62 



OPOTflAIiA, Erichs. 



Opsomala, Serv.; XijMcera, Perty. 



Head pyramidal ; face very oblique, with four carinee more or less dis- 

 tinct. Antennae reaching the apex of the pronotum, more or . less enlai'ged 

 near the base ; the joints prismatic. Eyes somewhat prominent, oblique, 

 placed near the front and close to the antennae. Pronotum usually tricarinate, 

 sometimes sub-cylindrical and the carinae sub-obliterated ; sides straight, par- 

 allel or nearly so, truncate in front, truncate or obtusely rounded behind; 

 transverse impressions generally indistinct. Elytra straight, lanceolate, some- 

 times reaching to tip of the abdomen, sometimes abbreviated Prosternum 

 furnished with a short, obtuse spine. Anterior and middle legs short; pos- 

 terior generally long and slender. 



Synoptical table of the species. 



A. Apterous carinata. 



A A. Elytra present : 



a. Elytra much shorter than the abdomen : 



1). Wings wanting - aptera. 



hh. Wings jiresent, but minute hrachypfera. 



aa. Elytra as long or very nearly as long as the abdomen : 



b. Elytra marked with spots punctipennis. 



hh. Elytra without spots : 



c. Pronotum and head with a brown stripe each side : 



d. Vertex short, obtuse; lateral carinae of the pronotum in- 



distinct hivittata. 



dd. Vertex long, somewhat pointed; lateral carinae of the pro- 

 notum distinct -. neo-niexicana. 



cc. Stripes on the sides yellow or absent : 



d. Elytra opaque, uniform green ; cone of the vertex long, 



pointed - - varipes. 



dd. Elytra semitransparent, grayish-green ; cone obtuse tnarginicollis. 



O. carinata. " 



Syn., Mesops carinatus, Walk., Cat. Dermap. Salt., Ill, 501. 



Female. — Piceous, apterous. Head and pronotum with three carinae. 

 Head longer than the thorax ; the part in front of the eyes shorter than that 

 behind them, rounded and not attenuated on the fore border ; front with two 

 carina3, which diverge toward the face. Eyes fusiform, flat, hardly oblique 

 Antennas lanceolate, slightly dilated, nearly as long as the head and thorax. 

 Pronotum longitudinally and very slightly rugulose, truncate in front and at 



