HALTICA. 295 



former are a little more distinctly punctured. Amongst twenty-five specimens from the 

 above localities a single one from the collection of Sturm, and labelled by this author 

 with the name G. patruelis, guarantees the identification of this insect, with which the 

 description of von Harold agrees in the main point. 



2. Haltica jamaicensis. (Tab. XVII. fig. 15.) 



Galleruca jamaicensis, Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1. 2. p. 16 (1792) 1 . 



Galleruca plebeja, Oliv. Ent. vi. p. 626, tab. 2. f. 27 (1808) 2 . 



Graptodera tarsata, Sturm, Cat. 1843, p. 281 3 . 



Galleruca bassice, Eabr. Ent. Syst. iv. Ind. Alph. 1796, p. 69 4 ; Syst. Eleuth. i. p. 484 s . 



Eab. Costa Eica (van Patten), Volcan de Irazu, river Sucio (Sogers); Panama, 

 Bugaba (Champion). — West Indian Islands x 2 3 4 5 . 



Although the description given by von Harold of this species does not quite agree 

 with the very numerous specimens before me, and obtained at the localities mentioned 

 above, the differences are not such as to induce me to venture upon the erection of 

 another species in this most difficult genus. The following is I think, however, neces- 

 sary to point out : — More than thirty specimens from Costa Rica are of a metallic 

 coppery, not violaceous colour ; these are all females, and have an acutely raised longi- 

 tudinal costa extending from the shoulder to below the middle of the elytra ; others, 

 equally numerous, are of a fine violaceous or bluish colour ; in these, the males, the 

 elytral costa is only indicated. In none of von Harold's descriptions are the sexes 

 indicated, which seems to me a most necessary point, as the absence or presence of 

 elytral costee are one of the guides in the determination of the species, or have at least 

 been used as such. In other respects the Costa-Eica specimens agree very' nearly with 

 von Harold's description, and with some specimens from St. Domingo contained and 

 named in the collection of Mr. Baly. It seems that von Harold had only male specimens 

 for his description, as he makes no mention of the acute and strongly raised costa in 

 the female. All doubt is, therefore, not excluded as to the real identity of the Costa- 

 Eica specimens with Fabricius's species, which has not been hitherto recorded from 

 Central America. In the species under consideration the thorax has the space behind 

 the transverse groove more or less closely and finely, sometimes even indistinctly, 

 punctured ; the same is the case with the elytra. 



3. Haltica amethystina. (Tab. XVII. fig. 12.) 



Altica amethystina, Olivier, Ent. vi. p. 687, tab. 2. fig. 31 L ; Harold, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1875, p. 67 2 . 



Eab. Mexico, Tuxtla, Chapas (Salle); British Hondueas, river Sarstoon (Blan- 

 caneaux); Guatemala 2 (Salle), Duenas, Capetillo, Zapote, San Geronimo, Purula, 

 Senahu, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Panama, San Feliz (Champion). — Colombia 2 ; 

 Venezuela 2 ; San Domingo. 



