ACM.EODEKA.— SPHENOPTEKA. 27 



almost rugulose. The transverse spot at the middle of the elytron does not quite reach 

 the margin; it is directed obliquely upwards, and extends to the second or third 

 interstice. In the apical region there is a longitudinal spot on the fourth and fifth 

 interstices, with an oblique transverse spot immediately below it ; and below the trans- 

 verse spot is another longitudinal one on the third and fourth interstices. 



Two examples have the middle and posterior spots extended and more or less united, 

 one of them having an additional spot near the base. Another specimen has all the 

 posterior spots very much reduced in size. 



The crenulation round the apical margins of the elytra is very slight, very close, and 

 not very acute. 



21. Acmseodera tubulus. 



Buprestis tubulus, Fabr. Syst. El. ii. p. 200. 



Buprestis culta, Weber, Obs. Ent. p. 75. 



Acmceodera tubulus, Lap. & Gory, Mon. i. p. 11, t. 3. f. 15. 



Acmaodera 14^-guttata, Lap. & Gory, Mon. i. p. 12, t. 3. f. 18. 



Hab. North America, St. John's Bluff, Texas (Brit. Mus.). — Mexico (Brit. Mm.). 



22. Acmseodera exilis. (Tab. II. fig. 7.) 



Elongata, postice angustata, nigro-senea ; thorace elytris paulo latiore, confertim punctate, utrinque foveola 

 rotundata impresso, lateribus rotundatis ; elytris guttis octo flavis transversis ornatis, punctato-striatis, 

 interstitiis uniseriatim punctatis. 



Long. 2i lin. 



Bab. Mexico (Salle). 



This species is very close to A. tubulus, Fabr., but is rather less convex, and decidedly 

 more acuminate posteriorly, the elytra almost narrowed from the base. The thorax is 

 the same form, but less convex, less strongly punctured, and the punctures are not so 

 crowded ; the fovea on each side of the base is well marked and round. The elytra are 

 moderately strongly punctate-striate, but not so strongly as in A. tubulus ; the dorsal 

 interstices are flat and shining, but the surface of those towards the sides is rendered 

 uneven by the punctures. Each elytron has four deep yellow transverse spots (or 

 perhaps they might more properly be called fasciae) ; they all touch the margin and 

 extend to about the third interstice ; the first is near the base and is directed a little 

 obliquely downwards towards the suture ; the second is about the middle of the elytron, 

 and is somewhat curved upwards ; the third is about a quarter from the apex ; the 

 fourth is subapical. 



. SPHENOPTEEA. 



Sphenoptera, Solier, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. ii. p. 229 (1833). 



The species of this genus, some hundred and fifty in number, have hitherto only been 

 found in the Old World, where they are extensively distributed. 



E2 



