EPIPOCUS. 121 



Section II. Body red or pitchy-red. 



A. Elytra pitchy r , margined with red. 



a. Apex of the elytra truncate. 



2. EpipOCUS figuratus. (Tab. VII. fig. 10.) 

 Epipocus figuratus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 247, t. 3. f. 3 1 . 



Eab. Mexico \ Jalapa (Edge), Temax in North Yucatan ( Gaumer); Beitish Hondueas, 

 R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, San Juan and Panzos in Vera Paz (Champion). 



This species and the following one, E. bifidus, are extremely hard to distinguish from 

 each other. Apparently there is hardly any difference beyond the presence of a second 

 lateral thoracic spot, this being wanting in E. bifidus. Gerstacker did not know the 

 female ; and the figure he gives of the male would seem to be that of a specimen of 

 E. bifidus. We have examples from several localities of the female of E. figuratus, 

 which, in addition to having simple tibiae, are rather broader, and have the apex less 

 obliquely and less deeply truncate than in the male. The figure is of a male example 

 from North Yucatan, where Gaumer obtained a series of specimens. 



3. Epipocus bifidus. 



Epipocus bifidus, Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 248 x (t. 3. f. 3= E. figuratus ?). 

 Eab. Nicaeagua, Chontales (Janson, Belt) ; Costa Eica 1 . 



The male has a very small denticle on the inner side of the front tibiae, easily over- 

 looked, as it is not seen unless the leg is well extended ; the tibia is compressed from 

 below this tooth to the apex. Three specimens. 



4. Epipocus cinctus. (Tab. VII. fig. 11, 6 .) 



Epipocus cinctus, Lee. Proc. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 358 * ; Gerst. Monogr. Endom. p. 246 2 . 

 Eab. Noeth Ameeica, Texas x 2 . — Mexico, Catemaco (Salle), Jalapa (Edge). 



Mexican specimens of this insect are labelled E. figuratus in Salle's collection ; these, 

 however, are clearly referable to the E. cinctus of Gerstacker. The present species 

 resembles E. bifidus very closely, but it has the abdomen always dark, and often nearly 

 black, excepting the margins of the segments and the apex ; and the thorax has the 

 central spots united, forming a broad letter M, and its disc is more deeply but less 

 closely punctured than in E. bifidus. 



I have referred examples of a species hardly differing from this from Guatemala to 

 E. mutilatus, as they differ slightly ; but it will be seen that I cannot at present regard 

 them as actually distinct. 



The specimen figured is a male from Catemaco. 

 biol. CENTE.-AMEE., Coleopt., Vol. VII., March 1889. R* 



