COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 157 



BUPRESTIS BICOLOR. 



PLATE VI. FIG. 3. 

 Buprestis bicolor, Fab Catoxantha bicolor, Dejean. 



This is the largest and one of the most beautiful spe- 

 cies of the splendid tribe to which it belongs. It seems 

 to have been very little known to Entomologists of 

 the old school, since it is not figured, and seldom 

 alluded to, in any of their works. The specific name 

 bicolor has no doubt been applied to it on account 

 of the striking contrast between the colour of the 

 upper and under side. The former is deep brassy 

 green, very smooth and glossy ; the latter is light 

 brownish yellow. The head has a deep groove 

 down the middle, and the greater part of it is oc- 

 cupied by the eyes, which are of a deep chestnut 

 colour. The thorax is small and depressed, thinly 

 covered with minute punctures, and having a cal- 

 osity at each of the hinder angles, marked with a 

 pretty large triangular spot similar in colour to the 

 under side of the body. The elytra are very long, 

 and rather convex, punctured anteriorly, each of 

 them having four slightly elevated lines running 

 along their whole length, and a short oblique one 

 near the suture at the base : the colour is brilliant 

 brassy green, with faint coppery reflections towards 

 the sides, and a large transverse spot of yellowish 

 white on each, placed a little behind the middle. 



