NO. 1889. DESCRIPTIONS OF ECONOMIC WEEVILS— PIERCE. 161 



2. Elytra without post humeral prominence; eyes narrowly separated; femora 

 unaimed. 



6'. Third tarsal joint scarcely wider than the second; alternate interspaces of 

 eljira more densely scaly; prothorax carinate; tarsal claws large, divergent 



(type, G. hifasciata Gerstacker) Gerstxckeria, sens. str. 



6'. Third tarsal joint obviously wider than second; alternate interspaces not more 

 densely scaly (type P. nohilis LeConte) Philopuntia, new subgenus. 



XENOSOMINA, new subgenus. 



Xenosomus Champion, Biol. Centr.-A.mer., Coleoptera, vol. 4, pt. 4, p. 469. 



The characterization of this subgenus and designation of type are 

 included in the table to subgenera, preceding. 



Key to species. 



1. El>i;ra strongly nodulose, subglobose; prothorax strongly constricted, 



injlata Champion. 



2. Elytra feebly nodulose, less globose; prothorax less strongly constricted, 



turpis Champion. 



GERST.ECKERIA (XENOSOMINA) INFLATA Champion. 



This species is recorded fi'om San Geronimo, Guatemala. 



GERST.ffiCKERIA (XENOSOMINA) TURPIS Champion. 



This species is recorded from Cerro Zunil, Guatemala. 



Nothing is known of the habits of these species. They were 

 included by Champion in Fausts' genus Xenosomus, but differ in 

 several respects from that genus. They may possibly merit generic 

 rank. 



OPUNTIAPHILA, new subgenus. 



The characterization of this subgenus and designation of type are 

 included in the table to subgenera, preceding. 



Key to species. 



1. Elytral foveae isolated and rounded hnbbardi LeConte. 



2. Elytral foveae coalescent dilaiata Casey. 



It is the \\Titer's opinion that Colonel Casey's species is merely a 

 sculptural variant of Tiuhbardi, which is quite variable in the develop- 

 ment of its humeral tubercles. Both species are strongly marked 

 with white post-humeral and post-median transverse bands. 



GERST.ECKERIA (OPUNTIAPmLA) HTJBBARDI LtCamte. 



This species was found by H. G. Hubbard breeding in the joints of 

 Opuntia vulgaris' following injury by Melitara prodenialis Walker. 

 The species is at hand from Crescent City and Lake Worth, Florida, 

 and from Selma, Alabama. 



GERST.«:CKERIA (OPUNTIAPHaA) DILATATA Casey. 



This species is described from Florida. 

 20441°— Proc.N.M.vol.42-12 11 



