136 PHYTOPHAGA. 



I know of no species which might not be separated from Prionodera by its general 

 convex appearance. Species of Colaspis have been described from nearly all parts of 

 the globe, although the authors have themselves not at all times been without doubt 

 as to the right position of their types. It is very curious that, amongst the sixty-two 

 species enumerated in Gemminger's catalogue, not a single species (except an undescribed 

 one) is mentioned as found in Central America. Great numbers of specimens were 

 collected by Champion and Hoge ; but most of them belong to a few species only. 



1. Colaspis splendida. (Tab. VI. fig. 17.) 



Elongate, narrowed behind, metallic green ; antennae black, the six basal joints violaceous ; thorax bidentate at 

 the sides, purplish, the margins metallic green ; elytra foveolate punctate, interstices longitudinally and 

 transversely tuberculate, each elytron with a broad longitudinal purplish band. 



Var. brilliant cupreous above ; thorax more closely punctured. 



Length 6 lines. 



Head rugose punctate, with a central longitudinal groove, the anterior part cupreous ; epistome and lower part 

 of face metallic green ; antennae half the length of the body, the first joint metallic green, the next five 

 joints fulvous, with a purplish tint, the rest black, opaque, all the joints, with the exception of the first 

 two, of nearly equal length ; thorax transverse, its angles acute, the sides distinctly bidentate, surface 

 deeply foveolate punctate, the interstices irregularly raised and rugose, cupreous, the extreme lateral 

 margins and a short space near the middle of the base metallic green ; scutellum small, semicircular, 

 metallic green ; elytra of the same colour, with a broad band of cupreous of equal width extending from 

 the shoulder to the apex, without, however, touching either the latter nor the lateral margin ; surface 

 longitudinally and transversely costate and tuberculate, the tubercles arranged partly in rows near the 

 sides, rest of the surface deeply foveolate punctate ; underside and legs metallic green ; tibiae and tarsi 

 purplish. 



Had. Costa Eica (var.) ; Panama (Boucard). 



This most beautiful species is one of the largest of the present genus, and almost 

 identical in size and colour with Adorea speciosa, Lefev., with which I would have 

 associated it ; but the different shape of the antennae, sides of the thorax, and the very 

 broad presternum of M. Lefevre's insect do not permit the belief that the two species are 

 identical, although evidently they are closely allied. A specimen in my collection (the 

 variety from Costa Eica) varies principally in the closer punctuation of the sides of 

 the thorax and the three basal joints of the antennae, which are fulvous (the rest being 

 wanting). I scarcely think these differences sufficient to justify the separation of 

 another species. The type from Panama is figured here. 



2. Colaspis chontalensis. 



Elongate, semiconvex, copper-coloured; head sparingly, thorax closely rugose punctate, with two obscure 

 dark lateral bands ; elytra tuberculate and wrinkled, strongly punctured, each elytron with a longi- 

 tudinal dark broad band from the base to the apex. 



Length 4^ lines. 



Head very dark purplish, sparingly punctured at the vertex, but intermixed with numerous minute punctures, 

 and with a distinct longitudinal groove in the centre ; clypeus triangular, reticulate punctate, with a 

 short raised middle line at the apex; antennae wanting; thorax transverse, of the same shape as 

 C. splendida, but the surface much more closely punctured, especially near the sides, which are obsoletely 

 three-sinuate, the punctures on the disk interrupted by moderately raised smooth spaces, an obscure 



