EPITEIX. 347 



3. Epitrix thoracica. (Tab. XXI. fig. 2.) 



Ovate, narrowed at the apex; pieeous below; above dark aeneous; basal oints of the antennae, and tbe 

 anterior legs, fulvous ; thorax finely rugose-punctate ; elytra strongly punctate- striate, the interstices 

 costate at the sides. 



Length f line. 



Head impunctate ; frontal tubercles oblique, indistinct, bounded behind by a narrow impressed line ; antennae 

 gradually but distinctly thickened at the terminal joints, all of them, with the exception of the first, of 

 nearly equal length, black, the four basal joints fulvous ; thorax transversely subquadrate, proportionately 

 long, the posterior margin very slightly rounded and scarcely produced at the middle, the sides very slightly 

 widened towards the apex, anterior angles oblique, basilar groove straight, not very deeply impressed, its 

 lateral depression also rather obsolete and placed close to the posterior angles, surface either finely or more 

 strongly rugose-punctate ; elytra ovate, scarcely wider at the base than the thorax, widened at the middle 

 and narrowed near the apex, the latter rather pointed, surface regularly, closely, and strongly punctate- 

 striate, the punctuation much more finely impressed towards the apex, the interstices, especially near the 

 sides, longitudinally costate ; posterior legs more or less stained with pieeous, anterior legs fulvous. 



Hob. Guatemala, Quiche Mountains, Totonicapam {Champion). 



In this species a good many of the typical characters of the genus are wanting, or at 

 least modified ; the thorax does not show the usual shape of the posterior margin, the 

 anterior angles are less acutely oblique, and the pubescence of the elytra is entirely 

 absent ; this latter want the species has, however, in common with several others, and 

 as, moreover, the insect does not represent a typical form of Crepidodera, I have placed 

 it in the present genus. It cannot be mistaken for any of the allied species (described 

 for the most part by Von Harold) on account of the peculiar long thorax, the 

 punctuation of which seems, however, subject to great variation, as I have specimens 

 before me differing in no other respect whatever, which have a very finely punctured 

 thorax, and others in which the same part is nearly rugose-punctate throughout ; the 

 former case, however, is that of a single specimen only. Another distinctive character 

 of the species is the elytral costse, which are well marked at the sides, and the absence 

 of any pubescence. Taking it altogether the insect seems to represent a form between 

 Crepidodera and the present genus. 



4. Epitrix atripes. 



Epitrix atripes, Harold, Coleopt. Hefte, xiv. p. 39 (1875) \ 



Had. Guatemala, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Costa Eica, Volcan de Irazu (Sogers); 

 Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). — Colombia x . 



Many closely allied and nearly similarly coloured species, of which the present is 

 one, have been described, principally by Herr von Harold in the ' Coleopterologische 

 Hefte.' It requires a long series of specimens to come to some definite conclusion about 

 their specific value, as I find that many species from the same localities seem subject to 

 considerable variation in colour as well as in sculpture. On account of this variability 

 it is often extremely difficult, if not impossible, to refer with certainty many forms to 

 one or other described species ; and although, through the kindness of M. Oberthiir, I 



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