BEACHYSPHENUS. 99 



18. Brachysphenus melanopus. 



Oblongus, antice angustatus ; elytris ovatis, convexis, gibbosis, rubidis ; antennis pedibusque nigris. Long. 

 9-10 millim. 



Hab. Panama, Vol can de Chiriqui, Caldera (Champion). 



This species is of a deep but lucid brick-red colour, with black antennae and legs ; the 

 tips of the palpi and the mandibles are blackish, but the coxee are red like the body. 

 The head and thorax are smooth and shining, the former often with two impressions 

 between the eyes; the latter narrowing in front, with slightly rounded sides, the 

 base bisinuate, forming acute hind angles, and the middle lobe separated by a shallow 

 transverse depression from the disc. Elytra very convex, and a good deal wider in the 

 middle than the thorax, punctate striate, the interstices a little rough, but the sculpture 

 obsolete and not distinct, so that the surface is shining. There are no true coxal lines, 

 but the area over which the middle femora move is faintly indicated by an obsolete 

 carina. This species is nearest, I think, to B. rubidus, but is more convex. We have 

 received three specimens from Caldera and one from the Volcan de Chiriqui. 



Sect. 6. (Baeytopus.) 



19. Brachysphenus nigropictus. 



Brachysphoenus nigropictus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 387 x ; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 147 2 , 502 3 . 



Hab. Nicaeagua 3 , Santo Domingo in Chontales 2 (Belt, Janson). — Colombia 13 ; 

 Venezuela 2 . 



The variety recorded by Crotch 3 from the Amazons under the name B. decoloratus 

 is, I think, a distinct species. B. nigropictus is not uncommon at Chontales. 



20. Brachysphenus fragmentatus, (Tab. V. fig. 16.) 



Oblongo-ovatus, modice convexus, piceo-brunrfeus, nitidus; capitis punctis duobus, protboracis maculis sex 

 punctoque medio nigris ; elytris nigro-piceis (sutura apiceque dilutiore), lunula bumerum subcingente ad 

 basin hamata, maculis tribus, fasciaque subapicali dentata flavis. Long. 10-11 millim. 



Hab. Guatemala, Capetillo, Zapote (Champion). 



The form of this species somewhat resembles that of a Prepopharus ; but the 

 antennse are not so long, being only a little longer than the head and thorax, and they 

 are pitchy-black with two joints at the base red. The thorax is narrower at the base 

 than the elytra (which latter widen gradually from the shoulders to the middle) ; it is 

 transverse, considerably narrowed in front, and the front margin is almost semicircularly 

 emarginate ; on each side of the middle are three spots of irregular shape (disposed in 

 a triangle), and there is one small round spot in the middle near the base ; the disc is 

 obsoletely punctate, and there is an uneven fossa before the hind angles. The 

 elytra are striate only at the base, where several short rows of punctures are 

 present ; the humeral lunule is sometimes united with another lunular marking which 



0* 2 



