470 PHYTOPHAGA. 



OMOTYPHUS. 



Homotyphus, Clark, Cat. of Halticidse, p. 120 (1860) ; Harold, Col. Hefte, xiii. p. 20 (1875). 

 Omotyphus, Gemm. & Harold, Cat. xii. p. 3539. 



Omotyphus, on account of its somewhat square shape and rather robust appearance, 

 very closely resembles the genus Omototus, from which Clark has separated it on account 

 of the " filiform palpi," and the double spur at the extremity of the posterior tibiae. 

 That the shape of the palpi in these insects is of but slight value in their classification 

 is sufiiciently proved by the many intermediate degrees to be found even amongst the 

 members of the same genus; as regards the single or double spur to the posterior tibiae 

 the same may be said, and to most observers it will always be doubtful whether an 

 insect of the present section should be described as armed with one or two spurs, at 

 least in most instances.. This doubt arises not from the fact that a single well-developed 

 spur is nearly always to be found at the middle of the cavity at the extremities of the 

 posterior tibia?, but that, if the insect is held sideways and in certain lights, the 

 generally acute and pointed outer angle or apex of the tibia produces the effect of a 

 " second " spur ; yet this cannot be properly called as such (many intermediate degrees in 

 regard to the length of this so-called spur are to be found), so that it will always remain 

 doubtful if the species is to be placed amongst the genera with a single or with a double 

 spur according to Clark. Omototus may, in my opinion, be safely united with Omotyphus. 

 The genus is well represented in Central America by ten species, seven of which are 

 here described as new ; about six others are known from Tropical South America. 



The range of Omotyphus is from Mexico to Brazil. 



1. Omotyphus fuliginosus. 



Homotyphus fuliginosus, Clark, Cat. of Halticidse, p. 124 \ 

 Hal. Mexico 1 . 

 This species is probably a variety of 0. asper. 



2. Omotyphus asper. (Tab. XXVI. fig. 13.) 



Homotyphus asper, Clark, Cat. of Halticidse, p. 125 \ 

 Homotyphus squalidus, Clark, 1. c. p. 126 2 . 



Hal. Mexico x 2 , Cordova {Salle). — Beazil l . 



I am unable to separate these two species, the types of which, contained in the 

 collection of Mr. Baly and named by Clark, are before me ; I cannot discover any 

 difference whatever of any consequence. Clark says that 0. squalidus may be separated 

 from 0. asper by the three longitudinal carinations at the base of the head, of which I 

 can find no trace, and there is only the possibility left to conclude that the specimen 

 named Q. squalidus has been so named by mistake by Clark. The description given by 

 Clark of 0. asper does not convey a correct idea of the sculpture of the head and thorax : 



