MEGASCELIS.— MASTOSTETHUS. 1 9 



7. Megascelis stratiotica. 



Megascelis stratiotica, Lacord. Mon. p. 261 \ 



Hab. Guatemala, Capetillo (Champion). — Colombia 1 . 



The strong triangular tooth near the apex of the posterior femora distinguishes this 

 species from any other. The only specimen from Guatemala agrees very nearly with 

 the description of Lacordaire ; but the elytra in the specimen before me are more 

 bronze-coloured than violet, as in the type, and covered with rather long golden- 

 yellowish pubescence, while Lacordaire describes his species as possessing very short 

 whitish hairs. The femoral tooth is very strongly developed. In the absence of more 

 specimens I feel scarcely justified in describing it as new. 



8. Megascelis smaragdula. 



Megascelis smaragdula, Lacord. Mon. p. 268. 

 Hab. Mexico. 



Fam. MEGALOPODnXE. 



Megalopidce, Lacordaire, Mem. Soc. Liege, iii. p. 609 (1845). 



This family contains eight genera, of which two have representatives in Central 

 America, the others being either exclusively South- American or belonging to the Old 

 World. 



MASTOSTETHUS. 



Mastostethus, Lacordaire, Mem. Soc. Liege, iii. p. 614 (1845) . 



The number of species at present known as inhabiting Central America amounts to 

 eighteen, more than sixty having been described from South America. 



l. Mastostethus balteatus. 



Mastostethus balteatus, Klug, Jahrb. Ins. p. 219 ; Lacord. Mon. p. 616. 

 Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca. 



According to Lacordaire the thorax is scarcely visibly and the elytra finely punctate. 

 In the specimen before me, also from Mexico, I find the thorax and the base of the 

 head very distinctly punctured, the former having a smooth median space from the 

 base to the apex ; the elytra are closely and rather deeply punctate to the apex, not 

 diminishing there in depth of punctuation, as Lacordaire says; the black band extends 

 from below the base nearly to the apex, in fact surrounding two transverse rufous spots 

 at the end of the elytra. These differences would be quite sufficient for considering it a 

 distinct species if I had more specimens to compare ; but as all other characters agree 

 with Lacordaire's type, and the insect has been recognized and determined by no less 

 an authority than Mr. Baly, it must be regarded as a variety more strongly sculptured 

 than the original insect. 



d2 



