LACCOPHILUS. 9 
LACCOPHILUS. . 
Laccophilus, Leach, Zool. Miscell. iii. p. 69 (1817) ; Sharp, Trans. Roy. Dubl. Soc. n.s. ii. p. 841. 
This is an extensive genus, widely distributed in the warmer and temperate regions 
of the two hemispheres. The Central-American species are numerous; and I have 
arranged them in conformity with the groups tabled in my memoir on the Dytiscide. 
Thus the first eleven species belong to group |; the next three species, L. oscillator, 
L. levipennis, and L. duplex, to group 2; while LZ. optatus goes into group 5. Lacco- 
philus championi and L. suavis are peculiar, inasmuch as they possess a coxal file and 
an elongate prosternal process, a combination not before found in the genus; as, 
however, the coxal file is rudimentary, consisting of only a few coarse and indistinct 
ruge, I think it is of comparatively little importance in the case of these insects, which, 
from their other characters, may be placed in group 9d. 
1. Laccophilus mistecus. 
Ovalis, latus, sat convexus, parum nitidus, testaceus, elytris crebre fusco-irroratis, ad marginem lateralem et 
ad apicem pallidis; pectore nigro, abdomine piceo. 
Long. 23, lat. 1? lin. 
Hab. Mexico, Parada (Boucard, coll. Salié). 
In the male the last ventral plate is much truncate at the extremity, and the middle 
of the hind margin forms a small but distinctly prominent lobe. In the female the 
upper surface is a little duller than it is in the male, owing to its being finely 
alutaceous; the apical ventral segment in this sex is nearly simple, and the coxal file 
is extremely fine. 
The species is allied to L. mexicanus, but is broader, and the fuscous irrorations on 
the wing-cases are not so dense, the male has the last ventral segment more truncate, 
and the female has the upper surface distinctly alutaceous. 
2. Laccophilus mexicanus. 
Laccophilus mexicanus, Aubé, Spec. Gén. vi. p. 420. 
Laccophilus atristernalis, Crotch, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 418; Sharp, Trans. Roy. Dubl. Soe. 
n.s. li. p. 292. 
Hab. Cauirornta.—Mexico, Oaxaca and Jalapa (fége), Guanajuato (Dugés, coll. 
Sallé), Cordova (Sallé). 
This appears to be the most abundant species of the Mexican Dytiscide. It varies 
considerably in size and width, and a little in colour, in certain individuals; the ventral 
segments are nearly yellow ; and occasionally the pale spot at the apex of the wing-cases, 
caused by the absence there of the fuscous irrorations, is very inconspicuous. ‘There 
can, I think, be no doubt now that Aubé’s description (oc. cit.) refers to this insect; 
and I have therefore adopted his name for it. | 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, April 1882. CC 
