188 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS 

 THORACANTHA, Latr. 



By John W. Shipp. 



As the genus Thoracantha is in a great state of confusion, 

 and as so many species generically distinct are all included under 

 this most interesting genus, I have been induced to give a new 

 classification, dividing the existing species under new genera, as 

 follows : — 



I. Species having the head tuberculated . 



II. Species having the head simple. 



A. Scutellum as long as abdomen, the scutellary 

 projection being very broad, as wide as 

 thorax at the base, and Avith the apex 

 divided. 



a. Thorax not pubescent, apex of the scutellary 



projection very sharply cleft or notched . 



b. Thorax pubescent ; apex of the scutellary 



projection rounded and not sharply cleft, 

 the notch extending two-thirds of the 

 entire length ..... 



B. Scutellary projections as wide as thorax at 



base, each side being produced into a long 

 contiguous spine, tapering at extremity, 

 and generally longer than abdomen. 



a. Head not so wide as thorax ; eyes normal . 



b. Head as wide as or wider than thorax ; eyes 



distinctly projecting. 



aa. Third joint of the antenna longer than 

 all the others together; antenna teu- 

 jointed ...... 



bb. Third joint of antenna not much longer 

 than the fourth ; antenna eleven-jointed 



C. Scutellary projection with the basal portion as 



wide as thorax, shortly compressed in 

 centre, then dilated, and the apex fur- 

 nished with two rounded short spines . 



D. Scutellary projection with the basal portion 



as wide as thorax, produced, and with 

 the sides parallel. The apex is furnished 

 with a small semicircular excavation, the 

 apices of the two spines being very sharp 



ISOMERALA, n. g. 



Thoracantha, Latr. 



DiLOCANTHA, H. g. 



Lasionvcus, n. g. 



LiRATA, Cameron. 

 Kapala, Cam. 



L.ETO0ANTHA, U. g. 

 ACROSTELA, n. g. 



IsoMERALA, mihi. 

 coronata (type), Westw., Thes. Ent. p. 154, pj. xxviii. f. 10. 

 Hab. Bahia, Amazons. 



