128 PHYTOPHAGA. 



BELTIA. 



Oblong, convex ; head perpendicular ; eyes oblong, sinuate at their inner margin ; palpi filiform, apical joint 

 ovate, apex pointed ; antennae subfiliform, second joint short, third of twice the length, the five terminal 

 joints slightly thickened ; thorax very convex, the anterior margin sinuate behind the eyes and produced 

 in the middle, the sides simple, rounded towards the base, anteriorly greatly deflexed ; scutellum broad, 

 its apex rounded ; elytra very convex, rounded and slightly narrowed towards the apex, surface irregularly 

 punctured, interstices at the sides rugose ; legs robust, anterior femora with a strong tooth directed 

 forward ; tibia? channelled at their apex only ; claws appendiculate j prosternum subquadrate, very broad, 

 its base truncate ; anterior thoracic episternum concave. 



A number of characters unite in the present insect to prevent its being confounded 

 with any genus belonging to the Iphimeinae, amongst which it must find its place. 

 The general aspect is that of the genus Endocephalus or Corynodes, — the nearest allied 

 genus being apparently Sterneurus, Lefevr., which differs, however, in the subdentate, 

 not strongly toothed, anterior femora, and the elytra, which are much wider at the 

 base than the thorax, as well as other characters obvious on comparison. M. Lefevre 

 compares his genus with Chalcophana, with which the present one has nothing in 

 common. Only a single specimen was obtained, by the late Mr. Belt, in Nicaragua. 



l. Beltia nicaragnensis. (Tab. Vlll. fig. 25.) 



Below metallic greenish, finely pubescent ; labrum, antennae, and legs fulvous ; above greenish aeneous ; head 

 rugose punctate ; thorax and elytra closely punctured, interstices of latter near the sides transversely 

 wrinkled. 



Length 3f lines. 



Head very broad, slightly depressed between the eyes, covered entirely with longitudinal and transverse strigae ; 

 epistome not separated from the face, its anterior margin sinuate ; labrum transverse, fulvous ; antennae 

 of half the length of the body, fulvous, the two terminal joints black ; thorax very convex, subcylindrical, 

 the anterior angles acute, entire surface evenly and finely but very distinctly punctured ; scutellum im- 

 punctate ; elytra slightly transversely depressed below the base, the humeral callus rounded, but prominent, 

 surface much more strongly punctured than the thorax, the punctures arranged somewhat regularly in close 

 lines, those near the sides much stronger, and the interstices transversely rugose ; underside obscure fulvous, 

 with a metallic green gloss^and covered with very short silvery pubescence ; legs not very robust, the 

 anterior femora near their apex (which is much hollowed out) armed with a rather long and acute tooth, 

 which is directed forward and forms the limit anteriorly of the broadly dilated thigh ; prosternum nearly 

 square-shaped, the sides concave. 



Hob. Nicakagua, Chontales (Belt). 



METAXYONYCHA. 



Metazyonycha, Chevrolat, in d'Orb. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. viii. p. 172 (1847); Metaxyonycha, Marshall, 

 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, xiii. p. 382 (1864) . 



This genus is one which, with about a dozen others, forms a group of elongate 

 species, generally of metallic or light brown colour, of which the principal character 

 is found in the dentate lateral margin of the thorax. Besides that, it is distinguished 

 by the emarginate apex of the middle tibiae. Several species have been described from 

 Central America, the others (to the number of about a dozen) having been found in 

 different parts of South America. 



