362 PHYTOPHAGA. 



of a more greenish aeneous tint ; it is quite possible that these specimens represent a 

 different species, but till we obtain more material I am not able to come to a definite 

 conclusion on this point. 



3. Aphthona pilatei. 



Aphthona pilatei, Baly, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1877, p. 296 \ 

 Eab. Mexico, Teapa l (coll. Baly). 



Only a single specimen of this species is contained in the collection of Mr. Baly, and 

 none have been obtained by Herr Hoge or M. Salle. The colour of the insect above 

 is nearly black, with a very slight violaceous tint (in Mr. Baly's description the colour 

 is given as "nigro-senea"), and the legs and antennae pale fulvous: on account of this 

 coloration the insect is comparatively easy of recognition. 



4. Aphthona obscuripennis. (Tab. XXI. fig. 19.) 



Below black ; head, antennae, thorax, and legs fulvous ; thorax extremely finely punctured ; elytra obscure 



bluish-black, finely punctate-striate. 

 Length f line. 



Hab. Guatemala, Zapote, El Eeposo (Champion). 



This species is undoubtedly closely allied to A. diversa, Baly, but differs in the fol- 

 lowing particulars : — the frontal tubercles are more obsolete ; the antennae are entirely 

 fulvous, with the exception of the last joint, which is infuscate ; the vertex of the head 

 is not aeneous or blackish, as in A. diversa, but fulvous ; the thorax shows some very 

 minute punctures (when examined under a strong lens) ; and the elytra are not metallic 

 blue or green, but nearly black, with a slight bluish tint ; lastly, the entire shape of 

 the insect is more robust and much more convex, giving a somewhat square form to 

 the elytra, the punctuation of which extends nearly to the apex ; the antennae have 

 their third and fourth joints of equal length ; the first joint of the posterior tarsi is as- 

 long as the three following joints united. 



The North- American A. picta, Say, and A. texana, Crotch, seem to be closely allied 

 species, but the former is described as having the elytra " sparingly and obsoletely 

 punctured" (cf. Crotch, Proc. Ac. Phil. 1873), and the latter as being "not convex 

 and with irregularly punctured elytral stria3." 



5. Aphthona semicaerulea. 



Below black ; head, antennae, thorax, and legs reddish-fulvous ; elytra greenish-blue, regularly and distinctly 

 punctate-striate. 



Length 1 line. 



Head impunctate, the frontal tubercles rather broad and not very strongly raised ; carina short ; apices of the 

 mandibles and the palpi piceous ; antennas fulvous, the apical joints more or less fuscous, the second joint 

 thickened and of nearly the same length as the two following joints united ; thorax about one half broader 

 than long, transversely subquadrate, sides slightly rounded, oblique in front of the anterior angles, surface 



