PHTLLOTEETA. 369 



1. Phyllotreta guatemalensis. (Tab. xxi. fig. 14.) 



Blackish-aeneous below ; greenish-aeneous above ; second joint of the antennae obscure fulvous ; thorax and 

 elytra very finely and closely punctured. 



Var. Above bluisb-green. 



Length 1 line. 



Head scarcely visibly punctured, the space between the eyes somewhat thickened ; carina short but distinct ; 

 antennas more than half the length of the body, black, the second joint more or less distinctly fulvous, the 

 third and fourth joints equal, the terminal joints gradually but distinctly thickened ; thorax transverse, 

 the sides rounded, anterior and posterior margins straight, the surface very finely and closely punctured ; 

 scutellum small; elytra subdepressed, punctured like the thorax, the interstices slightly transversely 

 rugose ; first joint of the posterior tarsi twice as long as the following one. 



Hob. Guatemala, Duenas, Zapote {Champion). 



Amongst the North- American species described by Crotch, P. albionica seems to be 

 the most closely allied to this ; there are, however, two specimens of the latter insect, 

 from California, contained in the collection of Mr. Baly, which differ in the much more 

 strongly and more distantly punctured thorax. The species described here agrees much 

 better with a specimen, also contained in Mr. Baly's collection, labelled "Phyllotreta 

 texana, type, Crotch, formerly contained in Dr. Horn's collection ;" but this is evidently 

 a mistake, as Crotch has only described an Aphthona texana, a species differing totally 

 from the above-mentioned specimen, which certainly is a true Phyllotreta and possibly 

 identical with P. guate r nalensis. 



How the above mistake arose it is difficult to say, as the description given by Crotch 

 cannot possibly apply to the specimen in the Baly collection, which differs totally in 

 coloration and in the long joint of the metatarsus of the posterior legs; there is 

 therefore no other choice left but to describe the species as new. P. lewisi, Crotch, 

 and P. cemula, Harold, are evidently closely allied species, which seem to differ in the 

 colour of the antennae and other particulars. 



2. Phyllotreta transversicollis. 



Below black ; basal joints of the antennae, and the apices of the anterior femora and their tibiae, fulvous ; 

 thorax transverse, impunctate as well as the elytra ; above bluish-black. 



Length 1 line. 



Head impunctate; frontal tubercles narrow, but slightly raised and contiguous, bounded behind by an 

 indistinct groove ; carina very short and narrow ; labrum and palpi piceous ; antennae with the first six 

 joints fulvous, the rest black, second joint swollen and not shorter than the third; thorax narrowly 

 transverse, more than twice as broad as long, the sides rather rounded, the angles somewhat obtuse, but 

 slightly thickened ; scutellum black ; elytra a little widened behind, nearly impunctate [or only extremely 

 finely punctured when seen under a very strong lens] ; legs and underside black ; the apex of the anterior 

 femora, and the base of the anterior tibiae and their tarsi, more or less fulvous ; metatarsus of the posterior 

 tibiae scarcely as long as the two following joints united. 



Edb. Guatemala, San Geronimo, Tamahu (Champion). 



Principally distinguished from P. guatemalensis by the transversely-shaped thorax 

 and from several closely-allied North-American and European forms by the almost 

 entirely impunctate upper surface, in connexion with the colour of the basal joints of 

 the antennae. 



biol. centk.-amer., Coleopt., Vol. VI. Pt. 1, August 1885. 3 b 



