114 PHYTOPHA&A. 



anterior and often also the posterior tarsi in the male, the female generally having the 

 elytra more strongly punctured than the male, and, in addition, in most eases tuber- 

 culate or strongly costate. Besides these characteristics, I have found that the first 

 abdominal segment in the female is longer than that of the male, aiding in the recog- 

 nition of the sex. It is somewhat doubtful whether all the species here described by 

 me are really distinct, as it is often almost impossible to say whether a variety or a 

 species is under examination. Out of the vast material before me I have taken the 

 most prominent forms ; and I could easily have doubled their number. But few species 

 have hitherto been described from Central America, the tropical parts of South 

 America having furnished most of the species ; they are, however, not entirely strangers 

 to the other parts of the globe, although it is doubtful if those described from the 

 Old World are strictly members of the present genus. 



1. Noda cretifera. (Tab. VI. fig. 10.) 



Noda cretifera, Lefevre, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1875, p. 110 \ 



Hob. Mexico 1 , Juquila, Oaxaca, Capulalpam, Yolos, Puebla, Yolotepec (Boucard, 

 coll. Salle), Guanajuato (E. Luges, coll. SallS); British Honduras, river Sarstoon 

 (Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, Capetillo, Purula {Champion). 



The female of this species may be recognized by the more or less strongly raised 

 longitudinal costee near the lateral margin of the elytra, and by a short transverse or 

 oblique wrinkle in front of the latter; the species varies in size from one and a half 

 to two and a half lines, and in colour from dark green to blue ; the male is generally 

 smaller, and devoid of the costae and elytral tubercle. M. Lefevre evidently only knew 

 the female insect ; but I have before me a number from the same locality, which do not 

 differ except in the absence of the elytral elevations, and which I take to be males on 

 account of the dilatation of the anterior first tarsal joint and the longer posterior femora. 

 Two specimens from Yolotepec are much more finely punctured on the elytra, but do 

 not otherwise differ. The figure is from a female specimen from Juquila. 



2. Noda viridis. 



Noda viridis, Jacoby, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 986. 



Eab. Mexico, Cordova (Salle) ; Guatemala, near the city (Salvin). 



The thorax of the present species is much more transverse than is generally the case, 

 and its surface closely, almost rugose-punctate ; the general shape of the insect is more 

 parallel-sided, and but very slightly narrowed towards the apex. The female is not 

 known to me. From N. lateralis JV". viridis is distinguished by the much finer punc- 

 tuation of the thorax and the elytra, as well as its smaller size and narrower shape. 



