STUDIES IN THE AMERICAN BUPRESTID^ 69' 



Stictocera n. gen. 



While similar to Gyascutus in general organization, the compara- 

 tively few species of this genus differ in several important structural 

 features. The hind coxae, for example, are more rapidly though grad- 

 ually expanded internally as in Hippomelas, and the tarsi also are 

 nearly as in the latter genus. In the pronotum Stictocera differs very 

 much from either Gyascutus or Hippomelas, having the surface even 

 in general convexity, as in the latter, but with a different type of sculp- 

 ture and without the smooth irregular callus along the median line 

 so very general in the former, so that the elevated basal margin, 

 which distinguishes the genus from all its associates, is entire and not 

 discontinuous at the middle. The species are frequently of large 

 size, comprising the largest Buprestids of this country, and sometimes 

 of very broad elongate-oval convex form, though also occurring nar- 

 rower and more parallel. The antennge are strongly compressed, sub- 

 parallel and densely punctate distally, the outer joints with the apical 

 margin finer than in Hippomelas and with the edge sharply de- 

 fined, the surface internally obliquely merging into the general sur- 

 face of the joint, the sensory fossa sharply defined, elongate-oval or 

 feebly reniform and near the articulatory foramen. The elytra are 

 evenly convex, uniformly though rugosely sculptured and obscurely 

 striate, as in the second group of Gyascutus, the sides seldom very 

 evidently serrulate posteriorly and the apex distinctly bispinulose. 

 The species may be distinguished as follows: — 



Basal joint of the hind tarsi but little longer than the second. Head brassy- 

 punctate, with elevated reticulate lines; prothorax with deep punctate 

 aeneous rugae, less densely sculptured than in Gyascutus obliteratus, 

 the polished elevations cyaneous, narrowed anteriorly, the sides broadly 

 rounded, the surface transversely impressed at apex, the base trisinuate, 

 the posterior angles acute; elytra striato-punctate, transversely and 

 sparsely but deeply rugose, the sides subserrate posteriorly; surface 

 "almost constantly with a large brassy patch on each elytron. " — [fide 

 Waterhousej; under surface aeneous, densely punctate and pubescent; 

 pectus and posterior segments of the abdomen coarsely punctate, 

 shining, variegated with bluish reflections. Length 23.3 mm. Mexico 

 (Ures, in the State of Sonora) . [ = Chalcophora ccelata Lee] . . caslata Lee. 



Basal joint of the hind tarsi much longer than the second, though distinctly 

 shorter than the next two combined 2 



2 — Form broadly suboval when well developed, varying greatly in size, 

 shining, dark steel-blue, the depressions brassy; pubescence short, 



