472 SEREICOENIA. 



The thorax in P. stella has a small, prominent, transversely compressed tubercle in the 

 middle at the base. The genitalia of the males differ in form from those of the allied 

 species. P. stella, so far as at present known, is confined to the State of Vera Cruz. 

 It has been sent in numbers from Misantla by Herr Hoge . 



15. PyrophoniS radians. (Tab. XX. figg. 31, <$ ; 31 a, genitalia, J ; 31 b, base 

 of abdomen.) 



Elongate, rather narrow, the females broader, moderately convex, shining, fusco-cinereo-pubescent ; piceous, 

 pitchy-brown, or rufo-castaneous, the elytra usually castaneous or rufo-castaneous, and paler than the 

 head and prothorax ; the prothorax with a moderately large, ovate, oblique yellow vesicle on either side 

 behind, this being placed near the lateral margin and somewhat distant from the base ; the propleurae 

 with a large yellow patch behind ; the legs and antennae brown or ferruginous. Head thickly, coarsely 

 punctate, broadly depressed in the middle in front, the eyes large and rather prominent ; antennae stout 

 and strongly serrate, extending considerably beyond the hind angles of the prothorax in the male, scarcely 

 reaching these angles in the female, the third joint a good deal longer than the second. Prothorax as long 

 as broad, feebly convex, flattened or depressed on either side of the middle of the disc ; the sides converging 

 in front and moderately rounded in both sexes, straight or feebly sinuate for some distance before the 

 middle ; the hind angles long and rather narrow, strongly divergent, carinate ; the surface densely and 

 moderately coarsely punctured at the sides, sparsely so on the disc, down the centre of which is a smooth 

 median line, this being impressed towards the base in some specimens ; the base with a small, prominent, 

 transversely compressed tubercle close to the margin in the centre. Elytra about two and two-thirds 

 longer than the prothorax, somewhat rapidly narrowing from a little below the base in the male, less 

 attenuate and slightly more rounded at the sides in the female ; finely punctate-striate, the interstices 

 flat and densely, rugulosely punctate ; the apices slightly dehiscent, with the sutural angle acute or finely 

 mucronate. Beneath thickly, finely punctate, the prosternum with widely scattered coarse punctures ; 

 prosternal process long and horizontal, on the same plane as the prosternum ; mesosternum with the sides 

 of the cavity considerably raised behind. 



Length 15-27, breadth 4|-7| millim. ( <$ $ .) 



Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Teapa (Salle), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith); Guatemala, 

 Panzos, Chacoj, Panima, Pnrula, and San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion). 



Var. a. Pitchy-black or piceous; the prothorax with a curved rufous stripe on either side extending from 

 about the middle to the base and surrounding the yellow vesicle ; the yellow patch on the propleurae in 

 two specimens extending forwards to near the apex. ( J $ .) 



Hob. Guatemala, Senahu, San Juan, and Purula in Vera Paz (Champion). 



Var. j3. The elytra rather coarsely punctate-striate, with the interstices feebly convex. ( <S .) 



Hob. Nicaeagua, Chon tales (Belt, E. M. Jansori). 



Var. y. The sutural angles of the elytra produced into a long, fine mucro. ( S 2 •) 



Hab. Nicaeagua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Eica (Van Patten); Panama, Bugaba 

 (Champion). 



The typical form of this species is common in the Polochic Valley in Guatemala, 

 and it extends northwards into Southern Mexico, whence a good series has been 

 received from Mr. H. H. Smith. Of the variety a four specimens were found by 

 myself in Vera Paz ; the variety (3 is represented by seven males from Nicaragua, some 

 of which are very small ; and the .variety y by three specimens, one from each locality 



