AET. 9 WEST INDIAN BUPRESTIDAE FISHER 29 



antennal cavities rather large, deep, transverse, reniform. not con- 

 cealed beneath a carina, and situated at some distance from the inner 

 margin of the eyes. Antennae rather short, first joint long, feebly 

 arcuate, and clavate at apex, second, third, and fourth short, sub- 

 globular, and subequal in length, fifth to tenth serrate, wider than 

 long (sometimes serrate from the fourth joint), the eleventh joint 

 oval. Eyes large, narrowly oval, feebly convex, parallel, or at most 

 only obs®letely more widely separated on the vertex than at the 

 front. Pronotum strongly transverse, variable in shape, often wider 

 than the elytra, depressed, sulcate or convex at the middle, truncate 

 at the base, which is longitudinally striate along the entire width. 

 Scutellum not visible. Elytra variable in form, rounded or acumi- 

 nate at the apex, with the sides serrate posteriorl3^ Sternal cavity 

 formed entirely bj^ the mesosternum, which is entire and emarginate 

 in front. Prosternum wide, flat or convex, the anterior margin 

 sinuate, emarginate, truncate, or lobed at the middle, and the proster- 

 nal process usually broadly rounded at apex. Posterior coxae 

 dilated internally. Legs rather short and slender; tarsi rather 

 robust, the fifth joint nearly as long as the preceding joints united ; 

 tarsal claws dentate. 



This is a very large genus and at present contains about 300 

 species, which are distributed throughout the warmer regions of the 

 entire world, with the exception of Australia, where they are re- 

 placed by the genus Stigmodera. The present paper includes S 

 species, 4 of which are described as new. 



The adults are usually found feeding on the pollen of various 

 flowers, and since the color markings are so variable in some species, 

 they are exceedingly difficult to identify. The species of this genus 

 can be readily separated from all other West Indian Buprestidae by 

 the scutellum being invisible. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



1. Antennae serrate from the fourth joint; subcylindrical species 2. 



Antennae serrate from the fifth joint 3. 



2. Elytral markings consisting of nine small yellow spots on each elytron, ar- 



ranged in two rows, one lateral, the other near the suture; yellow spot 



on pronotum small and not attaining the base subcylindrica Fisher. 



lillytral niarkhigs consisting of a small yellow spot near the scutellum, an 

 oblong lateral area behind the humeri enclosing a dark spot, and three 

 transverse fasciae beliind the middle; yellow spot on pronotum large, 

 extending over the entire postoro-lateral area jamaicensis Fisher. 



3. Pronotum distinctly wider than elytra 4. 



Pronotum not wider than elytra 5. 



4. First abdominal segment with a large yellow basal spot at middle; elytra 



orange-yellow, with the suture, apex and four transverse spots along 

 lateral margin black, the black sutural area is also irregularly expanded, 

 punctuation very coarse and deep, and the intervals very narrow and 

 acute on top marginenotata Chevrolat. 



