1902.] OP AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 183 



but very slightly oblique, the basal sulcus very deep and straight 

 and placed at a proportionately long distance from the base, the 

 disc entirely impunctate ; elytra wider at the base than the thorax, 

 not much convex and of parallel shape ; below and the legs 

 flavous, the apex of all the femora and the tibias and tarsi black. 



Hah. Colombia, Peru, Venezuela. 



The comparatively narrow thorax, entirely impunctate upper 

 surface, the structure of the head (acute carina), and the black 

 apex of all the femoi^a seem to distinguish this from any similarly 

 coloured species of Lactica with which I am acquainted ; neither 

 can I identify the insect with L. hogotana Harold, of which but a 

 superficial description is given and which is described as 7 millim. 

 long, with closely approached eyes and a microscopic but distinct 

 punctuation. 



Lactica nigricornis, sp. n. 



Broadly ovate, fulvous ; the antennre, the knees above, the 

 tibiae, and the tarsi black ; thorax transverse, impunctate, the 

 basal sulcus deep and straight ; elytra minutely punctured in 

 semi-regular rows. 



Length 5 millim. 



Of more broadly ovate and less convex shape than the majority 

 of species, of a reddish-fulvous colour ; the head impunctate, eyes 

 not very large, entire, frontal elevations entirely obsolete, clypeus 

 convex between the antennae ; labrum piceous, palpi black ; the 

 antennae with rather short and robust joints, extending to about 

 the middle of the elytra, black, the basal joint more or less fulvous 

 below, second and third joints nearly equal ; thorax twice as broad 

 as long, slightly narrowed anteriorly, the lateral margins perfectly 

 straight, the anterior angles oblique, not produced, surface im- 

 punctate, with a deep and straight basal sulcus ; elytra gi-adually 

 widened posteriorly, very finely punctm-ed in uTegular and closely 

 approached rows, indistinct at the apex ; below and the legs paler, 

 the knees above, the tibiae, and tarsi black ; tibiae clothed with 

 fine yellow pubescence. 



Hah. St. Catharina, Brazil. 



Much larger than L. tihialis Oliv., with entirely black antennae, 

 the elytra with a fine and distinct punctuation ; the general shape 

 resembling that of Haltica rufa Oliv. Two exactly similar speci- 

 mens are before me. 



Lactica gracilicornis, sp. n. 



Oblong-ovate, fulvous ; the antennae long and slender, black, 

 the lower three joints flavous ; thorax transverse, impunctate, the 

 basal sulcus deep and sinuate, the sides anteriorly with a fovea ; 

 elytra extremely finely and closely punctured. 



Length 2 millim. 



Head with a few punctures near the eyes, the latter large, 

 entire, frontal tubercles small and obsolete, carina narrow and 

 feebly raised, palpi flavous ; antennae extending to the apex of 



