numerous in South
America than in our region.
1. Poria salle#i. (Tab. XI. fig. 18.)
Poria sallei, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 289".
Nigra, supra cyanea; ore, epistomate, antennis, palpis, pedibus abdomineque saturate rufis; supra breviter,
densius griseo-pubescens ; capitis vertice cyaneo, prothoracis margine antico et laterali tenuiter rufis ;
elytris fortiter, irregulariter, subconfluenter punctatis. Long. 7-9 millim.
Hab. Mexico}, Juquila (Sallé), Cordova (Hoge); Guatemaua (Sallé), Coban, Panima,
Purula, and Cubilguitz in Vera Paz, Duefias, Zapote (Champion).
An example from Purula is figured. This insect very closely resembles P. cyanea, a
Brazilian species; indeed it scarcely differs from it except in having the metasternum
black.
The examples (two in number) from Zapote are rather more greenish in tint than
the others. Mr. Champion collected a large number at Purula.
2. Poria chiriquensis, (Tab. XI. fig. 19.)
Porie sallwi similis et valde affinis, prothoracis lateribus late rufis modo differt.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).
Three examples of this insect were obtained in Chiriqui by Mr. Champion, and it
seems as much entitled to rank as a species as P. sallei. The thorax has a black vitta
in the middle, of about equal width with the yellow sides. All the species of Poria
are very closely allied in form, punctuation, and general details. ‘The size of the three
examples is that of full-sized P. sallai.
3. Poria cuprea. (Tab. XI. fig. 20.)
Statura et forma P. sallei similis et iterum affinis, supra cuprea pube brevi aurea dense vestita; subtus
(abdomine rufo) nigra; capite antice, ore, antennis, palpis, prothoracis marginibus tenuiter pedibusque rufis.
Long. 8-9 millim. .
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
In form and punctuation, and by the black breast and black epipleure, P. cuprea
is more closely allied to P. sall@i than to P. cyanea. It is rather smaller on the
average than those species, and of a brilliant brassy copper colour above. The
pubescence on the head and thorax is especially dense, and is golden yellow
208 ~ COCCINELLIDA.
instead of grey ; in fresh examples it is equally dense on the elytra, but usually appears.
to be worn off. A series of about twenty examples was obtained by Mr. Champion,
some below, but the greater part above, 4000 feet.
4. Poria rubicunda.
Oblongo-ovata, rufa, pube brevi grisea tenuiter vestita ; elytris fortiter crebre irregulariter punctatis. Long.
7-9 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 feet, Bugaba (Champion). .
Entirely deep rusty-red, sometimes the thorax has an indistinct cloudy marking near
its centre, and in a few examples the middle of the metasternum is dark. The head
and thorax are hardly visibly punctate, but the elytra are almost rugose, the larger
punctures being numerous and confluent. P. rubicunda is very nearly allied to
P. batesi, a Brazilian species described by Crotch, the type of which is now before me ;
but the punctuation of the elytra is coarser, and other small differences in colour incline
me to think it is probably distinct. There is, however, no other specimen of P. batesi
than the type in Crotch’s collection, and it is not in very good preservation.
A series of examples was collected at Bugaba, but only a single specimen from the
Volcan de Chiriqui. |
5. Poria sanguinitarsis.
Poria sanguinitarsis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 885° ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 289°.
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt).—Sourn America, Colombia 2, Brazil ! 2.
A single example, received from the late Mr. Belt.
6. Poria marginithorax.
Prodilis marginithorax, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 276°.
Hab. Mexico! (Sallé, ex coll. Sturm), Orizaba (Sallé), Amula and Chilpancingo in
Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Jalapa (Hége).
Crotch, in describing this insect, associated it with Prodilis pallidifrons, a South-
American species. I have examined the type of the latter, and find that P. marginithorax
differs in many essential particulars from it. The punctuation of P. pallidifrons is.
uniform, though deep and sparse, and the thorax in our insect is not margined. It, in
fact, agrees with the smaller species of Poria, which have shorter antenne than the
typical forms. The punctuation of P. marginithorax is strong and close; the larger
punctures are stellate, often confluent, and the whole surface is crowded with the
smaller punctures. ‘Iwo specimens obtained by Sallé at Orizaba have an irregular,
ring-like marking common to the two elytra, and have also the head red, and the thorax.
red with only a dark mark on the base. These may probably represent the male.
PORIA.—EUPALEA. 909
7. Poria sanguinolenta.
Sanguinea ; capite, prothoracis disco elytrisque nigris, his subenescentibus. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). —
Head black, with a faint greenish tinge; antenne rather short for this genus, clear
coral- or blood-red ; front of the head, palpi, and the bay of the eye (the cut out portion)
red. ‘Thorax with the base not very deeply sinuate, scarcely punctured, the sides blood-
red for nearly one third of the width. Elytra rather obsoletely punctate; in the
specimen before me, which appears to be worn, very little pubescence is to be seen and
only at the sides and apex, where it is very short and of a grey colour. The legs and
body are clear blood-red.
This is not very like any species of Poria that I have seen. There is unfortunately
only a single specimen.
8. Poria detrita. (Tab. XI. fig. 21.)
Nigra, subcwrulescens ; capitis fronte, antennis, palpis, pedibus anticis et posticis (basi excepta), intermediis
femoribus pretermissis, abdomineque fulvis ; supra griseo-pubescens, prothoracis disco elytrisque singulis
macula magna quasi denudata nigro pubescente. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Above blue-black; thorax very finely punctate and shining, the head a little more
distinctly so; the labrum, and in the male the front of the head also, yellow, the base
bluish-black ; antenne not reaching the hind angles of the thorax, the three terminal
joints forming about a third of the length, serrate within. ‘Thorax short, as wide at
the base as the elytra, but narrower in front, the base margined by a very fine line, the
width more than twice the length ; elytra nearly hemispherical, but gibbous, the black
shining patches very distinct and clothed with black pubescence, the rest of the elytra
and thorax densely pubescent and hoary. Abdomen and legs yellow, the coxe and
bases of the femora of the front and hind legs, and the middle pair as far as the knees,
black. In the male the sixth segment of the abdomen is visible and is notched.
Poria detrita bears a very deceptive resemblance to a large Azya, as well as to
Ladoria. The puncturing of the elytra—which is (as in other Pori@) ‘* unequal,”’@. e. con-
sisting of larger and smaller confluent punctures,—the longer antenne, with a lax and
serrate club, and the simple tibiz (not grooved externally except for a short distance at
their bases) must be examined in order to separate it from insects of the allied genera.
Three examples.
EUPALEA.
Eupalea, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 889 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 290; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xu. p. 204.
_ Authors seem to have overlooked the very close affinity which there is between
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., October 1895. 2 E*
210 COCCINELLID.
Eupalea and Oryssomus. I regard the genus here as much more nearly allied to the
latter than to Poria. |
Nine species of Ewpalea have been described; of these two or three are allied rather
nearly to EZ. picta, the only species that has yet occurred in Central America; the rest
by their markings resemble certain Psyllobore, which have a reticulate pattern ; all are
peculiar to North or South America. Recently Mr. Blackburn has rather doubtfully
referred an Australian insect to the genus; but it is probable that the’ position cannot
be maintained. The claws in Eupalea are very distinctly bifid, and the thorax is
margined at the base by a fine line. The antenne are rather long and have a laxly
formed three-jointed club.
1. Kupalea picta. (Tab. XI. fig. 22.)
Coccinella (Epilachna) picta, Guérin, Iconogr. du Régn. Anim., Ins. p. 319°.
Eupalea picta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 890°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 291°.
Hab. Mexico 123, Jalapa (Hoge, Flohr).
Var. elytrorum maculis parum distinctis.
Hab. GuatemaLa, San Gerénimo (Champion).
A single specimen captured at San Gerdnimo by Mr. Champion is almost unicolorous,
but this is probably only due to immaturity. The insect seems to be pretty common
at Jalapa, an example from which locality is figured.
ORYSSOMUS.
Oryssomus (Reiche), Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 939 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 292;
Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 218.
Oryssomus was proposed by Reiche for the species which occurs in our region as well
as in South America, where it was first detected. The thorax completely covers the
head and is translucent in front. The head has the eyes coarsely facetted, not cut out
as in Eupalea; the antenne are short, their basal joint large and hatchet-shaped, the
last four or five forming a large connate hatchet-club. ,
The genus thus differs in many important aspects from Hupalea, but nevertheless by
the form of the thorax, and by the depressed oblong body and elytra, 1s clearly allied
to it and was properly placed immediately following it by Crotch. Six species were
added by him, five of which are Chilian and one Brazilian.
1. Oryssomus subterminatus, (Tab. XI. figg. 23; 23a, antenna.)
Oryssomus subterminatus (Reiche), Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 9391; Crotch, Rev. Coccin.
p- 292°; Chapuis, Gen. Col., Atlas, t. 184. fig. 3°.
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GuaremaLa, San Juan, La Tinta,
-ORYSSOMUS,.—AZYA. 211
and Teleman in Vera Paz, Zapote (Champion); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Soutu
AMERICA, Colombia !, Venezuela 2.
This remarkable species has evidently a very extensive range ; Reiche’s specimens,
from which Mulsant described the species, are now in the Cambridge collection, and
one of these is labelled “Cuma . ..,” the remainder of the word having apparently been
cut off—Cumana being no doubt the locality, many of Reiche’s insects having come
from there.
The example figured is from Bugaba.
Subfam. EXOPLECTRIDES.
The Exoplectrides combine many of the characters of the foregoing subfamilies; and
much uncertainty attends the various attempts which have been made to bring the
genera composing this section into anything like a systematic arrangement.
Crotch placed under this subfamily three “groups,” the Ortaliz, Azye, and Exo-
plectree proper; but Chapuis, on the other hand, places Azya and Froplectra, with
Cryptogonus and Bucolus, under his Bucolites, making another subfamily, Chnoodites,
to include Chnoodes (which is, in fact, scarcely distinct from Exroplectra), and Ortaliites,
for Ortalia and five allied genera. Without expressing any view on the genera
from the East Indian and Australian regions, such as Bucolus and Cryptogonus, we
here unite the genera occurring in Central America belonging to these different divisions
under the Exoplectrides. Chapuis says of the ‘ Chnoodites’ and of the ‘ Bucolites,’ that
they are but in fact pubescent Hyperaspides. I consider the Exoplectrides, as we here
adopt the term, quite as nearly allied to the Chilocorides, of which, indeed, Exoplectra
has very much the form, and the elytra are very similarly constructed with deeply
inclined epipleure.
AZYA.
Azya, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 928 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 279; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xii. p. 240.
Five species of Azya have been described, all from Central or South America, with
the exception that one is from Guadeloupe. ‘They are blue or blackish-blue insects,
clothed with a fine pubescence, which is often denuded on a patch on the elytra.
1. Azya luteipes. (Tab. XI. fig. 24.) :
Azya luteipes, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 928’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 279.
Azya scutata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 929%; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 279 *.
Azya orbigera, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 930°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 279 °.
Hab. Mexico1!“, Puebla, Toxpam, Orizaba, Tuxtla (Sallé), Acapulco, Jalapa, Cor-
dova, Cuernavaca, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hoge), Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Chilpancingo in
2 L* 2
212 COCCINELLID.
Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); British Honpuras, Rio Hondo and Rio
Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA, near the city, Capetillo, Duefias, Zapote, San
Gerdénimo, Chacoj, Panzos (Champion); Honpuras (Sallé); Nicaragua, Chontales
(Janson); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de
Chiriqui, Caldera, San Feliz (Champion).—Co.tomsia 125°, Bogota®; VENEZUELA, Cara-
cas®; Guiana, Cayenne!?; Braziu!?, Rio Janeiro; Aaazons, Paré 4 Ega 4, Santarem 4,
An examination of the types shows that the three names quoted above belong to one
species. The greater or less distinctness of the black patch on each elytron depends
very much on the freshness of the specimens. The tibie, especially the front pair,
have a dilatation at the apex, besides that near the middle, and so the front pair appear
to have two tooth-like expansions; by this character they may easily be distinguished
from Exoplectre, as well as by the very fine and close punctuation, and by the fine
marginal line on the base of the thorax in front of the scutellum. |
A large number of Azya luteipes have been received by us; it occurred especially
abundantly at Capetillo. A. lwteipes is very variable in size.
2. Azya pontbrianti.
Azya pontbrianti, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 929° ; ‘Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 279”.
Hab. Mexico, Acapulco in Guerrero (Hége).—Soura AMERICA, Cayenne !?, Monte
Video #, Chili ?.
This species only differs from A, luteipes in having the breast red, and I do not think
it can be regarded as more than a colour-variety, especially as the specimens referred
to it by Crotch from Chili and Monte Video fail in this respect, the one from Chili
having the sterna piceous, and that from Monte Video being absolutely as in A. luteipes.
There is, however, among specimens of the latter collected by Hoge at Acapulco, an
example with the breast entirely red, and it would be well to examine more specimens
of this kind before sinking the name as a synonym.
LADORIA.
Ladoria, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 928 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 280; Chapuis,
Gen. Col. xi. p. 222. .
The Ladorie are very like the species of Azya, but have the tibiae not widened into
a tooth-like expansion ; they are, however, compressed externally, with the edge flattened,
the ciliated margins forming a sort of groove for the reception of the tarsi when folded
back. The eyes are not cut out opposite the insertion of the antenne. The base of
the thorax is not margined. The epipleure of the elytra have a small rather obsolete
fovea for the hind tibie. The claws are biid.
Ladoria is very close to Chnoodes ; indeed I can hardly think it distinct, the differences
relied on being very small and of rather specific than generic value.
Crotch added two species from South America to the one described by Mulsant.
- LADORIA.—EXOPLECTRA. 218
1. Ladoria desarmata.
Laderia desarmata; Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p- 928+; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 280°.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Braziu ! 2 ; AMAZONS,
~ §. Paulo 2,
\
Ladoria desarmata, apart from the generic character, very much resembles Azya
luteipes; but is usually of a more obscure tint, and the denuded patch on the elytra
is common to both on the middle of the suture. The type is in the Cambridge collec-
tion, and the examples I refer to this species agree with it. Crotch? quotes other
South-American localities, but the examples in his collection on which these were
founded must be referred to other species. .
2. Ladoria delphinz. (Tab. XI. fig. 25.)
Orbicularis fere hemisphericus, dense tenuiter griseo-pubescens, fulva; prothoracis disco elytrisque obscure
cyaneis, his anguste rufo-marginatis Juxta suturam quasi denudatis; metasterno abdominisque basi
nigricantibus. Long. 4-5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz, Toxpam (Salié), Acapulco, Jalapa, Oaxaca (Hége), Teapa
in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Head, thorax, and elytra very finely and closely punctured, thickly clothed with a
short grey pubescence, which reflects the light differently as the insect is viewed, so that
the upper part appears more denuded of pubescence than it really is. The head and
the sides and front margin of the thorax are red in all the examples that I have seen,
and the elytra are very narrowly margined with the same colour ; occasionally the disk
of each elytron is very indeterminately reddish. The body beneath and legs are wholly
red, with the exception that the middle of the metasternum is blackish, and in some
examples this colour extends to the base of the abdomen. There are three examples
of this species in Sallé’s collection bearing the name under which I describe it; Hoge
sent about six, three of which were from Acapulco, and Mr. H. H. Smith obtained one
at the latter locality. |
Ladoria delphine is on the average larger than L. desarmata; it is clothed with a
very fine but dense grey pubescence, the sutural region alone appearing black and
shining. |
We figure a specimen from Toxpam.
| EXOPLECTRA.
Exoplectra, Chevrolat, in d’Orbigny’s Dict. Univ. d’ Hist. Nat. v. p. 545 (1844) ; Mulsant, Spec. Col.
Trim. sécur. p. 916; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 284; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xii. p. 241.
- The Exoplectre are often very like Azyw, but some are of a different colour, being
red all over and with spotted elytra. They have the tibiae dentate, but the claws are
bifid, and the tooth is of a different kind from that in Azya, being a broad, angular
214 COCCINELLID&.
dilatation near the base. The epipleure of the elytra have the inner margin deeply
divided, as in Chilocorus, to which genus Exoplectra seems otherwise allied. _
Crotch records eighteen species, all American, and it does not appear that any
species occurs further north than Mexico. .
1. Exoplectra tibialis.
Ezxoplectra tibialis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 917’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 284°.
Hab. Mexico!2, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).
The type, which is in Crotch’s collection, now before me, appears to be a female
example ; it is the only exponent of ZF. t¢bialis which I have seen, with the exception
of a single male from Omilteme, which I think should be referred to this species. The
legs are dark, almost black, but inclining to be fuscous in both the type and in our
example, and both are rather oblong, but in our specimen the thorax is broadly red at
the sides, as seems often to be the case in the males of this genus. The head, middle
of the thorax, and elytra are fuscous-black, clothed with a sparse grey pubescence.
2. Exoplectra stevensi.
Exoplectra stevensi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 921°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 285 *.
Hab. Mexico}, Acapulco and Iguala in Guerrero (Hége); Guatemaua, Coban in
Vera Paz (Conradt).
The males have the thorax broadly red at the sides, the legs are red in both sexes,
the elytra have a brassy reflection, which is most conspicuous in the males; it is very
liable to oxidize, giving rise to other metallic tints.
Four examples.
8. Exoplectra subenescens (Tab. XI. fig. 26.) .
Nigra, elytris subseneis, ore, prothoracis lateribus late, abdomine pedibusque rufis. Long. 45-5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Ventanas in Durango (Hoge).
Above very like Ladoria delphine, but to be distinguished by the elytra not being
margined with red (as well, of course, as by the dentate tibie), and the elytra have a
distinctly brassy tint. £. subenescens is about the size of the Colombian £. consen-
tanea, but has a black head, and the sides of the thorax are very much more widely
red. The whole upper surface is rather densely clothed with a very short grey pubes-
cence. The punctuation of the elytra is very close and fine, but uniform. The mouth,
underside of the prothorax, and abdomen are red, the breast is pitchy-black, but shading
off indeterminately, and the base of the abdomen is pitchy-red, there is, however, no
greenish or brassy tint on the underside.
Seven specimens.
EXOPLECTRA.—CHNOODES, 215
4, Exoplectra cruentipes, (Tab. XI. fig. 27.)
Nigra, nitida ; ore, antennis, prothoracis angulo antico tenuiter, abdomine pedibusque sanguineo-rufis; elytris
valde convexis, creberrime distincte punctatis, superne pube brevissima tenuiter vestita. Long. 5 millim.
Hab. Guatemaa, San Gerdénimo (Champion).
Very convex, nearly orbicular; head black ; prothorax and elytra black, with a faint
brassy tint, the former very closely and finely punctured, the latter distinctly (and
compared with E. subenescens) rather more sparsely punctured; the front margin of
the prothorax rather more deeply emarginate than in L. swbenescens, and only the inner
side of the front angle with a very small red linear mark which runs inside the reflexed
margin of the angle itself. The underside is black, the abdomen clear red, with the ex-
ception of the first segment, which has the intercostal process and base narrowly black.
Two specimens ; perhaps both are females, and the male may have the thorax with
the sides more broadly red.
CHNOODES.
Chnoodes, Chevrolat, in D’Orbigny’s Dict. Univ. d’Hist. Nat. iti, p. 612 (1843) ; Mulsant, Spec.
Col. Trim. sécur. p. 908.
Dapolia (Muls.), Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 287.
Chnoodes is very nearly allied to Exoplectra.
Crotch refers six species to this genus, one of which occurs in our district, the others
being South American. Eight other species he includes in Dapolia ; but the distinction
is not clear, and I treat them here as being congeneric.
1. Chnoodes terminalis.
Chnoodes terminalis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p- 913°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 287”.
Chnoodes byssina, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 913°.
Exoplectra rubripes, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 923°.
Hab. Mexico*, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon
(Blancaneaux); GuateMaLa, San Gerénimo, San Juan, and Chiacam in Vera Paz, San
Isidro, Zapote, Capetillo, Duefias, Guatemala city (Champion), Aceytuno (Salvin):
Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Taboga Island (Champion).—Soutu America, Colombia ! 2°.
2. Chnoodes sanguinipes.
Dapolia sanguinipes, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 288".
‘‘ Oval, coarsely and thickly punctured, metallic green; sides of thorax broadly, legs and abdomen bright
searlet red. L. 2 lin.”
Hab. Mexico, Matamoros Izucar, Puebla, Jalapa (Hége), Yolotepec, Capulalpam
(Sailé), Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith); Guaremaua, Capetillo, Dueiias
(Champion).—? Souta AMERICA ',
216: | COCCINELLIDA.
This species is the Chnoodes roseipes (Muls.) of Sallé’s collection. Crotch’s type is a
specimen from Deyrolle’s collection without locality, that assigned to it being only a
surmise. Chnoodes sanguinipes is about the size of Exoplectra cruentipes. It is
scarcely so convex as that insect. The head and first segment of the abdomen are
dark in some individuals, probably the females. There were five examples of it in
Sallé’s collection, and if not common it seems to have been met with on several
occasions, especially in Mexico, whence Crotch’s example probably came.
3. Chnoodes cinctipennis.
sanguineo-rafus, nitidus, parce brevissime pubescens, creberrime distinote leviter punctatus, elytrorum disco
nigro-eneo. Long. 24-3 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, Chiacam, San Juan, and Tamahu in Vera Paz (Champion) ; PANAMA,
Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Of the size of C. terminalis, and with the pubescence, as in that species, very fine
and often quite denuded on the disc of the elytra. The whole of the body is red, the
breast and middle of the abdomen being only indistinctly pitchy. The elytra are
black, very shining, with a bronze or greenish reflection, the margin (excepting at the
base near the suture) being widely red, more broadly so at their apex. The scutellum
is red, at least in the middle, in bright and fresh examples wholly sO.
About twenty examples of this Chnoodes were obtained by Mr. Champion.
4, Chnoodes bipunctatus.
Rufus, dense brevissime pubescens; capite (labro rufo), prothorace (angulis anticis pretermissis) elytrisque
nigris, his puncto singulo in utroque juxta suturam mediano rufo, vix punctatis. Long. 3} millim.
Hab. Mexico, Iguala in Guerrero (Hége).
Above black, scarcely visibly punctured, but. not very shining, being densely clothed
with a very short and fine grey pubescence. The head is quite even, with rather large
eyes ; the mouth and appendages are red. The thorax has the front angles very much
deflexed and red; and the body beneath and legs are also red, the breast only being a
little obscure in tint. The elytra are black, but have each a rather ill-defined and
obscure, oblong, small red spot about the middle and near the suture. I have only
seen the single example described above. It is somewhat doubtfully of this genus.
5. Chnoodes decipiens.
Orbicularis, niger, nitidus, densius pube brevi micante, in dorso denudato, vestitus; crebre ac distincte sed
minute punctatus ; capite, abdomine pedibusque sanguineis, prothoracis margine antico et laterali tenuiter
flavis. Long. 2 millim.
Mas, capite rufo, prothoracis margine antico flavo.
Femina, capite prothoracisque margine nigris.
flab, PANAMA, Bugaba (Champion).
This insect has given me a good deal of per plexity, owing to its rather close general,
CHNOODES.—NEAPORIA. 217 |
resemblance to an Azya, when the denuded patch is observable as it is in fine speci-
mens ; while others appear almost glabrous, owing to the pubescence being nearly all
rubbed off. Of course the structure of the tibiz will always separate it, and it is in
addition much blacker, having, in fact, only a very faint metallic tint. The style of
punctuation is also characteristic of this genus.
Five specimens.
DIORIA.
Dioria, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 936 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 295.
1. Dioria sordida. (Tab. XII. fig. 1.)
Dioria sordida, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 93877; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 296’.
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (ZHége), Orizaba (Sallé), Yucatan (coll. Crotch); Panama,
Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, 2000 to 3000 feet, Tolé, San Lorenzo (Champion).—
Sourn America, Valparaiso } 2, |
Crotch (loc. cit.) refers examples of a Dioria from Mexico to D. setigera, Muls., and
states that he had not seen D. sordida; but in the Cambridge Collection are several
examples, one labelled “sordida” in his own handwriting, from Deyrolle’s collection, from
Yucatan, whereas of D. setigera there are two only from Chili. They are closely allied,
perhaps not distinct species ; I therefore retain the name D. sordida for our insect.
Subfam. ORTALIDES.
The Ortaliides are generally distinguished by their large finely-facetted eyes, which
occupy a vertical position on the sides of the head, and by a coarse and broken style of
punctuation. At present two genera only have been referred to the subfamily from the
New World, viz. Zenoria and Pseudoladoria, Crotch. The typical species of Ortalia
are, according to Mulsant, those found in Madagascar, but others occur in the Eastern
Tropics.
The Ortaliides have the epistome not emarginate in front, in which they are said by
Chapuis to differ from the Chnoodides. I cannot, however, follow the ‘distinction.
Some remarkable insects, for which new generic divisions must be proposed, are here
referred to the group.
NEAPORIA. = Prods !&s Mats
Tibi haud dentate vel incisee ; fossule coxales abdominales marginem apicalem segmenti primi haud attin-
gentes ; oculi verticales, magni, tenuissime reticulati; antennz perbreves; palpi longi, robusti.
We have species of a genus of Ortaliides which are not Zenorie, in which (taking
Z. revestita as the type) the “abdominal plates” so termed (the shallow coxal fosse)
are “complete,” 7. ¢. reach the hind margin of the segment. The punctuation appears
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1897. 2 F*
218 COCCINELLIDZ.
to me to be in general uniform—strong, even coarse, in some; the pubescence is thick,
often denuded in a patch. The tibie are quite simple; the claws simple (they are
said to be bifid in Ortalia and Zenoria).
1. Neaporia plagioderina. (Tab. XII. fig. 2.)
Ferruginea, capite prothoraceque testaceis, hoc medio, illo basi infuscatis; elytris saturate cxruleis, crebre
fortiter punctatis, apice tenuiter rufo. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Orbicular, somewhat depressed ; head and thorax yellow, but clouded with black at
the base, and in the centre from the front to the base in the latter very finely punc-
tured. The thorax narrow in front, the sides but little rounded, the front angles
produced and depressed, neatly fitting the eyes, which, however, owing to their large
size, can, I think, hardly be withdrawn; it is very transverse and arcuate, the base
gently bisinuate and finely margined. The scutellum is large and black. The elytra
have a depression on each side of the scutellum extending a little way down the suture ;
the callus is distinct, as in Poria; their sides are very finely margined, not at all expla-
nate, sinuate for the reception of the hind coxe.
One example.
2. Neaporia indagator. (Tab. XII. fig. 3.)
Testaceo-ferruginea, superne nigro-czrulea, ore epistomateque ferrugineis; prothorace brevi, tenuiter, elytris
fortiter crebre punctatis. Long. 3 millim.
Hab. GuateMata, Sinanja in Vera Paz, Cerro Zunil, Las Mercedes, Volcan de
Atitlan (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Var.? Prothoracis angulis anticis testaceis.
Hab. Guatema.a, San Isidro, Volcan de ‘Atitlan (Champion).
Upperside dark indigo-blue, thickly clothed with silvery-grey pubescence, which is
generally more or less denuded on the front and middle of the elytra. The mouth and
front of the epistome, mouth-organs, antenne, legs, and body are ferruginous; the
breast darker and coarsely punctured. The head and prothorax are very finely, the |
elytra strongly and sparsely, punctured; the punctures on the latter are distinct |
points, sometimes confluent, and becoming closer towards the sides. ‘The prothorax is
very short, arcuate in form, the front angles being prominent and depressed ; the
whole width is four times the length. The scutellum is distinct and triangular,
punctured, and black. The epipleure are indistinctly yellowish, horizontally sinuate,
and slightly fossulate for the reception of the hind femora.
Six examples of the type, and a single specimen of the variety.
NEAPORIA. 219
8. Neaporia cribrata. (Tab. XII. fig. 4.)
Ore, antennis, pedibus corporeque infra ferrugineis ; capite prothoraceque nigris, fortiter crebre, illo confluenter
punctatis ; elytris lete ceruleis, parcius fortissime punctatis. Long. 2°5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Of the same form as WV. indagator, but less pubescent and more strongly and deeply
punctured, especially as regards the head and thorax. The palpi are stout, about as
long as the head, their terminal joint long and feebly securiform. The antenne are
very short, not longer than half the eye. The prothorax is as short and wide as in
N. indagator; its front angles project about half round the eye (when the head is
extended); the sides are a little reflexed and very finely margined; the punctuation is
very deep and here and there confluent. The elytra are of a beautiful steel-blue, very
sparingly pubescent. A single example.
4, Neaporia cerulea.
Ore, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis; corpore subtus nigro vel piceo, superne nigro-ceruleo, nitido, parum
pubescente ; capite prothoraceque subtilissime, elytris fortius punctatis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Smaller and more orbiculate than NW. indagator, and differing, moreover, in the
following respects :—It is less pubescent ; the thorax is not so short, and has the sides
converging in front, but the front angles though acute are less prominent, and there-
fore the whole thorax is not arcuate ; the base is less rounded, the hind angles being
quite distinct. The body beneath is black. The sides of the elytra are uarrowly
reflexed.
5. Neaporia metallica. (Tab. XII. fig. 5.)
Oblongo-ovata, subdepressa, supra viridi-metallica nitida, parce pubescens; prothorace brevissimo, cum capite
erebre distincte minute, elytris parcius et profundius punctatis ; corpore subtus, palpis pedibusque piceis,
his articulo tertio, illis apicali nigrescentibus ; elytris singulis macula magna subrotundata rufa. Long.
2-3 millim. .
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet, Tolé (Champion).
Head, especially the epistoma, golden pubescent; palpi yellow at their base, the
apical joint and the tip of the second joint blackish ; antenne very short, yellowish.
Thorax very short and very wide, quite four times as broad as long, with rounded sides ;
the margins are flattened and reflexed, the front angles acute and depressed, the base
with a very fine marginal line; sparingly pubescent. The elytra are oblong, with
straight sides, but their apex is widely rounded; they are shining metallic-green or
dark blue, with a brassy reflection ; their margins are finely reflexed ; the punctuation
is sparse but distinct ; the pubescence is sparse and very fine, nowhere hiding the
surface, but uniform and velvety. The yellow spots on the elytra are not of the same
: size, that on the left being large and transverse, while the one on the right is rather
2 F* 2
220 COCCINELLIDZ.
obsolete. The legs are pitchy-black at their bases, with yellow tibie and tarsi, of
which, however, the bilobed apex is blackish.
This is a less convex insect than the preceding species, and has also the elytra more
parallel on their sides. In the shortness of the thorax, the short antenne, stout palpi,
and other characters it agrees well with them. In one example from Bugaba the red
spot is suffused so as to involve the whole disk of the elytra in a common spot reaching
entirely across the wing-cases, but nearly separated at the suture.
6. Neaporia argentifrons. (Tab. XII. figg. 6; 6 @, maxillary palpus.)
Breviter oblonga, rufo-picea, nitida, tenuiter pubescens ; capite prothoraceque viridibus, subtilissime punctatis,
hoc transverso, marginibus lateralibus leviter anguste reflexis, illo inter oculos argenteo-albido, vittis
duabus nigro-viridibus; scutello elytrisque castaneis, his parcius punctatis. Long. 2°5-3 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sailé).
Var. Elytris pone medium et disco usque ad humeros indeterminate viridibus.
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion).
This species is nearly of the same size and form as NV. metallica, and, considering the
single example from Zapote as a variety, it may probably be a more northerly form of
that species, differing mainly in colour. The head has the whole of the front and
epistome shining silvery-white, with two posteriorly-abbreviated dark vitte; and this is
so also in the Zapote variety. ‘The thorax has the usual oblique sulcus separating the
middle portion which receives the head from the produced front angles. ‘The palpi
have the terminal joint blackish.
There are two examples from Toxpam, one of which we figure.
7. Neaporia amabilis. (Tab. XII. fig. 7.)
Breviter oblonga, rufo-picea, nitidissima, parce profunde punctata; capite nigro-piceo, epistomate palpisque
rufo-piceis ; prothorace viridi, transverso, angulis anticis valde prominulis, lateribus reflexis, disco parce
minute punctato ; elytris cupreo-purpureis, parcius punctatis ; pedibus rufis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, El Tumbador 2500 feet (Champion).
The form of this species is very similar to that of MV. metallica and JN. argentifrons.
The head is more coarsely punctured than in either of them; it is pitchy-black tinged
with green, with the mouth and palpi pitchy-red. The thorax has its disk more even,
there being less indication of an oblique sulcus, and it is of a dark green; there is no
pubescence to be seen on the whole upper surface. The elytra are of a brilliant
coppery-purple, inclining to be castaneous; and in this respect VY. amabilis is somewhat
like an example of WV. argentifrons from Toxpam, but the punctures are much sparser
and larger, and it is scarcely half the bulk of the latter. The colour of the elytra
probably varies.
Only one specimen has been received.
NEAPORIA. 221
8. Neaporia unipunctata. (Tab. XII. fig. 8.)
Valde convexa, suborbicularis, nitida, nigro-picea, superne subcerulea; capite prothoraceque subtiliter, elytris
fortius punctatis, his macula magna in singulis, abdominis apice pedibusque rufis. Long. 1°25 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).
Somewhat resembling the smaller examples of NV. metallica, but strongly convex, the
margins of the elytra being almost hidden from above. The thorax is quite of a
different form from that of WV. metallica, being less wide, apparently about three times
the length ; the latter, however, seems actually greater than in WV. metallica; it is also
more shining and much more convex, and its front angles are more contracted and less
explanate. The colour, moreover, is different, and the legs and tip of the abdomen
are red.
9. Neaporia pubescens. (Tab. XII. fig. 9.)
Breviter oblonga, picea, pube brevi erecta dense vestita; prothorace brevi, valde transverso, rufo, crebre
punctato; elytris cerulescentibus, macula magna discoidali haud bene discreta rufa, parcius sed crebre
punctatis, punctis hic illic transversim confluentibus. Long. 2°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2600 to 3000 feet (Champion).
This insect is allied to 1. metallica, but is more convex, more densely pubescent,
and differently coloured to that species. The thorax is in form very like that of
N. metallica; its front angles are very prominent, forming a covering for the large
eyes, which are no doubt, in repose, partially withdrawn behind them; the lateral
margins are only very narrowly reflexed, and there is an oblique sulcus half across
the disk behind the eyes. The epipleure are sinuate for the reception of the hind
femora. The elytra, though bluish, have a tendency to become pitchy-red, and the
legs are of that colour.
One example.
10. Neaporia rugosa. (Tab. XII. tig. 10.)
Convexa, oblongo-ovata, nigro-picea, superne atro-cerulea, crebre fortiter, elytris subrugose punctatis, his
macula oblonga discoidali in singulis sanguinea ; pedibus rufis. Long. 1°25 millim.
Hab. Panama, Tolé (Champion).
This insect, though superficially very like V. unipunctata, will, I think, prove to be
abundantly distinct. ‘The form of the thorax is more that of V. metallica, viz. wide,
very short, with prominent rather explanate front angles, and a depression immediately
behind the eyes. It is, however, in the punctuation that it differs very clearly from its
allies, that of the thorax being as strong and distinct as that of the head, while that of
the elytra is more close and more dense than in any of the other species here described.
The mouth and tip of the abdomen are red. ‘he elytra are distinctly pubescent.
One example.
222 COCCINELLIDZ.
11. Neaporia compta. (Tab. XII. fig. 11.)
Breviter ovalis, fere orbicularis, rufa; capite prothoraceque subtiliter, elytris ceeruleis concinne fortius punctatis.
Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Readily distinguished from any other species of the genus here described by its colour,
which is wholly dark ferruginous-red, with the exception of the elytra. The latter are
deep blue, with the sutural angle very slightly red. The scutellum is obscure, but is
plainly reddish. The thorax is short, about three times as wide as long. The whole
insect is moderately convex, clothed above with a short silvery pubescence ; the head
is very flat between the eyes; the puncturing of the head and thorax is very fine, but
quite visible, that of the elytra much more distinct, not deep, and rather stellate; the
tip of the elytra is very narrowly red, and the red pygidium (not quite covered) enhances
the red appearance of the apex.
12. Neaporia chiriquensis. (Tab. XII. fig. 12.)
Breviter oblonga, convexa, rufo-ferruginea; capite (ore epistomateque exceptis), prothorace elytrorumque
triente apicali nigro-ceruleis ; capite elytrisque parcius fortiter, prothorace subtiliter punctatis. Long.
2°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
The head is very deeply and almost rugosely punctured. The thorax is very short, four
times as wide as long, the sides margined and reflexed, the front angles acute, depressed ;
the base has a very fine marginal line ; the punctuation, though quite visible, is very fine
and close. The scutellum is red. The elytra are rich deep red, but their apical third,
extending further on the disk than at the suture or on the sides, is blue-black; the
punctures are large, rather stellate, sparse, but thicker and here and there confluent
near the scutellum; the narrowly reflexed margin is red all round. ‘There is scarcely
any pubescence visible in the single example before me.
13. Neaporia guatemalana.
Oblonga, nigra, subnitida, breviter canescens; elytris subceruleis, ore, pedibus abdominisque apice rufis ; pro-
thorace brevi, transverso, cum capite creberrime punctato, elytris parcius sed crebre punctatis. Long.
2 millim.
Hab. GuateMata, Capetillo, Duefias, San Gerdnimo (Champion).
Var.? Parum angustior, prothorace interdum piceo, elytris subeeneis.
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hoge), Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).
More oblong than NV. cerulea, with the thorax more transverse, being formed as in
N. metallica and its allies, the base truncate, a little sinuate, the front angles promi-
nent and reaching to the front of the eyes when the head is depressed ; there is a very
small punctiform depression behind the eyes. The whole upper surface is rather
NEAPORIA. 223
densely hoary. In the Mexican examples it is denser and more unevenly combed,
giving a mottled look. The example from Amula is wholly piceous, probably less
mature. Possibly these represent a different species, but I cannot separate them at
present.
14. Neaporia celestis. (Tab. XII. fig. 13.)
Oblonga, nigra, nitida, capite prothoraceque metallico-viridibus subtiliter, elytris lete cwruleis parce punctatis ;
ore, pedibus abdominisque apice rufis ; prothorace valde transverso, lateribus anguste reflexis rufescentibus.
Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
This little species may be distinguished from J. cwrulea by the same characters as
NV. guatemalana. From the latter the more brilliant coloration and the reflexed and
reddish margin of the thorax, and the certainly more reflexed and wider margins of the
elytra and their rather more sparse punctuation, will enable it to be separated.
Two specimens.
15. Neaporia viridescens.
Oblonga, nitida, nigra, tenuiter pubescens; superne viridi-metallica, prothorace transverso, margine laterali
leviter reflexo; capite prothoraceque creberrime, elytris parcius punctatis. Long. 1-5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 feet (Champion).
Smaller than any Neaporia I have seen, with the exception of NV. cuprea. In its
form and general characters it agrees pretty closely with WV. celestis; but, besides the
small size, the black legs seem to distinguish it as a species. ‘The anterior femora are
pitchy at their bases.
One example.
16. Neaporia cuprea. (Tab. XII. fig. 14.)
Oblonga, nitida, nigra, vix pubescens; capite prothoraceque nigro-ceruleis parcius distincte, elytris cupreis
parce punctatis; pedibus nigris, tarsis fuscis. Long. 1°25 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerdnimo (Champion).
This is the smallest example of a Neaporia I have seen. It differs from WV. viri-
descens in being narrower, the thorax especially so, its front angles being less expanded,
the sides less reflexed, the surface more even, there being no oblique fossa behind the
eyes, and more “cribrate,” ¢. ¢. more distinctly punctate, and the same remark applies
to the punctuation of the head. The elytra are also very distinctly punctured ; they
are coppery-purple, violet at the margins. The legs are black, with brownish-yellow
tibie and tarsi. ‘The palpi are quite black.
Although we have received only one example of this little Meaporia, there is no
doubt it represents a distinct species. The want of pubescence may, of course, be
224 COCCINELLIDZ.
owing to its condition, but as a very short black pile is visible it is probably quite
normal,
ORTALISTES.
Corpus oblongo-ovatum, valde convexum. Tibi simplices. Fossule coxales abdominales segmento longitu-
dine equales, extus aperte. Antenne perbreves.—
I propose this genus for two species which, apart from the form of the whole insect,
do not present any very striking positive characters. The body is rather suggestive of
that of Brachyacantha; the head is nearly sunk in the thorax; the elytra very obtuse
behind, and not covering the apex of the abdomen.
1. Ortalistes obesus. (Tab. XII. fig. 15.)
Breviter ovatus, valde convexus, ferrugineus ; capite prothoraceque nigris, hoc limbo laterali, illo ore, antennis
palpisque rufis, elytris plagia magna communi postica nigra. Omnium subtilissime vix visibiliter punc-
tatis. Long. 3°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion).
The pubescence of this insect is extremely fine and not easy tosee. The mesosternum
and a small part of the sterna in front and behind it are blackish, but the scutellum is
red. The patch of the elytra occupies two-thirds of their surface, leaving the humeral
region from the scutellum obliquely to the middle of the sides, and the apical margin
from that point, red. In one specimen this margin unites rather widely with the basal
portion, and the whole base for one-third its length is red. ‘The thorax is short,
contracted in front, not deeply cut out, more distinctly punctured than the elytra.
Three specimens.
2. Ortalistes rubidus.
Quoad formam Ortalistet obeso similis; statura paullo minore et colore toto ferrugineo distinguendus. Fere
impunctatus, omnium tenuissime et brevissime pubescens. Long. 3°25 millim.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).
This insect appears to differ from the last in its rather smaller size, wholly ferru-
ginous colour, and by the thorax being hardly visibly punctate.
Two specimens.
3. Ortalistes germanus. (Tab. XII. fig. 16.)
Breviter oblongo-ovalis, convexus, tenuissime pubescens, vix punctatus; capite prothoraceque albis, hoc vitta
mediana lata nigra. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, Cubilguitz, Sinanja, Tamahu, and San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion).
Very short, almost orbicular, but the outline is somewhat squarish. ‘The thorax is
arcuate, the front angles and sides much depressed, covering the head; the base
appears to have a very fine marginal line; the punctuation is excessively fine and close,
a
ORTALISTES. 225
and equal on the thorax and elytra. The scutellum is red or brownish. The elytra
are entirely chestnut-red, but a little paler towards their apices. The pubescence is
so fine that it is often worn off. The amount of black on the thorax varies: in some
examples the greater part is black, the sides only being rather indefinitely white ; in
others the white extends like a round spot for a third of the width.
4, Ortalistes pexus.
O. germano quoad formam et staturam similis et affinis; piceus, minute sed distincte punctatus; pube brevi
depressa, quasi detersa vestitus. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guatmmaua,
Senahu, Tamahu, Sabo, and San Juan in Vera Paz ( Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales
(Janson); Panama, San Miguel in the Pearl Islands (Champion).
Hardly so broad, especially across the thorax, as 0. germanus, and perhaps a little
more distinctly punctured. The colour is different, being uniform and of a dark
pitchy-brown tint. The pubescence is not only more distinct, but seems of a different
quality, and gives the impression of being brushed away from the suture on each
side, thus reflecting the light as the insect is turned in different directions.
Specimens from Nicaragua and the Pearl Islands are almost black.
5. Ortalistes immersus. (Tab. XII. fig. 17.)
Brevis, fere orbicularis, subtilissime punctatus, tenuissime pubescens, niger; capite pedibusque flavis; corpore
subtus elytrorumque disco late sanguineis. <.
Femine prothoracis margine antico et laterali anguste flavo, capite nigro-piceo. Long. 1°5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (J/. H. Smith); Panama, Bugaba, David (Champion).
It is only when seen under favourable circumstances that this little insect appears
pubescent ; it is so closely punctured as to be semiopaque. The thorax, the base and
margin of the elytra, as widely as one third of their breadth and more widely still at
the apex, and the head and body in the female, are black. The very short antenne
and trophi are always yellow, as are the legs. We have received one example of the
male, viz. the one from Bugaba, and a female from each of the other localities.
There is a species of Cryptognatha very similarly coloured to this insect.
Subfam. SCY MNIDES.
The Scymnides consist almost entirely of the genus Scymnus, one of the most
generalized types of the Coccinellide. ‘The genus itself has been divided by Mulsant,
but he did not give his divisions, founded on the amount of development of the coxal
fossettes, more than subordinate rank. They have, however, been adopted by recent
European writers, with whom the ultimate analysis of minute characters is of higher
importance than the synthesis of allied forms.
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1897. 9 Gt
226 COCCINELLID. ~
As is usual with very generalized types, Scymnus is represented by a large number
of species in every part of the globe, often very closely allied to each other even when
coming from distant parts. Chapuis has, in the ‘Genera des Coléoptéres,’ very much
restricted the group. I should go-still further and eliminate from it the Rhizobiides,
a subfamily separated by several peculiarities, and not of such universal distribution.
SCYMNUS.
Scymnus, Kugelann, in Schneider’s Mag. i. p. 545 (1794).
Scymnus is a genus consisting of a host of small species, distributed in every part of
the world, found on trees and on low herbage, living on small Aphides and possibly
Coccide.
Subgenus Diomus, Mulsant.
Coxal fossettes on the first abdominal segment not forming more than a quarter
circle.
1. Scymunus thoracicus. (Tab. XII. fig. 18.)
Coccinella thoracica, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 378°.
Scymnus thoracicus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 951%; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 269°.
Hab. Mexico, Chihuahua city, Zacualtipan, Jalapa (Hége), Chilpancingo in Guerrero
(H. H. Smith), Toxpam (Sallé).—Sovuta America } ?.
2. Scymnus panamensis. (Tab. XII. fig. 19.)
Suborbicularis, niger, nitidus, pubescens ; capite, prothorace pedibusque aurantiacis ; elytris subsenescentibus,
subtilissime punctatis. Long 1°75 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
There are two examples of this, which is a larger, broader, and more pubescent
insect than the one referred to S. volgus, and the elytra have a distinctly brassy tinge.
The body beneath is also wholly black, with the exception of the head (with all the
mouth-organs) and the thorax. The genitalia are obtruded in one of the examples and
are red. ‘The thorax is three times as wide as long, with rather prominent front
angles (in the specimen here referred to S. volgus the front margin is nearly straight),
the margin being broadly cut out in front. The abdominal coxal fossettes appear to
me to be ill defined externally, the internal side reaching almost to the edge of the
segment.
3. Scymnus volgus ?
Scymnus (Polius) volgus, Muls. Opusc. Entom. iii. p. 147 (1858) '.
Scymnus volgus, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 271’.
SCYMNUS. 227
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David, Volcan de Chiriqui, Pefia Blanca (Champion).—
VENEZUELA, Caracas ! 2.
The head, thorax, legs, and apical half of the abdomen are chestnut-red; the elytra
black, not pubescent, impressed with minute, but distinct, and not very close punctures.
In one example from the Volean de Chiriqui the scutellum is red. The insect has
very much the appearance of a Cryptognatha found at David, but from which its more
oblong form and longer thorax will serve to distinguish it. I have seen an insect
which appears to belong to this species named “ S. volgus.” |
The example from Caracas in the late Mr. Crotch’s collection, from that of Reiche,
is not a true Scymnus. There is therefore some doubt about the identification.
Subgenus Pouuius, Mulsant.
Coxal fossettes complete, forming a semicircle, the external side abutting on the
epimera. |
4, Scymunus ferrugineus.
Breviter ovatus, ferrugineus, pubescens, minute perobsolete punctatus, prothorace elytris angustiore. Long.
2 millim.
Hab. Guaremata, La Tinta in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, San Miguel in the
Pearl Islands (Champion).
Var. meso- et metasterno nigricantibus.
Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).
Broadly ovate, of similar form to S. apicalis, Muls., but rather smaller, wholly
ferruginous, with a grey, rather close pubescence. The sculpture of the elytra exhibits
no trace of sulcation or of striation, but is very finely and closely punctate. The eyes
are rather strongly facetted. Of the wholly yellow Scymni known to me, this is the
largest and broadest ; the European S. abietis is a more oblong and less convex insect.
The specimen from Chilpancingo, which has the breast blackish, may possibly represent
a distinct species. It appears to me to belong to the same section as S. apicalis.
5. Scymnus loewi. (Tab. XII. fig. 20.)
Scymnus Loewii, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 980'; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 271°.
Scymnus cinctus, Lec. Proc. Acad. Phil. vi. p. 187°. o
Scymnus Lecontii, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 264 -
Hab. Norta America, New Orleans*, Texas, California.—MeExico 12° Saltillo and
San Pedro in Coahuila (Dr. Palmer), Ciudad in Durango, Aguas Calientes city,
Jalapa, Mexico city (Hoge), Omilteme and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),
Guanajuato (Sallé) ; GUATEMALA, Zapote, Capetillo, Guatemala city (Champion).
2 G* 2
228 -COCCINELLID.
The type of this species from Reiche’s collection, now in that of the Cambridge
Museum, is before me, and examples from the above localities agree with it. It is
very near S. cinctus, Lec., and S. lecontit, Crotch, which Horn does not consider distinct.
We figure a specimen from San Pedro.
6. Scymnus apicalis. (Tab. XII. fig. 21.)
Scymnus apicalis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 987'; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 271°.
Hab. Mexico! 2, Chilpancingo and Amula in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos
(H. H. Smith), Ventanas in Durango and Acapulco (Hége) ; GuaTeMaLa, Quezaltenango,
Guatemala city (Champion).
The distinguishing characters of this species, which is somewhat similar to the one
described as S. horni, are its rather larger size (length 2-23 millim.), the wider extent
of the orange-red apex of the elytra and of the abdomen, of which only two segments
at the base are decidedly black, and the faint indications of rows among the punctures
at the base of the elytra near the suture, which may therefore be termed substriate at
that part. I have seen a few examples from Amula with blackish legs and with
blackish genitalia (although the abdomen is red), apparently females, the heads being,
however, obscurely red.
Scymnus apicalis was described by Mulsant from specimens in Dejean’s collection ;
and as the first quoted of these is from ‘* Mexico,” it will be better to exclude the
supposed South-American specimens. It does not appear to have been identified by
Horn. A quasi-type in Crotch’s collection, with an H., and ‘* Pennsyl.” as locality, in
no way corresponds to the description and is quite valueless as a type. One from
Reiche’s collection is from Caracas, while three others with a label “* Yucatan,” but
which also bear the word “ Caracas,” are apparently not referable to Mulsant’s species.
I therefore propose that the present insect, which agrees fairly with the description,
and which we now figure, should be adopted to represent it.
Obs.—Crotch places S. apicalis as following S. auritulus, both in the ‘ Revision ’ and
in his collection: it is altogether a wider and more distinctly marked insect than that
species. About thirty examples are now before me.
7. Scymnus bugabensis.
Late orbicularis, niger, pedibus abdomineque obscure rufis, dense griseo-pubescens ; elytris fortiter punctatis,
juxta suturam seriebus duo vel tres punctorum magis distinctis, apice cuncolore; capite prothoraceque
creberrime minute punctatis, antennis etiam nigris. Long. 2 millim.
Mas capite obscure rufe.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
A very distinct species of Scymnus, being broader than any yet noticed, with the
elytra more distinctly punctured, and the striole approaching those of the genus
Sticholotis in distinctness. The head is red in some examples, black in the others;
SCYMNUS. 229
the eyes have a golden shining appearance, but in themselves are whitish or red; and
the extreme tip of the front angle of the thorax is reddish in some examples. The
pubescence is dense and shining, like that of Azya, but in many examples this is
entirely absent. The base of the thorax is sinuous, and has a very fine marginal line.
The metasternum is strongly, almost coarsely punctured in the middle, more closely
and more finely so at the sides. The legs and abdomen are dark brownish-red; the
coxal fossettes reach the margin of the first segment.
8. Scymnus auritulus.
Scymnus auritulus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 985°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 271”.
Hab. Mexico! 2, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Guanajuato (Sallé), Iguala in Guerrero,
Zacualtipan in Hidalgo, Jalapa, Teapa in Tabasco, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hége),
Xucumanatlan and Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith);
GuaTEMaLa, near the city, Aceituno (Champion).
Specimens from the localities quoted have been compared by me with the type from
Reiche’s collection, acquired by the late Mr. Crotch and now in the Museum at
Cambridge.
The insect occurred abundantly in most of the localities mentioned.
9. Scymnus horni.
Suborbicularis, niger, capite, prothoracis lateribus et margine antico, pedibus, elytrorum apicibus anguste,
abdominisque apice rufis, omnino breviter griseo pubescens. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Ventanas, Jalapa (Hége); GUATEMALA,
near the city (O. S.), Quezaltenango, Duefias, San Gerdnimo (Champion); Panama,
Volcan de Chiriqui, Pefia Blanca (Champion).
This insect is clearly very closely allied to the recently described S. ardelio, Horn
(Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 105). It was sent to us from Sonora labelled “ Seymnus
marginicollis”: from that insect it differs (following Horn, loc. cit.) in having the legs
red; but it does not agree with S. ardelio, according to the description. The apex of
the elytra, in the great majority of the examples, is very narrowly red, as is also the
pygidium, with the last ventral segment. Specimens which are presumably females
have all the red parts more obscurely coloured, and the tips of the elytra and abdomen
nearly black. There is apparently no tubercule on the first ventral segment. The
insect is a true Pudlus.
10. Scymnus jansoni.
Suborbicularis, convexus, niger, parce pubescens, ore, antennis, prothoracis lateribus, elytrorum vitta abbreviata,
abdominis apice pedibusque saturate rufis. Long. 1-25-1-5 millim.
Femina? obscurior, elytrorum apicibus et pedibus tantum rufis.
Var. elytris vitta deficiente.
230 COCCINELLID 4.
Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Nicaraaua,
Chontales (Janson).
The examples which I associate under this name agree in size, which is smaller
than that of S. auritulus, but rather larger than the European S. minimus, and in
having the sides of the thorax and apex of the elytra usually red. In some specimens
(as in those which present an obscure red vitta on the disk of the elytra) the tips are
not red. The whole of the mouth, the legs, including the trochanters, and the apex
of the abdomen are red; two segments at the base of the latter are blackish, but
passing so gradually into red that it is not possible to define the commencement of the
latter colour.
Obs.—In less matured examples the thorax may be yellow, with a basal cloudy spot,
and the vittee may be widened and paler, uniting on the suture before the apex, which
is cloudy.
11. Scymnus hogei.
Oblongus, densius fulvo-pubescens, prothoracis basi quam elytra angustiore, niger, subtilissime punctatus,
pedibus elytrorumque vitta nec basin nec apicem attingente rufis. Long. 1°5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Zacualtipan in Hidalgo (Hége).
Var.? Rufus, elytrorum basi, sutura apiceque indeterminate nigrescentibus.
Hab. Mexico, near the city ({ége).
The form is oblong, rather ovate, not narrowed behind, but with the thorax narrower
than the elytra, and not forming a continuous outline with them. The elytral vitta is
wider at the base, and for nearly half its length crutch-shaped, or like a long (, )
comma. The mouth, antenne, and legs are red.
The specimen which I think may be a variety of this insect, being precisely of the
saine form and size, has the base of the elytra blackish, this tint extending in a
triangular way down the suture and along the margin and at the apex, but indetermi-
nately. There is a single specimen only of each form.
12. Scymnus bisbinotatus. (Tab. XII. fig. 22.)
Obovatus, suborbicularis, nigro-piceus, nitidus, crebre, minute ac distincte punctatus, elytris singulis maculis
duabus sanguineis parum distinctis, pedibus testaceis. 9. Long. 1°75 millim.
Hab. GuaTEMALA, Capetillo (Champion).
Rather broadly ovate, not very convex, the elytra wider in the middle than the
thorax, sparsely pubescent (but worn in the unique example), dark pitchy-black. The
elytra each have two dark red spots, one near the callus, and one, less distinct, near
the apex. The legs are testaceous, with the tips of the tarsi darker, and are rather
long and thin. The head and underside are pitchy-black. The coxal fossettes are
complete, not touching the hind margin of the segment.
SCYMNUS. . 231
13. Scymnus pictus. (Tab. XII. fig. 23.)
Ovalis, niger, elytris postice macula transversa irregulari pedibusque aurantiacis. Long. 1 millim.
Mas, capite, prothorace subtus et ad latera rufis.
Hab. Panama, San Miguel in the Pearl Islands (Champion).
This little species is very distinctly oval in form, pointed behind, and it is rather
strongly convex, and clothed with grey pubescence. The elytral red spot is placed at
about one-third from the apex and quite free; it is rather more transverse in the
female than in the male. The body beneath is almost wholly black ; the prothorax is
red in the male beneath, and with the sides indeterminately so, and the head is also
red in this sex. ‘The supposed female is smaller, and has the thorax and head black.
The legs have rather wide femora, receiving the tibize in grooves, and are wholly
orange-red. ‘There are but two specimens of this species. I cannot recall to mind
any Scymnus similarly marked.
14. Scymnus coloratus. (Tab. XII. fig. 25.)
Niger, suborbicularis, vix pubescens, nitidus, capite prothoraceque albis, hoc macula magna discoidali interdum
marginem anticum attingente nigra; elytris vel nigris, vel nigris disco plus minusve sanguineo; pedibus
flavis. Long. 1-1°75 millim.
Mas, capite albo ; femina, capite infumato, elytrorum margine apicali late albo.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guatemaa, Capetillo (Champion) ;
Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Pefia Blanca, Tolé (Champion).
This is a variable and perplexing species. The examples which I suppose to be the
males are more orbiculate and larger than the three others, which from their darker
heads appear to be females; and in these males(?) two have the elytra more or less
suffused with a blood-red discoidal patch, viz. one from Teapa and one from the Volcan
de Chiriqui, while one from the latter locality and one from Pefia Blanca have them
wholly black. The body beneath is black. The legs are yellow. The three females (%)
are one from Teapa, one from Capetillo, and one from Tolé; they have the thorax narrowed
in front, and its sides continuous in outline, or very nearly so, with that of the elytra.
S. coloratus has very much the appearance of an Ortalistes (especially of O. immersus),
and, indeed, I think it may have to be removed to that genus. ‘The distinction between
Scymnus and the allied genera is very slight, as may be seen by reference to Chapuis,
in Lacordaire’s ‘Genera des Coléoptéres,’ xii. p. 206.
The example from Pefia Blanca is more like that from Chiriqui, but is half the size.
15. Scymnus tardus.
Scymnus tardus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 955°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 270’.
Hab. Muxico, Jalapa (Hoge), Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith) ;
GuaTEMALA, Zapote (Champion); PanaMa, Bugaba, San Miguel in the Pearl Islands
(Champion).—BRaziL 1 2, Bahia (coll. Crotch, ex Leiche).
232 COCCINELLID 2.
I have referred the Central-American examples to this species on the authority
of a specimen in Mr. Crotch’s collection, and on others I have seen so named,
rather than from their agreement with Mulsant’s description. The latter seems to
have been drawn from a female example, having the head black, and from either a
unique example or from quite insufficient material. Our examples, ten in number,
agree in having the head and thorax quite whitish-yellow. They are very variable in
size and colour, but are all rather pubescent, and have the elytra brown, blackish, or
black, with a red disk, or a faint red marking on each, and the apex always white,
except in those from Bugaba and the Pearl Islands.
Judging from examples in Crotch’s collection, the paler ones might be equally well
referred to S. tantillus or S. pallidipennis, Muls. (the specimen of the latter is the type),
the descriptions of which are inadequate and inconclusive.
At present I regard these names as indicating one widely spread and variable insect ;
but possibly our examples from Mexico and Guatemala are distinct from those from
Panama.
16. Scymnus mutatus.
Ovatus, capite, prothorace, pedibus abdomineque pallide testaceis; elytris nigris, macula magna discoidali
oblongo-ovata in singulis aurantiaca, pectore nigricante; tenuiter pubescente, subtiliter creberrime
punctatus. Long. 1°5 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
Var.? elytrorum apicibus pallidis.
Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Sinith).
Var.? minor, elytris plus minusve nigricantibus, basi saltem nigro.
Hab. Mxxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Var.? prothorace macula triangulari mediana marginem apicalem vix attingente.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (1. H. Smith).
Var.? minor, nitidior, elytrorum basi, sutura margineque pone medium nigris. Long. 1 millim.
_ Hab. Panama, Pefia Blanca (Champion).
The single specimen from the Volcan de Chiriqui, which I take for the type of this
species, is a very distinctly marked and rather convex, finely pubescent insect, with the
head and thorax nearly white, the elytra dark pitchy-black, with a large, oval, and
rather obliquely placed orange spot on each. The underside, with the exception of
the breast, is luteous. The legs are testaceous. ‘The coxal fossettes are deep, but only
reach over half the segment. ‘The Mexican examples are doubtfully associated with it :
the one from Cuernavaca isa little smaller and has better defined pubescence ; the colour
and markings are very similar, and at the same time are very suggestive of those of
SCYMNUS. 233
S. jansont. The specimens from Teapa vary a good deal among themselves, the thorax
in some of them being white, without markings, in others with a more or less
developed spot on the base, with its apex sometimes reaching the front margin; all
these, with one exception, have the head white, deeply sunk in the thorax.
17. Scymnus granum.
Breviter ovatus, suborbicularis, niger, parce pubescens, pedibus rufis, subtiliter punctatus. Long. 1 millim.
Hab. GuatEMaLa, Duefias (Champion).
The two specimens of this minute insect agree in being wholly black, with the legs
red and the mouth-organs testaceous; the puncturing is just visible under a Cod-
dington-lens ; the pubescence is greyish, sparse, and irregularly upright. The outline is
tolerably uniform ; the thorax has rather straight sides, narrowing in front, and with
prominent front angles. It is less shining than the following species (S. grumus),
without being opaque.
In dealing with such very small insects in an obscure genus it is, I think, better to
abstain from attempting to describe details which can only be established on longer
series, and to give only such characters as are apparent and may enable other specimens
from the same locality to be recognized.
18. Scymnus grumus.
S. grano iterum similis et affinis, perparum major et nitidior; niger, nitidus, capite, pedibus, abdominis
elytrorumque apicibus tenuiter pallidis, parce pubescens, prothorace lato, antice haud multo angustiore.
Long. 1:2 millim. a
Hab. GuateMata, Capetillo (Champion).
A little larger than S. granum, and especially more shining; the pubescence is
apparently a good deal rubbed off, but the surface is smoother. The head is clear
yellow, and the legs are very pale, as is the abdomen, with the exception that the basal
portion is black in an indeterminate degree, but extending over two segments.
A specimen from Zapote perhaps belongs to the same species.
19. Scymnus corpusculus.
S. grano similis et affinis, oblongus, niger, nitidus, parce pubescens; capite, prothoracis lateribus, pedibus
elytrorumque apicibus tenuiter pallide rufis, feminz corpore obscuriore. Long. 1-5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).
Rather more densely pubescent than S. granum, more parallel in form, and more
shining. The thorax is as wide in front as behind, and with acute, though depressed,
front angles. The head and sides of the thorax are red, and the front margin of the
latter is very narrowly pitchy-red in some examples. The puncturing is very fine,
scarcely visible under a Coddington-lens. The abdomen appears not to be red, as in
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., May 1897. 2 H*
234 COCCINELLID.
S. grumus, and in those examples I suppose to be females the head and thorax are
quite obscure. Of these three small species the present is the largest, it being also
more oblong than the others.
Eight examples are before me.
20. Scymnus aspersus. (Tab. XII. fig. 26.)
Breviter oblongus, luteus, pubescens, prothorace antice angustato, basi infuscato, vel medio indeterminate
fusco; elytris basi sutura, margine laterali ad medium ampliato, ante apicem desinente, punctogue
discoidali nigricantibus. Long. 1 millim.
Var. Prothorace saturatiore, elytris nigro-variegatis.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Sallé), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); GUATEMALA, near
the city, Duefias (Champion).
This little insect seems to be very variable. The two examples from Teapa appear
to have, at first sight, four spots on the elytra, but the basal ones are only prolongations
of the basal black on the disk. The black colour extends down the margin as far as
the posterior discoidal spot, and is there widened as if it would join it: in two
examples the spot returns in the form of a vitta, leaving only a vague yellow ring on
the elytra, the scutellar region being more widely suffused. The breast is pitchy.
This is one of the smallest of the Scymni, but is scarcely so small as S. grumus and its
allies.
Seven specimens. One from Teapa is figured.
21. Scymnus diversus.
Breviter oblongus, luteus, pubescens ; prothorace maculis duabus anterioribus, duabus posterioribus vel tribus
basalibus haud bene discretis fuscis; elytris plaga laterali pone medium provecta nigra, interdum
macula parva suturali postmediana. Long. 1 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo and Cahabon in Vera Paz (Champion).
This insect in form and general appearance is very like S. aspersus; it is,
however, differently marked. The thorax in the example from San Gerénimo has
four distinct nearly black spots, and the elytra have a wide lateral blotch, extending
halfway across each elytron. There are indications of black markings here and there
on the elytra, one of which becomes a distinct spot on the suture at about one-third
from the apex.
In the example from Cahabon the thoracic spots are less distinct, but more wedge-
shaped, and there is in addition a central basal spot. The body beneath and legs are
yellow. |
I have not been able to identify any of the following species, and we have not
received any Scymnt from Yucatan.
SCYMNUS.—VEDALIA. 935
22. Seymuus pilatii.
Scymnus Pilatii, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 990’; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 272°.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan ! 2,
23. Scymunus thelys,
Scymnus thelys, Muls. Opusc. Entom. iii. p. 155 (1858) *; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 272.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan ! 2,
24. Scymnus bilucernarius.
Scymnus bilucernarius, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 9971; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p: 272°
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan ! 2,
25. Scymnus atomus.
Scymnus atomus, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 998*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 273”.
Hab. Mexico, Yucatan ! 2.
VEDALIA.
Vedalia, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 905; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 281.
The type of Vedalia is the Mexican insect recorded below, much confusion appearing
to have arisen by Crotch having associated Vedalia sieboldi with species from India
and elsewhere, which Mulsant placed, and as I think properly enough, in Rodolia.
Again, the characters of Vedalia, as given by Mulsant, are very unsatisfactory and even
illusory: that the tibie are rounded or angular on their exterior margin seems to me
an error of description. They are very flat, and shut partly into grooves of the femora;
but they are neither emarginate nor angular, and the association of these genera with
the Exoplectrides is quite erroneous. Vedalia, in fact, approaches nearest to Wovius,
a Palearctic genus occurring in Asia and Japan. The claws are bifid. The coxal
fossettes are well marked, nearly reaching the end of the segment, but not complete.
1. Vedalia sieboldi. (Tab. XII. fig. 24.)
Vedalia Sieboldi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 9057; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 281 (Rodolia) *.
Ortalia lama, Sallé, in litt.
Hab. Mexico ! 2, Orizaba, Guanajuato, Yolotepec (Sal/é).
The examples from Guanajuato and Orizaba differ slightly from those from Yolotepec
in having the whole metasternum, with the epimera, and even the trochanters and
coxe, black, and the first-named have the black mark near the scutellum less developed.
Specimens in the Cambridge collection, one of which is typical, being the example
from Westwood, have the breast infuscate. ‘The antenne are scarcely longer than the
palpi, red, with an elongate, three-jointed club. The abdomen has six segments in the
female (1), five segments only clearly visible in the male(?). The elytral epipleure are
2 H* 2
236 _ COCCINELLID.
narrow, flat, grooved at the inner edge for the reception of the margins of the abdomen
(in Rodolia they are wide and much inclined). —
Five examples. We figure one from Orizaba.
Subfam. EPIL ACH NIDES.
The Epilachnides form with the Scymnides the most generalized group of the
Coccinellide ; like them, they are found with very little modification of form in every
part of the world, and the great majority of the species belong to the typical genus
Epilachna, the subgenera Chnootriba from Africa, and Lasia and Cycnegetis from Europe,
being very little differentiated, the two latter containing but a single species each,
and Chnootriba only three.
In the Epilachnides, however, we meet with an important variation in habit, the
species being all phytophagous, feeding on the leaves of Solanacese and Cucurbitacee,
and the mandibles are tridentate. They are described as multidentate by Mulsant, but
in the species I have dissected (E. mexicana, E. borealis, E. abrupta) there is one sharp
spine-like tooth in addition to the bifid apex usual in the Coccinellide.
The species of this subfamily are (as I have observed in the generalized type of
other families) very subject to variation, and some of them, as Epilachna borealis, are
very widely distributed ; and the species are very little differentiated from each other,
rendering their determination often very difficult, the type of variation in one species
being repeated in other nearly related species inhabiting the same region.
EPILACHNA.
Epilachna, Chevrolat, in d’Orbigny’s Dict. Univ. Hist. Nat. v. p. 359 (1844).
About two hundred and forty species of this genus have been described, but the
names of a good many of these must be regarded as synonyms. ‘They are more
abundant in the tropics than in the temperate districts; on the other hand, some
species are found at elevations up to 8000 feet.
In Crotch’s “ Revision of the Coccinellide of the United States” [Trans. Am. Ent.
Soc. iv. pp. 363-382 (1873)] the genus Epilachna is altogether omitted, and it would
appear from the remarks of Mr. J. B. Smith (Ent. News, 1893, p. 197) that one at least
of the species is gradually extending over the Eastern United States. Three are given
from North America in Henshaw’s ‘ Catalogue ’ (1885).
A. Elytra widest a little below the shoulders.
1. Epilachna abrupta. (Tab. XIII. fig. 1.)
Oblonga, subovata, nigra, nitida; elytris testaceis, dense minute punctatis, sutura margineque nigris, hac
. interdum in maculam medianam ampliata. Long. 10-12 millim.
EPILACHNA. 237
Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba,
Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Head, thorax, body beneath, the margins, epipleure, and suture of the elytra jet-
black; the disk of the elytra pale testaceous (in life pearly and metallic), often with a
spot united with the margin in the middle, or a slight widening of the black in that
part looking like the commencement of a fascia. ‘The margin of the elytra is expanded
round its entire length, the expanded part being a little rugose. The coxal fossettes
are not very distinctly defined. This insect belongs to the ‘ £. proteus” group of the
genus, but appears quite distinct in form, as well as in the sparseness of the pubescence,
from any of the numerous varieties of that species. I have a very similar but distinct
insect from Colombia.
Mr. Champion met with a long series of examples on the Volcan de Chiriqui, feeding
‘on a very spiny species of Solanaceous plant, and Mr. Rogers sent about a dozen from
Irazu. Only one example occurred at Bugaba. ‘The yellow portion of the elytra is,
Mr. Champion informs me, burnished with gold in life, rendering this a very beautiful
and striking object.
2. Epilachna tumida. (Tab. XIII. fig. 2.)
Late subcordata, valde convexa, nigra, haud pubescens, elytrorum disco tumido, gibboso, plaga sanguinea ;
prothorace quam elytra duplo angustiore, his marginibus explanatis, creberrime, ad apicem confluenter
punctatis. Long. 12-13 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten), R. Sucio, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers).
Black, the disk of the elytra raised in a tumid manner, with a deep blood-red broad
stripe on each, leaving the suture narrowly black; the elytral margins expanded and a
little reflexed at the extreme edge, of nearly equal width from the base to the apex, the
widest part a very little below the shoulders.
This insect is not very nearly allied to any Hpilachna yet described ; in colour it is a
little like E. extrema, but the strongly elevated tumid disk of the elytra is unlike any-
thing known to me in this genus, if we except a much smaller very peculiar species
from Ecuador *. Numerous examples were obtained.
* Epilachna pustulifera, n. sp.—Late ovata, nigra, subopaca, tenuiter pubescens; elytris quam prothorax
duplo latioribus, marginibus presertim ad humeros, late expansis, singulis in medio juxta suturam, in
tuberculum corallinum elevatis. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Cotomsra, Medellin.
This remarkable insect cannot be mistaken for any other yet described. The blood-red tubercles, one on
each elytron near the middle of the suture, take their rise in an oblong spot of the same colour. The general
form is that of the ““Z. proteus” group. It is slightly pubescent.
Two specimens.
2388 COCCINELLID 2.
3. Epilachna plagiata. (Tab. XIII. fig. 3.)
Oblongo-ovata, valde convexa, nigra, nitida, dense brevissime pubescens ; elytrorum marginibus modice expla-
natis, in medio latissimis, disco macula magna transversa plagaque lata versus apicem, juxta suturam
sanguineis ornato. Long. 10 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Oblong-ovate, the thorax narrower, but not very strikingly so, than the base of the
elytra, and hence the oval outline is not much interrupted at their junction. The
expanded edge of the elytra is widest in the middle and narrowed towards the base
and the apex. ‘Their disk is extremely closely, finely and evenly punctured, and thickly
clothed with a pubescence that does not prevent their surface shining. The blood-red
patches are very distinctly marked: the basal pair look as if. they would form a fascia,
but are abbreviated externally, and are interrupted at the suture; the posterior pair
are twice as long as wide, rather pointed towards the apex.
4, Epilachna erichsoni.
Epilachna erichsoni, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 58°.
Hab. Panama, Veragua (Mus. Berol.)1.
I have not seen the type of this species. It must be near to the insect here described
as E. plagiata, but the elytra in E. erichsoni are described as being “dark metallic
green,” and the insect from Chiriqui is larger.
B. Elytra ovate, widest a little above the middle.
5. Epilachna olivacea.
Epilachna olivacea, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 808°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62 (pars) *.
Hab. Mzxico12, Cordova (Hége), Toxpam (Sallé); Guatemata (Sallé), Ostuncalco
7500 feet, Totonicapam 8500 to 10,500 feet, Quiché Mountains 7000 to 8000 feet
(Champion).
We received a series of twenty-five examples from Ostuncalco, showing very little
variation in size and colour; others from Mexico or Guatemala in the Sallé collection
are darker, but of the same form and size. Three of the five examples placed under
E. olivacea in the Cambridge Museum belong to E. obscurella, which appears to me to
be more nearly allied to Z. varivestis, but separable from both it and £. olivacea by the
black legs and trophi.
6. Epilachna picescens.
Oblongo-ovatis, picea, superne nigro-picea; prothorace maculis tribus piceis zgre distinctis; elytroruam mar-
ginibus modice expansis, dilutioribus. Long. 11 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).
Larger, more widely ovate, and with the margins more widely expanded than in
EPILACHNA. 239
£. olivacea, and differing from that species in colour. The upperside is pitchy, with
the head and thorax and the margins of the elytra pitchy-red ; the whole of the under-
side, with the legs, mouth, antenne, and epipleure, is pitchy-red. The thorax has
often three obscure oblong pitchy spots, but often only the middle one is visible. The
punctuation is very fine, but just visible. The suture is paler, and the pubescence has a
plum-bloom appearance. Although allied to E. olivacea and E. tristis, I have little
doubt the five examples captured by Mr. Champion at Bugaba represent a very distinct
species.
7. Kpilachna tristis.
_ Oblonga, subovata, nigra, confertissime minute punctata, pube brevissima cinerea vestita; elytris margine
ampliata, antice latissimis; labro, geniculis tarsisque subtus flavescentibus. Long. 10 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Chiapas (Sallé).
The labrum, base of the palpi, antenne (excepting the club), tips of the femora and
extreme bases of the tibie, and the basal joint and soles of the tarsi in this insect are
rufous, all the other parts being black, with a faintly bluish tint. The most important
distinction between this and #. olivacea, and that which leads me to give it specific
rank, is the widened epipleural margin at the base, the elytra there being twice as
wide as the thorax, thus bringing this species into Section A. It will be seen that in
E. olivacea the thorax is not much narrower than the elytra at their base. And this is
a character on which Mr. Crotch attempted, and I think with some success, to divide
the perplexing forms of EZ. proteus into species. One example only of this insect has
been received; it was labelled E. obscurella in the Sallé collection, which species,
however, it only resembles in having the legs nearly black.
8. Epilachna nigrocincta. (Tab. XIII. figg. 4, 5, 6.)
Epilachna nigrocincta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 716 (1851)*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 627
[nec Thomson, Arch. Ent. ii. p. 237 (1858) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 73].
Hab. Mexico!?, Chilpancingo 4600 feet, Omilteme 8000 feet, and Xiucumanatlan
7000 feet, all in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Mochitlan in Guerrero (Baron), Esperanza,
Boca de Monte (Hége), Toxpam, Parada, Yolos (Sallé).
Var.a. (Fig. 5.)
Epilachna nigrocincta, var. e, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62.
Hab. Mexico, Parada (Sallé).
Var. B. (Fig. 6.) .
Var. @ similis, sed cum vitta altera margini propiore, et juxta apicem ad. fasciam obliquam conjuncta suturam
vix attingente.
‘Hab. Mexico, Canelas in Durango (Becker).
This pretty variety is similar to var.a; but a second vitta, which is only disunited
240 COCCINELLID A.
from the callus by a narrow space, runs into the margin at one-third from the apex,
and emits a ramus from the bend towards the suture.
I have only seen the four examples sent by Becker, of which we figure one.
9, Epilachna vincta. (Tab. XIII. fig. 7.)
Epilachna vincta, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 63°.
Hab. Brivish Honpuras (Blancaneaux); Guatemaa1, Aceituno, Capetillo (Champion) ;
Costa Rica}, San Francisco 4500 feet (Rogers).
Apparently not a common species, only seven examples having been received by us.
10. Epilachna calligrapta. (Tab. XIII. fig. 8.)
Oblongo-ovata, nigra, nitida, vix pubescens; elytris luteis, area basali pone scutellum et supra callum humeralem
ampliata, punctisque quinque in singulis tribus intermediis fasciam obliquam preebentibus, sutura tenuiter
nigris. Long. 7 millim.
Hab. Pawama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).
Very like E. vincta, but at once distinguished by the broader and black thorax, the
black body and legs, by the mark on the callus being produced further back, by the
additional spot between this mark and the suture, and by there being only one
subapical spot. ‘Two specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion.
This insect has a very Chrysomeloid appearance, and is suggestive of a species of
Calligrapha.
11. Epilachna mexicana.
Coccinella (Epilachna) mexicana, Guér. Icon. Régne Anim., Ins. p. 319'.
Epilachna mexicana, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 781°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p.61°; Henshaw,
List of Coleopt. of America north of Mexico, p. 48 (1885)*; E. Dugés, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg.
1886, pp. 40-42, t. 3. figg. 23-33 (metamorphoses) °.
Hab. Norta America +.—Mexico!?3, Atlixco, Durasnal, Juquila, Oaxaca, Toxpam,
Toluca, Orizaba (Sallé), Guanajuato (Sallé, Dugés), Chilpancingo, Omilteme 8000 feet,
Amula, and Xautipa, all in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Mexico city (H. H.
Smith), Tacambaro, Zacualtipan, Morelia in Michoacan, Jalapa (Hoge), Mexico city
(Dr. Palmer). |
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is the southern limit of this species. It is apparently
really distinct from FE. defecta, though hardly differing, except by the presence of a
basal yellow spot on the elytra. The three apical spots are sometimes confluent, but
not so often as in EL. defecta. |
Some very small examples (seven to eight millimetres in length) occurred at
Tacambaro. The legs are generally entirely black.
According to Dugés ®, the insect lives upon Cestrum nocturnum (a Solanaceous plant)
and various Cucurbitacez.
EPILACHNA. 241
12. Epilachna defecta. (Tab. XIII. figg. 9, 10, 11.)
Epilachna defecta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 7331; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 61°.
Epilachna fuscipes, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 735
Hab. Mexico! ?3, Alvarez Mountains (Dr. Palmer), Tampico in , Tamaulipas (Richard-
son), Orizaba, Coscomatepec, Oaxaca, Yolos, Juquila, Chiapas (Sallé), Omilteme in
Guerrero, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), Misantla (F. D. G.), Jalapa, Tapachula
in Chiapas (Hége), Teapa in Tabasco (Hége & H. H. Smith); Guaremata (Sallé),
Chinautla and Aceituno (Salvin), Panima, Purula, Teleman, and San Juan, all in Vera
Paz, Duefias Capetillo (Champion) ; Honpuras (Sallé); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson,
Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan
de Chiriqui (Champion).—Co.omBia ! 28.
Very abundant from Southern Mexico to Colombia. The variety named fuscipes has
the head and thorax more or less red or yellow, and in these lighter-coloured forms the
body and legs are also red or pitchy-red. Usually EH. defecta has the femora spotted
beneath or entirely pitchy-black, and the tibie and tarsi red. An entirely black variety
occurs with only the tibie and tarsi and tips of the femora, and the mouth and trophi,
orange-yellow. Examples of this form, with intermediate ones having only the two
basal yellow spots, occurred at Tapachula in Chiapas, at Capetillo, and in Costa Rica.
We figure three examples: fig. 9, a fairly typical form from Capetillo; fig. 10, a
variety from Tapa@hula; fig. 11, the var. fuscipes, Muls., from Vera Cruz.
According to Sallé ?, it lives upon Solanum nigrum.
13. Epilachna borealis. (Tab. XIII. figg. 12-16.)
Coccinella borealis, Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 82 (1775); Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 3687; Mant. i. p. 58°; Oliv.
Ent. vi. p. 1021, t. 3. fig. 27°.
Epilachna boreulis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 826°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 64°.
Coccinella immaculicollis, Chevr. Col. Mex., Cent. i. fasc. 3, no. 100 (Nov. 1834)”.
Epilachna equinoctialis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 824°; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 63°.
Epilachna particollis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 810 *.
Epilachna indiscreta, Muls. Opusce. iii. p. 1077.
Coccinella 13-notata, Latr. in Humb. & Bonpl. Obs. Zool. ii. p. 67, t. 34. fig. 8 (1833).
Epilachna discincta, Weise, Deutsche ent. Zeitschr. 1890, p. 21”.
Hab. Nortu America!?4®, United States®.— Mexico5!0, Parras in Coahuila
(Dr. Palmer), Presidio (Forrer), Ventanas and Villa Lerdo in Durango, Iguala in
Guererro, Huetamo in Michoacan, Cordova, Las Vigas, Jalapa, Tapachula in Chiapas
(Hoge), Atlixco, Guanajuato, Orizaba, Toxpam, San Andres Tuxtla, Catemaco, Playa
Vicente, Oaxaca, Panistlahuaca (Sallé), Vera Cruz and Tuxpan (Chevrolat’), Chil-
pancingo, Venta de Peregrino, Xucumanatlan, and Rio Papagaio in Guerrero,
Cuernavaca in Morelos, Fortin in Vera Cruz, Teapa and Frontera in Tabasco
(H. H. Smith), Orizaba (H. H. S. & F. D. G.), Temax in North Yucatan (Gaumer) ;
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., January 1898. 2 T*
242 ~ COCCINELLIDA,
British Honpvuras, Rio Sarstoon, Rio Hondo, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; Guatema.a (Sallé),
Panzos, Teleman, La Tinta, Chacoj, Chiacam, San Juan, Lanquin, Sabo, Purula, and
San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, Panajachel, El ‘Tumbador, Las Mercedes, Paraiso, Cerro
Zunil, Volcan de Atitlan, Pantaleon, Mirandilla, Zapote, Duefias, Capetillo (Champion),
Chimaltenango, Coban (Conradt); Honpuras, San Pedro!®; Nicaragua, Chontales
(Belt, Janson); Costa Rica (Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba,
Volean de Chiriqui, David, Taboga I. (Champion).—Sovrn America®, Colombia,
Brazil, Buenos Ayres®9; ANTILLES >, Cuba.
We figure five specimens of this very variable species: fig. 12, a typical example
from San Gerénimo; fig. 13, the var. equinoctialis, Muls., from Costa Rica; fig. 14, a
variety from Jalapa; fig. 15, the var. dmmaculicollis, Chevr., from Orizaba; fig. 16,
the var. discincta, Weise, from Frontera in Tabasco.
The earlier stages of this insect are described by French (Canad. Ent. 1883,
pp. 189-191), who gives Echinocystis lobata, or common prickly cucumber, as a food-
plant.
According to J. B. Smith, who has described and figured the egg, larva, pupa, and
imago (Ent. News, 1893, pp. 197-199, figg. 1-3), and also the parts of the mouth of
the imago (op. cit. pp. 123-125, fig. 1), H. borealis is steadily becoming more abundant
in the Eastern United States, and has in some localities become a serious pest on
Cucurbitaceous plants of all kinds.
Mr. Champion has also noticed its destructive habits in Central America.
14. Epilachna varivestis. (Tab. XIII. figg. 17-19; 20, larva.)
Epilachna varivestis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 815*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62”.
Epilachna varipes, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 812°.
Epilachna murina, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 814%.
Epilachna corrupta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 815°; Henshaw, List of the Coleopt. of
America north of Mexico, p. 48 (1885) °.
Hab. Norta America®,—Mexico! 2345, Saltillo and Monclova in Coahuila, Alvarez
Mountains, Hacienda de Bleados in San Luis Potosi (Dr. Palmer), Presidio (Forrer),
Chihuahua city, Cholula and Matamoros Izucar in Puebla, Jalapa, Cordova, Mexico city,
Oaxaca (Hodge), Chilpancingo, Omilteme, and Xucumanatlan in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),
Puebla, Atlixco, Guanajuato, Cuernavaca, Orizaba, Oaxaca, Capulalpam, Juquila (Sad/é),
Tenango del Valle (Richardson) ; GuatTEMALA, near the city (Salvin), Duefias (Champion) ;
Costa Rica, Caché, San Francisco, Rio Sucio, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Bugaba,
Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
This abundant and very variable species may be easily recognized by its oblong
and not expanded form, and by the number and position of the eight black spots on
each elytron—three basal, one on the callus and two not in line with it and near the
EPILACHNA. 243
suture, three nearly in a straight fasciate line near the middle, and two subapical,
these latter sometimes united and forming an arcuate spot, this constituting the var.
varipes, Muls. This variety is not uncommon; I have seen it from Cordova, Oaxaca,
Capulalpam, the city of Mexico, Chilpancingo, and the Hacienda de Bleados. The
variety named ££. corrupta by Mulsant, and of which the type from Chevrolat’s
collection is before me, is simply a very dark form of this insect with the black spots
represented by denuded spaces, rendering them more distinct than they would other-
wise be; it is scarcely different from the var. MULING,, in which the spot nearest the _
suture of the apical pair is not apparent in the type. An example from Parada in
Sallé’s collection wholly agrees with the form murina, and is labelled “ plumbea, Deyr.”
The soft pubescence in examples of this type is just like that of FE. olivacea and of
E. obscurella, Muls., and it appears probable to me that the latter is only the extreme
form, in which the denuded spots have quite disappeared. We have received a small
series from Oaxaca (/7ége) which appear to be referable to H. murina or HE. corrupta ;
but they are decidedly shorter, and have, consequently, the two subapical spots in a
straight fascia, instead of being obliquely placed. ‘The species disappears towards the
Isthmus of Panama; the only two specimens obtained there by Mr. Champion are of
the yellow form, in one of which the basal row of spots is gone, in the other they
re almost obsolete. £. simillima, Crotch, from Bogota, is, I think, rather a form of
#. borealis than, as he thought, of this insect.
Dr. Palmer has sent the larva (fig. 20) and pupa of a pallid variety of E. varivestis
from Mexico city. The larva is clothed with branched and variegated black-and-white
spines. The pupa retains the larval skin, only partially cast, on its hind body. There
is a record of E. corrupta from New Mexico (cf. ‘ Insect Life,’ ii. pp. 113, 114 (1889)].
We figure a typical example from Oaxaca (fig. 17); the var. varipes, Muls., from
Cordova (fig. 18); and a pale variety (fig. 19) and its larva (fig. 20) from Mexico city.
15. Epilachna obscurella.
Epilachna obscurella, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 809 ‘
Hab. Mexico } (Saillé), near the city (Hége).
The smaller size, more oblong shape, and black legs and trophi seem to be sufficient
to give this form specific rank. ‘The elytral margins, moreover, are hardly expanded.
It is, however, very difficult to distinguish this from nearly black forms of £. varivestis.
Crotch (Rev. Coccin. p. 62) treats E. obscurella as a variety of E. olivacea.
16. Epilachna vulnerata. (Tab. XIII. fig. 21.)
Late ovata, suborbicularis, nigra, nitida, brevissime pubescens; elytris fasciis duabus nec marginem nec
suturam attingentibus, maculaque magna subrotundata subapicali sanguineis haud bene discretis, cre,
antennis, palpis, geniculis, tibiis tarsisque rufis. Long. 8 millim.
Hab. Mexico (Sallé ; mus. Crotch).
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244 COCCINELLIDZ.
We have a specimen of this insect from Sallé’s collection, and there is another in
the Cambridge collection which Crotch placed with E. aubai, and is apparently one
of the examples he alludes to under that species, when he says “‘in mature specimens
the elytra have a dark central fascia.” The insect before us is, however, broader
and differently coloured, and does not look at all like a variety of £. aubai. The
elytra have their margins very narrowly reflexed; they are nearly as broad as long,
clothed with a very fine downy pubescence; the basal fascia occupies the callus, and
thins off and becomes indistinct towards the scutellum ; the central fascia is only very
narrowly interrupted at the suture. The underside, coxe, and femora are black, the
tips of the latter, the tibie, and tarsi being orange-red.
17. Epilachna aubzi.
Epilachna Aubei, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 810%.
Epilachna Aubei, Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62”. .
Hab. Mexico}, Chilpancingo 4600 feet, Omilteme 8000 feet and Xautipa, all in
Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Parada, Yolos, Yolotepec, Juquila (Sal/é).
18. Epilachna amplexata. :
Epilachna amplexata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 856*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62’.
Hab. Mexico ! 2.
I cannot identify any examples I have seen with this species. Although the type
would seem to have passed into Crotch’s collection, it is not to be found there, nor
does the name stand there now. He remarks of it, “ Very close to E. aubei, but
differs by having the coarse punctures apparent.”
19. Epilachna vanpatteni. (Tab. XIII. fig. 22.)
Breviter ovata, valde convexa, nitida, parum pubescens, castaneo-rufa; prothorace macula transversa; elytris
singulis punctis tribus basalibus (suturali communi), fascia nec marginem nec suturam attingente, punctis
tribus post medianis (suturali communi), et punctis tribus subapicalibus in triangulum dispositis, corpore
infra pedibusque nigris. Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten).
Var, Prothorace, pedibus et corpore concoloribus immaculatis, elytrorum signatura «gre discreta.
Hab. GuatTEmata, Volcan de Atitlan (Champion).
The single example from Costa Rica cannot be assigned to any species known to me,
and is well and definitely marked. The specimen from the Volcan de Atitlan is more
pubescent, and has all the marks cloudy and ill-defined; it might have been mistaken
for £. borealis, but the fascia following the three basal spots, and the three subapical
spots following the three postmedian ones, differentiate L. vanpattent from that species.
We figure the type from Costa Rica.
EPILACHNA. 245
20. Epilachna modesta. (Tab. XIII. fig. 23.)
Epilachna modesta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 817*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 63’.
Epilachna difficilis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 818°.
Hab. Mexico}? 3, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Toxpam, Orizaba (Sallé), Jalapa, Oaxaca
(Hoge); Guaremata, La Tinta and San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, Capetillo (Champion).
A specimen from Oaxaca is figured.
21. Kpilachna patula. (Tab. XIII. fig. 26.)
Epilachna patula, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 796*; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 62’,
Hab. Mexico! 2, San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé), Las Vigas (Hoge).
A small series has been received from Hége of this very distinct and pretty species.
22. Epilachna polluta, (Tab. III. fig. 24.) |
Epilachna polluta, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 870"; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 63°.
Hab. Muxico!2, Cuernavaca in Morelos (Sallé), Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet
(H. H. Smith), Tacambaro in Michoacan (Hodge).
An obscurely marked, very convex species. We figure a fully-coloured example
from Amula; very frequently the markings are clouded and obscure, or almost absent.
23. Epilachna mitis. (Tab. XIII. fig. 25.)
Epilachna mitis, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 853'; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 66’.
Hab. Mexico!?2, Cuernavaca, Toxpam (Sallé), Oaxaca (Hége), Teapa in Tabasco
(H. H. Smith); Guatemata, San Gerénimo, San Joaquin, Chiacam, Cubilguitz, San
Juan, and La Tinta, all in Vera Paz (Champion).
Subject to a good deal of variation, both in size and colour. The examples from
Oaxaca agree precisely with the type, which is before me (mus. Crotch, Cambridge,
ex Chevrolat). These have a heavy pubescence, a completed dark submarginal zone,
and the suture dark, but shining in the middle, and are very similar to Ladoria delphine.
Most of the examples from Vera Paz are smaller and darker, with the thorax dark on
the disk, the zone often interrupted near the apex, &c. The South-American J. cir-
cumflua, Muls., scarcely differs from this, and is regarded by Crotch as synonymous
with E. contempta, Muls., from Buenos Ayres. We have received a large series of
examples. A specimen from Toxpam is figured.
24, Epilachna inepta.
Orbiculis, parum convexa, pubescens, sordide ochracea; prothorace elytrorumque lateribus dilutioribus, his
zonula submarginali pone medium abbreviata punctoque discoidali, illo punctis duobus basalibus haud
bene discretis fuscis. Long. 4°5-5 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer), Playa Vicente (Sal/é).
246 | COCCINELLIDZ.
The sordid yellow colour and ill-defined black markings of the three examples before
me may be due to their slight immaturity, and the certainly deep and broken style of
punctuation in the two from Presidio is perhaps partly due to the same cause; the
black dot on the disk of the elytra is, however, a distinctive character, which prevents
my referring this insect to E. circumflua (a South-American species) or any of its close |
allies. It is, of course, possibly a form of #. métis, and can at present only be regarded
as a tentative species. It seems probable, however, that there are many closely allied,
small, zonate species of Epilachna.
_ 25, Epilachna virgata.
Epilachna virgata, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 855+; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 67°.
Hab. Guatremaua, Duefias (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, David, Volcan de Chiriqui
2000 to 3000 feet, Caldera (Champion).—Sovuta America, Colombia!, Venezuela ?,
Andes above 9000 feet 2.
The elytra have two dark stripes, besides the zone near the margin, and, as Crotch
remarks ?, “ the striped appearance due to the arrangement of the pubescence is very
characteristic.” Some examples from the Volcan de Chiriqui are very dark and suffused,
so that the vitte and zone are not conspicuous. Fifteen examples were sent by
Mr. Champion.
SUPPLEMENT.
Tue following notes and descriptions refer to insects which have been sent us during
the publication of this volume; in a few cases to others which had been reserved for
further examination as being of doubtful location.
ACROPTEROXYS (p. 18).
Acropteroxys caudata (p. 13).
To the Mexican locality given, add :—Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).
3. Acropteroxys acuminatus.
Niger, capite prothoraceque parce punctatis, hoc oblongo, lateribus distincte marginatis ; elytris apicem versus
acuminatis, apicibus divaricatis, leviter striato-punctatis, interstitiis punctulatis ; antennarum clava sex-
articula. Long. 75-8 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo and Omilteme in Guerrero, 4600 to 8000 feet
(H. H. Smith).
Head, thorax, and antenne black, the head and thorax deeply and rather sparsely
punctured. The antenne have the first four joints short, and scarcely longer than
wide ; the fifth joint is a little widened ; the sixth to the eleventh form along and
lax club. The prosternum is transversely wrinkled, and impressed with scattered
coarse punctures, its process widened towards the tip and much depressed. ‘The
metasternum is smooth, with a few dispersed small punctures. The prothorax is
oblong, but not so long asin A. gracilis; its sides are sinuate, and its front angles more
depressed than in that species, and it hence appears more cylindrical. The elytra are
a little tumid near the base, and taper from thence to the apex, where they are slightly
divaricating ; they are also minutely denticulate, but the denticulation is only visible
under a very strong lens.
This insect, of which only two specimens were obtained by Mr. Smith, diverges a
little from the type of the genus in which I place it, inasmuch as the antenne have
the last six joints nearly equally wide and the fifth joint also widened a little, so that
the club is very gradually formed. In the punctuation and colour it is very like
Ortholanguria elongata, but the general shape is more acuminate.
248 SUPPLEMENT.
DASYDACTYLUS (p. 14).
Dasydactylus buprestoides (p. 15).
To the locality given, add :—Gvatemata, Coban in Vera Paz (Conradt).
2(a). Dasydactylus zneopiceus.
‘/Eneo-piceus, elytris viridi-nitentibus, antennis tarsisque nigrescentibus; capite prothoraceque fere glabris,
hoe subquadrato, femine minute punctulato; elytris obsoletius punctato-striatis, interstitiis postice
punctatis, Long. 11-13 millim. ¢ 9°.
Mas, prothorace convexiore, lateribus antice magis rotundatis, tarsis anticis dilatatis fulvo-hirtulis.
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
This species is very closely allied to D. subulatus. It differs principally in the
pitchy-red colour of the head and thorax, and in the latter being shorter and relatively
broader in both sexes than in that insect; the elytra are at the same time broader and
less subulate. D. wneopiceus is also clearly allied to D. glabricollis, but appears to be
a more robust insect and is differently coloured.
Dasydactylus picipes (p. 22).
To the localities given, add :—MeExico, Teapa i in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
Dasydactylus sellatus (p. 23).
To the Mexican localities given, add :—Temax in N. Yucatan (Gawimer).
Among many examples of this species sent from Teapa by Mr. H. H. Smith (whence
I have already recorded it) are several of the variety with the head black.
CROTCHIA (p. 28).
Crotchia parvula (p. 32).
To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
THALLISELLA (to follow the genus Crotchia, p. 32).
Thallisella, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 402 (1876).
This genus, of which the type is 7’. peruviana, Crotch, is clearly a member of the
Erotylide and has undoubted affinity with certain members of the Languriide. It is
well and sufficiently characterized by Crotch, with the exception of the male characters
observable in the Central-American species; but with singular inconsistency he has
included in it a second species from a wholly different part of the world—TZ. malasie,
which is not congeneric. ‘This latter is, in fact, a member of the genus which has
subsequently been described by Mr. Fowler under the name Paracladoxena.
The TZhalliselle are small Triplacid-looking beetles, with coarsely granulated,
prominent eyes; very broad tarsi, with spongiose soles, apparently four-jointed, but
EROTYLIDA. 249
really five-jointed, the claw-joint having the basal node; distinct metasternal and
abdominal lines or carine; and stout antenne, with a three-jointed club. The elytra
are faintly striated below the shoulders.
We have two species to record from Central America.
The toothed intermediate femora in the male of 7. crotchi are very remarkable,
and the three ventral segments having each a pilose dot in the same sex are quite
analogous to the character figured for Crotchia proxima (cf. Tab. I. fig. 24 a). I cannot
say whether these characters exist in the male of 7. peruviana, Crotch.
1. Thallisella crotchi.
Oblonga, parum ovata, ferruginea, nitida; thorace transverso-quadrato, parce punctulato, basi bifoveolato ;
elytris punctato-striatis ; antennarum articulis quatuor ultimis clavam formantibus, nigris.
Mas, femoribus intermediis late dentatis, abdominis segmentis secundo, tertio et quarto, puncto piloso. Long.
42 millim.
Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaur); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de
Chiriqui (Champion).
This species is deep rusty-red in colour, with the punctures in the striz fuscous, but
only faintly so beneath the surface ; the strize are about eight in number, but towards
the side become short and confused ; the marginal stria is deep and sinuous, and the
margin much inflexed. The thorax is transverse, but not twice as wide as long; the
front angles are deflexed and acute, and the hinder angles also rather acute, the sides
being slightly sinuate ; upon the disc there is an irregular and indistinct M-like fuscous
mark. These fuscous markings, as well as those in the strie, are not always present.
The underside is smooth and shining, with a few scattered punctures upon the meta-
sternum. The prosternal process is raised at the sides, and has a rather obsolete carina
in the middle.
Three examples from the Volcan de Chiriqui, which appear to be females, have
the apical joint of their antenne red, and the elytra rather more infuscate in the
middle than in the Bugaba specimens, with the base, shoulders, and apex lighter
ferruginous-red.
2. Thallisella conradti.
Oblongo-elongata, nigra, nitida; antennis, pedibus elytrisque ad apicem picescentibus ; capite crebre fortiter
punctato, fronte late subbiimpressa; antennis capitis thoracisque longitudine, articulis secundo ad
octavum subsqualibus, gradatim brevioribus, haud elongatis, clava haud abrupta; prothorace transverso-
quadrato, crebre ac distincte punctulato, basi profunde bifoveolato ; elytris sat profunde striato-punctatis,
interstitiis planis, glabris. Long. 44-5 millim.
Hab. Guatumata, Coban in Vera Paz (Conrad).
If this insect had come from the eastern hemisphere, I should have unhesitatingly
placed it in the genus Thallis. The five-jointed tarsi (the claw-joint having a distinct
but small node at its base) will easily prevent its being confused with any species of
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., December 1898. 2 Kk*
250 SUPPLEMENT.
Hapalips, no less than the total absence of pubescence and the presence of basal sulci
on the thorax; the latter are very short, but deeply impressed, and connected by a
transverse impression, the sides and base of the thorax being margined. The thorax
is one-fourth wider than long, rather sparsely but distinctly punctured, the width in
front scarcely less than at the base, but the front angles are a little deflexed. The
elytra are very distinctly punctate-striate, there being about eight strize on each, that
nearest the suture at the base being punctured for a short distance only, and then
merging in the unpunctured sutural stria; near the apex all the strie become obsolete.
The scutellum is transverse. The legs are pitchy; the tibie are simple, a little
widened at the tip in the front pair. The eyes are more coarsely faceted than in
Hapalips.
Two examples.
HAPALIPS (to follow the genus Thalliselia).
Hapalips, Reitter, Verh. Ver. Briinn, xv. Abhandl. p. 122 (1877).
This genus was formerly placed by its 4uthor in the Rhizophagide. He has,
however, himself noticed the analogy of the tarsal structure with that of Languria,
and Mons. A. Grouvelle, in rejecting them from the association named, considers them
better placed with the Languriides. Their general structure—that of the head, the
antenne, the prosternum, and occasionally visible, though very obsolete, ‘* abdominal
lines,’—apart from the form of the tarsi, fully bears out this conclusion.
Reitter enumerated ten species, all with one exception from the Southern continent
of America. Specimens of two species have been lately sent by Mr. H. H. Smith from
St. Vincent and Grenada, in the West Indies. We here enumerate five, chiefly
from Mexico. ‘They are therefore rather widely distributed *.
A. Interstices of the elytra not punctured.
1. Hapalips cribricollis.
Oblongus, subparallelus, leviter convexus, nitidus, rufo-piceus, parce pubescens; capite prothoraceque parce
fortiter punctatis, elytris fortiter punctato-striatis, fronte obsolete biimpressa; prothorace quadrato,
lateribus tenuiter marginatis, ante basin obsolete bifoveato ; elytris prothorace paullo latioribus, interstitiis
levibus ; antennarum articulis quarto ad octavum subquadratis, clava abrupta; capite, prothorace
elytrorumque fascia sat lata, pone medium sita, sepe saturatioribus. Long. 3°75-4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Motzorongo in Vera Cruz (Flohr), Teapa in Tabasco (Hége).
This species appears to me to be rather near H. gracilicornis, Reitter, and to differ
from it in being more shining, with the head and thorax more sparsely and more
deeply punctured. ‘The antenne are as long as in that insect, but have the intermediate
* Mr. Champion informs me that he sent a large number of specimens of this genus from both Guatemala
and Panama: these, unfortunately, cannot now be found.
EROTYLIDA. 251
Joints bead-shaped, with the club more abrupt. The front angles of the thorax are
subdentate a little below the actual angle, nearly as shown in figure 2 of the plate
accompanying Reitter’s descriptions. The head is distinctly bifoveolate, but the fovee
are small and not deep. In the majority (five out of eight) of the specimens sent the
head and thorax are dark pitchy-red, and the elytra have an ill-defined rather curved
fascia, and a very indistinct spot near the scutellum, darker than the ground-colour.
2. Hapalips filum.
_ Hapailips filum, Reitter, Verh. Ver. Briinn, Abhandl. xv. p. 125°; Gorham, P. Z.S. 1898, p. 335 *,
Hab. Mexico, Frontera in Tabasco (Hége).—Cotompta!; ANTILLES, Grenada ®.
I refer a single example sent by Hoge from Tabasco to this species.
B. Interstices of the elytra punctured.
3. Hapalips reitteri.
Elongato-oblengus, nitidulus, capite prothoraceque parcius, elytris densius pubescens, fuscus vel obscure
ferrugineus; capite inter oculos transversim late biimpresso; antennis capite prothoraceque sesqui
brevioribus, articulis quarto ad octavum nodiformibus, clava abrupta; prothorace quadrato, cum capite
parcius distincte punctato, lateribus tenuiter reflexo marginatis haud crenulatis, disco squali, basi
obsolete biimpresso ; elytris perobsolete punctato-sulcatis, interdum punctato-striatis, interstitiis seriatim
confuse punctatis. Long. 5°5-6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Jalcomulco in Vera Cruz (Flohr), Vera Cruz (Sallé).
This species by its large size seems distinct from any yet described, except /. grandis,
_ Reitter, from Colombia, from which the punctuation of the interstices of the elytra
separatesit. The eyes are large and prominent, but the head is narrower by one-quarter
than the thorax. The latter is nearly square, not wider than long; the front angles of
the reflexed margins are not so far advanced as the front margin, looking as though
they were excised below the eyes; its surface is covered with distinct, somewhat
stellate, flat-bottomed punctures, which here and there are confluent. The elytra have
the rows of punctures irregular, often confluent, while the punctures of the interstices
are scarcely smaller, but less confused than those of the strie; near the scutellum,
however, and for some way along the suture, they are quite confused with those of the
strie. The general colour is obscurely ferruginous, the elytra often becoming nearly
fuscous with lighter shoulders. The pubescence in this insect (as in the other species
here described) is golden and serially arranged. ‘The metasternal and abdominal lines
are in the form of very fine raised carine and are very short. |
I refer seven examples to this species, all of which are from the Sallé collection, with
the exception of the one from Jalcomulco.
4. Hapalips flohri.
Oblongo-elongatus, nitidulus, parce pubescens, piceus, capite prothoraceque crebre distincte ac profunde
punctatis ; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis evidenter seriatim punctatis ; fronte utrinque late obsolete
2 K* 2
252 SUPPLEMENT.
- biimpresea; prothorace oblongo-quadrato, angulis anticis integris, rectis, lateribus et basi tenuiter
marginatis, hoc obsolete bifoveolato; antennis brevibus, articulis quarto ad octavum nodiformibus,
Long. 6 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Motzorongo in Vera Cruz (Flohr).
Equal in size to H. reitteri, but at once separable from it by the more shining, less
pubescent surface, the longer thorax, which is a little longer than wide, with the anterior
angles in a line with the front margin, and the distinctly punctate-striate elytra; the
punctures on the latter are not in irregular rows, although they are very close and in
places, especially externally, become confluent. The rows of elongate punctures on the
elytral interstices are also more regular and more distinct than they are in H. reitteri.
The colour is uniformly pitchy.
One specimen only has been received of this insect, and it is possible that the
pubescence has been partly rubbed off; but even if this is the case the surface is less
alutaceous, and the puncturing is stronger and more regular, than that of H. rettteri.
5. Hapalips parallelus.
Oblongo-elongatus, parallelus, breviter pubescens, fuscus, infra cum pedibus ferrugineus; capite crebre minute
punctato, fronte obsoletius biimpressa ; antennis breviusculis, ferrugineis, articulis quarto ad octavum
transversis, clava abrupta; prothorace transverso quadrato, parcius haud profunde punctato, basi utrinque
subimpresso, lateribus tenuiter marginatis ; elytris thorace parum latioribus, lateribus parallelis, obsolete
striato-punctatis, interstitiis minute seriatim punctatis. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Sallé), Frontera in Tabasco (Hége).
Var. Obscure ferrugineus,
Hab. Muxtico, Colima city (Hége), Vera Cruz (Sallé).
Apparently very near H. fuscus, Reitter, from Brazil. The punctures of the inter.
stitial series of the elytra seem to be finer than they are in that insect, to judge from
the description, indeed they are so fine as not to be easily seen. The punctures of the
striee are very numerous, oblong, and almost confluent; those of the thorax are stellate
and flat-bottomed. The abdominal lines are fine, carinate, extending over two-thirds
of the basal segment.
Seven examples,
EUXESTUS (to precede the genus Megalodacne, p. 33).
Euxestus, Wollaston, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) ii. p. 411 (1858) ; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. xii.
p. 26; Gorham, P. Z. 8. 1898, p. 336.
Eusestus is a genus formed by Wollaston for a very small insect somewhat resembling
a small pitchy-coloured Dacne, from Madeira. It is apparently rather closely allied to
Eastern insects of the genus Tritomidea, Motschulsky ; but the New World species
differs from them in the structure of the antenne and in other points which I have
already noticed elsewhere.
o
EROTYLIDA. 253
1. Euxestus piciceps.
Euxestus piciceps, Gorh. P. Z. S. 1898, p. 336}.
Hab. Mexico, San Juan Bautista in Tabasco (Hoge); GuatemaLa, Senahu in Vera
Paz (Champion).—ANTILLES, Grenada !. ,
One example only has been seen by me from each of the Central-American localities
named, but several were sent from Grenada. It is therefore widely distributed in
Tropical America.
MEGALODACNE (p. 33).
Megalodacne audouini (p. 34).
To the Mexican localities given, add :—Temax in N. Yucatan (Gaumer).
MEGISCHYRUS (p. 37).
Megischyrus nicarague (p. 37).
To the localities given, add:—Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion).
MYCOTRETUS (p. 46).
Mycotretus ornatus (p. 47).
To the localities given, add :—GuatemaLa, Coban in Vera Cruz (Conradt).
Mycotretus scitulus (p. 49).
To the localities given, add :—GuaremaLa, Coban in Vera Cruz (Conradt).
Mycotretus bistrigatus (p. 52).
To the Mexican localities given, add :—-Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).
Mycotretus vittatus (p. 57).
To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Temax in N. Yucatan (Gaumer).
Mycotretus epopterus (p. 69).
Var. prothorace quadripunctato ; elytris nigris, fasciis duabus dentatis, ad suturam interruptis, albidis, posteriore
versus apicem arcuata.
Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).
A single example, apparently belonging to this species, but differing as above. The
four thoracic spots are equidistant, in a transverse row, and show no tendency to unite,
as in the type. The black markings of the elytra are more diffused, so that the two
basal spots described in the type are here quite united, and the suture is black between
254 SUPPLEMENT.
the scutellum and the broad central black fascia. The breast beneath is pitchy-red.
The scutellum in both examples is black.
62 (a). Mycotretus erraticus.
Oblongo-ovatus, ater, capite, prothorace, antennarum articulis duobus primis pedibusque saturate rufis; verticis
puneto prothoracisque punctis tribus, mediano majore, marginem anticam attingente, nigris ; capite
prothoraceque creberrime fortiter punctatis, elytris punctato-striatis. Long. 43 millim.
” Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (H. H. Smith).
Antenne rather long, and the club lax for this genus. Thorax with the sides nearly
straight, only a little contracted to the front angles, transverse; front scarcely excised,
the angles acute, the base sinuate. Elytra and scutellum black, the former deeply
punctate-striate, with the interstices not quite smooth. The legs are blackish in one
example, but the tarsi even in this are red. The meso- and metasterna and the
abdomen are black, and are strongly punctured, the latter being smoother in the
middle. |
Two examples.
LYBAS (p. 75).
Lybas granatus (p. 75).
To the Mexican localities given, add :—Teapa in Tabasco (H. AH. Smith).
CYCLOMORPHUS (to follow the genus Coccimorphus, p. 84).
Cyclomorphus, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 114; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 258 (1842); Chapuis,
Gén. Col. xii. p. 53 (1876) ; Crotch, Cist. Ent. 1. p. 483.
A genus of about twenty species, all hitherto described being from the southern
continent. It has very much the form of Mgithus, but is distinguished from that
genus by the coarsely granulated eyes, as well as by the outline not being so uniform,
the thorax having its sides more rounded and its base more rectangular than is usual
in Atgithus.
1. Cyclomorphus sordidus.
Valde convexus, gibbosus, fere glaber, sordide luteus, subtus piceo-variegatus ; ore, antennis, palpis pedibusque
nigris, femoribus infra luteo-pictis; elytris nigro-piceis, sutura marginibusque indistincte luteis. Long.
9 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).
Broadly ovate, the apex of the elytra very declivous and pointed; impunctate, but
with a fine alutaceous sculpture, which renders the surface not very brilliant, though
shining. Head and thorax luteous; the mouth, antenne and palpi, and the extreme
margins of the thorax, are black. Thorax with the base more than twice as wide as
the length, the front not deeply excavated. The antenne are rather longer than the
head and thorax together. The scutellum is black. The elytra are smooth, but not
EROTYLIDA, 258
very shining nor so clearly alutaceous as is the thorax; the suture and margins are
bordered by a very fine impressed line close to their edge, the former is depressed, and
the latter are not at all expanded. ‘The under surface is impunctate, and there are no
coxal lines. The prosternum is simple, 7. ¢. not carinate nor elevated in front.
The discovery of a species of Cyclomorphus so far north, and at such an elevation, is
interesting, as the genus has not, so far as [ am aware, been recorded previously from
the northern continent.
ZEGITHUS (p. 85).
Aigithus uva (p. 88).
To the localities given, add :—Muexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).
One small example, apparently referable to this species.
PLASTOCOCCUS (to follow the genus Ayithus, p. 92).
Corpus suborbiculare, gibboso-convexum, coccinelliforme. Pronotum perbreve, valde arcuatum; prosternum
equale, haud carinatum; metasternum lineis coxalibus integris elevatis. Elytrorum marginibus modice
explanatis, epipleuris declivis. Caput in prothorace receptum, oculis leviter granulatis ; antenne breves,
clava laxe formata quadriarticulata, haud multo incrassata; palpi labiales articulo ultimo valde securi-
formi.
The above name is proposed for a very Coccinellid-looking species of Erotylide,
which with no very decided characters is yet not to be associated with any described
genus. It is perhaps most nearly allied to Coccimorphus and Aigithus.
1. Plastococcus atricinctus.
Rufo-ferrugineus, supra sanguineus, capite, prothorace (basi excepta) elytrorumque marginibus late, ad apicem
latiore, nigris; elytris vage seriatim punctatis, interstitiis disperse punctulatis. Long. 33-4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, David, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000-5000 feet (Champion).
The disc of the elytra, the scutellum, and the extreme base of the thorax are
blood-red; the head and rest of the thorax are black and smooth; the thorax is short
and arcuate, formed exactly as in Chilocorus. The antenne are shorter than the head
and thorax together; they are obscurely yellow, with a blackish club. The palpi
externally are dark. ‘The front and sides of the thorax are margined by a very fine
line; the base is not margined. The elytra are oval and slightly cordate, smooth and
shining, with seven or eight series of distinct punctures, and with confused punctures on
the sides and at the apex. The underside and legs are entirely rich tawny-ferruginous,
and the true epipleural fold of the elytra is of the same colour, the strongly inclined outer
margin being black. The whole form of this insect, and its colour, is so remarkably
like that of a Chilocorus that, but for the stouter and apparently four-jointed tarsi, the
somewhat stouter antenne, the absence of abdominal coxal fossettes, and the serially
punctate elytra, it might readily be taken for a member of that genus.
A considerable series of specimens was obtained by Mr. Champion.
256 SUPPLEMENT.
2. Plastococcus apicalis.
Sanguineo-rufus, capitis basi prothoraceque (basi et lateribus exceptis) indeterminate nigris ; elytris singulis
macula subapicali nigris, vix punctulatis. Long. 5 millim.
Had. Panama, San Feliz in Chiriqui (Champion).
Larger than P. atricinctus. The mouth, antenne, palpi, and the base and sides of
the thorax are yellowish-red, but in a vague way, and are evidently variable in the
degree to which this colour extends. The elytra are more obsoletely punctulate
(in one example nearly smooth); they are entirely blood-red, except the two spots
near, but not quite reaching, the apex, which together form an arcuate mark nearly
disjoined at the suture.
P. apicalis is evidently very nearly allied to, and perhaps only a local variety of,
P. atricinctus. |
Three specimens.
BRACHYSPHENUS (p. 92).
24 (a). Brachysphenus sp. ?
Hab. Guatemata, Coban in Vera Paz (Conradt).
A single specimen of a Brachysphenus unknown to me. Fulvous-yellow; the elytra
black, with the epipleure, two basal spots (somewhat obliquely placed), and the apex
—enclosing a black spot on each elytron, these spots being united along the suture
and margin with an interrupted fascia,—whitish-yellow. TElytra very obsoletely
gemellate-striate. Antenne, knees, tibiee, and tarsi black.
CYPHEROTYLUS (p. 103).
Cypherotylus alutaceus (p. 107).
To the Mexican locality given, add:—Amula, Omilteme, and Xucumanatlan in
Guerrero, 6000 to 8000 feet (H. H. Smith), Mochitlan in Guerrero (Baron).
Sent in abundance from Guerrero.
BRACHYLON (to follow the genus Homeotelus, p. 114).
Corpus breve, oblongum, nitidum, glabrum; elytra parce, haud profunde punctato-striata ; prothorax validus,
basi bisinuata vix marginata, lateribus tenuissime marginatis; caput receptum. Antenne valide, decem-
articulate ; clava capitulata, pubescente, triarticulata, articulis connatis «gre distinctis. Pedes breves;
femoribus tibiisque compressis, haud multo dilatatis; tarsis quadriarticulatis (?), tenuibus; unguibus
simplicibus, articulo quarto longo.
The above is the formula (so far as I have examined the two specimens) for a very
small beetle of doubtful location, at first sight resembling a small Cercyon, but
apparently allied to Dacne, and perhaps to Xestus of Wollaston; but differing in the
EROTYLIDA.—ENDOMYCHIDZ. 257
capitulate club of the antenne. We frequently meet with small Coleoptera, both in
the Erotylide and in the Endomychide, with the tarsi apparently four-jointed and very
simple, 7. ¢. neither expanded nor with bilobed joints. That these insects are of doubtful
location in the Clavicorn series is obvious, when it is considered that the relation
of many genera with such families as the Cryptophagide and with genera such as
Ephistemus is not well ascertained. |
1. Brachylon breve.
Oblongo-ovatum, nigro-piceum, nitidum; antennis pedibusque flavis; elytris singulis seriebus quinque
punctorum, postice obliteratis. Long. vix 2 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith); Nicaracua, Chontales
(Janson).
Broadly-oval, pitchy-black, the head, thorax, and the base and margins of the elytra
being of a pitchy-red, almost blood-red colour ; the antenna, palpi, and legs are chestnut-
yellow. The whole insect is smooth and shining, without pubescence, and impunctate
(saving about seven series of rather sparsely disposed punctures on the elytra, which
terminate at about one-third from the apex). The head is small, received, but not
deeply, into the thorax, and when turned downwards forming a uniform outline with
its front. The antenne are short, with a capitulate club, apparently consisting of three
closely soldered joints. The eyes are small and very slightly prominent. The palpi are
very little developed, and cannot easily be observed ; they are light yellow, and appear
to have a small securiform apical joint. The thorax (with the head) is quite smooth ;
its sides are very finely margined; the front angles are depressed, so that the small
opening for the head is not much cut out, but would appear semicircular viewed from
the front. The elytra are of the same width as the thorax at the base, and closely fitted
to its bisinuate hind margin; they are smooth. with the exception of the punctate
strie. In some examples the whole insect is nearly black, with yellow legs and
trophi. .
Five examples, all apparently referable to one species.
PHALANTHA (p. 118).
Phalantha intricata (p. 119).
To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. #. Smith), Frontera in
Tabasco (Flohr).
TROCHOIDEUS (to follow the genus Micropsephus, p. 150).
Trochoideus, Westwood, Trans. Linn. Soc. xvi. p. 675 (1883) ; Gerstaecker, Monogr. Endom.
p- 381.
Trochoideus is placed by Gerstaecker at the commencement of his fourth group of
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt.,. Vol.. VIL, February 1899. 2 L*
258 SUPPLEMENT.
the Endomychide, but it must be admitted it has less claim than the other genera
toa place there. The tarsi are simply four-jointed, but the remarkable insects. which
compose this genus have neither the general appearance nor structure of the family.
They present rather the suggestion of an abnormal form of Cryptophagide, and have a
certain relationship to the European genus Pleganophorus, now usually placed among
the Colydiide. |
The distribution of the five species recorded is no less remarkable: one from
Madagascar ; one widely spread in the East (Burma, the Philippine Is., Java, the
Nicobar Is., &c.); one from Burma; one obtained from gum-copal; and one from
Tropical America. ) .
1. Trochoideus americanus, |
Trochoideus americanus, Buquet, Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 1741; Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. xix. p. 45”.
Trochoideus goudoti, Guer. Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1857, p. 191 (¢) *.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000-4000 feet (Champion).—CoLomBia, San
Antonio near Bogota +, Tolima 3.
Of this curious insect a male and two female examples were found by Mr. Champion
in Chiriqui. The females have one more joint in the funicular portion of the antenne
than the male, and the apical joint is much less massive and more pubescent. The
colour in our examples is uniformly fulvous. The insect appears to be found under
the bark of decaying trees.
CRYPTOGNATHA (p. 181).
Cryptognatha auriculata (p. 182).
To the localities given, add :—GuaTEMALA, Panzos and San Gerdnimo in Vera Paz
(Champion); Panama, Bugaba, David, Caldera, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
About a dozen specimens from Panama are, I think, to be referred to this species.
They are nearly unicolorous, the head and front angles of the thorax being paler in
some specimens, which may be the males, and the legs are paler yellow than the upper
surface. ‘The elytra have the juxta-sutural row of subcutaneous fuscous dots often
present, and continued parallel to the base; the punctures are very faintly and
obsoletely serial near the margin, in an extremely shallow sulcus. The front tibie, in
what I suppose to be the male, have their outer edge compressed, so as to appear to
have a membranous projection, widest near their base, and the middle and hind tibie
are emarginate on their outer sides. Single examples from Teapa and Panzos
respectively are evidently males, and have the head wide and concave, and the thorax
with the front margin as well as the sides white.
Mr. H. H. Smith has met with the species at Teapa, whence I have already
recorded it.
COCCINELLIDA. 259
1 (a). Cryptognatha annulata.
Corpus cum pedibus luteum, capitis basi prothoraceque nigris, hoc angulis anticis, illo fronte luteis; elytris
sanguineis, annulo submarginali lato nigro, margine apicali ipso sanguineo; capite subtiliter, prothorace
elytrisque crebre distincte ac minute, punctatis, Long. 2°75 millim.
Mas? capite (basi excepta) luteo.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).
- Orbiculate, and nearly hemispherical, very shining; the body beneath, the head
(excepting at the base), the deflexed angles of the thorax, and the legs yellow. The
tibie are obliquely cut off for the reception of the tarsi, and are not toothed or angular,
and scarcely project at the angle formed by the truncation externally. The mouth is
yellow, the trophi very short (not observed). The thorax is very distinctly and thickly
punctured, black, with a brassy tint, its base with a fine marginal line ; the angles in
one example very narrowly blood-red, in the other (perhaps the male) widely luteous.
In this last-mentioned example the head is luteous, and the base has the black part
as a double spot, whereas in the other example (the possible female) it is blood-red,
with the basal half black. The elytra are convex, distinctly punctured ; the disc is of
a fine deep chestnut or blood-red, this colour reaching the base ; from the basal angles
runs a broad black band along the margin, but leaving it at halfway, the two bands joined
at the suture, and leaving the apical margin red. ‘There is in the female (?) example
a row of subcutaneous fuscous-black dots parallel to the suture, but the true punc-
tuation is nowhere serial; it is also very evenly distributed, being a little closer near
the apex of the elytra.
Two examples.
1 (3). Cryptognatha amicta.
Corpus cum pedibus caputque (prothoracis margine antico et lateribus late concoloribus) albido-flava ;
elytris sanguineis, annulo lato marginali per prothoracis basin provecto nigro, margine apicali tenuiter
sanguineo. d¢. Long. 2°75 millim.
Hab. PanaMa, Bugaba (Champion).
Very similar to C. annulata, but more widely orbiculate ; the thorax wider and its
sides more uniformly in outline with the elytra, forming an almost perfect circle.
The punctuation (especially that of the thorax) is much finer. The head is whitish-
yellow, hollowed out in front, wide, the outer angles of the clypeus turning outwards.
The thorax has the front margin and sides widely whitish, the black portion of
the base not reaching nearer than a quarter of its width from the hind angles, and
therefore, though completing the black ring, not being as wide nor quite continuous
with it. The scutellum is red, whereas in C. annulata it is black. The front tibie
are outwardly widened and compressed, especially near their base.
Two specimens, both males.
2 L* 2
mo”
260 | - SUPPLEMENT.
1 (c). Cryptognatha terminata.
Corpus cum pedibus ferrugineum, capite prothoraceque nigris, ore piceo ; elytris sanguineis, apice nigris. Liong.
vix 2 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion).
This species has the punctuation fine and close, but quite distinct, becoming
subseriate under the callus, where it is also coarser; the whole form is rather
oblong than orbiculate, and it is as usual very convex and shining. One of the two
examples has the mouth rather more pitchy than in the other, and also the extreme
edge of the middle of the front margin of the thorax pitchy; but I think both are
females, and I should expect the male to have a red head. The thorax is entirely
black, excepting as mentioned; its base is very finely margined. The scutellum
appears to be black, but becomes at least pitchy in one specimen. The black apex of
the elytra is almost divided by the red being produced along the suture.
Two examples.
1 (p). Cryptognatha melanodera.
Lutea, prothorace nigro; capite prothoracisque angulis anticis rufo-piceis ; elytris castaneis, crebre, leviter,
obsolete punctatis. Long. vix 2 millim.
Hab. Guaremaua, Senahu in Vera Paz (Champion).
This little species is smaller than C. ¢erminata, but is very like it. It differs,
however, in having the apex of the elytra black. The scutellum is yellow. The
suture itself appears a little darker than the elytra, which are otherwise of a bright
chestnut-yellow.
A single specimen, probably a female.
1 (s). Cryptognatha erythrodera.
Corpus cum pedibus rufo-piceum, metasterno nigricante; capite prothoraceque lete rufis, elytris et scutello
nigris. Long.1:5 millim. ¢.
Hab. Panama, David (Champion).
This insect must not be confused with Scymnus volgus, which, apart from the
generic characters and lack of pubescence, it greatly resembles.
A single specimen.
1 (r). Cryptognatha ocularis,
Corpus cum pedibus lete castaneum, capite rufulo; prothorace elytrisque nigris, his macula rotundata in
singulis magna sanguinea, illo lateribus indeterminate rufis, elytrorum margine tenui rufo, epipleuris
flavis. Long. 1-5-2 millim.
Hab, GuaTeMata, San Gerénimo and Tocoy in Vera Paz (Champion).
COCCINELLID. | 261
Var, Elytrorum disco conjunctim late rufo, capite prothoracisque lateribus albido-flavis. .
Hab. GuatemMaia, San Joaquin in Vera Paz (Champion).
This insect is widely orbiculate in form and very convex, and has the punctuation
very fine. The head in the example from San Joaquin is whitish, rather concave, and
with the outer angles of the clypeus sharp and projecting, indicating the male sex.
One of the other two specimens, that from San Gerdnimo, has the head dark red, and
it is probably a female, the tibie in this example being feebly developed. One
specimen from each locality.
Obs.—This insect is allied to a species of Cryptognatha (C. amabilis, Gorh.) from
Brazil, of which a description is given below *.
1 (a). Cryptognatha pectoralis,
Lutea, prosterno medio, mesosterno, metasterno abdominisque processu intercoxali nigris. Long. 1:5 millim.
Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo, Panzos, San Juan and Tamahu in Vera Paz,
Capetillo (Champion).
The general colour of this rather obscure insect is luteous-yellow, but the head and
thorax are often whitish, yet with darker shades which sometimes appear as three
spots on the thorax. The whole breast is black, but the legs, including the coxe and
trochanters, are entirely pale yellow. The punctuation of the head and thorax is very
fine, scarcely visible under a Coddington-lens ; that of the elytra is fine, but more
distinct.
The examples from San Juan, Tamahu, and Capetillo have the breast concolorous or
very slightly darkened, but without knowing more of the habits of the living insect
* Cryptognatha amabilis.
Orbicularis, corpus cum pedibus flavum ; capite prothoraceque lete aurantiacis, hoc basi indeterminate nigro-
fusco; elytris nigris, macula magna discoidali in singulis apiceque late cum margine tenuiter conjunctim
rufis, epipleuris flavis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Brazit, Pernambuco (coll. Fry).
This pretty species, easily recognized by its pattern and very orbicular hemispherical form, was given me by
Mr, A. Fry.
Cryptognatha castanea.
Orbicularis, corpus saturate brunneum, supra cum pedibus ferrugineum; prothoracis disco et elytrorum
sutura nigrescentibus. Long. 1°75 millim.
Hab. Brazit, 8. Paulo (coll. Fry).
Both this species and C. amabilis are distinguished by the strongly deflexed basal margins of their elytra
and (accordingly) rounded base of the thorax, which viewed from the front is Q-shaped, reminding one of a
small Chilocorus, and by the orbiculate elytra with slightly expanded margins,
262 ‘SUPPLEMEN®.
I do not feel that it is possible to determine whether more than one species is
represented. :
The description is taken from specimens from San Gerénimo.
HYPERASPIS (p. 191).
2. Hyperaspis leta.
Hyperaspis jocosa, Muls.? antea, p. 192, t. 11. fig. 2.
The Panama insect described and figured by me under the name JZ. jocosa, Muls.,
I am now satisfied does not really belong to that species, or to H. bis-quatuorpustulata,
Muls., and I now propose the name H. Jata for it.
PORIA (p. 207).
6 (a). Poria stellaris.
Orbicularis, haud valde convexa, nigra, nitida; elytris ad humeros submetallicis, crebre irregulariter stellato-
punctatis ; capite, prothorace (basi excepta), abdomine pedibusque pallide testaceis. Long. 5 millim. g.
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).
Antenne very short for this genus; head and palpi pale whitish-yellow; thorax
smooth and shining, with very fine and thin pubescence, the base black, with two
punctiform projections almost detached in the middle, the whole front and sides,
including the hind angles, pale yellow, the front angles very little produced. The
tibie are very clearly excavated externally below the middle for the tarsi to lie back
upon, but are rather flattened than grooved. The length of the legs, the irregular but
strong punctuation, which is of the stellate or broken kind, and the sinuation of the
epipleural margin, will prevent this insect being taken for a Ladoria. One example,
apparently a male. .
ZENORIA (to precede the genus Weaporia, p. 217).
Zenoria, Mulsant, Spec. Col. Trim. sécur. p. 898 (1850) ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 277.
Zenoria is a genus consisting of four or five South-American species, with which the
insect we place here agrees rather closely ; the coxal fossz do not, however, cover more
than half the segment. The tibie are all received very deeply into grooves of the
femora, so as to be almost concealed, and they are strongly narrowed towards their
apices.
1. Zenoria circumclusa.
Orbicularis, subcordata, parce breviter pubescens, castanea vel sanguinea, subtiliter creberrime punctata ;
prothoracis macula basali cum zonula elytrorum lata fere in medium disci, ad apicem exeunte, annulum
prebente. Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, David (Champion).
COCCINELLID. 263
This species is very like some of the small zonate Epilachne, especially FE. circum-
ducta; but it will hardly be confused with any of these, if the compressed femora,
with the flat tibie fitting into grooves in them, the very short tarsi, and the deflexed
vertical head, with the mouth hidden below, are noticed. The black zone, with the
black base of the thorax, forms a nearly complete ring, but runs out to a point at the
suture; it is further removed from the margin than in the Epilachne most like it,
and in this respect the present species resembles Z. revestita, according to two
specimens in Crotch’s collection, but it does not appear that these agree with Mulsant’s
description, in which no mention is made of a pale disc of the elytra.
The brevity of the coxal fosse might seem to remove this insect from the genus;
but the fact is that it is allied to Z. subcostalis, and I do not see any reason why
Z. revestita should be taken as the type of the genus.
CINACHYRA (to follow the genus Neaporia, p. 224).
Caput latum, in prothorace bene receptum, oculis magnis. Prothorax squalis, opacus, angulis anticis
subacutis, margine antico pone oculos sinuato. LElytra breviter oblongo-ovata, apice late rotundato,
creberrime longitudinaliter rugosa. Tibie simplices, tarsi validi, tibiarum dimidium longitudine
superantes.
The very curious insect for which we are obliged to propose a new generic name is
at present only doubtfully associated with the Ortaliides, chiefly on account of its wide
head and vertically ovate eyes.
The rngose sculpture of the elytra and of the breast and the style of coloration are
quite unusual in the Coccinellide.
1. Cinachyra picta.
Nigra, opaca, capite prothoraceque subtilissime punctatis, elytris creberrime rugosis, quasi alutaceis, episto-
matis punctis duobus; prothoracis angulis anticis tenuissime marginatis, et punctis duobus minutis;
elytrorum macula discoidali utrinque hamata punctisque nonnullis perminutis, duobus basalibus, duobus
apicalibus, alterisque discoidalibus lete aurantiacis ; pedibus piceis. Long. 2 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (ZH. H. Smith).
Head opaque, with two orange dots on the epistome. The thorax is opaque, wide,
with the sides nearly straight, the base much rounded, and the front angles prominent ;
the post-ocular sinuation of the front margin is rather deep; there are two minute
orange dots on the posterior part of the disc. The elytra are intricately wrinkled in a
longitudinal direction, the rugee quite close and very minute ; on each elytron there is
an orange mark, almost, joined to the opposite one at the suture, and hooked internally,
so as almost to form a ring (which it probably does in other examples) ; there are also
several orange dots—two on the base, a little further apart than the thoracic ones, two
‘on the disc behind the common mark, two united to the hook on its outer side or
nearly so, and two at about one-quarter from the apex. The legs are rather long and
pitchy.
264 SUPPLEMENT.
‘One example only has been sent of this curious species, and I have therefore not
been able to examine the details of the antenne and palpi. The body beneath is
black ; the metasternum is rugose, like the elytra.
In several respects this insect is not unlike some of the Meaporie ; but it is without
pubescence, and the sculpture is so peculiar that the systematic position of the species
is at present quite doubtful. -
SCYMNUS (p. 226).
7 (a). Scymnus verez-pacis.
Corpus ferrugineum, capite prothoraceque albidis, hoc vitta lata mediana nigra; elytris nigris nitidis, apice late
dilute ferrugineo. Long. 1°75 millim.
Hab. GuatTEMaLA, Panima and Tamahu in Vera Paz (Champion).
The distinguishing characters of this Scymnus, in the section to which it apparently
belongs, are its perfectly smooth, shining surface (no pubescence being visible on
either of the four examples referred to it), the broad, sharply-defined black vitta of the
thorax, the head and sides of the latter being white, and the red body and legs; the
metasternum and base of the hind body are darker. Itis not unlike S. bugabensis, but
the punctuation is finer, and no sign of series is found here. From S. apicalis the same
differences, as well as the total absence of pubescence, the more distinctly marked
thorax, the red body, with the elytral epipleure also red, and numerous recondite but
important characters differentiate S. ver@-pacis. |
There are two examples from each locality: in one of those from Tamahu the
thoracic vitta is more extended, occupying the whole disc of the thorax, and being
twice as wide as the pale lateral portion; possibly this example is a female, but it has
the head whitish-yellow.
COCCIDULA (to follow the genus Scymnus, p. 235).
Coccidula, Kugelann, in Illiger’s Verz. der Kafer Preuss. p. 421 (1798).
Coccidula consists of two well-known European insects of oblong form, found in wet
places, among reeds, &c. ; a third species, from the United States, has been referred to
it by Leconte and Crotch, on the authority of a single specimen; and a species from
China is placed under this generic name in the Munich Catalogue, but it very probably
is not congeneric.
The species here recorded is also doubtfully placed in the genus.
1. Coccidula (?) ferruginea.
Oblonga, ferruginea, breviter ac parce pubescens, crebre punctata; capite prothoraceque dilutioribus, minus
irregulariter subtilius punctatis, Long. 4 millim.
Hab. Mexico, Toxpam (Saldé).
COCCINELLID. 265
Oblong, entirely ferruginous, the elytra darker than the head and thorax, and more
strongly and irregularly punctured. The antenne are short, the two basal joints stout
and the second not much shorter, but smaller than the first; the four or five apical
joints form a gradually thickened club. The thorax is wider than long and has the
sides nearly straight; all the margins are finely bordered, and the sides converge
towards the front; the basal lobe is not very pronounced. The scutellum is minute,
scarcely visible. The punctures on the elytra are not at all serial (in the European
species there are larger punctures forming substriate rows), but are confluent (often in
transverse rows). The coxal fosse are complete, and somewhat V-shaped ; the external
side of the marginal line is fainter than the internal side, and is reflexed at its outer
termination. :
Only two specimens have been seen by me from Mexico; but there is a similar,
possibly identical, insect among the undetermined Coccinellide of the Crotch collection,
from Tucuman and also from Chili (Germain).
BIOL. CENTE.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VII., February 1899. 2 M*
INDEX.
[Names in small capitals refer to Families, &c.; those in roman type to the chief reference to each species included in the work ;
those in italics to species incidentally mentioned, synonyms, &c. |
Page
ACINACES ...e. cece cece eee 118
ACINACES. occ eee 133
lebasi..... 0. ccc 118
Acronotus oo. ccc ccc ees 92
ACROPTEROXYS.......... 138, 247
—— acuminatus ............ 247
—— caudatus............ 18, 247
gracilis ........... 00005 14
QTACsS 66. ieee 247
ADALIA oo... ccc eee cece eee 154
Adalia .... cc cece eee ee 158, 160
bipunctata........ 66. 154
deficienS .........-.08, 154
Adoma wc cece eee ees 152, 153
Aigithomorphus... 0... cee ees 92
AEGITHUS..... ee 85, 255
Aigithus .....0..4. 84, 89, 91, 254
—— burmeistert ..........5. 91
—cardinalis ...........04. 86
—— cardinalis ..... 0... cece 87
CASSIMCUS oc cece cease 89
CINCLUS voce cece ee eens 116
Clathratus oo. ccc eee 89
clavicornis............+. 87
discoideus.............. 88
dubius ............00.. 90
—— dubtus oe eee r ccc vaeee 91
duplicatus............6. 89
Frenatus ... ccc ccc eee 84
—— (?) grammicus .......... 91
hogei ... cee ee eee eee 89
—— jansoni ............0008 88
lebasi...... eee ee eee 89
lineola ..... vee eee 90, 91
—— Melaspis ..........-4-- 85
—— meridionalis ............ 87
— meridionalis ..........4. 86
MONOCHYOUS 6.6 eee 91
—— polittis .......... eee eee 86
politus .iccccvccceveees 87
—— punctatissimus .......... 91
—— quadrinotatus .......... 89
rufipennis .............. 87
PUFYPENNIS ose evveeeees 86
Page
AKgithus stillatus ............ 91
strigicollis............0, 90
strigtcollis ...... cee e eee 91
—— surinamensis .........665 88
UVA. cee eee eee 88, 255
—— varicollis .............. 88
ALORA cece ences 147
MUNOT occ ccc e ccc vn cece 147
AMbIYOPUS . occ cence ceenee 71
AMPMT cover ce cc caccacaes 115
ANIDRYTUS 21... ce cece eee 125
Anidrytus ...... 128, 129, 132, 134
—. PL cece eee eee 128
— contractus ............46. 127
CONEVACEUS Cece cece cee 128
depressus ............6. 128
—— dolosus ................ 127
humilis .............-4. 128
——~ humilis 0... eee 129
liquefactus ............ 126
Nigropiceus ........008- 126
nitidularius ............ 126
nitidularius ........ 127, 128
plagiatus’ wo. i ccecceccas 128
Anisosticta........ Vanes 152, 168
SEVIAEA” Loca cece eee 152
Aspidophorus orbiculatus ...... 149
Aulacochilus ooo. ccc eee 82
AXION. ccc cece ccc en eee e nee 176
plagiatus .............. 176
AZYA cececcee cre ce tne eeeeee 211
Azya ..:... 209, 212, 213, 217, 229
luteipes .......... eee 211
—— lutéwpes ........005. 212, 213
—— orbigera.........45 weeee 211
pontbrianti ............ 212
SCULALH cece ecw ee eeaes 211
Ballia oo icc cece cece nee 162
Barytopus .......... 92, 99, 108
lugubrig voce cece eee 108
BRACHYACANTHA §.......... 184
Brachyacantha...... 160, 189, 190,
191, 198, 224
Page
Brachyacantha albifrons ...... 189
aymardi.............04. 186
basalis ....... eee eee 189
—— bipartita .......66. 185, 186
bistripustulata ........4. 188
OT . 188, 189
—— cachensis ..........000. 190
COMPTFOMIUSEA . 6... ee evees 188
conjuncta ........... 06 188
cryptocephalina ........ 186
—— decempustulata ........ 188
decempustulata .... 189, 190,
192, 193, 194
dentipes.............05- 186
Aentipes ..... eee 184, 187
erythrocephala ........ 188
erythrocephala .......... 187
——— ryt hvurd wrvevccrceeees 187
fenestrata ..........6045 190
——— flavfrons voce ceccvccces 189
—— lepida*>................ 185
leptda ........ 160, 161, 190
octOsttQMG.... 6... cence 188
' —— pygidialis .............. 187
—— pygidralis ...... cece eee 188
—— quadrillum ............ 187
subfasctata 6... . eee ee 187
1) 187
——ursina ..... see ee eee 189
UTSINA ooo eee eee 188
—— westwoodi.............. 185
WESTWOOAL . 6... ec eereeee 186
BRACHYLON ............000- 256
breve’... eee eee eee 257
Brachymerus‘.......00605 92, 100
-— sobrinus ..... ‘Seveeecese. 60
BRACHYSPHENUS........ 92, 256
Brachysphenus.... 58, 91, 100, 101,
108, 111, 115
eee 101
Pee 256
—— adamsi ................ 98
bistripunctatus .......... 58
—— brevicollis............. . 95
268
Page
Brachysphenus brevicollis ...... 96
catillifer ...........-.-. 93
—— catillifer oo... ccc eee 101
CETOUS 2... ce eee eens 94
CLAVICOPNIS . 0 cece eens 97
—— CONCOLOT ... ce cceecenreee 96
—— conspicillatus .......... 97
—— decoloratus8....... seen 99
delineatus ............-- 92
—— delineatus 6... ..... cee 93
dilectus .............. ». 98
—— exiguenotatus .......... 95
—— fasciellus ...ccscreveeee 94
festivUS ........ eee eee 100
Sesttvus oo... ceevees 101, 115
—— fragmentatus............ 99
—— fulviventris ............ 97
— fulviventris .......... 94, 98
—— hematocephalus ........ 98
— UCEETUCUS voce cece oe «97
—— jejunus..... vee e eens 97
lacordatrit.........0008 97
—— melanopus...........6.. 99
—— multiguttatus .......... 100
nigropictus .........6.. 99
—— nuculus..............+. 94
—— oblitus ...........0.06. 101
—— pallidipennis......... ... 96
persprcilatus ..ce.seeeees 97
—— pulcher ................ 93
TUDIAUS oc esse veeee 98, 99
scutellaris .............. 98
—— sedecim-maculatus ...... 97
BPAMICEUS .... cece eee 95
spectabilis ............ 100
striatipennis............ 96
—— VENEZUEI® oc eecevesvaes 100
Brachysphenus ...... 606. wee 92
adamst ...... vee cerns 98
Pestivus . 0. ee cccccecnees 100
—— hematocephalus ........ 98
—— lugubris ... 6. ccceceeeees 108
——— NIGTOPUCtUB. . 6 eee cenas 99
ObNTUS oo ee eee eee .. 1Ol
—— 16-maculatus .......... 97
spectabtlis ..... 6. eee ee . 100
ZONUA voce evcvcsecece . 93
Brumus septentrionts ........ 177
Bucolus vicccccccveccccecans 211
BULAA ccc cc n en nnes 153
ByStus. ccc cccevvecccescceces 142
m——— Limbatus... 2. cece ce eneee 143
Calligrapha wo... ccc eee 240
CALLISCHYRUS ......--...40. 45
mo ANMOEDUS. ee eee eee » 46
INDEX.
Page
Callischyrus candezei ........ 46
venustus .........0-05- 46
(0.7) 1, 169
COJENNENSIS » 6... eee 169
CAMPTOCARPUS ........54-- 6
longicollis .............. 6
Catapotia ... ccc ccc eens 148
l@vissima ...4. cee eee 148
Ceratomegilla .... 6c. c cece eee 151
Cercyon coc csvceeraues bene 256
CHILOCORIDES .............. 174
CHILOCORUS ...........-506. 175
Chilocorus. . 148, 174, 176, 178, 180,
182, 214, 255, 261
bivulnerus.............. 176
——— Cacth . eee eee eee e eee 175
—— CEGENUS cece cere canes 180
pentasprilotus.........66 183
Chilomenes 6.6... cece wees 161
CHNOODES.........0.02.0085 215
Chnoodes .......... 211, 212, 216
bipunctatus ............ 216
—— by881nd oo. ec eee cee vees 215
cinctipennis ............ 216
decipiens .............. 216
TOSELPES 66... cece eens 216
—— sanguinipes ............ 215
SANGUINIDES oo. cs eereeee 216
terminalis .............. 215
terminalis .... 60... cee ae 216
Chnootriba ........06 bee eee 236
Chrysomela clavicornis ........ 87
—— 10-maculata ......6....4. 161
—— gibbusa ............ 108, 104
trimaculata .......6...6. 203
CINACHYRA ........--. eee 263
| (ic: 263
Cisseis........ Dee e eee eens 153
Cladis ...... beeen eee eee 179
nitidula ........ Cee eees 179
CLEIS .. ce cece eee eee ee eee . 168
concolor.............005 168
— lynx ..... eee eee eee 168
——— TYNE ve cvcrvcvcveccvver 169
mirifica® ........0.0.600. 168
Cleotherd. cc csv cece ccsacenes 191
Oillott .. ec ce eee eee 194
bis-quatuorpustulata...... 192
ctneticollis ...... te teeee 195
COMpeditd wo. .eceeee. ... 196
—— distinguenda ..........4. 193
JOCUSA. . cas caccccecaeeres 192
levratt ..... eee ees 192, 193
MELUNUTA oe cee ceccunees 203
moticollis ..... cee .. 200
—— serverrucata ....... . 196
CoccIpDULA
—— (?) ferruginea
CoccIMORPHUS....
Coceimorphus ....
dichrous
CoccINELLA ......
Coccinella
— (?)
abdominals ..
—— albo-picta....
albopicta
areata
—— binotata......
bistripustulata
borealis ......
Cactt ....065.
—— callispiluta ..
—— cayennensis ..
——— compta ......
—— compta ......
—— concinna
—— concinna ....
concinnata....
confiuens ....
connectens ....
convergens....
cyanoptera ..
—— cyathigera....
decemmaculata
—— dentipes......
—— 12-guttata....
emarginata ..
ephippiata....
—— erythrocephala
Franciscana ..
emmaculicollis
—— limensis ......
—— luteipennis ..
— maculata
—— maculosa ....
—— marginipennis
mexicana
—— munda
—— novem-notata
eoeee
eoweene
eeee
nugatoria
oculata
eeveeee
——_ OSETINA cecsrevceusccoes
eoees
dichrous......
—— emys ........
—— frenatus......
melaspis......
—— unicolor......
ene erees
novem-stigma . .
Ce ee ee
eee wee. 264
sec ee ee aes 83
ese eererere
oe eer eevee
84
85
84
or ey ee
eoee ween ee
eno eer neces
ee
ee
eeoeeresrenee
er Y
a Y
ee ey
oo ere reene
ed
Leveeeeees 241
1738, 175
157, 158
170
eee nee
cy
ey
ee rd
re Y
ee
ee
ee
re ee ed
eee reersoes
ee eoeaeerve ee
oer eesreese
Cee eer osres
eect nereece
seen -.. 157
eee cence 188
cece eeees 241
oo eeeerone
eo ee areene
ore eee rses
eee seer ser
Page
Coccinella pantherina ........ 161
—— picta ....... eee eee 154
Uta wieveecsceeeaee 155, 210
PLAGUE vee eevee ccc neane 176
—— quichensis.............. 16]
—— quinquelineata..... reves 155
quinque-notata .......... 157
—— quinquepunctata ........ 156
SANGUINEA vie cecsceecces 170
Sedakovit ..eisecsccaeas 157
SETUALA vee ec cca nc cees 152
G-verrucata so. cece eae 196
SOULATYL oo eevee ee eeeee 156
SUTINAMENSIS oo. eee erees 88
——— ThOTACICA oe ees 226
transversalts ......00005+ 157
transversoguttata........ 157
—— 18-notata ...... eee ee 241
trilineata occ ccc cee eee 208
—— undulata oo. ccc ec ccaes 194
UTSING cee cece aceeee 189
variadilis oo. cece cece 158
Vepusta ..... 0. ee eee eee 156
venusta ...... Lecce eeees 159
—— 20-maculata oo... eee 167
VUELIGEVA vee ceccseccues 152
V-NUGTUM voce cen neeeee 172
COCCINELLIDA! .........0 0005 150
CoCCINELLIDES..........0005 1838
Coptengts ...eecccvcccenaees 33
CORYNOMALIDES ............ 115
CORYNOMALUS ..........+005 115
Corynomalus 2... cece cence 133
auronitens .............- 116
castaneicolor............ 117
CINCtUS 2.6... eee eee 116
CINCLUS Loree cece eens 117
——dentatus ..........000. 117
—— dentatus........... eee 118
—— discoideus oo... ccc ceenes 115
——-femoralis ............65 116
—— interruptus .....6.eeee 117
L@ViGAtUs oc evceeveccee 117
lebDastd occ 118
—— pantherinus ......e.ecee 117
rufipennis ..........606. 116
saturatuS ......0ee0eee- 117
CORYSTES 2... cece eee eee ees 182
Corystes . 6... eee eee eees 175, 183
hypocrita ..........006, 183
CREMNODES .........-0eee0e 148
lavissima ..........-68. 148
Croacht minuta ........ wee. 82
CROTCHIA ... cece eee eee 28, 248
Crotchid oo. ccc cece eee neces 32
angustula ...... eesseees 30
———— CUIVIPeS. oe rece eee eens 30
INDEX.
Page
Crotchia hondurana .......... 81
hondurana....cseccees 30, 32
parallela. .. ccc cece eens 30
—— parvula .......... .. 32, 248
PICEA... ee cee e eee .. Ol
—— polita..... sce eee e ee eee 31
proxima............ vee. 29
——— _ PYOLIMA «6c eee aee 30, 249
——— PunchATA vee ccecvcanens 29
—— pusilla ........ eee eee 82
VAGAbUNAA »..-. cee ceeaes 29
Verepacis ........ 0. eee 30
CRYPTOGNATHA ........ 181, 258
Cryptognatha......s eens 182, 183,
225, 227, 261
amabilis. oo... cee ee eee 261
amicta ...........0. eee 259
annulata ...........05- 259
auriculata.......... 182, 258
—— CASLANED. 6. cece ccc nerese 261
circumdata ..........6. 182
erythrodera ............ 260
flaviceps ...........0.. 182
gemellata ...........04. 182
—— melanodera ..........+. 260
ocularis ......,.....000. 260
pectoralis ............., 261
terminata .............. 260
Cryptogonus ....... 0608. 175, 211
Cryptophagus... 0... cece cece 31
Cuphotes... cc ccc ceceeeeeees 101
CURINUS...,..... eee ee eee 176
CUTINUS Coe e cee cee eee 178
eeruleus ..........0.65 176
CYCLOMORPHUS .......... .. 254
Cyclomorphus ...... bee eeaes 255
sordidus.........-...06 254
CYCLONEDA .....e..e se eee .. 169
Cycloneda i... cee eeeee 170, 174
abdominalis ........... . 172
abdominalis..,. 156, 158, 161,
163, 164
callispilota ............ 170
electra ....... eee .. 173
—— gilardini .............. 173
—— meander ..... sete eee 178
oculata ......... 00 ... 172
pallidula .....cceevveee 171
retrospiciens ............ 170
trubida ..........00.05. 171
Salli... cee eee e eee eee 170
sanguinea ...........00- 170
Cycnegetis ..... bocce cere eee 236
CYPHEROTYLUS ...... .. 103, 256
Cypherotylus ........ oe. 104, 108
— Pk eee teen o. 105
lee eee e eee . 108
Page
Cypherotylus alutaceus .. 107, 256
—— annulipes v6... screenees 106
ANEATACINUS ooo cece eevee 104
—— APIAtus vec icvcsveeeee .. 105
—— ASPETSUS....... cece ee eee 108
ASPETSUS ose ceccencneres 106
boisduvali .........6.00- 106
—— boisduvali .........5 107, 108
Californicus ..e..seceeee 107
costaricensis ..........+. 105
COSLATICENSUS 2. cscs eeeeee 106
debauvel ........e seers 103
dromedarius ............ 103
—— elevatus............006- 104
fenestratus.............. 107
Senestratus..cccccrcceees 108
QAUMETL ..... eee ee eee 106
—— gibbosus...... coc ee veces 103
——— JOTYE ve ccccsvvvevceeres 105
——guatemale ............ 105
—— guatemal@ ..iserseenes 106
-—— impressopunctatus ...... 104
JANSONE wee eeveceseneece 105
patellatus ...veccseeeeee 104
StULAtUS Coe c cece eer ceee 104
vicinus ........ Cece eee 105
Cyrtotriplaxr oi. cc cece cece 79
Dane vivicscvvccces 33, 252, 256
AUCOUWINE. oc cece eeneeee 34
brasiliensis.........4+ 2. 8
Fasciatd voccvccccvecvees 34
—— femoralis ...ccceveccuee 40
——_ mullifida wiscscarecrres 34
quadriguttata .......... 34
—— tortuosa......... Ceeeees 34
DACNIDES ......e eee e ee eeeee 33
Dapolia .......e. coe teeeees 215
SANGUINIPES cc seeeveuae 215
DAPSA occ sersvccrcaeee wee, 119
DASYDACTYLUS .......... 14, 248
Dasydactylus ,... 2, 4,8, 23, 25, 27
geneopiceus .......... .. 248
buprestoides ........ 15, 248
—— buprestoides .......... 17,18
—chalceus ............. . 18
chalceus ........ See eeee 9
—— (?) concinnus............ 24
—— cribratus ..........6-6. 21
—— cyanopterus ....... veers 28
—— glabricollis ........... . 16
glabricollts........600.05 248
——hondoensis ............ 21
—— hondoensis........ seoeee LY
—— levicollis .............. 17
—— levicollis ........ ve eeee 20
—— longicollis ....... vee 20
270
Page
Dasydactylus longicollis ...... 21
Nitidus ....--e. se seee ... 18
NULIAUS . i. cccaceeeees 19, 22
Picipes..... voce eeeee 22, 248
picipes ....6 wee ee eens 21
puncticeps............6. 17
——— PUNCHCEPS ve ccvncenvees 18
—— puncticollis ............ 18
—— punctisternum .......... 19
— sellatus ............ 28, 248
subtilior ..........000. 20
SUBtMIOL. oe cece 21
subulatus ,..........005 15
subulatus.......6000. 16, 248
teredilis............005- 22
—— thoracicus ..........00.. 19
—— thoracicus ........ 14, 21, 22
ventralis ...........06- 23
VENEVANIS caer cece eceees 24
zunilensis .........0...- 20
Daulis ov iccccsvccvccacvevees 169
abdominalis ........6.5. 172
DinOtata. .. cece ccces .. 172
ACflOrata ...cevessceees 171
gilardint wevesecceeeces 1738
—— gutticollis ..0....cceeeee 171
—— meander. ..cceccceccees 173
pallidula ..csevveereeee 171
TUDTAA oo ccc cece enas .. 171
SAlleL Lo ee cece cee 170
SANG“UINEH voc eevee eevee 170
SLEINE woe caves ve ceeeeee 170
VIG™UANS Wve cicceecccees 171
DIALEXIA ...... 0 eee eee eee 146
Dialexia.. cc vc vcceccaee 145, 147
—— setulosa. 2... cee ee eee 147
Diomus oc cececcccvee te eeaee 226
DIORIA woe ert eee eee wae. QZ
BELIGET A vec vce cece ceuas 217
~—— sOrdida:... ec cece eens 217
DISCOTOMIDES .....0..ec0eeee 204.
EGLEIS ........ ee eeeeeeaes 163
———adjuncta .......-..008- 163
Tlater cece cece nee c eevee 81
lythropterus *. 0.6... ce eee 81
Endomichus. tibialis .......... 122
FENDOMYCHIDE..........045- “1165
Endomychus +... 0... eee , 204
: TUfiLATSIS oe ee eee eee 120
—— trhralis ce 122
Engjis signata. 0.00. c cece 34
EPHEBUS «0... foe e eee eae 131
Ephebus.vsiicicccccccee 182, 141
ANLENNAEUS oe eee eeee 141
—— cardinalis...... cece 182
INDEX.
Page
Ephebus chontalesianus ...... 132
PICCUS wo... .ceeee eee eee 131
Ephistemus........4+ see eeeee 257
EPILACHNA ..eeeueeeeee ee. 286
Eepilachna oe... s.seee 237, 246, 268
abrupta....e. cess eee 236
—— equinoctialis........ 241, 242
—— amplexata.............. 244
——aubei .............0.. 244
borealis.............04. 241
borealis.... 236, 242, 243, 244
——calligrapta ............ 240
— circumducta .........0065 263
CUCUMPIUA. 6.6 vee aee 245, 246
CONLEMPLA. . 61. cevevncee 245
COPTUPLA ..eceecaee 242, 243
—— defecta .............0.. 241
7 0 1, 240
Wiffictlts ... 6. . eee ee 245
—— discincta .......... 241, 242
——erichsoni .............. 238
CLEVEMA. coi ce eve encen 237
—— fUSCUPES ove ec ccecenes 241
—— immacultcollis ..... 0664 242
INAUSCVELA 6... csv eeeene 241
inepta ............000. 245
—— mexicana .............. 240
——_ MEXICANA 6... cave eens 236
—— mitis ............0 0 eee. 245
CL 246
modesta ...........5.. 246
—— MUTINA 662s. 242, 243
—— nigrocincta ............ 239
obscurella...........0.. 248
obscurella ........0. 238, 239
OliVACEA. 6 eee eee 238
—— oltvacea...........4. 289, 243
—— particolls ..... 1... eee. 241
patula ........ Sek eeees 245
picescens .............. 238
0 210
—— plagiata................ 288
—— plumbed... vei lec ee eens 243
polluta ....... 6... ee, 245:
PVObCUS . 6 ei veevece. 237, 239
—— pustulifera wisccccseens 237
SIMULMA wavecsevevecee 243
—— tristis.................. 239
tumida .......... eee eee 237
vanpatteni............6. 244
VATUPES viv vesscuees 242, 243
—— varivestis .............. 242
——- varivestts .......... 238, 243
VINCtA Loe bee eee eee 240
—— virgata ......c. cee eee 246
—— vyulnerata .............. 243
Page
EPILACHNIDES........ ‘eases. 286
EPIPOCUS ........- se eceeaes 120
Epipocus.... 0c. cece en eane ... 125
bifidus ............008- 121
—— binotatus . bre eceeees 124
bivittatus .......... eee. 122
— brunneus .............. 124
—— cinctus ............ .... 121
——— CINCLUS oc ccc eee aes 122
—— figuratus .............. 121
—— fuliginosus... 0.6.00 ceees 120
longicornis ............ 128
—— mollicomus ............ 124
—— mutilatus .......... oee. 122
mMmutlatus oo. .ccerceceee 121°
——— PUNCTALUS 6 eee evens 122
— rufitarsis .............. 120
—— sallei oi cee ee eee 125
subcostatus ..........6. 123
—— tibialis ............,... 122
—— unicolor.............00. 128
EEpiscaphna voce ccc cc ccccceees 33
QUSEFALNIS oe ee eee 41
RErOS oo cece cence 34
—— quadrisignata .......... 34
SIGNALIPENNIS. 6... eee eee 37
EPOPTERUS .........ceceeee 129
TipopterusS oo ccc ceccceccceees 134
comptus ..........000, 130
—— maculosus .... 00. ceeeee 129
——— MYOPS vee cerareevevens 129
ocellatus .......... .... 129
ocellatus oo. ccc cee eee 1380
—— pantherinus ............ 131
—— partitus.............0., 130
TYEE vo cccccccsdeuceees 13]
scalaris ............00e- 130
SCAIATIS 6. oe eee eee ees 131
testudinarwus ....... 00.05 131
LUGTINUS 6 cece eee eeeee 131
Eypytus vice ciccccccccacvces 37
EROTYLIDE ..... cc cee eee 1
EEROTYLIDES «0.0... 00. e cee 82
EROTYLUS........ Lee beceaes 101
Erotylus ........ 82, 85, 102, 103,
. 108, 109
—— apnatls.. ver ceccceceves 112
bifasctatus..... 6... eee 34
boisduvaltd .... cece eee 106
BOSCH oe ccc eens 110
—— californicus ........005. 106
——— CINCLUS oe ec ie cece 116
CIAVICOFNIS. 6. cece ces 87
CONPIUENS .rescvecsaeees 102
GeDAuvet voc eevscecvcas 103
cece eee eeeeene 117
—— dentatus
Erotylus dromedarius ..
—— duponcheli
ee
——— herpestes vi. ccscccceees
—— leopardus ..............
lesueurt oo. .6.0. ces eeees
—— lunulatus
CD
melanostigma
—— nicaraguee
ey
nigropunctatus
——- puncticollis
— 4-guttatus
—— 4-punctatus
—— 16-maculatus
Ce ed
Cerne eee eee eee te
ee
Cr
ee
ee
)
EVUPALEA ..cce cece eee eee
PICICePS........ sees eae
EXocHOMUs ..
Exochomus...... 175,176, 178, 179
ApPicatus... cee see veeeees 179
Cr
— childrent’ ...... tee eeees
—— contristatus
—— marginipennis
—— nigromaculatus
Anoculatus voc cccccccnees
—— scapularis
eee en et ee osene
—— tricoloratus ............
ExopLECTRA
—— cruentipes,
eeererr tose sne
INDEX.
Page
Exoplectra cruentipes ......4. 216
a 215
stevens]... .... cee ee eee 214
—— subeenescens ............ 214
SUDENESCENS wo evsceveuee 215
—— tibialis ............ wee. 214
EXOPLECTRIDES ..........-. 211
EXYSMA 1.0... eee eee ee eee 145
— laevigata .............. 145
V@VIGdtd ee cece ene 146
orbicularis..........00.. 146
parvula..........-..00. 145
—— (?) tenuicornis .......... 146
Galerucd voice ec ccv ec neees 152
GONIOLANGURIA ........006- 1
Goniolanguria .. 2, 3,14, 15, 16,19
(?) palmata ............ 2
Habrodactylus oo... ccc a ee 92, 97
HI@#MATOCHITON ......-..04. 8].
Hematochtiton wo... cece eeces 82
elateroides..........006. 81
elateroides ... cee ceeeaee 82
HALYZIA wee cece eee eee eee 163
FLaly2ta cece cc ccccveceenaee 165
championi.............- 165
—— emaciata ........66e ee, 164
—— epistictica............4. 164
PErroudt cevvesecevenes 163
—— l6-gutiata ........ 163, 164
HALYZIIDES 16... . eee eee eee 161
FIAPALIPS 1... ese ee eee eee 250
- cribricollis ............ 250
—— filum.......... bene e eae 251
—— flohri.... 6. ccc eee eee 251
——— fUSCUS ec cericcernees 252
gractlicorms . 61.6... eee 250
QTANAIS .ovcercceenenees 251
—— parallelus ........ ‘Vaeeee 262
reitterl ......... vee e eee 251
A , 252
Harmonia ..... vee eens 154, 156
LL) 156
——— CONLEMEA veces 154
Cydnoplera viv sccereeee 155
lutetpennis ..ceiseceves 155
NOCULAEA . cece eeee 156
PICEA vce ec e cece neces 154
—— quinque-lineata ........+. 155
SOULATYE . Loca c ccc nnncnaes 156
VENUSEA Coc ce erccenenes 156
VUIFTAIPENNIS . 6... eens 155
= VNIGFUM vecseceres 166, 172
Hinda........ Vane e eee ee eee 191
HIPPODAMIA........+-+-06-- 152
Hippodamta ..cceveccccvenes 153
Page
Hippodamia convergens ...... 1538
VATUGALA Lice cceeeceees 151
VUELIGEVA cece vecenes 152
HIPPODAMIIDES ............ 151
HOMCEOTELUS .........-006- 112
Homeotelus ......0.04.. 115, 256
confusus ............-- 113
—— gemellatus ............ 118
gemellatus ... 6... cea 114
hepatweus oo vic eee eee 113
jamsoni .............0.. 114
JANSONE voc ceceeveccanes 113
——— MEXICANUS..........056. 114
LESLACEUS vee eae e eee 1138
UMbONatUs . 6. cee ceeaes 1138
Homototelus oo... cece cea 82
HYPERASPIDES............-. 183
HyYPERASPWDIUS ............ 203
—— trimaculatus............ 2038
HiYPERASPIS ............ 191, 262
Hyperaspis.. 175,188, 184, 196, 203
Pec cece eee e eee 203
——adelaida ...........0.. 201
——albicollis .............. 201
albopunctata......eeeee- 200
bicruciata.......... 0.6. 196
—— billoti ....... eee ae, 194
a 189
bis-quatuorpustulata. . 192, 262
calderana .............. 199
calderand ..... eee eee 200
centralis .............. 197
COntralis..... cece cece ene 198
cercyonoides ............ 191
‘chiriquensis ............ 193
CINCH. cece cece eens 199
—— cincticollis ............ 195
—— compedita.............. 196
— connectens ............ 195
— coronata ...........0.. 194
— 10-pustulata............ 188
—— deyrollii .............. 197
distinguenda .......... 193
—— diversa ..........00000. 198
elegans ....... 0.0... e ee 199
CLEANS we ccecseeees 194, 195
festiva ......... cee eee 196
—— festiva ...... eke eee eee 195
—— fimbriolata ............ 199
Jimbriolata oso. cece 200
——— JUCOYL . vc cveccanes 19%
~—— guatemalensis .......... 200
INSUYNUS oo eee cseceeeeee 202
—— jocosa ........ be neeees 192
JOCOSE veevvsvcaees 189, 262
—— Jucund a... even, eee 189
272
Page
Hyperaspis kunzii............ 197
Jeeta. cee e eee eee eee 262
—— lateralis......... cee eees 195
laticollis .....cecceaees 200
—— levrati .......... eee 192
Vevratt oo. ccccccccecaes 1938
lunulata ..........-... 195
——— MATMOTeA ....... eee eee 202
—— noticollis .............. 200
Moticollis 6... cece acess 201
—— panamensis ............ 200
—— panzos% ............-. 198
—-— pauperula .............. 202
—— quadri-oculata .......... 194
Teppensigs ....... be ceeee 191
rufomarginala .......... 199
——— sexverrucata........ .... 196
—— 8rVErTUucata ..... cee. 197
—— subsignata........ Leeees 201
—— subsignata ... 6.6.6... 202
terminata ..... se eees ve. 202
terminata oo... cece cccee 203
triacantha......cseceees 201
trimaculata .........60. 203
undulata .............. 194
— undulata .......... 195, 199
VUEIJEPA 6. sc ceeecceeees 208
Idahia....... eee eee ne ees 154
Iphiclus ...... bocce eee cas 92, 97
Ips fasciuta ..... vce e ee eee 34
IscHyRUs ...... ee ce eer eres 89
Ischyrus37, 42, 43,45, 46, 47,52,57,69
agnatus ......4.4. seeeee. 89
AMONUS 0... ccc ecccevaee 46
———~ auriculatus oo... cece eens 43
—— bogotes ..... cece. ceeeee 40
——— chacoje............00. . 43
ChACYE@ 6... eevee o... 4d
collatinus .............. 45
disctpennis...... 6.6.0. 39
distinguendus ........ .. 46
elegantulus ........... » 40
-——— ephippiatus ............ 43
episcaphulinus ....... w.. 44
——- femoralis ............. . 40
frontalis .............. 39
graphicus ............ .. 89
graphicus ....06. cc eee ee 41
insolens................ 43
mexicanus..... veceeeeee BF
mm NAIL oe cece eens 42
pallidior oo... cece eee 52
pictus .............06. 42
PrOXimUS ............., 40
—— puncticollis ...... beens 44
INDEX.
Page
Ischyrus quadripunctatus .... 39
—— quadripunctatus ........ 40
—— quinquepunctatus ...... 43
—-— sanguinolentus .......... 38
—— scutellaris.............. 41
septemsignatus.......... 41
septemsignatus .......... 42
subcylindricus .......... 40
CarsaliS .... cece eee eee 37
tetrastictus ............ 41
tetrastictus .......... 44, 45
—— tripunctatus ............ 39
—— undulatus.............. 42
—- undulatus ...........004. 44
VENUSLUS. occ eee ecnes 46
vespertilio.............. 40
zonalis ........ cece ees 38
LADORIA ....... eee eee eee 212
Ladoria oo... cece eee 209, 262
—— delphine .............. 213
delphin@ .......64. 214, 245
desarmata...........04. 213
LANGURIA .. ccc cece ee ee eee 10
DLANguria. cc... 3, 24, 25, 29, 250
—— aculeata................ 11
NED vec c encase . 18
——— NENA oe ccc eeceeee 4,18
angustata ....... beeeee . 23
basalis ........ Cee eeee . 7
Bicolor ......e ee ceeee ~» (14
—— capitata........ veeeeeey Il
COUGAEA .. cece eee eee 18
collaris oi... cee veers LT
cyanipennis ...,........ 12
CYANUPENNIS coveeecsveees 23
gractlis ..... sect eens 13, 14
Mornata ......405 ... 14
——leta ............ Seeeee 10
—— lela .......4... wee. 11, 25
lateralis ..... cece cence 5
—— latipes ....... coseeseee LZ
latrediet ..... cece ee ees 14
——— UNE Lo iccececcene 24, 27
melanoptera ....... we... 10
MOZAVAL. .. aces senceees 12
—— migriceps ...... seeeee . 14
obscura ..... pee e ee eeeee 14
sanguinicollis ......... . 10
sangwinicollis ........ 11, 12
SCOPULATIS . 6.6... eee 27, 28
SCUALA viceeeeccceceeee 23
simplicicollis............ 12
—~-~- ventralis ........40.. 23, 27
LANGURIIDES ..........5005 1
LANGURITES.......... beens 27
Page
Dangurites ....cseccseveeeees 13
INFUSCALUB 6... cece renee 27
Vinearis oc. cece ce cs eeee 7
—— lineata ........0-. eee 27
ventralis ...... 28, 24, 27, 28
——— VILE ATUS Loe cece eee 27
vitticollis oo. cece cee eee 27
LASIA cece cee cee eeees 236
Devestes cece cece cnee cecves 149
Lithophilus... 0.060 ee 204
LYBANODES ...........00005 77
—— castaneus .............. 77
LYBAS ..... cee eee ».. 15, 254
Tybas wi. cece cess eeeee 73, 74, 77
AMONUS . coc ccc eennenes 46
—— anisotomoides .......... 76
anisotomoides .......... 77
carbunculus............ 76
——- carbunculus ...... 74, 75, 77
granatus............ 75, 254
interpunctatus .......... 76
LYCOPERDINIDES............ 118
MEGALODACNE ........0. 83, 253
Megalodacne ....... Seen ee 252
audouini............ 34, 253
—— fasciata ............. ... «684
quadriguttata .......... 34
mo LOLEUOSAL ee eee 34
Megaprotus .......... 92, 94, 101
MEGILLA 2... cee eee 151
Megilla oie ccc ccc cue cenes 152
maculata ...........4.- 151
UUELIGETA ... cece ee eeee 152
MEGISCHYRUS .......... 37, 253
Megischyrus .......+seeeeee 46
discipennis ............ 39
——— discipenni8..........000 38
guatemalze ............ 38
—— mexicanus..... sect eeee 37
—— nicarague ..... wee. 87, 253
pertzonatus ........ weee 88
sanguinolentus......... . 38
SICATIUS ...... bette eeees 38
zonalig ,....... vee eae .. 388
ZONANS occ racevcvcaes 39
Menoscelis ......... Cenc eeeee 183
Glaued ...seceeeces 183, 184
INSUGNIS 6. ce racereeeeee 183
MERISTOBELUS............. . 7
forcipatus .............. 7
Micarta oo cece ccccccaee wee. 205
MicREROTYLUS ............ 108
Micrerotylus ... 0... 000s .. 109
GTONOVI. 6. eee ec eeeeeee 108
—-— lunulatus .............. 108
Page
Microlanguria jansont ........ 32
MICROPSEPHUS.......0. 00005 149
Micropsephus ..cceccceceees 258
mniophilinus ...... .... 149
Mircroxenus wececsececcees .. 145
Monachus ............ settee 184.
Morphoides ......00.0005. 92, 97
Mycet@a... ec ccseeeces 145, 149
Mycetophagus....... . 80, 129, 149
Mycolybas 6... cc ceee. wee. C1, 75
MYCOMYSTES......0.....008. 71
ferrugineus ............ 71
MYCOPHTHORUS ..........05 73
pauperculus ..... sete ees 74
pauperculus viccececcees 73
Mycophtorus .....0..004. wee. 18
pauperculus ..ecsscseees 74
MYCOTRETUS ..........6. 46, 253
Mycotretus...... 45, 47, 52, 58, 60,
65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71,
72, 73, 74, 75, 81, 85
—— HQTOTUS....... eee e eee 60
——alternans .............. 57
QIECTNANS Lo. cece ceaeaes 58
—— atricaudatus..........6. 66
badius ...... cece ee eee 70
bipunctatus .......... .. 68
bisellatus ... cece en cenas 52
bistrigatus .......... 62, 253
brevis ......66. teeeeee 67
cercyonoides............ 67
CETCYONOLAES Woe eeseccaee 68
-—— chontalesi.............. 7
— coccidulinus............ 63
——— COCCINCUS 1... es eee eee 68
—— consanguineus .......... 61
CONSANGUINEUS ......006. 62
corallipennis ......660 69, 70
——cribratus ....... be ceeee 64
CTUCUS cece eee e cee eens 63
—— cruentus .......6..., .. 69
—— CVUCNLUS ov cee rsenecenee 58
Meyrolat. . ce. cece eseaees 54
——— Mistigma av vvveveevvveee 58
—— dorso-notatus ........ 57, 58
—— dytiscoides ............ 65
—— elegans ........0ec seers 55
—— epopterus .......... 69, 253
—— erraticus ...........05- 254
—— fasciolatus ............ 49
Jasciolatus .......000.. ol
—— figurQtuS oo ececcreccaes 49
—— fuscitarsis.............. 68
—— FUSCILAT SIS. 66 ee eve ce raee 69
—— geminus .............. 60
GORATEM viceeeereeees. 47
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. VIL, Hebruary 1899.
INDEX.
Page
Mycotretus guatemale ...... 55
——— guatemal® vivvsscaseee 56
—— heemapterus........... . 68
—— hematicus .......... .. 61
—— hematicus. 0... cc ce eee 62
hirudo ..........ee eae 59
—— illustris.............. .. 54
incarnatus ............ 62
—— interstictus ............ 50
—— laccophilinus .......... 57
—— leviventris ............ 51
Leopards ...ceveveceees 49
Lepidus .......00 50, 51, 70
—— lesueuri.............06. 59
ET i 58
—— luteipes................ 61
luteipes........4. 53, 60, 63
——luteolus .............. 58
—— Witeolus oo. eee ccc cease 59
—— maculatus ............ 49
MACULOSUS 66. eveceees 47
——— melanostictus ........0 47
melanotus ............ 66
—— miniatus ...........0.. 65
MANTALUS oe ee eee eee 64
MisellUs... cc cscevecces 65
—— nigricollis.............. 70
nigripes ......... veces 64
—— nigropunctatus,......... 48
nigropunctatus.......+66. 53
NUGTOLUNCLUS 6. eee eee ees 52
nitescens ............-. 52
normalis .............. 51
—— noterinus .............. 65
—— NOleFINUS . 6. eee eereees 62
OpalesceN8.. . ss .eceeeuee 52
——(P?) oppositipunctum .... 69
omatus.........08. 47, 253
OFNALUS vce cece eee , 48, 56
—— pallidior .............. 52
panamanus ............ 54
PATS coecevecvscueees 61
—— pecaTl ........... eee 55
POCATE coevcccveccneces 56
—— pectoralis ........0000.. 47
——— OTUs iccrnvvcceees 70
picto-piceus ...... tenees 56
—— planus ................ 66
POSEICUS. .e cece ceeeees 47
psittacus ..........006. 54
psitlacus oo. cccecveeees 55
——— PYBMHUS ... eee ee eee 62
—— _ PYJMEUS ..... 66. 61, 63, 64
—— l4-guttatus ............ 55
—— rubidus.......... we eeee 62
rufipennis...........60. 69
Page
Mycotretus sallei ..... be eeeee 53
—— sandicatus ............ 54
SANGUINCUS wee csecveeee 61
—— SANQuINOSUS ........-44. 68
—— SUNGUINOSUS 1... eereeee 69
Savignyl ....... eee eee 60
SAVIGNYE vo veeccevaceeee 71
—— scitulus............ 49, 253
—— sexpunctatus ....... wee OC
stgnatellus. .. 0. eeeeeee 5]
SUACEUS We cece cere eens 60
—— sobrinus .............. 60
sobrinus ........ 54, 66, 71
—— spadiceus....... tenes 53
stramineus ............ 58
—— terminalis... .ceccceeee- 47
ternotatus ............ 51
tibialis ............ ee. 56
tIQTINUS. .. 6. cee ee ee eee 48
triplacoides ........00ee 72
vittatus.........0.. 57, 253
MYSIA wo... l eee ee eee 162
—— gerstaeckerl ............ 162
N2MIA vo eee eee eee eee 152
—— fuscilabris.......665 151, 152
Litigrosd.. ss. eee. teen 152
seriata ..... cece ee eae 152
vittigera ....... eee eee, 152
NEAPORIA.... cee eee eee tees 217
Neaporia ...... 228, 262, 263, 264
amabilis ..........000- 220
argentifrons ..........+. 220
—— cwrulea......... cece eee 219
mm CATUNEN Lecce, 222, 228
—— chiriquensis,........... 222
colestis .............. 223
—— compta.,.......... eee, 222
cribrata....... ce. eee eee 219
——— CUPTEA Loe ee cece cseeeee 223
guatemalana .......... 222
—— guatemalana............ 223
—— indagator .............. 218
INAAGALOL oo. eee eeveuee 219
—— metallica .............. 219
— metallica ...... 220, 221, 222
plagioderina,........... 218
——~ pubescens.............. 221
TUQOSA oo eee even ee ees 221
—— unipunctata .t.......... 221
viridescens ............ 223
NEDA... .. cece cee eee eee eee 174
Neda wi. cece cece. 169, 173
calisptlota... cee cece 170
——— flaven8 .. 6. eran. vee. 174
——marginalis ............ 174
2 N*
274
Page
Neda marginalis ........ 170,173
OTDIGNYt cre cvsecevenee 174
OStYINA 2... cece eee eee 174
———— PETUVIANG oo ev cececeees 174
NEOCALVIA ..c cece cece eens 169
areolat@® ..... cece eee 169
duodecim-guttata ...... 169
NEOHALYZIA. ..ceceeece cues 163
—— perroudi ...........0.. 163
PEVTOUAL .eesesevecvees 165
NSIS coc cc cece sc cece ee ences 158
NOMOTUS ....... cece ee enaee 24
——— HNESCENS .... cee eesaee 25
—— @NESCENS ec recccceces 26
—— capetillensis............ 26
——plutonus .............. 25
PlUtonus voc cececcveces 24
NOViUS civccccccccecceeenes 235
05 181, 182
Omototelus. oc... cece cece ees 112
— gemellatus ........445. 118
Oogaster .ccsevvccevceeenss 92
OPCUs oa ceeecccrencees 175, 176
CAPULEUS vee cece vce e aes 176
Ortalia oc... cee eee 211, 217, 218
TAMA vc ce cece ccc eveues 235
ORTALIIDES .......00cc0eees 217
ORTALISTES «1... ccc eee 224
Ortalistes oo... cece cece nes 231
germanus .............. 224
GeYMANUS oo. ce cece cnees 225
——— immersus .............0. 225
——— TMMETSUB oo eee cecs 231
—— ObeSUS 2... cece eee eee 224
POXUS 2 ee cece ee cece eee 225
rubidus............000. 224
ORTHOLANGURIA.......0000. 26
Dbatest occ cece cece 26
—— CONCOMO oo eee cece cna 26
—— elongata .............. 26
elongata .......... 27, 247
—— eXtensa ....... cece eee 27
ORYSSOMUS ..........0 000s 210
—— subterminatus .......... 210
PANG covcacccccesecees .-... 162
RyGropred vie ecveesceees 162
PANOMOCA vevccccccccccsseas 142
Paracladorena ....ccccece eee 248
PARATRITOMA .........-0005 71
Paratritoma wi... cc ccc ee eee 65
CACUCA wo. eee ee eee eee 73
—— dimidiata .............. 72
—— divisa ....ecececcceees 72
INDEX.
Page
Paratritoma divisa ........ 71, 73
vivida ....... eee eeaee 73
VFA cccsvvcavecees 69
PELINA 1... ccs ceee cece eeees 162
gerstiickert ......0000.. 162
hydropica ..........00.. 162
Pentelanguria ...ccsecceaves 27
PENTILIA 2. ..... cece eee eee 180
Pentinid voc cccccccccccvceves 183
Castanea ...... eee ee eee 181
—— (P) convexa .......-008. 181
——— discorS ........cce sees 181
CQENA... . eee ceeeeeevues 180
CYENA . re cascasrscscenes 181
PHALANTHA ........000- 118, 257
—— championi.............. 119
CRAMPIONE... 0. cc eeseees 120
CLSANGUIS Weececesevees 119
—— intricata .......... 119, 257
PUCtypenntS .revrsssvees 119
CATUCGALA weceessaee woe. 119
PLASTOCOCCUS .......00e0008 255
—— apicalis ...........0005. 256
—— atricinctus.............. 255
GErICINCLUS 6... eee eee 255
Platynaspts oo. ccsvescenvces 175
Pleganophorus ..scccseevceee 258
Polius volgus ...ceecevsveeves 226
PORTA... . cc cece eee eee 207, 262
Portia ...... 206, 208, 209, 210, 218
TY 208
—— chiriquensis ............ 207
—— CUPTEA osc eee ee ee eee 207
CYANEA .oeeececccevnee 207
—— detrita .........04 sees 209
marginithorax .......... 208
—— rubicunda.............. 208
— sallei.......... ee eee. 207
—— sanguinitarsis .......... 208
—— sanguinolenta .......... 209
Stellaris.......0. see eaes 262
PORTIDES 1... cee e eee e eens 206
PREPOPHARUS ........000005 110
Prepopharus ........00e. 99, 112
duponcheli ............ 111
spilotus............00.. 111
—— xanthomelas............ 111
PRIOTELUS ..........0c0ees 111
Priotelus woccssecceeeee 100, 112
aplatus ....... cece ee eee 112
——_ festivus . occ ccccccseeee 100
—— limbatus ...ccceeeeeeee 112
—— ligrinipennis.......ccees 112
Prodtlis margintthoraz ...... 208
palledifrons ....ceccaves 208
Propylea conglobata ......0065 160
Page
PSELAPHACUS ....eesseee02. 85
—— conspersus ............ 35
CUIVIPCS ..... eee eee nee 35
——— Dentatus .iccescsssaeee 36
—— Mistortus viceccceceee 35, 86
ducalis ....... see eeees 35
GVACLPCS wo. cveceeveeee 35
ROPet .. es vsecccccccees 35
—— NICATAQUB...... 6.06000, 36
—— nigropunctatus .......... 35
—— pecilosomus............ 35
—— poecilosomus ......-6605+ 36
—— puncticollis ............ 36
— semiclathratus.......... 36
—— signatipennis.........06. 37
——— signatus .............. 37
vitticollis .............. 36
Pseudoladoria .......ceec ace 217
PSEUDOLYBAS ..........64.. 74
——glaber ......... eee eee 74
Glaber .eceecceceenees 75
Vernicatus..........008. 75
PSYLLOBORA .... eee eee eens 165
Psyllobora weccccsevceees 168, 210
CONPIGUTANS .reeseceeeee 158
— confluens .............. 166
—— decipiens ............0. 165
——— PETMAN] «eee cece eee 166
——— INT ETSPATEA oo eccccacees 167
—— lilaputtand occ ceececceces 167
—— luctuosa .............. 166
UUECTWOBA ve cece ccecces 167
—— lutescens .............. 167
TOCL wee cece sececaeee 168
—— rufosignata ......cceee. 167
—— Leda vee eeccccccceans 167
tardigrada ........ 166, 167
—— viginti-maculata ........ 167
—— viginti-maculata ........ 166
—— viginti-signata ...ceceees 167
PUUUS. ccc ce ccnnneeee 227, 229
RHYMBUS ..... cess eee eeee 142
Rhymbus oo. .ee eee. 141, 144, 148
apicalis....... leew eens 1438
—fibulatus .............. 144
—— hemisphericus ...... 148, 144
—— limbatus .............. 142
MIUNUUS. coer eceeereceee 147
—— pallidulus .............. 144
—— piceuS ................ 143
seminulum oss. erevcee 144
—— vestitUS........0...006, 144
Rodohha voc ceccceccccees 235, 236
—— steboldi .... cece eee 235
Page
SCHOTHER .......ceeueeeee 82
——— carbonarius .........+.. 82
SCAPHENGIS ........ cee eee 82
Scaphengis .... ccc ccceecaeaes 83
—— picipes ................ 83
SCAPHIDOMORPHUS .......... 110
Scaphidomorphus .....+.00005 112
10) 6s 110
duponchelit ........000% 111
—— quinquepunctatus........ 110
Tanthomelas oo. .eceveees lil
Scolochrus ..cccecccceccsnces 184
SCYMNIDES .....cc.eeeeeeee 225
SCYMNUS .....-... ce eee 226, 264
Scymnus ...... 165, 225, 227, 228,
231, 234
——— Abtetis occ eee ee 227
—— apicalis ........... ee eee 228
—— apicalts .......ceue 227, 264
—— ATHCMIO vec cercccccreaes 229
ASPETSUS 22. eee eeeee ees 234
AtOMUS .. cece eee eee eens 235
—— auritulus ...........0.. 229
auritulus ...ccceres 228, 230
bilucernarius .......... 235
——— bisbinotatus ............ 230
—— bugabensis ............ 228
Dugabensts....ececeeeees 264
CUINCLUS Coc ceeeecues 227, 228
—— coloratus ........ee. eee 231
corpusculus .........06. 233
GiversuS .......eeeeeee 2384
ferrugineus ............ 227
—— granum........ vtec eeee 233
——— PTUMUS ...... eee eee eee 233
GTUMUS Coccecccccccvees 234
—— hOgel..... ccc cece ee eee 230
Horni..... eee eee eee 229
——— hOVNE ec cccccccccces 228
——— jamsoni ......... cc ce eee 229
JANSONE co cvvvaccveceees 233
decontit .... ce ceaes 227, 228
—— loewi...e.ccssccees wees 227
marginicollis..... ve eaee 229
———— MINMAMUS ve vcasccercaes 230
—— mutatus......e cs seeeees 232
pallidipennis ....sceveees 232
panamensis ............ 226
—— pictus vee eeeeeeeeee ee QSL
—— pilatii .... cee eee eee 235
—— tantillus ...... seeceeee Od
tardus ......eeeee vevee 23]
thelys ....... beneeeees 235
—— thoracicus..........0++. 226
—— VET@PaclS ....... scene 264
—— volgus @aoevvee eeerreren oe 226
INDEX.
Page
Scymnus volgus ..... ree. 227, 260
SELADIA... cece eee eee sacs 204
—— alboguttata ............ 205
—— augustiniana............ 205
—— beltiana.............08e 205
—— nigricollis.............. 205
visceralis ..... cae eeeee 205
Selasia occ cc cece ceaee wee. 204
NUGVUCOIMS ... cc ceeeaces 205
Spathomeles ......sc.00 oe. 115
Spheniscus ........0006 oeeeee LOL
STENOTARSUS ........0ce008 134
Stenotarsus .... 131,182, 183, 136,
189, 141, 142
cece eee eee 142
— Pca cece cece cece 142
—— adumbratus ............ 140
adumbratus . i.e... ce ee 142
——angustulus ............ 138
antennatus ........ 140, 141
brevicollis ... cece eee .. 185
circumdatus ..,.......0. 136
——_ C°UVCUMAALUS occ cee 187
Claviger..... csc eee ee eee 141
COCCINEUS oo ce cee caneees 184
Cordatus ...eee eee eeee 134
——— cuprivestis .......... .. 189
—— discipennis ............ 136
—— OEXIQ“UUS..... 0... eae . 141
globosus ......... ee eee 136
—— lemniscatus ..........6. 139
limbatus v.cecceveccces 148
—— maculicollis ............ 141
——— maclicollts vecccvcccves 142
—militaris .............. 137
MUM ATIS occ cee 1388
NIQvICANS .......eeeaeee 135
oblongulus ............ 138
—— oObtusus ....ceceeeeeeees 135
orbicularis ......... ».. 184
OvAaTULUS. 6. cee ec ec nes .. 1386
pamamanus ............ 138
—— pilatei ...... en 135
i 136
UbtCUNdUS Le eeeeeeeee 1385
rubrocinctus..........5. 137
—— Salli... ccs ee ee ceaeee 140
SETUCALUS ccc cee eecas 135
——smithi ........ee ee eeee 140
— tarsalis ............000- 137
——— thoracicuS ........eeeees 136
EROPACICUS ce eee secececes 137
Sternolobus ..acecvecserees 92
Sticholotis ....ccececeeee sees 228
Strongylosomus ..ce.seccveves 83
—— Aichrous vevceceess oe. 8d
Page
Strongylosomus frenatus .....- 84
POPUVIANUS viveerevecee 90
Symbiotes .....eceeeeeee 145, 149
SYSTACHEA ..eccee cece cece 132
—— championi...........- .. 133
—— cyanoptera ...... oeeeee 133
TERETILANGURIA ....eeeess 7
Teretilanguria ......4. 8, 4, 10, 24
Pace ee eee teens 10
— Pesce ce ee eer e eee 10
Karschtt . 0. cece cece eens 7,8
—— metallica .............. 8
—— nigro-enea ..........-- 9
NUGKO~RNED ve cecseceees 10
—— pamamse wees eee eee ees 8
PANAME vivecceseesaes 9,10
—— versicolor ...... secsenee OD
THALASSA ...-ceeceeeeesesss 183
—— glauca .....+.......... 184
—— montezume .........+.. 183
—— pentaspilota .......-..6- 183
pentastigma ...... woeeee ‘183
TOYL vevcaceccccsceeees 184
Thallis ..... bee eevee eeeeee 249
THALLISELLA ......006. wee. 248
Thallisella ......cc00s ran 250
conradti ...... Le eeeee 249
crotchi ........ cee eee 249
MALASI@. coe cecvcsvecees 248
——_ POrUVIANA ... es eee 248, 249
TRG ve ecvvececccceeess 165, 168
CUINCLA cece ence ween ees 165
VATIEGALA ...65, ceveeeee 165
TRAPEZIDERA .e.eeeeeeeeees 3
Trapezidera .... 6,7,8, 10,15, 24
NEA... se eee eevee weer 4
—— ENED oe en, 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 24
angusticollis..........4. 5
angusttcolls ..c.ceceeeee 3,4
brunneiventris .......... 6
brunnipes ...........6 5
Chaleea .irceveceveras 4,18
dilaticollis ............ 6
lateralis Jo... eeee eee 5
—— longicollis ....ccccecee 3, 6, 7
prolongata ...cciceeees 3,6
semiotina ..........000- 4
SEMUOLING .oceececcccees 5
Trapeztderus oo cceccceeecvees 3
TRIPLACIDES........000c000- 35
Triplatoma...... sce e tee aeees 33
TRIPLAX weseseseeeccereee . 78
Triplat ........ 47, 66, 70, 79, 80
—— championi............., 78
champion .....4.. veseee 9
276
Page
Triplax flavicollis ........ 78, 79
hgei..... 2... eee eee eee 78
1 79
melanoptera .......0.00% 78
— mesomelas ............ 79
—— A-guttata ......c eee eee, 34
rediviv® ....--...0000- 79
—— seutellaris..... 0.060. ee 78
—— thoracica ..........4.. . 78
TRITOMA .......eee ec eee ee. 79
Tritoma...... 64, 67, 70, 71, 72, 80
bipustulata ........4.6. 80
—— dorsalis ............005. 80
INDEX.
Page
Tritoma niponensis .......+.. 80
Tritomidea... ccc cece cc cuees 252
TROCHOIDEUS .........0000. 258
—— americanus ...........- 258
goudotit .......... beeeee 258
VEDALIA .. deca eeeaeees weve 235
sieboldi...............- 235
Verama....eeeess teens see. 158
XOHWE ceccccccccececvceces 256
Page
ZENOBIA oo. eee eee eee 262
ZENOVIA veccscvcencccees 217, 218
circumclusa ............ 262
TEVESLUA. .. ccc eee 217, 263
—— subcostalts ... 0... ccc eees 263
ZONARBIUS ........ 00sec eeeee 109
ZONATIUS «1. we ee 82, 108, 110
CACICUS ........ eee ee eee 109
—— guatemal@......... 0.05 109
WNAUCUS oo ccc cece eae 108
—— jansoni .............. .. 109
—— quadrifasciatus ........ 109
zebra..... Sete cece ees 109
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
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