PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA FROM PARAGUAY 187 



case in Lactica, but as I only know of one species of this struc- 

 ture it would perhaps not be wise to erect a new genus untili 

 other similarly structured species are found. 



12. Systena c-nigrum, sp. n. — Pale testaceous, antennae ob- 

 scure fulvous, thorax impunctate, elytra very finely and closely 

 punctured, a spot on the shoulder and a c-shaped or angulate 

 mark at the sides, black. 



Var. The elytral markings obsolete or divided into three oh 

 scure piceous spots. 



Length 5 mill. 



Head impunctate, the labrum obscure fuscous, antennae obscure 

 fulvous, the joints short and robust, the third joint one half 

 longer than the second one, terminal joints shorter ; thorax one 

 half broader than long, the sides very feebly rounded, the angles 

 not prominent, the disc impunctate, very obsoletely transversely 

 sulcate at the base ; elytra very finely and closely punctured , 

 the shoulders with a small black or piceous spot, the sides at 

 the middle with an angular c-shaped mark, below and the legs 

 testaceous. 



Of this species many specimens were obtained, in those, most 

 plainly marked, the pattern of the elytra will easily distinguish 

 the insect, but in others were the markings are very obsolete 

 and separated, the recognition will not be so easy, but three 

 more or less distinct spots can always be seen on each elytron, 

 these are placed longitudinally in a line. 



13. Hermaeophaga flavipes, sp. n. — Black below, the basal 

 joints of the antennae and the legs flavous or pale fulvous ; 

 thorax impunctate, the basal sulcus deep and sinuate, elytra 

 dark metallic blue or greenish, finely punctured in closely ap- 

 proached rows. 



Length 2 mill. 



Head impunctate, blackish, with two oblique ridges, meeting 

 in front, antennae with short and robust joint, the lower five 

 or six joints flavous, the others piceous, the second and following 

 joints nearly equal in length , thorax nearly subquadrate , the 

 sides very feebly rounded and obsoletely angulate before the 



