276 PHYTOPHAGA. 



Allied to L. hogei in general size and coloration, but differing in the following 

 points :— The thorax is of a more equal width and not narrowed in front ; the elytra 

 are not narrowed below the base, but gradually widened towards the middle ; the 

 carina is much more elevated and elongate ; and, lastly, the colour of the elytra is 

 metallic green instead of violaceous. 



14. Lactica perplexa. (Tab. XVI. fig. 21.) 



Oblong-ovate, fulvous ; antenna (the first joint excepted), tibiae, and tarsi black ; elytra violaceous, closely 

 punctate-striate. 



Length li-2 lines. ., -,.,.,•. 



Head impunctate; maxillary palpi swollen and robust; frontal tubercles very small and indistinct ; carina 

 very short ; antennas less than half the length of the body, the third and fourth joints of equal length, 

 not much longer than the second, rest of the joints rather robust, black, the first joint fulvous ; thorax 

 transverse, the anterior angles rather acute, the sides slightly widened directly below the latter, basilar 

 sulcation very deep, surface impunctate ; scutellum fulvous ; elytra violaceous or greenish blue, closely 

 and rather regularly punctate-striate, the punctures distinctly visible to the apex; presternum rather 

 broad and elongate. 



Var. Abdomen and legs entirely black. 



Had. Guatemala, Purula, Calderas, Capetillo (Champion); Panama, Boquete, David, 

 Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 



Several characters unite in the present species to distinguish it from its allies, of 

 which L. dives, Har., seems to be the most nearly allied form. A typical specimen of 

 the latter insect, kindly given to me by M. Oberthiir, differs in the entirely rufous 

 underside and legs, the more elongate and filiform antennae, and the more slender palpi, 

 as well as in the narrower presternum. I think I do not err in referring the few 

 specimens from Guatemala to the same species, although they differ slightly in shape 

 and in the colour of the legs. The very distinct punctuation of the elytra, which are 

 without any basal depressions, will separate this species from others similarly coloured, 

 and the differences pointed out above from L. dives. 



15. Lactica semiviolaceus. 



Oblong, dark violaceous blue; head and thorax testaceous; antennas and scutellum black; above entirely 

 impunctate. 



Length 2i lines. 



Hnad impunctate, with a small but deep fovea in front of the eyes; frontal tubercles distinct, almost con- 

 tiguous ; carina convex, dilated in front ; labrum and apex of jaws piceous ; antennas more than half the 

 length of the body, the fourth joint distinctly longer than the third ; thorax transversely convex, 

 more than twice as broad as long, anterior angles thickened, the basal sulcation moderately deep, and 

 interrupted slightly at each end, surface entirely impunctate ; scutellum black, large ; elytra slightly 

 widened below the middle, entirely impunctate, dark violaceous ; underside and legs almost black, with 

 a violaceous blue tint. 



Eab. Mexico (coll. Jacoby) r 



The colour of the underside and legs well distinguishes this species, of which a single 

 specimen is contained in my collection. 



