312 PHTTOPHAGA. 



Hal. North Ameeica 12Si 5 . — Mexico, Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, Sinaloa, Orizaba, Juquila 

 (coll. Salle), Oaxaca, Jalapa (Edge), Ventanas (Forrer); British Honduras, river 

 Sarstoon (Blaneaneaux) ; Guatemala, Duenas,Capetillo(6%«mpiow) ; Nicaragua, Chon- 

 tales (Janson) ; Costa Rica ( Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). 



Although this species has been described as inhabiting North America by the above- 

 named authors, T must refer the numerous specimens from Central America which are 

 before me to Illiger's species, whose description agrees in all essential points. This 

 author says, however, that the underside is reddish yellow, while all the specimens 

 which I have for examination have the sides of the metasternum more or less black ; 

 the two thoracic spots which Illiger mentions are absent in most specimens, but 

 present in some. So many similarly coloured species from all parts of the South- 

 American continent are contained in collections, in most cases mixed together and 

 unnamed, that an examination of Illiger's type and those of the other authors is abso- 

 lutely necessary to form a conclusive opinion as to their specific value. Whether 

 the above names are really but synonyms of Illiger's species, as given in Gemminger's 

 catalogue, remains yet to be seen. The principal character of distinction in the 

 present species seems to be the narrow lateral elytral margin, which is of the 

 testaceous ground-colour and accompanied by a narrow black stripe, which in all 

 the specimens from Central America is of half the width only of the stripes, which 

 are placed on the disk and the sutural margin. The antennae are very nearly two 

 thirds the length of the body, and the fourth joint is nearly double the length of 

 the third. 



19. Disonycha guatemalensis. 



Below entirely fulvous, shining ; antennae short, black, the basal joint fulvous ; thorax and elytra testaceous or 

 fulvous, the latter impunctate; a sutural and discoidal stripe, as well as a very narrow lateral one 

 near the margin, black. 



Length 2| lines. 



Hab. Guatemala, San Geronimo, Zapote, Duenas (Champion). 



It is impossible to consider this species only a variety of the preceding, on account of 

 its short antennae, which in the five specimens obtained scarcely extend to the length 

 of the first third of the elytra; their joints also are very short, and gradually but 

 slightly thickened towards the apex; while, on the contrary, the same parts in 

 D. alternata are slender and elongate in both sexes. Other distinctive characters of 

 the present insect are to be found in its smaller size and the colour of the under- 

 side (which agrees with the description of Illiger's species), the latter being 

 only very sparingly covered with hairs. The legs are entirely fulvous, without any 

 black stripes. 



