1907.] SPECIES OF CRYPTOCEPHALIXE BEETLES. 855 



moderately narrowed anteriorly ; surface closely and strongly 

 puncturecl at the sides, more finely and remotely so at the disc ; 

 a triangular black spot is placed at the middle of the anterior 

 margin, extending downwards beyond the middle of the disc. 

 Scutellum subquadrate, black, its apex broadly truncate. Elytra 

 scarcely or not wider at base than thorax, closely and finely 

 punctured in iri-egular rows anteriorly, the latter moi'e distinct 

 and widely separated below the middle, black, with a transverse, 

 slightly curved, fulvous band placed immediately before the middle. 

 Pygidium and sides of the abdomen pale yellow ; anterior legs 

 black, their femora strongly incrassate, upper portion fiavous ; 

 posterior femora flavous with a black spot near the base ; tibiae and 

 tarsi black ; breast and the first three abdoininal segments like- 

 wise black. Presternum subquadrate, its posterior margin tii- 

 angularly produced. Female unknown. 



Hah. South Brazil. 



Allied to M. semirufus Suflf., but the thorax with a black patch, 

 the apical portion of the elytra likewise black. 



Metallactus inustus Suffr. Linn. Ent. xvi. p. 252. 



Sufirian has described specimens in which the pubescence of the 

 upper surface was partly rubbed ofi"; in the perfect insect, not 

 only the thorax but also the elytra are closely covered with white 

 hairs, which on the last-named parts are somewhat arranged in 

 rows. Varieties of this species occur which have entirely black 

 elytra. The insect is of dull appearance when perfect, but very 

 shining if the hairs are wanting. 



Metallactus nigrovittis, sp. n. 



Below black; head flavous; thorax closely punctured, black 

 anterior and lateral margins and two spots .'it base flavous; elytra 

 strongly punctate-striate, interstices costate, the sides and a 

 broader svitural band black ; legs fulvous. 



Length 2 millim. 



Head at sides entirely occupied by the large eyes, which meet at 

 the vertex, lower portion and labrum flavous, strongly and closely 

 punctured ; antennfe pale fulvous, third joint not longer than 

 second, much shorter than fourth. Thorax one-half broader than 

 long, not narrowed anteriorly, sides rounded ; surface very closely 

 and strongly, almost i-ugosely punctured, black ; anterior margin 

 very narrowly, sides more bi-oadly flavous, the base with two 

 oblique flavous spots of elongate shape. Scutellum black, sub- 

 quadrate. Elytra with deep transverse punctures placed in close 

 rows, the space near the suture irregularly punctured ; the inter- 

 stices longitudinally costate and thickened ; the sutural band con- 

 stricted posteriorly and then suddenly widened, not extendino- to 

 apex ; the lateral bands equally bi'oad but of more regular shape 

 occupying the last three rows of punctures. Below black, finelv 

 pubescent ; legs fulvous. Prosternum longer than broad, its base 

 truncate. 



Hah. Chaco, Argentine Kep. 



