TELEPHANUS. 551 
TELEPHANUS. 
Telephanus, Erichson, Naturg. Ins. Deutschl. iii. p. 329 (1845). 
The Munich Catalogue of Coleoptera includes only two species of this genus, one 
of which—TZ. fasciatus, Redtenbacher—has since been shown to be Cryptamorpha 
desjardinsii. This leaves the N.-American 7’. velox, for which Erichson founded the 
genus, the sole representative of Telephanus. Recently, however, numerous species 
from South America and Madagascar have been described by Reitter and Grouvelle, 
as well as three or four from our region. To these we now add ten others. The 
insects of this genus are fragile and difficult to secure in good condition. One of 
the best characters for their discrimination consists in the outstanding sete, arranged 
along the contour of the body. Unfortunately these sete, as well as the general 
pubescence, are very readily abraded, whereby the recognition of the closely allied 
species is rendered a more difficult task. ‘The sete on the thorax often project from 
small denticles, and these, fortunately, remain, even when the sete are abraded. In 
the following arrangement the species in which the sete and denticles are least 
developed are placed first; while we conclude with the species—T. setulosus and 
T. sellatus—in which they attain a development that is quite remarkable. | 
Mr. Champion informs me that these insects are often to be found in numbers by 
beating the withered, pendent leaves of Musaceous plants. 
‘1. Telephanus simplicicollis, sp.n. (Tab. XVII. fig. 17.) 
Flavo-testaceus, elytris plus minusve discrete bimaculatis (maculis interdum posterius prolongatis et sutura 
attingentibus); nitidus, parcius breviusque pubescens ; prothorace fortiter punctato, lateribus tantum 
denticulis duobus distinctis ; elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis, interstitiis parvis. 
Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (fHdége). 
This species is readily distinguished by the extremely short and scanty pubescence, 
and by the unusually small development of the setigerous tubercles of the thorax, the 
lateral margins of this part being, however, quite distinct. It is in size, form, and 
punctuation rather similar to Z. agilis, but the antenne are shorter. The thorax 
has a very minute denticle forming the anterior angle, and there is another small 
denticle just before the base; each of these bears a rather short, fine seta, but there 
are no sete between them ; the surface is coarsely and rather closely punctate, but is 
shining. The elytra are shining; their pubescence is remarkably short and scanty ; 
there are no outstanding sete, and no lateral denticles; the punctures are coarse, and, 
though serially arranged, are less regular than they are in most other species of the 
genus ; the interstices are but small. 
Hoge procured a small series of this species. The dark spots on the elytra vary 
much, and may be entirely absent. 
