DIAPERINI NORTH OF MEXICO — TRIPLEHORN 441 



quite reliable within limits. In all of the Texas specimens, three 

 specimens from Costa Rica (USNM), and the type from Nicara- 

 gua, a definite pattern of these microreticulations is clearly evident 

 over the entire elytra even at moderate magnifications. In the 

 specimens of A. jmrpureomicans available for study from several 

 localities in Central America, the microreticulations are entirely 

 absent or so very obsolete as to be scarcely evident even at high 

 magnifications. The type of A. purpureomicans is without retic- 

 idations, as are most of Champion's specimens (Balfour-Brown e, 

 in litt.). 



The Nicaragua specimens (fide Bates) and those from Costa Rica 

 (USNM) are slightly larger than any from Texas, and in most of the 

 latter, the elytral margins are more parallel. Otherwise they are indis- 

 tinguishable. 



Type. — Not seen; material compared with type in British Museum 

 by J. Balfour-Browne; type locality, Chon tales, Nicaragua (3 speci- 

 mens). Lectotype not selected. 



Specimens examined. — From the following localities, 22: 



United States: Texas (Brownsville). 



Costa Rica: El Limon, Santa Clara, Hamburg Farm, Reventazon River. 



Genus Alphitophagus Stephens 



Alphitophagus Stephens, 1832, p. 12. — Redtenbacher, 1858, pp. cvi, 602; 1874, 

 pp. ii, cxviii, 106.— Laeordaire, 1859, p. 306.— Thomson, 1859, p. 116; 1864, 

 p. 254.— Jacquelin du Val, 1861, p. 298.— Horn, 1870, p. 385.— Seidlitz, 1875, 

 p. 97; 1891, p. 131; 1898, pp. 212, 215 (larva), 509, 533.— Fowler, 1891, 

 p. 16.— Desbrochers, 1902, p. 12.— Everts, 1901, p. 258.— Reitter, 1911a, 

 pp. 330, 340; 1911b, p. 268.— Kuhnt, 1913, pp. 740, 746.— Portevin, 1934, 

 pp. 24, 25. 



Phyletes Redtenbacher, 1845, p. 128; 1849, p. 52. 



Phylethus Redtenbacher, 1849, p. 589. — Mulsant, 1854, p. 203. — LeConte and 

 Horn, 1883, p. 383. 



Alphitobias [error for Alphitophagus], Reitter, 1914, p. 81. 



Type species. — Diaperis bifasciata Say (= Alphitophagus quadri- 

 pustulatus Stephens) (monobasic). 



Elongate oval, moderately convex, shining; entire dorsal surface 

 uniformly clothed with fine but distinct, light colored, short, recum- 

 bent setae arising from rather widely spaced, minute punctures. 

 Antennae long, extending well beyond base of pronotum, stout; basal 

 segment robust, sharply curved outwardly, second segment small, 

 third and fourth subequal in length and slightly elongate, segments 

 5-10 gradually broader, each distinctly transverse apically, terminal 

 segment largest, subconical; maxillary palpi extremely narrow basally, 

 terminal segment thickened, elongate oval, obliquely truncate api- 



