356 PHYTOPHAGA, 



Trichaltica was established by its author on some South-American species of Haiti- 

 cinee of small, parallel, and subcylindrical shape, with a very strongly and generally 

 distantly punctured thorax, and punctate-striate and pubescent elytra. The species seem 

 to be subject to great variation, and none have hitherto been recorded from Central 

 America. Orthaltica, Crotch, almost entirely resembles the present genus, but may 

 be distinguished by the closed anterior coxal cavities. 



1. Trichaltica bogotana. (Tab. XXL fig. 7.) 



Trichaltica bogotana, Harold, Coleopt. Hefte, xv. p. 4 (1876) \ 

 Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). — Colombia 1 . 



Whether I am rightly referring the specimens obtained in the State of Panama to 

 Von Harold's species I am not able to say with certainty, not having seen the type; 

 the description as given by the author agrees, however, in the main points. But there 

 are a few specimens from the same locality before me which differ only in size and 

 coloration, and are therefore probably varieties ; in these specimens the antennae are 

 longer and stouter, and not entirely red, but piceous, with the exception of the first 

 two joints; perhaps they are the females of the species under consideration. The 

 thorax in all the specimens has two small but distinct teeth at the sides before the 

 middle (as Von Harold's description gives it). The Colombian T. denticollis, Har., 

 has the same character, and may be but a variety of the present species. 



2. Trichaltica variabilis. (Tab. XXI. fig. 9.) 



Below black, above metallic dark blue ; basal joints of the antennae, and the lower part of the face, red ; thorax 

 coarsely and remotely punctured ; elytra strongly punctate-striate, covered with thin whitish pubescence. 

 Yar. a. Head and anterior part of the thorax piceous ; legs more or less fulvous. 

 Yar. b. Head and thorax black ; anterior legs red. 

 Length |-1 line. 



Hab. Beitish Hondueas, Belize (Blancaneauoc) ; Guatemala, San Juan in Vera Paz, 

 Cahabon, Duenas, Calderas, El Tumbador, Tamahu (Champion); Panama, Volcan de 

 Chiriqui (Champion). 



I have separated this species, which seems to differ principally in its coloration from 

 those described by Von Harold, and of which T. nigricollis seems to be more closely 

 allied than the others, on account of a dozen specimens all showing the same and con- 

 stant difference in the blue head and thorax ; the latter has only one small tooth 

 (not two) behind the anterior angles, and can (providing this character is a constant one) 

 therefore not be mistaken for T. denticollis or T. bogotana. In all the specimens, with the 

 exception of one from Cahabon, the lower part of the face and the labrum are fulvous, 

 the entire upper part of the insect being metallic blue ; the head is impunctate, the 

 thorax transverse and coarsely and remotely punctured, and the elytra have a very 

 slight basal depression ; slight differences in the punctuation are, however, noticeable 



