270 PHTTOPHAGA. 



LACTICA. 



Lactica, Erichson, Archiv f. Naturg. 1847, i. p. 173. 



Monomacra, Strabala, Lacpatica, Chevrolat, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 413. 



Camcena, Baly, Journ. of Ent. i. p. 458. 



Although closety allied to Biphaulaca and Lactina, Har., the shape of the thorax 

 and that of the frontal carina in Lactica separate it distinctly from both the above- 

 named genera. Von Harold has pointed out the obtuse not produced anterior angle 

 of the thorax and the widened carina in Lactica, in connexion with the want of an 

 elytral basal elevation and their generally confusedly arranged punctuation. Instances, 

 however, occur in which it is extremely difficult to separate Lactica from Diphaulaca, 

 as intermediate forms are found here, as well as in other branches of zoology, which 

 may be rightly classed in either genus. These cases, however, are rare. Lactica is 

 tolerably rich in species from most parts of the world : few have up till now been 

 described from Central America. 



1. Lactica bifasciata. (Tab. XVI. fig. 3.) 



Elongate, subparallel, testaceous ; head, antennae, and legs blaek ; thorax and elytra impunctate, testaceous, 

 each elytron with a black longitudinal band from the base to nearly the apex. 



Length 2|-3 lines. 



Head impunctate, shining, the frontal tubercles but slightly raised and divided by a shallow groove ; clypeus 

 thickened, widened in front, minutely punctured ; antennae less than half the length of the body, the first 

 joint curved and thickened, subclaviform, the second one short, the third and following joints of nearly 

 equal length and rather short ; thorax transverse, impunctate, the sides narrowly margined and nearly 

 straight, the basal groove sinuate, very obsolete, and visible only in certain lights, but limited at each side 

 by a deep sulcation ; scutellum small, the apex obtuse ; elytra but little convex, not visibly punctured, 

 testaceous ; a broad black band slightly narrowed at the middle extends from the base to a little distance 

 from the apex. 



Var. Base of the femora testaceous. 



Hal. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, David, Caldera (Champion). 



2. Lactica nigromaculata. (Tab. xvi. fig. 12.) 



Elongate, subparallel, testaceous ; antennae (the basal joints excepted), tibiae, and tarsi black ; thorax and elytra 

 impunctate, testaceous ; a spot at the base of the latter and another near the apex black. 



Length 2 lines. 



Head slightly broader than long, with a small fovea near the inner margin of the eyes ; frontal tubercles small, 

 rather obsolete ; antennae two thirds the length of the body, the first three joints testaceous, the rest black ; 

 third joint twice as long as the second, the three following joints distinctly longer than the third ; thorax 

 transverse, impunctate, the basal sulcation deep as well as the lateral grooves ; elytra very slightly widened 

 towards the apex, the shoulders prominent, the base not transversely depressed, surface impunctate ; each 

 elytron with a narrow spot placed at the shoulder and another rounded one near the scutellum, black ; 

 another spot of the same colour, but larger and round, is situated at a little distance from the apex ; 

 neither of these spots touches the lateral nor the sutural margin. Underside and femora testaceous ; tibia? 

 and the tarsi black. 



Var. The elytral basal spot divided. 



Hob. Guatemala, Capetillo (Champion). 



