164 



PHYTOPHAGA. 



XANTHONIA. 



Xanthoma, Baly, Journ. of Entom. ii. p. 151 (1863). 



The present genus is one of many, forming together a group of small pubescent 

 species, the principal character of which is to be found in the absence of a distinct 

 lateral thoracic margin and bifid claws. In connexion with these characters the 

 present genus has a rather flattened thorax, which distinguishes it from that of the genus 

 Fidia, in which the thorax is cylindrical. Chapuis, in his diagnosis of the genera of 

 this group, gives the thighs in Xanthoma as unarmed, while Mr. Baly, who separated 

 the genus, says that they are sometimes toothed. The genus is not altogether absent 

 in the Old World, one species having been described as inhabiting Japan ; the other 

 three or four species are North- American. 



l. Xanthoma guatemalensis. (Tab. vii. fig. 20.) 



Oblong, subcylindrical ; below piceous or black ; antennae, base of tbe thigbs, and a ring at the apex of the 

 tibise, fulvous ; above obscure brownish fulvous or piceous, closely covered with yellowish pubescence ; 

 thorax minutely, elytra closely subpunctate-striate ; anterior thighs toothed. 



Length 2-3 lines. 



Head very closely punctured, opaque, finely pubescent ; clypeus transverse, a little more shining, finely rugose- 

 punctate, its anterior margin bidentate ; jaws black ; antennae of half the length of the body, the third, 

 fourth, and fifth joints of equal length, the sixth and terminal joints shorter, fulvous, or the base of the 

 joints piceous ; thorax slightly broader than long, subcylindrical, with a shallow depression parallel with 

 the anterior margin ; surface rather flat, extremely closely punctured, and covered with yellowish hairs ; 

 scutellum subpentagonal, thickly covered with whitish pubescence ; elytra obsoletely depressed below the 

 base, much wider at the base than the thorax, more strongly punctured than the latter, the punctures 

 arranged in subregular close striae ; entire surface pubescent, like the thorax of an indistinct dark fulvous 

 or piceous colour, the pubescence thin but very closely and rather evenly distributed, of a yellowish-white 

 colour ; underside piceous ; the base of the femora and the middle portion of the tibise fulvous ; the former 

 compressed, and the anterior ones armed with a distinct tooth ; apex of the tibia? distinctly dilated ; tarsi 

 . piceous ; claws bifid. 



Bob. Mexico, Jalapa {Edge); Guatemala, near the city (Salvin), Cerro Zunil, 

 Capetillo, Duefias, Calderas, San Geronimo, Volcan de Agua, 8500 to 10,500 feet, 

 Panajachel (Champion). 



In the compressed anterior femora and their tooth, the present species approaches 

 the genus Trichotheea from India ; but the much more transverse thorax and the 

 differently-shaped antennas prevent its being included in that genus. The elytra in this 

 species are variable in colour, some showing indistinct patches of fulvous and yellowish 

 tufts of hair, while others are more regularly pubescent and of a piceous colour, 

 marbled here and there with small fulvous spots. The figure is taken from a specimen 

 from Cerro Zunil. 



2. Xanthoma plagiata. 



Ovate, obscure piceous ; base of the femora and the antennae fulvous, the seventh and last two joints of the 

 latter piceous ; above obscure piceous, covered with grey pubescence ; elytra with a triangular sutural 



