BRACHYACANTHA. 185 



this line, merely indicating the finely impressed margin, cannot be seen in many cases 

 when the thorax is not detached from the base of the elytra. And this is the view 

 Chapuis has taken of the value of this character, which Mulsant has used with some 

 insistance. 



1. Brachyacantha lepida. (Tab. x. fig. 16.) 



Brachyacantha lepida, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim, secur. p. 523 1 ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 210 2 ; Trans. 

 Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 378 3 . 



Hal. North America, United States 1 , Texas 3 . — Mexico 1 2 3 , Toxpam, Mirador (Salle), 

 Cordova (Salle, Hbge), Orizaba (Salle, H. H. Smith, and F. B. G.), Atoyac in Vera 

 Cruz (H. H. Smith), Jalapa (Hbge, Flohr), Cerro de Plumas, Tapachula (Hbge) ; British 

 Honduras, R. Hondo, R. Sarstoon, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, near the city 

 (Salvin, Champion), Chiacam, Senahu, Sabo, and Purula in Vera Paz, Zapote, Capetillo, 

 Duefias (Champion) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten). 



Var. o. Maculis rafo-piceis. 



Hah. Mexico, Toxpam (Salle), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith). 



Var. (3. Maculis confl.uenti.bus. 



Had. Mexico, Tapachula in Chiapas (Hbge) ; British Honduras, R. Sarstoon (Blan- 

 caneaux) ; Guatemala, San Geronimo (Champion). 



B. lepida is very variable as regards size (the larger examples being 4 millim. long, 

 while some occur of scarcely half that size) and colour, and also in the degree to which 

 the markings become confluent. 



Of the var. a, the colour of which may be due to immaturity, Mr. H. H. Smith met with 

 a very large number at Teapa in Tabasco ; and these appear to be all of the typical 

 form, i. e. the spots are detached. Varieties with the two discoidal spots just united by 

 a line occurred, in company with typical forms, at the city and elsewhere in Guatemala. 

 In the variety which I designate |3 the discoidal spots are united together and to the 

 central spots, as well as to the subapical spot, leaving six triangular yellow spots on 

 each elytron — one on the base near the scutellum, with two others following almost in 

 a line, and the yellow margin is dilated into three spots corresponding to these. Of 

 this variety numerous specimens were met with at Tapachula. I have not observed 

 any structural character in the abdomen of this insect. 



2. Brachyacantha westwoodi. (Tab. X. fig. 17.) 



Brachyacantha westwoodi, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim, secur. p. 520 (tf) 1 ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211 2 . 

 Brachyacantha bipartita, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim, secur. p. 521 ( ? ) 3 ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211*. 



Hab. Mexico 1_4 , Toxpam, Yolos (SalU), Jalapa (Hbge), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. 

 Smith). 



biol. centr.-amer., Coleopt., Vol. VII., January 1894. 2 B* 



