220 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. ni 



We have not been able to locate the type of E. obscuricomis. The 

 original description of Z. smythi was based on three specimens only 

 one of which, it seems, is still in existence. This specimen is a female 

 in the U.S. National Museum wliich we have designated as the lecto- 

 type. 



Habits: Several of the Puerto Rican specimens are labeled as 

 collected at light. 



Genus Nemognatha Uliger 



There are 36 species of this genus represented on the North American 

 mainland and 16 in South America. The species of the United States 

 were revised recently by Enns (1956); the Mexican and Central 

 American forms were treated by Champion (1891-1893). The 

 South American species have received little attention and their 

 hterature is fragmentary. 



The West Indian meloid fauna includes two species of Nemognatha 

 representing two subgenera. 



Nemognatha occupata (Blackwelder), new combination 



Figure 12 



Nemognatha atripennis Sturm, 1826, p. 72, pi. 3, fig. 26. — Borchmann, 1917, p. 166. 

 Zonitis occupata Blackwelder, 1945, p. 481. New name for Nemognatha atripennis 

 Sturm, not Say, 1823-1824, p. 306. 



Description: Orange-yellow. Antennae, labrum, apices of mandi- 

 bles, palpi, galeae, femora (except base), tibiae, and tarsi fuscous. 

 Elytra black with a metallic blue luster, the suture and lateral margin 

 of each elytron sometimes orange-yellow from base to apical fifth. 

 Wings pale. Pubescence pale on pale areas, dark on elytra and 

 fuscous area of legs. Length, 5.5-8.5 mm. 



Head similar in shape to that of A'', sparsa LeConte but more elon- 

 gate; distance from top of vertex to base of labrum one-tenth to one- 

 fifth greater than distance across tempora; vertex evenly rounded; 

 tempora rounded, not inflated; surface smooth, shiny, coarsely, mod- 

 erately densely or densely punctate; pubescence short, semirecumbent. 

 Clypeus less coarsely, sparsely punctuate. Labrum rounded at sides 

 and apex, not impressed at base, moderately densely punctate, hairy. 

 Mandibles long, straight from base until abruptly curved at apex. 

 Palpi long, slender, the labial palpi extending one segment beyond 

 mandibles. Galeae pubescent, attaining or approaching hind coxae in 

 repose. Antennae long, 2^^ to 3 times as long as pronotum; segment 

 I swollen, curved, definitely short of middle of eye; II to V subequal, 

 as long as I; VI to X shghtly shorter. Pronotum as wide as to Yio 

 wider than long, widest at middle, gradually but decidedly narrowed 

 to base, more abruptly narrowed to apex, much more hexagonal in 



