612 SEEEICOENIA. 



Var. a. The head, prothorax, scutellum, and a large humeral patch on each elytron (sometimes extending along 



the base to the suture) fulvous, the rest of the elytra black or piceous. 

 Var. /3. Obscure rufo-testaceous, the elytra with the base and the sides to about the middle, and sometimes 



the apical half of the suture, as well as the prothorax in part, infuscate or black. 

 Length 3-4|, breadth 2^-3 millim. 



Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Yucatan (Pilate l ) ; Guatemala, 

 Las Mercedes, Pantaleon, Zapote, San Geronimo (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales 

 (Janson); Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Caldera, David (Champion). 



This appears to be the commonest and most widely distributed species of the genus 

 in Central America. It is very variable in colour, and also in size. The varieties 

 occurred both in Guatemala and Panama in company with the type. Some of the 

 smaller Panama specimens are a little more rotundate in shape, but I cannot separate 

 them. The elytral pubescence is longer and coarser than in any of the allied forms. 

 The insect was collected in numbers at Las Mercedes and Bugaba. I apply Guerin's 

 name to this species with some hesitation, as it is impossible to identify his insect 

 from the brief description *. S. fuscus, Chevr., from Cuba, appears to be a closely 

 allied form. 



8. Scirtes ellipticus. 



Broadly elliptic, moderately convex, shining ; obscure testaceous, the prothorax yellowish, the elytra narrowly 

 bordered with piceous at the base, the antennae and legs testaceous; the upper surface thickly clothed 

 with short, decumbent, rather coarse, pallid hairs. Head, prothorax, and scutellum thickly, minutely 

 punctate ; antennae long and slender, joint 3 slightly shorter than 2, 4-8 very elongate (9-11 broken off) ; 

 prothorax convex, very short, somewhat rounded at the sides, narrowing from the base ; elytra closely, 

 very finely punctate, the punctuation coarser than that of the prothorax, narrowly margined at the sides. 



Length 4, breadth 2| millim. 



Hab. Guatemala, San Geronimo (Champion). 



One specimen. Very near S. pilatei, but differing from it in the much finer and 

 closer punctuation of the elytra, the shorter pubescence, the rather more rounded sides 

 of the thorax, and the somewhat narrower general shape. The elytral punctuation is 

 coarser and sparser than in S. tenuicornis. 



9. Scirtes pulicarius. 



Elliptic, moderately convex, shining; brown or pitchy-brown, the suture of the elytra paler, the head 

 and prothorax testaceous or brownish -testaceous, the prothorax with the sides and base paler in one 

 specimen, the antennae brown with the basal joints testaceous or entirely testaceous, the legs testaceous ; 

 thickly clothed with fine pallid pubescence. Head, prothorax, and scutellum thickly, minutely punctate ; 

 antennae long and very slender, joint 3 short, about as long as 2, 4-11 elongate, gradually decreasing in 

 length ; prothorax short and convex, narrowing from thb base, finely margined at the sides ; elytra closely, 

 very finely punctate, the punctuation coarser than that of the prothorax, narrowly margined at the sides. 



Length 2^-3, breadth If- 2 millim. 



Hab. Guatemala, Mirandilla (Champion) ; Panama, Bugaba (Champion). 



* It would apply almost equally well to S. rotundatus. 



