BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. 



ZOOLOGIA. 



Class INSECTA. 



Order COLEOPTERA. 



Tribe PHYTOPHAGA. 



Fam. SAGRID5I. 



The genus Aulacoscelis (now containing three Central -American species) has lately 

 been included in this family by Chapuis, but not without some doubt as to its 

 proper place amongst the Phytophaga. The comparative length of the abdominal 

 segments and the form and shape of the tongue, however, justify its classification 

 amongst the Sagridse with greater right than amongst the true Chrysomelidae, in which 

 Stal included it. 



AULACOSCELIS. 



Aulacoscelis, Chevrolat, Diet. Univ. Hist. Nat. ii. p. 338 (1849) . 



Three species belonging to this genus have been described up to the present time, 

 all peculiar to Mexico and Guatemala. 



1. Aulacoscelis melanocera. 



Aulacoscelis melanocera, Stal, Nov. Act. Ups. 1865, p. 342; Chevrolat, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 419. 

 Ilab. Mexico. 



2. Aulacoscelis candezei. 



Aulacoscelis candezei, Chapuis, Geu. Col. x. p. 55. 



Hab. Guatemala. 



Chapuis has only given a short diagnosis of this species, which is principally distin- 

 guished by the violet reflections and the two longitudinal costae of the elytra. 

 biol. centk.-amer., Coleopt., Vol. VI. Pt. 1, June 1880. "b 



