PLATYDEMA. 201 
40. Platydema biplagiatum. (Tab. IX. figg. 5, 6.) 
Oblong ovate, moderately convex, dark reddish brown, shining, glabrous. Head shallowly, confusedly, and 
somewhat coarsely punctured, the epistoma not clearly defined, the frontal half red; antenne with the 
three or four basal joints, and the outer half of the apical one, red; prothorax broader than long, the 
sides strongly margined, rounded, and rapidly narrowing from the middle, the anterior angles broadly 
rounded and not prominent, the apex almost truncate, the base bisinuate and with a distinct oblique fovea 
on each side, the surface very finely, shallowly, and diffusely punctured, black, the sides and base more or 
less reddish ; elytra a little wider than the prothorax at the base, strongly margined, feebly rounded at 
the sides, regularly punctate-striate (the punctures deep, rather coarse, and not very closely placed), the 
interstices flat and very finely and sparingly punctured, black, with two bright reddish-testaceous broad 
angular bands—one, starting from the lateral margin a little below the shoulder, extends transversely 
inwards to the second interstice, where it turns abruptly upwards and is continued to the base, the other 
some distance beyond the middle, transverse, not reaching the suture, and ending abruptly on the second 
interstice (in some examples continued along the lateral margin and second interstice to the apex, 
enclosing a large black spot)—the apex also reddish testaceous ; legs red, the tibize more or less infuscate ; 
beneath shining, finely and sparingly punctured. 
Length 43-6 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé, Hoge), Jalapa (Hége). 
Captured in plenty by Herr Hoge at Jalapa. 
Var. a. The prothorax, except the centre of the disc, red; elytra with the first band narrower, more curved, 
and less angular, the apical third reddish testaceous, enclosing a large oblique black spot on each, the 
extreme base narrowly, the reflexed lateral margins, and the suture, red. 
Hab. Nicaraaua, Chontales (Belt). Two examples. 
Var. b. The first band of the elytra as in var. a, but not extending to the base, the second band well defined 
(as in the type), the apex red. 
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). Six examples. 
A bright, shining, ovate, moderately convex species; the elytra with two trans- 
verse angular reddish testaceous bands; not closely allied to any previously described. 
I do not consider the varieties a and ) to represent more than local races of this some- 
what variable insect. In some examples the elytra are more broadly margined than in 
others; in one, from Jalapa, the first and second elytral bands are connected externally 
by a broad extension of the reddish testaceous colour ; the amount of this colour on the 
elytra varies considerably in the long series of specimens before me. 
We figure a typical example (fig. 5) from Jalapa, and one of var. a (fig. 6) from 
Chontales. 
41. Platydema maculipenne. 
Rather longer and narrower than P. biplagiatum; the head more coarsely and not so closely punctured, the 
epistoma defined posteriorly by a shallow transverse groove ; the antennee wholly red; the prothorax more 
evidently punctured, red, the disc more or less broadly infuscate; the elytra more parallel, less acuminate 
behind, more shallowly punctate-striate (the punctures placed closer together), the interstices more 
evidently punctured, black, with two curved transverse angulated bands (one, before the middle, not 
reaching the suture, and sometimes extending forwards to the base, the other some distance beyond the 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 1, July 1886. 2DD 
