196 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



With Hoiuophoeta I have united Asphiera, as there does not seem 

 to be any structural character separating them. It will be observed 

 that Mr. Jacoby places them side by side in the " Biologia," while 

 in the " Genera" Chapuis placed them in separate tribes. 



The species belonging to this tribe are all from the southwest, from 

 the Rio Grande region. 



HOmOPHffiTA Chev. 



The differences between this genus and Q^^dionychis reside entirely 

 in the fact that the claw joint of the posterior tarsus is not abruptly 

 globularly dilated, but is gradually expanded toward the tip in an 

 ovate manner. This, too, is somewhat variable, and while well 

 marked in cequlnodialis and abdominalis is scarcely more dilated in 

 lustrans than in Disonycha. The posterior tibias are grooved on the 

 outer edge and above the insertion of the tarsi is sinuate and with 

 the small tooth as will be observed in Q'^diimychis. PI. VII, fig. 12. 



Under the above name I have united species which are now placed 

 in two genera : Homophoeta and Asphcera. I find it impossible to 

 define these genera, much less to place them in separate tribes, and 

 I am forced to believe that many of the genera of Halticini have 

 no other basis than cabinet convenience without structural difference. 



The species known to me are : 



Elytra blue, or violet-black, with large yellowish white spots; head in great part 



black; abdomen yellow seqtiiuoctialis. 



Elytra bright blue, smooth ; head almost entirely yellow; abdomen yellow. 



lustrans. 

 Elytra dull blue, distinctly punctate; head entirely black; abdomen piceous, 



vaguely paler at apex and sides abdominalis. 



These species are all from our southwestern limits. 



H. a^quinoctialis Linn. — Oval, slightly oblong, surface shining, thorax 

 yellow, elytra violet-black, with four more or less oval, yellow-white spots on 

 each side and a short submarginal stripe. Antennae slender, more than half the 

 length of the body, piceous, underside of two basal joints testaceous. Head 

 black, frontal spot and clypeus yellow, labrum black, frontal tubercles indistinct, 

 surface smooth, a few punctures near the eyes. Thorax not twice as wide as 

 long, very little wider at base than apex, sides arcuate, margin narrowly ex- 

 planate, anterior angles not dentiform, surface smooth and shining. Elytra 

 scarcely wider at base than the thorax, humeri rounded, umbone not prominent, 

 surface smooth, shining, violet-black, with yellow-white spots arranged as fol 

 lows: one on each side of scutellum, one posteriorly near the side, one at middle 

 near the suture, somewhat oblique, a ti-ansversely oval spot near the apex, a 

 short subhumeral stripe. Epipleurse black. Body beneath entirely reddish 

 yellow. Anterior and middle legs entirely piceous, posterior femoia yellow, 

 tibife and tarsi piceous. Length .30 inch. ; 7.^ mm. 



