566 PHYTOPHAGA. 



Hah. Costa Kica (Van Patten). 



A species of very robust and dilated shape ; the specimens before me are evidently 

 all females. 



153. Diabrotica semipurpurea. 



Ovate, slightly widened, black; head and thorax testaceous, the latter deeply transversely grooved; elytra 

 purplish-blue, finely punctured ; legs fulvous or piceous. 



Length 2| liries. 



Head rather deeply foveolate at the vertex, impunctate, fulvous ; the frontal tubercles small but distinct ; 

 antennse black, two thirds the length of the body, the third joint twice the length of the second ; thorax 

 transverse, rather more than twice as broad as long, the disc with a deep transverse groove (slightly inter- 

 rupted in the middle) on each side ; scutellum fulvous or piceous ; elytra slightly widened posteriorly, 

 finely and rather closely punctured, metallic purplish-blue ; breast and abdomen black, the legs fulvous or 

 piceous. 



Hah. Guatemala, Las Mercedes, Zapote (Champion). 



Several examples. The peculiar tint of the elytra can only be compared to the bloom 

 on a fresh plum or blue grape, and as it is present in all the specimens I have no doubt 

 that this colour is the normal one. 



154. Diabrotica nigriceps. (Tab. XXXI. fig 18.) 



Diabrotica nigriceps, Baly, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 5th ser. iii. p. 75 (1879) l . 



Hah. 1 Guatemala 1 ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David, Caldera, Tole 

 (Champion). 



This handsome species is of a reddish-purple colour (with the exception of the 

 extreme apices of the elytra, which are flavous) when fresh ; it is also distinguished by 

 the transverse depressions of the elytra, one of these depressions being placed below 

 the base, the other below the middle, and the latter bounded laterally by a strongly 

 developed and curved elevated ridge which extends upwards to the humeral callus. A 

 very large number of specimens were obtained by Mr. Champion in various parts of the 

 State of Panama ; the insect is found in the virgin forest. This is one of several species 

 described by Mr. Baly of which the locality seems very doubtful ; we have not found 

 J), nigriceps in any of the very large collections sent to us from Guatemala. An example 

 from the Volcan de Chiriqui is figured. 



j. Elytra flavous, with longitudinal metallic hands. 



155. Diabrotica marginalia. (Tab. XXXI. fig. 12.) 



Diabrotica marginella, Jac. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 789 \ 



Hah, Costa Rica ( Van Patten), Volcan de Irazu, Rio Sucio (Rogers) ; Panama, 

 Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 



