IX.— Notices of new or little-known Genera and Species of Coleoptera.
By FRANCIS P. PASCOE, F.L.S., &c.
[Continued from p. 64.]
PART II.
CALONECRUS [Nitidulidæ].
Thomson, Arch. Ent. i. p. 117.
Calonecrus rufipes.
C. rufo-flava; oculis elytrisque nigris.
Hab. Borneo.
Entirely reddish-yellow, except the eyes and elytra, which are black; head and prothorax finely, elytra more coarsely punctured; sides of the latter, pygidium, femora and tibiæ pubescent. Length 3 lines.
Proportionally a more slender form than C. Wallacei, Thoms., and altogether less robust, with the antennæ and legs reddish-yellow, and not black as in that species.
PROSTOMIS [Cucujidæ].
Latreille, Fam. Nat. du Règne An. p. 397.
Prostomis morsitans. (Pl. V. fig. 6.)
P. oblongus, testaceus vel piceo-testaceus; prothorace transverso; elytris punctato-striatis.
Hab. India (Darjeeling).
Larger and proportionally broader than P. mandibularis, the pro-thorax transverse, the antennæ shorter, &c. Length 4 lines.
In the only two specimens which I have seen (in the British Museum), one is very much darker than the other. Mr. Bakewell has another very distinct species from Melbourne.
RHYSSOPERA [Cucujiæ].
Head small, slightly exserted, narrowed anteriorly. Antennæ of moderate length, the first joint thick, abruptly contracted at its base, the rest more or less ovato-triangular, the last three stouter, forming a loose oblong club. Eyes transverse, rather prominent. Mandibles bidentate at the apex. Labrum long, narrow, rounded anteriorly. Palpi claviform, the last joint broadly ovate, obliquely truncate, the maxillary much larger than the labial, and widely separated at their origin. Mentum subquadrate, not larger than the labium, which is transverse and emarginate anteriorly; external maxillary lobe broad, strongly ciliated, inner very narrow. Prothorax subcordate, scarcely sinuated in front. Elytra much broader than the prothorax, parallel, slightly depressed. Legs
small; anterior coxæ transverse, scarcely approximate; tibiæ bicalcarate; tarsi five-jointed, slender, short, hairy beneath.
If rightly referred to the Cucujidæ, the position of this genus will be near Silvanus, which it approaches in habit and in its clavate antennæ.
Rhyssopera areolata. (Pl. VII. fig. 4.)
R. fusca, sparse flavo-pubescens; prothoracis basi latiuscula; elytris areolatis.
Hab. Tasmania.
Opake umber-brown, with a sparse yellowish or almost golden pubescence, especially on the head and prothorax, the latter about as broad as long, rounded at the side, produced into a short acute angle anteriorly and slightly contracted behind, with four tubercles on its disc; scutellum transverse; elytra with their external margins serrated, each with three rows of coarsely punctured hexagonal nearly equal cells, the walls of which are formed by narrow raised lines; labium, palpi, and legs ferruginous. Length 4 lines.
Rhyssopera illota. (Pl. VII. fig. 4, trophi only.)
R. fusca, sparse griseo-pubescens; prothorace longiore, basi angustata; elytris subareolatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Like the last, but the prothorax is longer and much narrower posteriorly, the lines bounding the areolæ and punctures less marked, and the pubescence of a greyer hue.
GLœANIA [Trogositidæ].
Head small, rounded and dilated below the eyes, emarginate in front. The labrum entire. Antennæ short, eleven-jointed, the last three forming a subunilateral, compressed club. Eyes round, prominent. Mandibles entire at the apex, toothed in the middle. Palpi robust, with the terminal joint subcylindrical; maxillary lobes finely toothed, the inner narrow. Labium quadrate, slightly fringed. Mentum large, quadrate. Prothorax subquadrate, narrower anteriorly, broadly sulcated at the side, and slightly margined. Elytra scarcely broader than the prothorax, subdepressed, the sides nearly parallel. All the coxæ distant; femora broad, compressed; tibiæ dilated below, terminating in a series of small teeth; tarsi slender, slightly ciliated beneath, the basal joint minute, the second as long or longer than the third and fourth together; claws toothed at the base. Prosternum rounded behind; mesosternum depressed.
The Trogositidæ do not appear to have any very definite characters, if we except the minuteness of the first tarsal joint, and include genera varying very much in their form. Of the four subfamilies
H 2
into which M. Lacordaire divides them, the present genus must be arranged in the same group with Trogosita proper.
Glœania ulomoides. (Pl. VIII. fig. 9.)
G. fusco-picea, sublævigata; prothorace antice excavato; elytris seriatim punctatis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Rather depressed, dark pitchy-brown, nearly smooth and shining; head and prothorax minutely punctured, the latter with a long V-shaped excavation in front, with the side broadly and deeply grooved, the groove bounded internally by a gradually elevated ridge, which anteriorly forms a well-marked angular process projecting slightly over the head, the external border of the groove formed by a narrow uniform line, parallel to, and very slightly removed from the margin of the prothorax; scutellum very transverse; elytra with about seven rows of minute punctures on each, the shoulder with a short broad ridge gradually passing into the disc posteriorly; anterior and intermediate tibiæ rounded and denticulate externally at the extremity, with the posterior strongly spurred internally; body beneath scarcely punctured. Length 3 lines.
LEPERINA [Trogositidæ].
Erichson in Germar, Zeitschr. für die Entom. v. p. 453.
Leperina adusta.
L. oblonga, picea, supra albido nigroque squamosa; elytris postice latioribus.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Oblong, pitchy-brown, rather sparingly covered above with short, round, whitish scales, varied with black; head and prothorax with large, shallow, crowded punctures with a few white scales, which are more closely arranged on the sides of the latter; scutellum triangular; elytra becoming gradually broader behind for about two-thirds of their length, with three elevated lines on each, a broad stripe of whitish scales extending along the suture, giving off a transverse branch at the base, another rather below the middle, and expanding again at the apex; lip, palpi, antennæ, legs, and borders of the prothorax, and elytra beneath ferruginous. Length 4 lines.
Leperina cirrosa.
L. oblonga, picea, supra albo nigroque squamosa, fasciculisque elongatia ornata; elytris parallelis.
Hab. Australia (Moreton Bay).
Oblong, pitchy-brown, covered above with white, and more or less lengthened scales, occasionally collected into fascicles, and varied with black; head and prothorax remotely and deeply punctured, with
small and mostly white scales, except on the sides of the latter, where they are drawn out into long, linear, curved laminæ, on each side a long fascicle of whitish hairs mixed with black, and nearly meeting on the median line anteriorly; scutellum triangular, with a tuft of erect white scales; elytra parallel, the scales towards the suture principally white, but more or less black at the side, long and filiform at the base, and spatulate on the exterior margins, a fascicle of long, erect black scales on the middle of each near the suture, and posteriorly another of mixed black and white scales; body beneath, legs, antennæ, and lip dark brown or nearly black. Length 4 lines.
In this curious species, the lines on the elytra are nearly covered by the longer and more densely set scales. In all the Australian and New Zealand Leperinæ which I have examined, I have never noticed any other than simple, undivided eyes.
Leperina lacera.
L. oblonga, picea, supra nigro-squamosa, albo varia, fasciculisque brevibus induta; elytris lateribus rotundatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Oblong, pitchy-brown, partially covered with short black scales, and sparingly varied with white; head coarsely punctured, with two black fascicles between the eyes; prothorax with a smooth elevated median line, the sides strongly and deeply punctured, above four short black fascicles anteriorly, the margins densely covered with long, white, appressed scales; scutellum triangular; elytra rounded at the sides, the scales almost entirely black, spatulate at the margins, with a single short black fascicle on each shoulder; body beneath, legs, and antennæ dark ferruginous. Length 4½ lines.
BITOMA [Colydiidæ].
Herbst, Die Käfer, v. p. 25.
Bitoma serricollis.
B. depressa, fusca; prothorace punctato utrinque bicostato, lateribus serrulatis; pedibus rufo-ferrugineis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Depressed, dark brown; head coarsely punctured, grooved at the side below the eyes, and somewhat three-lobed anteriorly; prothorax transversely subquadrate, coarsely punctured, with two costæ on each side, the exterior crenate, continuous with its fellow in front, the sides strongly serrulate, the anterior angle produced; elytra a little wider than the prothorax, with five narrow coatæ on each, the intervals transversely plicate from a double row of deeply impressed punctures; antennæ and legs rusty-red; body beneath coarsely punctured. Length 2 lines.
A little broader and more depressed than Bitoma crenata; but, as far as external characters go, there can be no doubt as to its genus.
Bitoma prolata.
B. lata, depreassa, fusca luteo varia; prothorace transverso, granulato, utrinque bicostato, costa interiori postice duplicata, antice emarginato, lateribus crenulatis.
Hab. Moluccas (Batchian).
Broad and depressed, dark brown varied with reddish-yellow; head punctured, a little concave on each side below the eyes; prothorax transverse, finely granulated, broadest at the base, rounded and dilated at the sides and irregularly crenate, deeply emarginate in front, the disc with two costæ on each side, the interior approximating and forming a short canal open towards the head and a loop posteriorly; elytra not wider than the prothorax, with five crenulated costæ on each, the intervals with a double row of deeply impressed punctures, a yellowish spot on the shoulder, another near the apex, between these three others, which, with their fellows, form an indistinct ring; legs pale yellowish-brown; body beneath dark brown. Length 2½ lines.
A broader species than the last, with the prothorax especially dilated at the sides and deeply emarginate anteriorly; hereafter it may be found necessary to separate it generically from Bitoma.
Bitoma jejuna.
B. angusta, rufo-brunnea; prothorace quadrato, granulato, utrinque tricostato, costa interna antica abbreviata.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Narrow, slightly depressed, reddish-brown, the elytra paler; head granulated, principally between the eyes; prothorax quadrate, equal in length and breadth, with three costæ on each side, the inner very short and confined to the anterior part, the interstices strongly granulated, the margins crenulated; scutellum subquadrate; elytra with five costæ on each, the interstices with two rows of rather shallow punctures; legs and antennæ ferruginous; body beneath dark brown, the abdomen reddish-pitchy. Length 1½ line.
Collected by Alexander Fry, Esq., to whose kindness I owe my specimens.
COLOBICUS [Colydiidæ].
Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Ins. ii. p. 9.
Colobicus parilis.
C. oblongus, nigro-piceus, sparse albido-setulosus; elytris punctato-striatis; antennis pedibusque ferrugineis.
Hab. Moluccas (Batchian).
In size and outline very like C. emarginatus, but the head is narrower and the form rather more convex; the colour on the head, prothorax, and elytra is uniform, with a pitchy gloss, not nearly opake, and the
punctures are decidedly smaller, with the rows more approximate. Length 2 lines.
RECHODES [Colydiidæ].
Erichson, Naturg. der Ins. Deutschl. iii. p. 255.
Rechodes verrucosus.
R modice convexus, fuscus; elytris antice subgibbosis, tuberculis oblongis disco instructis.
Hab. Natal.
Moderately convex, dark brown, more or less clouded with a lighter shade, or even inclining to grey; head with a line of four tubercles between the eyes, the antennary orbit large, a semicircular impression above the epistome; mentum large, quadrate; labium transverse, entire, ciliated in front; prothorax very transverse, wider than the elytra, the sides strongly dilated and margined with a double series of equal serriform tubercles, and deeply sinuated in front for the reception of the head, the disc with a row of five tubercles on each side the central line, the anterior pair accompanied by two others placed on the edge of the prothorax; scutellum small, quadrate; elytra seriato-punctate, slightly gibbous at the base, so as to be above the line of the prothorax, a row of small tubercles along the side, above this another of three oblong tubercles, followed by a third row which is incomplete in the middle, and lastly close to the suture is a line of smaller tubercles running, with a slight interruption posteriorly, to the apex,—the sides less strongly dilated than in the prothorax, but edged with a double row of serriform tubercles of the same size (in some specimens there is a lighter shade posteriorly, forming a band-like mark); antennæ, palpi, and eyes ferruginous, with a paler pubescence; body beneath dark brown, covered with small tubercles. Length 3 lines.
Rechodes fallax.
R fere convexus, fuscescens; elytris antice subdepressis, tuberculis oblongis instructis.
Hab. Natal.
Closely allied to the former, but is smaller, less convex, the elytra narrower, and their base being depressed, they are on the same line with the prothorax; the disposition of the tubercles is almost precisely the same, except perhaps that they may be a trifle less marked; the colour in both species is somewhat variable. Length 2½ lines.
Rechodes signatus.
R. subdepressus, fuscus; prothoracis lateribus, elytrorumque macula magna albescentibus.
Hab. Natal
Rather depressed, dark brown, tomentose; sides of the prothorax, and a large patch on the disc of the elytra, which, commencing at the base, is contracted in the middle and again expanded behind, and a smaller spot at the apex, greyish-white; disposition of the tubercles (which are all more or less conical) nearly as in the last; antennæ, palpi, and legs dull reddish-brown; under surface dark brown, covered with numerous small tubercles, and but slightly pubescent Length 2¼ lines.
The few characters which Erichson has given of Rechodes accord perfectly well with the insects described above, except that the last joint of the maxillary palpi is scarcely securiform, although very broad and truncate. Rechodes is closely allied to Ulonotus and Endophlœus. To the former of these genera, M. Lacordaire refers, and I think correctly, Bolitophagus antarcticus, White; and I would also refer to it Asida serricollis, Hope. The genus Pristoderus of the latter author, founded on the Dermestes scaber, Fab., is probably identical with Ulonotus.
DISTAPHYLA [Colydiidæ].
Head small, transverse, scarcely visible from above, slightly dilated below the eyes, with a broad antennary groove beneath. Antennæ short, stout, 11-jointed, the two basal incrassated, the third longer than the rest, which are very transverse, the last two forming a short compressed club. Eyes large, round. Mandibles bidentate at the apex. Palpi robust, the terminal joint of the maxillary elongate, subcylindric, of the labial obovate; maxillary lobes narrow, ciliated. Labium very small, subcordate, fringed with long cilia. Mentum large, narrowed in front, rounded and dilated at the sides. Prothorax nearly quadrate, very irregular anteriorly, the margin granulate and setose. Elytra elongate, subcylindrical Legs short; coxæ not contiguous; tibiæ gradually enlarging at the extremity, terminated by two small spurs, and bordered externally with a row of stiff setæ; tarsi with the three basal joints short, hairy below. Prosternum rounded posteriorly, the mesosternum depressed.
Judging from the position which Erichson has assigned to his genus Phœonemus, this must be a near ally, although it cannot be by any means likened to Colobicus.
Distaphyla mammillaris. (Pl. VIII. fig. 4.)
D. subcylindrica, picea (vel rufo-brunnea), fortiter punctata, setosa; prothorace antice bigibboso.
Hab. Brazil (Rio; Para).
Subcylindrical, pitchy-brown (or, in the Rio specimens, reddish-
brown), strongly and deeply punctured, the intervals having the appearance of granulations, and being furnished here and there with short stiff yellowish hairs or setæ head deeply and semicircularly grooved between the eyes; prothorax narrowing slightly behind, the sides strongly granulated in a double row which is divided from the granulations of the disc by a smooth line, anteriorly two large oblong lobes overhanging the head, separated from each other by a narrow groove, but posteriorly from the rest of the prothorax by a broad deep hollow, which extends beneath them; scutellum small, triangular; elytra with about eleven rows of large deep punctures; legs reddish-ferruginous, with stiff scattered hairs; antennæ short, not longer than the breadth of the head, dark brown, slightly setose; body beneath roughly punctured. Length 2½ lines.
ACROPIS [Colydiidæ].
Burmeister, Gen. Ins. no. 25.
Acropis Fryi.
A. rufo-picea, fulvescenti-hirta; elytris subseriatim tuberculatis, tuberculis setiferis, fasciculis sextis nigris in medio obsitis; pedibus ferrugineis nigro variis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Reddish-pitchy, rather sparingly clothed with short, scale-like, greyish-yellow or almost golden hairs; head and prothorax with a few greyish setæ, the latter with about five dark spots on its disc; scutellum rounded behind, closely covered with white hairs; elytra uneven, with several small granular tubercles, ranged in more or less interrupted lines, each tubercle bearing at its apex a black erect rigid seta, in the centre six dense fascicles of stiff black hairs, the first and third of these nearer the suture than the second, an oblique stripe (composed of more closely set hairs) below each shoulder, and towards the apex another oblique patch of pure white hairs (composed, however, of two distinct spots); legs dark ferruginous, with scattered grey hairs, the femora varied with black, the tibiæ with a black ring in the middle; antennæ and palpi pitchy-ferruginous; body beneath pitchy-brown with pale greyish hairs. Length 3 lines.
This appears to differ from A. tuberculifera, Burm. (which, however, I have not seen) in its larger size, the black fascicles, the yellow, almost golden, tinge of its scale-like hairs, the absence of the shining chestnut colour of the apices of the tibiæ, knees, tarsi, &c. Burmeister in his description of this genus has overlooked the basal joint of the antennæ, and describes the second (last) joint of the club as composed really of two, soldered together, and in this he is followed by M. Lacordaire. I can find no trace of any such union, which, if it existed, would give twelve joints to the antennæ, and not eleven,
as is really the case, that is to say, with the addition of the basal one. A. Fryi and A. incensa were both taken by Mr. Fry at Rio.
Acropis incensa.
A. rufo-picea, fulvescenti-hirta; elytris subseriatim tuberculatis, tuberculis setiferis, fasciculis plurimis fuscis in medio obsitis; pedibus ferrugineis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Differs from the last in its much smaller size, comparatively narrower and longer elytra, in the more numerous tubercles, and brown fascicles of hairs, the almost unvarying hue of the pubescence, although near the shoulder and apex may be traced rather more densely set patches of hairs than elsewhere, and the more uniform colour of the legs. Length 1⅔ line.
Acropis aspera. (Pl. VI. fig. 1.)
A. nigra; prothorace granulato; elytris seriatim tuberculatis, setiferis, macula alba pone humeros, postice fasciculo nigro indutis; tibiis tarsisque ferrugineis.
Hab. Brazil (Para).
Black, very slightly shining, and nearly free from pubescence, except two small patches on the anterior margin of the prothorax, and a short oblique white stripe, which, however, may be resolved into three spots, below the shoulder; scutellum rounded behind, naked; prothorax covered with small flat granulations; elytra with a large fascicle of black hairs on the lower third of each, the tubercles varying in size, but all furnished with a rigid black seta; antennæ, tibiæ, and tarsi ferruginous. Length 2 lines.
LEMMIS [Colydiidæ].
Head vertical, rounded in front, and prolonged at the sides into two short peduncles bearing the eyes. Antennæ short, eleven-jointed, the last two forming a short ovate club. Prothorax short, very transverse, narrower behind, broader than the head anteriorly, the sides strongly denticulate. Elytra nearly regular above, not broader, except at the base, than the prothorax. Legs slender, first tarsal joint scarcely longer than the second.
The other characters of this genus are the same as those of Acropis, to which, indeed, it is nearly allied; the form, however, of the prothorax, added to the apparent absence of asperities, and the peculiar scaly crust, which covers the whole of the upper surface, as if a layer of opake varnish had been applied to it, obviously prevent its union with that genus. The shortness of the first tarsal joint, being more of a comparative character, is, perhaps, of less importance.
Lemmis cœlatus. (Pl. VIII. fig. 3.)
L. oblongus, grisescens, setis hamatis brevissimis obsitus; antennis capite brevioribus.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Oblong, brown?, covered above as well as beneath with a scaly crust of a pale yellowish or greenish grey, with very short hooked hairs, particularly on the margins of the prothorax and elytra, curving forwards on the former, and backwards on the latter; head (including the peduncles) narrower than the prothorax, this with seven well-marked but obtuse teeth on each side; scutellum punctiform; elytra a little wider posteriorly, each with three very slightly raised gibbosities near the suture, another at the shoulder, and externally towards the apex two or three more, but which are considerably less prominent; antennæ pitchy, shorter than half the length of the head; legs pitchy; eyes dark brown. Length 1½ line.
In one of the two specimens now before me, the hairs are scarcely evident even on the margins, being, apparently, more enveloped by the scaly layer described above. In Mr. Fry's collection.
ETHELEMA [Colydiidæ].
Head vertical, rounded anteriorly, and prolonged at the side into a short peduncle bearing the eye. Antennæ as in Acropis, but more robust. Labium short, transverse, fringed with long hairs. Maxillary palpi robust, the terminal joint short, stout, obliquely truncate; the labial with the two basal joints small, the third large, broadly subovate, slightly truncate. Mentum quadrate, very large. Prothorax as broad as the head, transverse, regular and convex above, narrowed anteriorly, the sides margined. Elytra oblong, nearly parallel, the surface smooth and regular. Legs rather slender; tibiæ not ciliated externally, terminated by two short spines. Presternum produced behind.
The above include the characters which, combined with the total absence of tubercles, chiefly separate this genus from Acropis.
Ethelema luctuosa. (Pl. VIII. fig. 6.)
E. oblonga, hirta, nigra, flavescenti-varia; prothoracis marginibus denticulatis, setosis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio; Para).
Oblong, closely covered above with short scale-like black hairs, many of which are curved backwards, more or less varied with pale yellowish or white; head not wider than the prothorax, a transverse depression in front below the peduncles; prothorax scarcely narrower than the elytra, except at the base, the margins denticulate, each denticulation with a short curved hair arising from its apex; scutellum very transverse; elytra regular, punctate-striate, the striæ rather remote, the patches of
yellowish hairs more conspicuous on the head and prothorax, but indefinite as to outline and varying apparently in different individuals; body beneath black; legs with a few scattered hairs only. Length 2 lines.
DASTARCUS [Colydiidæ].
Walker, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 3 ser. ii. p. 209.
Dastarcus confinis. (Pl. VI. fig. 6.)
D. elongato-ovatus, fuscus; prothorace elytrisque costatis, costis ferrugineo-hirtis.
Hab. New Guinea (Dorey).
Elongate-ovate, dark brown, with stout, stiff, dilated, pale rusty hairs (or scales), which are chiefly confined to costæ and other elevations on the upper surface; head small, partially retracted in repose; prothorax with two waved grooves on each side, the outer smallest, and fringed with stiff hairs; scutellum scarcely visible; elytra punctato-sulcate, the costæ between them closely covered with stiff hairs; body beneath coarsely punctured, with a setaceous hair in the centre of each; palpi ferruginous. Length 5 lines.
Larger and stouter in proportion in all its parts than the Ceylonese D. porosus, but otherwise very closely allied.
I am unable, at present, to give any oral details of this curious genus, which Mr. Walker has only very briefly characterized, at the same time associating it with the Hydrophilidæ; it is, however, an undoubted Colydian, and evidently nearly allied to Emmaglœus of M. Léon Fairmaire. The large primo-abdominal segment and distant posterior coxæ suggest also an affinity with Bothrideres and Derataphrus; but its head, vestiture, and habit altogether, point to a distinct subfamily. It may be mentioned that all the coxæ are widely apart; the femora canaliculate beneath for the reception of the tibiæ, which are fringed with stiff hairs externally, and the anterior terminated by two spines, the inner of which is much longer and curved, whilst the outer, under a strong lens, is seen to be tridentate; the mouth is almost entirely closed below by the prolonged mentum? (as in Derataphrus), the small, pointed maxillary palpi protruding at the sides.
BOTHRIDERES [Colydiidæ].
Bothrideres succineus. (Pl. V. fig. 3.)
B. niger; prothoracis angulis anticis subacutis, ecostatis; elytris striatis, tuberculatis, medio succineo-granulatis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio; Para).
Dull black, opake; head covered with rather distant, shallow punctures; prothorax remotely punctured, longer than broad, considerably
narrower behind, its anterior angles not produced although somewhat acute, a tubercle at the side, the disc very concave anteriorly, with a deeply impressed, interrupted ring in the centre, behind which is an oval depression terminating posteriorly in an elevated tubercle, which again has on each side a short but very deep and narrow groove; elytra elon-gato-ovate, broader than the prothorax, deeply and irregularly striated, the interstices, except the two sutural on each side, with very strong, elevated, compressed tubercles, particularly at the base and inner row, becoming smaller and more conical externally,—each elytron, before the middle and on the outside of the second sutural stria, with two pellucid granules of an amber colour; body beneath with rather shallow, large, and somewhat remote punctures. Length 2½ lines.
The upper part of the labium in the figure is intended to represent its cilia: as it stands, it only shows their position.
Bothrideres latus.
B. niger, latior; prothoracis angulis anticis productis, utrinque tricostatis.
Hab. Brazil (Santarem).
Wider than the last, black, opake; head rather coarsely and deeply punctured; prothorax less coarsely punctured, rather wider than long, emarginate in front to receive the head, its anterior angles slightly produced, with three strong ribs on each side, the inner occupying the anterior half only, the outer terminating in the anterior angle, the disc largely impressed with a bilobed protuberance in the centre, and opening out behind into a deep channel, which is bounded on each side by an oblique protuberance; elytra broader than the prothorax, strongly ribbed, the interstices with shallow, somewhat remote punctures, the ribs seven on each elytron, the external and the two sutural ones less marked than the others; antennæ not longer than the breadth of the head; palpi ferruginous; body beneath remotely punctured. Length 3 lines. British Museum.
SOSYLUS [Colydiidæ].
Erichson, Natur. der Insekt. Deutschl. iii. p. 288.
Sosylus sulcatus. (Pl. VI. fig. 1.)
S. niger, subnitidus; prothorace medio lineolato; elytris apice obtusis, in singulo quadrisulcatis.
Hab. Brazil (Para).
Black and slightly shining; head finely punctured, regular, a little convex in front; prothorax oblongo-ovate, twice as long as the head, finely punctured, a very delicately elevated line along the middle, terminating posteriorly between two short linear impressions; scutellum very narrow; elytra nearly parallel, obtuse at the apex, each with five elevated costæ having between them four broad deep grooves, the two
outermost costæ uniting posteriorly and forming a slightly projecting angle at the apex; antennæ and legs dark ferruginous, shining; body beneath shining, dark reddish-brown, with small oblong impressed spots. Length 4 lines.
ANARMOSTES [Colydiidæ].
Head subquadrate. Antennæ short, eleven-jointed, the two basal incrassated, the third longest, the rest gradually decreasing in length to the eighth, the last three forming an ovate, compressed, perfoliate club. Eyes large, round, slightly divided in front. Maxillary palpi sub-cylindric, the last joint obliquely truncate, the labial smaller, subacuminate. Prothorax elongate, narrower posteriorly, deeply sulcate, not contiguous to the elytra. Scutellum punctiform. Elytra elongate, nearly parallel, ribbed, wider than the prothorax. Legs short; coxæ not contiguous; tibiæ spurred, somewhat dilated and more or less toothed externally near the apex; tarsi slender, hairy beneath, the basal joint subelongate. Prosternum prominent, keeled in the middle. Abdominal segments gradually diminishing in size.
Allied to Sosylus, with which it also agrees in habit, but at once distinguished by its triarticulate club and sulcate prothorax. I have not dissected the month of my specimen (which I owe to the kindness of Mr. Fry, by whom alone, I believe, it has been taken); but the mentum seems to be very small, and attached internally to the large subquadrate jugular plate, which M. Lacordaire has, apparently, denominated the "sous-menton"; the point of insertion of the palpi is, however, not covered by it, but is more than usually obvious.
Anarmostes sculptilis. (Pl. VIII. fig. 8.)
A. elongatus, piceo-fuscus; pedibus rufo-piceis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Elongate, dark pitchy-brown; head and prothorax covered with numerous impressed punctures, with a very short hair-like point in the centre of each, the latter with five deep longitudinal grooves; scutellum hollowed out in the middle; elytra about three times the length of the prothorax, each with five strongly marked costæ, the intervals with a double row of elongated punctures, giving the spaces between them a granulated appearance; antennæ much shorter than the prothorax, yellowish-red; legs dark pitchy-red; tibiæ finely ciliated and armed externally at the base with three or four teeth; body beneath coarsely punctured, the abdominal segments with numerous fine, longitudinal, but more or less interrupted lines. Length 4½ lines.
ASPROTERA [Colydiidæ].
Head rather narrow, depressed, slightly expanded at the sides over the antennæ. Eyes large, round, with a deep antennary groove beneath. Antennæ short, ten-jointed, the first two incrassated, the remainder
to the ninth more or less transverse, the tenth forming a round compressed club. Labrum small, entire. Palpi rather short, filiform, the last joint subcylindric. Mentum very transverse. Prothorax elongate, with nearly parallel, slightly margined sides, constricted a little at the base, produced anteriorly into a broad lobe overhanging the head. Elytra lengthened, parallel, very convex. Legs short; posterior coxæ distant; femora strongly grooved beneath for the reception of the tibiæ; tibiæ enlarged at their extremity, without spurs, ciliated on their external margin; tarsi slender, the three basal joints very short. Prosternum produced. The first two abdominal segments larger than the others.
Although the second abdominal segment is fully as large as the first, yet, as they exceed the remainder, this genus cannot be placed in any group in which the segments are equal; otherwise, as its posterior coxæ are not contiguous, it might be associated with Pycnomerus, Apeistus, &c. In its scaly pubescence it differs from Bothirideres, Sosylus, and all the genera of that group (and the character, as well as the absence of vestiture, like the sculpture, appear to me to be of importance in this family). The antennæ, described as ten-jointed, may probably have eleven, the club being composed of two, soldered together. In the figure eleven joints are given, but the third should be united with the second.
Asprotera inculta. (Pl. VI. fig. 3.)
A. elongata, cylindrica, fusca, supra albido-squamulosa; elytris seriatim punctatis, interstitiis squamulosis.
Hab. Natal.
Elongate, cylindrical, dull brown, furnished above with stiff whitish scale-like setæ; head coarsely punctured, with few scales; prothorax strongly and thickly punctured, with numerous scales between them, the anterior margin on each side obliquely grooved; scutellum very small; elytra very coarsely seriato-punctate, the alternate interstices with a more closely set row of scales than the intermediate ones; antennæ not longer than the breadth of the head, reddish-brown; legs reddish-brown; body beneath dark brown, coarsely punctured. Length 3½ lines.
PENTHELISPA [Colydiidæ].
Head small, slightly dilated below the eyes. Antennæ short, stout, eleven-jointed, the last two forming a short ovate club. Eyes round. Mandibles bidentate at the apex. Maxillary palpi robust, the terminal joint broadly ovate, the labial smaller. Maxillary lobes short, ciliated, somewhat falcate, the inner narrower. Labium very transverse, rounded anteriorly, and finely ciliated. Mentum subquadrate, its anterior angles rounded. Prothorax subquadrate, scarcely emarginate in
front, with a narrow margin at the side. Elytra elongate, subparallel. Legs short; coxæ distant; tibiæ smooth externally, dilated at the extremity, and terminated by two or three spurs; tarsi stout, the first three joints subequal. Abdominal segments equal. Prosternum continuous with the mesosternum.
I believe this genus will be found to include that portion of Erichson's Pycnomerus which is characterized by its eleven-jointed antennæ. Dechomus, distinguished by having eight only, has been recently separated by M. Jacquelin du Val. The two European species, P. terebrans and P. inexspectus, with ten joints, will, therefore, alone represent the true Pycnomeri. The species described below has very slightly impressed antennary grooves, a character which, among the Pycnomerinæ, does not appear to be of generic importance.
Penthelispa porosa.
P. elongata, subdepressa, rufo-picea; prothorace fortiter punctato; elytris punctato-striatis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Elongate, subdepressed, reddish-pitchy; head slightly convex in front, moderately punctured; prothorax longer than broad, a little narrowed posteriorly, covered with large and somewhat remote punctures; scutellum indistinct; elytra coarsely striato-punctate, the striæ very narrow, with the punctures oblong; legs smooth, the internal border of the tibiæ towards the extremity, especially of the anterior, slightly spinulose; body beneath pitchy-brown, with large shallow punctures. Length 2 lines.
HYBERIS [Colydiidæ].
Head short, transverse, immersed in the prothorax nearly to the eyes. Antennæ of moderate length, arising beneath the lateral border of the head, moderately thick, ten-jointed, the joints ovate-elongate, setigerous, the first rather incrassated, the third longest, the tenth forming a pyriform club. Eyes lateral, round, rather prominent. Mentum nearly quadrate. Palpi claviform, terminal joint of the maxillary much larger than the others, shortly ovate, truncate, of the labial oblong-ovate. Prothorax transverse, bisinuated in front, rounded and strongly serrated at the side, narrowed behind. Elytra much wider than the prothorax, broadly ovate, convex. Legs moderate; coxæ distant; femora robust; tibiæ fusiform; tarsi short, the basal joint longer than the two following. Abdominal segments nearly equal.
As the only specimen I have seen of this insect belongs to the British Museum, I am unable to give any account of its oral organs; but there can be no doubt that it is nearly allied to Apeistus, and it would therefore be interesting to know if it be
furnished with paraglossæ, as in that genus. It is remarkable that the basal joint, which in Apeistus is very indistinct, and was considered to be a mere knob (and the insect, therefore, trimerons) by Erichson, should be also in Hyberis so indented, that when viewed sideways it seems composed (at least in the intermediate tarsus) of two distinct joints; but the absence of any division beneath shows that it is not really so.
Hyberis araneiformis. (Pl. VII. fig. 1.)
H. fuscus, tuberculiferus, fulvo-setosus; antennis capite prothoraceque longioribus.
Hab. Borneo.
Broadly ovate, dark brown, opake, covered with small tubercles and short stiff fulvous hairs; head scarcely more than half the breadth of the prothorax, a thin patch of yellowish hairs in front of each eye; prothorax slightly convex, much broader than long, with two tufts of yellowish setose hairs on the disc, and six stout teeth on each side; scutellum very indistinct; elytra broad, convex, rounded at the side, the edges serrated, a small tuft of black hairs on each at the base, and a larger one common to both elytra behind and on the highest part of their convexity; antennæ about one-third the length of the whole insect, all the joints, except the last, furnished with three stiff setæ arising in the middle of each, two anterior and one posterior; palpi ferruginous; legs rough, with short thick hairs, tarsi ferruginous; eyes black; body beneath somewhat pitchy, coarsely punctured. Length 2½ lines.
PHARAX [Colydiidæ].
Head short, transverse, rather widely dilated below the eyes, and deeply inserted in the prothorax. Antennæ short, eleven-jointed, the two basal incrassated, and nearly concealed above, the third longest, the rest gradually diminishing in length and becoming transverse, the last two forming a compact ovate club. Eyes small, round. Mentum rounded at the sides and in front. Terminal joint of the maxillary palpi triangular. Prothorax transverse, largely dilated and rounded at the sides, narrowed posteriorly, the disc very convex and irregular. Elytra connate, much broader than the prothorax at the base, short and irregular. Legs moderate; all the coxæ distant; femora robust; tibiæ fusiform, bordered externally with scale-like hairs; tarsi short, the basal joint longer than the second or third. Abdominal segments nearly equal.
This genus, in habit like Ulonotus, is allied to the last (Hyberis), from which the eleven-jointed antennæ and biarticulate club will at once distinguish it. The description of the mentum and palpi must be received with some hesitation, as they were examined in situ. The two specimens now before me are among those almost inexhaustible
VOL. I. I
captures of Mr. Fry at Rio, which perhaps, partly from their small size, and partly from the extremely limited area which many of the insects of that country affect, it is almost hopeless to expect can ever be obtained except by the most indefatigable and experienced collectors. The number of undescribed genera which are almost sure to be found in every extra-European collection that may be formed by an accomplished naturalist, should not be overlooked by those who are inclined to question the necessity of the multiplication of new names.
Pharax laticollis. (Pl. VIII. fig. 1.)
P. ovatus, fuscus, tuberculiferus, griseo-setosus; antennis capitis latitudine æqualibus.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Ovate, dark brown, covered with short, stiff, scale-like hairs; head slightly concave above; prothorax somewhat bilobed anteriorly, its disc with four depressed tubercles; scutellum deeply set; elytra short, convex, with about ten tubercles on the disc, the posterior being the largest, the margins irregularly set with short stiff scales; antennæ, palpi, and tarsi ferruginous, the former about equal in length to the width of the head. Length 1½ line.
CHORITES [Colydiidæ].
Head transverse, much narrower than the prothorax and deeply inserted in it, its supra-antennary borders slightly produced. Eyes large, and very rough, from the facets being prolonged into short spines. Antennæ short, slender, eleven-jointed, the first and second slightly incrassated, the third longest, the remainder to the ninth gradually decreasing in length, the tenth and eleventh forming an abrupt ovate club. Maxillary lobes ciliated, the external subtriangular, the internal narrower. Palpi short, claviform; the terminal joint of the maxillary ovate-cylindrical, of the labial ovate-oblong. Mentum subquadrate. Labium transverse, ciliated anteriorly. Prothorax very transverse, narrowed and sinuated anteriorly, as broad as the elytra at the base. Elytra convex, short, the sides gradually rounded to the apex. Legs small; coxæ, especially the posterior, very remote; femora compressed; tibiæ slightly enlarged at their extremity, ciliated externally, and terminated by two short spurs; tarsi short, slender, with long hairs beneath, the basal joint very distinct. Abdominal segments gradually decreasing in size.
The widely separated posterior coxæ narrow considerably the number of Colydian genera with which,Chorites may be compared; at the same time, although the first abdominal segment is in every way larger than the others, there is not the decided difference we see in Derataphrus, Sosylus, &c.; and if we exclude these genera,
we are reduced to Pycnomerus, Apeistus, &c. To none of these, however, is our insect closely related, the contiguity of the whole base of the elytra to the prothorax completely isolating it from all of them and their allies.
Chorites aspis. (Pl. VII. fig. 3.)
C. niger, subnitidus, squamis griseis indutus; antennis, palpis pedibusque ferrugineis.
Hab. Borneo.
Broadly elliptical, black, rather glossy, covered with short erect pale greyish scales, which are disposed in narrow rows on the elytra and form a regular fringe round their margins and the sides of the prothorax; antennæ, palpi, and legs ferruginous, the tibiæ with a black stripe externally and edged with a row of greyish scales; body beneath dull black, thickly punctured, the throat only covered with yellow scales. Length 2½ lines.
There is a second species? in my collection, also from Borneo; but, except in its much smaller size (about 1½ line long), and a few black scales being interspersed among the others, there is little to distinguish it.
DISCOLOMA [Colydiidæ].
Erichson, Natur. der Ins. Deutschl. iii. p. 292.
Discoloma Fryi. (Pl. VII. fig. 2.)
D. piceo-ferruginea vel testacea, pubescens; elytris parce punctatis; antennis, palpis pedibusque dilutioribus.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Pitchy-ferruginous, in some specimens testaceous, sparingly pubescent; head rather closely punctured, inserted in a deep emargination of the prothorax; prothorax very transverse, nearly twice as broad as long, very finely punctured, the margins gradually but strongly dilated, with its anterior angle rounded; scutellum small; elytra rather broader than long, and as wide as the prothorax at the base, the disc with several rather large, remote punctures, with a broad and strongly-marked margin at the sides; antennæ, palpi, and legs pale ferruginous; body beneath pitchy, with a few scattered hairs. Length 1¼ line.
Although Erichson has characterized Discoloma in very few words, I cannot doubt that the insect described above is correctly referred to that genus, as indeed Mr. Fry had previously suggested to me; the only difficulty is, that Discoloma is said to have the basal joint of its antennæ simple, or not enlarged, which is not the case in the present species. However, the habit of the typical form appears to agree with this, and is so remarkable—resembling some of the Nitidulidæ (Amphotis for example)—whilst the structure so nearly
I 2
accords with Cerylon, in close proximity to which Erichson has placed the genus, that this discrepancy need not, for the present at least, necessitate the generic separation of the two insects. In addition to Erichson's description, the following generic characters (most of them the same as in Cerylon) may be noticed in D. Fryi:—Eyes narrow, transverse, scarcely prominent; external maxillary lobe long and very slender, ciliated at the apex (inner lobe not seen); maxillary palpi short, the first joint very small, the second greatly enlarged, the third subcylindrical, the fourth minute, aciculate; the labial palpi with the second joint enlarged, the third shortly conical; mandibles bidentate at their extremity; mentum small, quadrate; labium rounded anteriorly; tarsi very short, the three basal joints oblique, and hairy beneath.
GLYPTOLOPUS [Colydiidæ].
Erichson, Natur. der Ins. Deutschl. iii. p. 292.
Glyptolopus histeroides. (Pl. VIII. fig. 5.)
G. late ovatus, piceus; prothorace elytrisque rugoso-costatis.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Broadly ovate, pitchy-black; head coarsely punctured, small, vertical, scarcely visible above, narrowed below the eyes; antennæ twelve-jointed, the first large, incrassated, and uncovered at its insertion, the second short, not thicker than the third, the remainder becoming gradually stouter to the tenth and eleventh, the last small, closely enveloped in long silky hairs; prothorax semicircular, very convex, vaulted above and emarginate anteriorly, the centre with a broad longitudinal groove, and a stout interrupted costa on each side, the lateral margin strongly produced, the intervals coarsely punctured; scutellum triangular; elytra as broad as the prothorax at the base, but not continuous with it above, the sides rounded and gradually decreasing posteriorly, with five strong rugose costæ on each, the intervals coarsely punctato-granulate; all the coxæ distant, tibiæ fusiform, strongly fluted, not spurred, tarsi short; presternum very strongly keeled, produced behind, and received in a notch of the mesosternum; first abdominal segment nearly as large as the rest together; body beneath coarsely punctured. Length 2 lines.
The few characters which Erichson has given of this genus, its very peculiar habit (resembling an Onthophilus), combined with the acicular palpi of the Ceryloninæ, and its habitat of Brazil, would seem to leave no doubt that the insect described above is correctly referred to Glyptolopus. The antennæ, however, are certainly twelve-jointed, while Glyptolopus is said to have only eleven. Has
the little terminal joint been overlooked; and the ninth, which is nearly as large as the eleventh, been regarded as one of the three forming the club?
ALTHÆSIA [Mycetophagidæ].
Head deeply inserted in the prothorax, triangular, slightly dilated below the eyes. Antennæ longer than the prothorax, eleven-jointed, the last three forming an oblong perfoliate club. Eyes large, round, very prominent, rugose. Maxillary palpi with the second and third joints thickest, the terminal obconic, truncate; the labial short, triangular, approximate. Maxillary lobes narrow, nearly equal. Prothorax transverse, narrower and slightly emarginate in front, rounded at the side, the base bisinuated. Elytra slightly convex, margined, the base closely applied to the prothorax, but enlarging behind the shoulder, then rounded to the apex. Legs moderate; coxæ distant; tibiæ fringed externally, enlarging towards the extremity, and terminated by four or five short spines; tarsi slender, hairy beneath, four-jointed, the anterior with the penultimate very indistinct (male only?).
Resembles Mycetophagus in outline, but with a triarticulate club, and large round, very rugose and prominent eyes.
Althœsia pilosa. (Pl. VI. fig. 4.)
A. piceo-brunnea, griseo-pubescens, pilosa; corpore infra pedibusque rufo-brunneis.
Hab. New Guinea (Dorey).
Pitchy-brown, covered with a close greyish pubescence combined with numerous soft, slender hairs; head scarcely half the breadth of the prothorax, sparingly punctured; prothorax with three grooves on each side, the inner two connected by a deep transverse one at the base; elytra slightly convex, widest behind the shoulder, with a very narrow margin; scutellum very small, triangular; body beneath and legs dark reddish-brown; abdomen, femora and tibiæ with a fulvous pubescence. Length 3 lines.
ATRACTOCERUS [Lymexylonidæ].
Palis. de Beauvois, Magaz. Encycl. 1802 (sec. Lacord.).
Atractocerus morio. (Pl. VI. fig. 5.)
A. ater; elytris prothorace longioribus alis chalybeatis; profemoribus coxisque testaceis.
Hab. Moluccas (Batchian).
Black; head nearly round, thickly punctured, closely covered with short erect black hairs; antennæ extending nearly to the end of the prothorax; eyes large, widely separated above; mandibles not projecting; prothorax narrower than the head, quadrate, hairy, shining; scutellum subtriangular, obtuse behind; elytra closely punctured,
pubescent, nearly as long as the head and prothorax together; wings deep steel-blue, shining; abdomen black, slightly tinged with blue, with a very remote greyish pubescence; legs black, anterior coxæ and femora testaceous, the intermediate darker. Length 11 lines.
DIOPTOMA [Lampyridæ].
Head exposed. Eyes very large, horizontally constricted, the upper portion smallest, the lower much larger, and completely contiguous. Antennæ short, claviform, subapproximate, deeply set on each side of the narrow prolongation of the front, twelve-jointed, the first two incrassated, the remainder forming an elongated club. Mandibles very slender, curved, not toothed. Palpi robust. Prothorax transverse, semicircular, not dilated at the sides. Scutellum rather large, triangular. Elytra as broad as the prothorax at the base, gradually rounded at the sides, narrow and flattened posteriorly. Winged. Legs moderate; intermediate coxæ not approximate; tarsi slender, the fourth joint not bilobed.
Although I do not hesitate to refer this most extraordinary insect to the Lampyridæ, yet it must be confessed that it is a very aberrant form, and suggests no affinity with any Malacoderm genus that I am acquainted with. Its head (composed, at least externally, almost entirely of eyes, which are constricted in the middle like an hourglass) is fully exposed; the narrow vertex descends behind the upper portion of the eye, and fills in the space behind and between the constriction, and is prolonged in front to terminate in the labrum, although, from the presence of numerous coarse hairs, the existence of this organ cannot be positively asserted. The antennæ are very short, scarcely extending to the prothorax, and show no traces of being serrated. I am indebted for the only specimen I have seen to Dr. Ernest Adams, of University College, after whom I have named it. The abdomen of the specimen having been cut away, apparently to facilitate (?) the mounting, the number of its segments cannot be ascertained: the abdomen itself, however, appears to have been very small; the metasternum must have exceeded it in length as well as in breadth.
Dioptoma Adamsii. (Pl. V. fig. 2.)
D. fusca, parce pilosa; scutello elytrisque pallide grisescentibus, his plaga elongata fusca humerali.
Hab. India (Dacca).
Dark brown, rather sparingly clothed with pale semi-erect hairs, especially on the prothorax; head coarsely punctured, mandibles reddish-brown, antennæ and palpi pale yellowish; prothorax thickly and
coarsely punctured; scutellum and elytra very pale greyish, inclining to yellow, the latter irregularly punctured with several slightly-raised longitudinal lines and a dark-brown elongate patch at the shoulder; body beneath and legs pale greyish. Length 3½ lines.
COTULADES [Tenebrionidæ].
Head subquadrate, exserted, but not constricted behind. Eyes small, lateral, round. Antennæ submoniliform, short, thick, very hairy, the basal joint longest, the rest to the tenth subequal, very transverse, the eleventh smaller, truncate. Labrum small, rounded anteriorly and ciliated. Mentum subquadrate, produced at the sides. Labium transverse, rounded in front. Palpi short, clavate, terminal joint ovate. Prothorax subquadrate, wider anteriorly. Elytra ovate, convex. Legs short; all the tarsal joints, except the last, very short.
To this genus belongs the Tagenia leucospila of Mr. Hope; the head, however, not contracted behind into a neck, and other characters show that it is very distinct from Tagenia [Stenosis]; at the same time it is difficult to point out a nearer ally. In this and the following genus the intermediate legs appear to be without trochanters.
Cotulades fascicularis. (Pl. VII. fig. 5.)
C. niger, rugoso-punctatus; elytris obsolete albo-fasciculatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Dull brownish-black; head and prothorax covered with large, coarse, nearly confluent punctures, and sparingly furnished with stiff, decumbent, scaly hairs; elytra coarsely striato-punctate, each with three indistinct ridges and with eight to ten short fascicles of brownish-white hairs, indeterminately arranged, but sometimes nearly wanting (from abrasion?); claws pale ferruginous; body beneath strongly punctured. Length 3 lines.
ELASCUS [Tenebrionidæ].
Head rather elongate, scarcely exserted. Eyes small, lateral, undivided. Antennæ short, hairy, eleven-jointed, the first longest, the rest transverse and more or less equal, except that the last is smaller than the preceding one. Palpi moderate, filiform, the terminal joint ovate, subacuminate. Mentum transverse, the angles rounded. Labium small, transverse. Prothorax subquadrate, irregular, much broader than the head, projecting in front, and lobed posteriorly, slightly dilated and serrated at the sides. Scutellum very small, quadrate. Elytra nearly parallel, broader than the prothorax. Legs short; femora and tibiæ compressed, the latter ciliated externally; tarsi very short and slender, the last joint nearly as long as the rest together.
This genus is not very far removed from the last; and, judging
both from the figure and the description, I think that it is also allied to Erichson's Latometus*.
Elascus crassicornis. (Pl. VII. fig. 7.)
E. subdepressus, fuscescenti-varius; antennis medio abrupte incrassatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Rather broadly depressed, covered with coarse, curly, dusky-brown hairs varied with paler or greyish markings; head and prothorax greyish-brown, the latter with four tubercles on its disc and the projecting anterior portion strongly bilobed; elytra bordered with hooked hairs, with three waved costæ on each, terminating posteriorly in as many tubercles, between which and the apex is another and larger one, a small oblique stripe behind the shoulder and a broad band near the apex; antennæ greyish-brown, the terminal half darker, with the third joint much thicker than the two preceding, the fourth and succeeding joints gradually diminishing in thickness; legs dark brown; body beneath pitchy, with yellowish-brown scaly hairs. Length 3 lines.
I have only seen two specimens, both of which were taken by Mr. Bakewell, at Melbourne, under the bark of trees composing a stock-yard fence.
Elascus lunatus. (Pl. VII. fig. 8.)
E. subangustatus, fuscus, nigro-varius; elytris albo-fasciatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Rather narrow, slightly depressed, covered with coarse scaly hairs, which are yellowish-grey on the head, but considerably darker on the prothorax and elytra, or nearly black, the latter having three whitish bands (the two anterior crescent-shaped, but sometimes nearly coalescing, the posterior straight); prothorax with four tubercles on its disc, the anterior projecting portion rather broadly bilobed, each lobe forming (so to speak) an additional tubercle; elytra coarsely seriato-punctate, each with three costæ, the inner nearly obsolete except at the base; antennæ not abruptly thickened in the middle, yellowish varied with dark brown, especially the three terminal joints; legs ferruginous, more or less marked with dark brown; body beneath covered with greyish-yellow scaly hairs. Length 2½ lines.
The post-prothoracic lobe is less developed in this species than in the former, or, in other words, it is broader and less abruptly defined. The two specimens (also captured by Mr. Bakewell) now before me differ considerably in depth of colour and amount of white on the elytra; but in this, as in other instances, the pattern is the same.
* Wiegmann's Archiv, 1842, p. 213. pl. 5. fig. 3.
DOCALIS [Tenebrionidæ].
Head rounded, exserted, the antennary orbit nearly dividing the eye. Antennæ short, covered with numerous small flattish hairs, the first three joints longest, the rest transverse, the tenth larger than the eleventh. Mandibles stout, bifid at the apex. Palpi robust, terminal joint of the maxillary short, stout, of the labial obconic, obtuse; external maxillary lobe short, triangular, fringed, the inner narrow, toothed. Mentum arising within the jugular plate. Prothorax subquadrate, scarcely wider than the head. Elytra ovate-oblong, broader than the prothorax. Legs short, the intermediate furnished with trochanters; coxæ not contiguous; tibiæ not spurred; tarsi with all the joints except the last very short and fringed with spiny hairs. Prosternal process quadrate. Mesosternum depressed.
The Tagenia funerosa of the Rev. F. W. Hope is, I think, referable to this genus; and, trusting solely to recollection of his type, now in the Taylor Institute at Oxford, it is very close to, if not identical with, my D. degener; but without certainty on this point, it is better to assume that they are distinct. The genus seems to be referable to the Scaurinæ, and, so far as my knowledge of the group extends at present, it might follow Ammophorus. The structure of the mouth, in reference to what I have called the "jugular plate," but which appears to be the "sous-menton" of M. Lacordaire, is very similar, judging from that author's description, to that of Nyctoporis, which genus immediately precedes Ammophorus. The larger penultimate joint of the antennæ is suggestive in a slight degree of the club of many Colydian genera; indeed, there are so many points of resemblance between several of the Heteromera and the Colydiidæ, as to justify a doubt whether they may not be more than mere analogies.
Docalis exoletus. (Pl. VIII. fig. 9.)
D. oblongo-ovatus, fuscus; prothorace transverso.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne); Tasmania.
Oblong-ovate, dark brown, everywhere covered, but not very closely, with semi-erect, stiff black scales (hairs), intermixed, especially on the head and prothorax, with rusty-white; prothorax slightly broader than long; scutellum rounded behind; elytra coarsely seriato-punctate, marked with several slightly elevated longitudinal lines, which are severally crested with a row of whitish scales; body beneath punetured, each puncture enclosing a short rusty hair. Length 2 to 3 lines.
For my knowledge of this and the species of the two preceding genera, I am indebted to Robert Bakewell, Esq., who informs me that they, and many other insects as well, are found beneath the
bark of logs which are piled one on another in the formation of stockades. Few of the many collectors in Australia appear to be aware of the novelties which a careful examination of such localities would afford them.
Docalis degener.
D. oblongo-ovatus, præcedenti angustior, niger; prothorace æquali.
Hab. Tasmania.
Narrower and darker than the last, with the prothorax at least as long as it is broad, the scales whiter and less numerous and the punctures larger, and the longitudinal lines on the elytra more prominent. Length 2 lines.
SPHARGERIS [Tenebrionidæ].
Head small, transverse, abruptly contracted below the eyes. Antennæ eleven-jointed, very short, gradually increasing in thickness from the third, which is longest, the second minute, the first incrassated. Eyes lateral, very small, round. Labrum narrow, not covering the mandibles, which are bifid at the tip. Maxillary lobes narrow, the terminal joint of their palpi subsecuriform. Mentum subcordate, narrower behind. Labium bilobed and ciliated anteriorly; labial palpi long, the terminal joint ovate, pointed. Prothorax short, transverse, narrower anteriorly, rounded at the sides. Elytra shortly ovate, very convex. Legs short, more or less covered with spinous hairs; tibiæ triangular, strongly spurred, the anterior sinuated externally; tarsi short, the basal joint longer than the second. Prosternum compressed, cariniform.
Closely allied to Mr. White's genus Chœrodes (Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, Ins. p. 12. tab. 2. fig. 12), but differs essentially in the antennæ, Chœrodes having (inter alia) a triarticulate club (see Pl. V. fig. 10); in both, however, they are eleven-jointed.
Sphargeris physodes. (Pl. V. fig. 9.)
S. testaceus, subnitidus, punctulatus; oculis mandibulisque nigris.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne and Adelaide).
Broadly ovate, very convex, smooth, shining, testaceous, closely and finely punctured; scutellum small, triangular; antennæ about as long as half the breadth of the head; eyes and mandibles black; body beneath darker, punctured, with short scattered hairs. Length 3 lines.
CHÆTYLLUS [Tenebrionidæ].
Head subtriangular, rounded posteriorly, larger than the prothorax, its supra-antennary borders forming a short, thick, elevated protuberance. Antennæ moderately long, eleven-jointed, the first incrassated, the
second minute, the third longest, the rest more or less moniliform and becoming gradually thicker upwards. Eyes lateral, small, round. Maxillary palpi strongly securiform, the labial very short and thick. Prothorax narrower than the head, much contracted behind. Scutellum none. Elytra connate, very convex, broadly elliptical. Legs moderate; anterior coxæ globose, not contiguous; tibiæ unarmed, hairy at the base internally; tarsi short, thick, hairy beneath, the basal joint longer than the second, the penultimate bilobed. Prosternum produced, rounded posteriorly, and remote from the mesosternum.
An examination of the mouth might throw some light on the affinities of this very curious little insect; but as the only specimen I have seen belongs to the British Museum, and moreover is not in very good condition, this cannot be done at present. In habit it resembles the Anthicidæ, but the globose anterior coxæ separate it from that family; the bilobed tarsi, an unusual character amongst the Tenebrionidæ, suggest an analogy, or perhaps an affinity, with Phymatodes and Phobelius. It is one of the many important captures of Mr. Bates in the valley of the Amazons; and as that gentleman is preparing a series of papers on some of the insects of his extensive collections, it is to be hoped that this and many other curious forms which he possesses will be at no distant date more amply illustrated.
Chœtyllus anthicoides. (Pl. VI. fig. 8.)
C. niger, nitidus; prothorace elytrisque tuberculatis, tuberculis setigeris; tarsis pallidioribus.
Hab. Brazil (Ega).
Black, shining; head coarsely punctured, with scattered, erect, setulose hairs, a semicircular groove between the antennary orbits; prothorax and elytra covered with large tubercular elevations, arranged in rows on the latter, each of which bears a long, erect, setose hair; tarsi and base of the tibiæ internally with pale silky hairs; labial and maxillary palpi at the base pale ferruginous; antennæ setigerous, as long as the head and prothorax together. Length 2 lines.
DIPSACONIA [Tenebrionidæ].
Head small, rather narrow and elongate below the eyes, deeply inserted in the prothorax. Eyes transverse, undivided. Antennæ rather short, submoniliform, slightly hairy, the basal joint incrassated, the second very short, the third longest, the remainder gradually decreasing in length, but becoming broader and transverse, to the ninth and tenth, the eleventh subovate. Labrum rounded anteriorly. Maxillary palpi rather long, claviform, the last joint large, ovate, truncate; the labial very small; external maxillary lobe broad, strongly ciliated. Mentum
quadrate. Labium very transverse. Prothorax narrower than the elytra, transverse, sinuated anteriorly, its surface regular. Elytra rather long, slightly rounded at the sides. Legs moderate; tibiæ bicalcarate, ciliated externally; tarsi slender.
Allied to Ulodes, Er., which differs in the following points. In Ulodes the head is short, not being prolonged below the eyes; the joints of the antennæ are subequal and transverse, surrounded by a dense whorl of squamose hairs; the surface of the prothorax is very irregular; the elytra are short, and the body generally is covered with short crisp scales. To Ulodes I refer Bolitophagus Saphira, Newm., and Endophlœus variicornis, Hope. My genus Byrsax (ante, p. 42) is also a member of this group of Tenebrionidæ (Bolitophaginæ): it is true I cannot quite satisfy myself that it is heteromerous, but I have no doubt a minute basal joint exists; and in other respects it appears to be congeneric with Diaperis horrida, Ol. (Asida horrida, Walk.). Trox cornutus, Fab., is also referable to Byrsax.
Dipsaconia Bakewellii. (Pl. VII. fig. 6.)
D. elliptico-ovata, pilosa, fulvo-brunnea; elytris nigro-variegatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Elliptic-ovate, brownish-fulvous, covered with short decumbent hairs, among which others longer, nearly erect and slightly curved, are interspersed; prothorax nearly as wide as the elytra at the base; scutellum rather indistinct, subtriangular; elytra nearly parallel at the sides, rounded at the apex, striato-punctate, each with three costæ, and varied with four or five dull-black band-like marks; antennæ brown; body beneath ferruginous-brown, very sparingly pubescent. Length 3½ lines.
In this and the following species, both of which we owe to Mr. Bakewell's researches, may be noticed, in certain lights, a glowing fiery-red tubercle at the bottom of each elytral puncture.
Dipsaconia pyritosa.
D. elongato-ovata, hirta, rufo-fusca; prothorace elytrisque nigro-variegatis.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Elongate-ovate, reddish-brown, closely covered with short, thick, strongly hooked hairs; prothorax narrower than the elytra at the base, the disc with a large irregular blackish patch; scutellum indistinct, subquadrate; elytra rather broader behind, striato-punctate, marked with several irregular, dull brownish-black patches; antennæ brown; body beneath and legs ferruginous-brown, sparingly pubescent. Length 3½ lines.
TITHASSA [Tenebrionidæ].
Head small, exserted, its anterior border incrassated. Antennæ stout, moderately long, the first and second joints scarcely thicker than the third, which is longer, the remainder to the eighth short, the last three forming an oblong, loose, compressed club. Eyes small, lateral, round. Epistome and labrum narrow, not covering the mandibles, the latter broadly emarginate. Mandibles bifid at the apex; terminal joint of the palpi ovate, subacuminate, the second joint of the labial larger than the third; maxillary lobes subequal, fringed. Mentum subquadrate. Labium rounded. Prothorax transversely subquadrate, narrower than the elytra, its margins dilated. Elytra large, convex, broadly ovate. Legs small; coxæ not approximate, the anterior cylindrical, transverse; tibiæ not spurred; tarsi pubescent beneath, the penultimate joint dilated. Prosternum pointed behind; mesosternum depressed; post-intercoxal process triangular.
The majority of the characters of this genus point, as it appears to me, to the Diaperinæ, but the differently-formed tarsi and the disproportion between the prothorax and elytra forbid its union with that group. At the same time, the antennæ come nearer those of Pentaphyllus "in plan" than any other heteromerous genus that I am acquainted with. It seems to be a common Rio insect.
Tithassa corynomelas. (Pl. V. fig. 7.)
T. testaceo-lutea, nitida, punctata; oculis, antennisque, ab articulo sexto, nigris.
Hab. Brazil (Rio).
Dark glossy testaceous, or luteous-brown, irregularly punctured above, with a few very fine and extremely scattered slender hairs; eyes and last five joints of the antennæ, including a portion of the sixth, which are also more hairy than the rest, black. Length 3 lines.
CHARIOTHECA [Helopidæ].
(Dej.) Catal. des Coléopt.
Head moderate, subquadrate. Eyes large, transverse, contiguous to the prothorax. Antennæ short, claviform, the first joint nearly concealed above by the antennary orbits, the four or five terminal joints compressed and, except the last, more or less transverse. Labrum rounded anteriorly. Maxillary palpi with the last joint securiform, the labial ovate, truncate; maxillary lobes short, strongly ciliated. Mentum subquadrate. Labium slightly expanded at the sides, entire and ciliated in front. Prothorax transverse, nearly as broad as the elytra at the base, rounded at the sides, scarcely emarginate anteriorly. Elytra elongate, their greatest breadth behind the shoulders, slightly curved
at the sides. Legs rather slender; tarsi hairy beneath, the basal joint longer than the succeeding one. Prosternum pointed behind, with a narrow impression in the middle; mesosternum notched for the reception of the prosternum; post-intercoxal process pointed anteriorly.
This unpublished genus of Dejean's was placed by him nearly at the end of his Tenebrionites, an heterogeneous assemblage, including as it does Melandrya, Pytho, Pezodontus, Camaria, &c. With the last of these genera, however, and with its allies, Chariotheca must be placed.
Chariotheca coruscans. (Pl. VI. fig. 7.)
C. atra, nitida; elytris cyaneis; corpore infra, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis.
Hab. Moluccas (Batchian).
Deep black, smooth, shining; head and prothorax lightly and irregularly punctured; scutellum triangular; elytra rich indigo-blue, seriato-punctate (about nine rows), with numerous smaller punctures irregularly crowding the interstices; antennæ not longer than the breadth of the head, reddish-ferruginous, the last five joints with a few short scattered greyish hairs; palpi and legs, particularly the tibiæ and tarsi, reddish-ferruginous; body beneath ferruginous, inclining to chestnut. Length 4½ lines.
Chariotheca litigiosa.
C. atra, nitida; elytris chalybeo-cyaneis; antennis tarsisque ferrugineis; corpore infra, femoribus tibiisque atris.
Hab. New Guinea (Aru).
Deep black, smooth, shining; head with crowded oblong punctures, often three or four more or less confluent, and then forming short longitudinal folds in the spaces between them; prothorax with small scattered punctures; scutellum rather small, triangular; elytra dark green, punctured as the last; antennæ, palpi, and tarsi reddish-ferruginous; body beneath, femora and tibiæ black. Length 4½ lines.
Rather narrower than the former, the scutellum smaller, the head differently punctured, the colour less brilliant, &c.
Chariotheca cupripennis.
C. atra, nitida; elytris cupreis; corpore infra, antennis pedibusque piceis.
Hab. New Guinea (Dorey).
Deep black, shining; head, especially between the eyes, with many oblong punctures; prothorax irregularly punctured; elytra seriato-punctate, the interstices crowded with very minute punctures, copperred, the suture rich green; antennæ and palpi ferruginous-brown; body beneath and legs pitchy. Length 4 lines.
OMOLIPUS [Helopidæ].
Head transverse, vertical, sulcated in front. Antennæ short, gradually increasing in thickness, the two basal joints small, the third longest, the fourth to the seventh obconical and decreasing in length, the last four submoniliform, compressed. Eyes transverse, partially divided in front. Labrum rounded anteriorly and ciliated. Mandibles bidentate at the apex. Maxillary palpi securiform; the labial approximate at the base, with the terminal joint triangular. Maxillary lobes small, the inner strongly hooked. Labium transverse. Mentum subtriangular, truncate at the base, carinated in the middle. Prothorax convex, rounded in front and at the sides, closely applied to the elytra, its parapleuræ distinct. Scutellum small, triangular. Elytra connate, ovate, convex. No wings. Legs stout; anterior coxæ globular, not contiguous; tibiæ straight, unarmed; tarsi short, all the joints except the last dilated. Prosternum wedge-shaped, produced, with a deep central impression; mesosternum notched for the reception of the prosternum.
In characterizing œdemutes (ante, p. 51), the semilunar, sulcated anterior portion of the head was described as the epistome, and M. Lacordaire appears to have done the same in his description of Sphœ-rotus*. The real epistome, however, is inserted beneath the anterior border, and in Sphœrotus curvipes is completely hidden by it; but, on the other hand, it is almost entirely exposed in another common species, Sphœrotus gravidus. In Omolipus (at least in the species described below; for the character scarcely seems to be of generic value), the labrum, which is rather strongly developed, also appears to be inserted directly beneath the anterior border of the head, and the epistome is therefore not apparent. The nearest affinity of Omolipus is probably Misolampus, from which, among other characters, the presence of a very distinct scutellum will at once distinguish it. This genus is another exception to the absence of the hook on the internal maxillary lobe, a character which at one time was supposed to distinguish the Helopidæ from the Tenebrionidæ. Another exceptional character is the approximation of the base of the labial palpi, which are inserted in front of the broadly transverse, membranous lower lip.
Omolipus corvus. (Pl. VI. fig. 9.)
O. ater, nitidus; elytris punctato-impressis; antennis tarsisque pallidi-oribus.
Hab. Australia (Melbourne).
Deep glossy black; head and prothorax very minutely punctured; elytra narrower than the prothorax, each with about nine rows of deeply
* Gen. des Coléopt. v. p. 446.
impressed punctures; legs smooth and shining, tarsi brownish; antennæ shorter than the prothorax, paler at the apex; body smooth beneath. Length 5–6 lines.
RHINOSIMUS [Salpingidæ].
Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Ins. ii. p. 231.
Rhinosimus Wallacei.
R. atro-chalybeus, nitidus; rostro pedibusque rufis; elytris purpureis; antennarum funiculo tarsisque luteis.
Hab. New Guinea (Dorey).
Ovate, slightly depressed, finely punctured, smooth and shining; head deep steel-blue, the rostrum dark reddish-yellow, rather dilated at the apex, the antennæ inserted at about the middle, the last three joints, forming a strongly marked club, black; prothorax deep steel-blue, narrower than the elytra; scutellum very transverse; elytra dark purple; femora and tibiæ yellowish-red, tarsi pale brownish-yellow; body beneath chestnut-brown. Length 2½ lines.
ZONITIS [Cantharidæ].
Fabricius, Syst. Entom. p. 126.
Zonitis Downesii.
Z beviusculus, luteus, punctulatus; antennis, basi excepts, nigris; tarsorum articulo ultimo apiceque elytrorum infuscatis.
Hab. India (Bombay).
Rather short, brownish-yellow, the upper surface minutely punctured; head and prothorax rather glossy, and together considerably more than half the length of the elytra; scutellum rounded posteriorly; elytra much wider than the prothorax at the base, the apex clouded with brown; antennæ scarcely extending to the base of the prothorax, black, the two basal joints yellow; palpi and mandibles at their tips, and the last joint of all the tarsi above and their claws (more or less) dark brown; legs covered with short silky hairs. Length 6 lines.
Dedicated to Ezra Downes, Esq., of Calcutta, who, during his residence at Bombay, collected and sent to this country many interesting insects from that locality, and after whom was named, as its discoverer, the very fine and remarkable Prionian Cantharocnemis Downesii.
TRIGONOPS [Curculionidæ].
Guérin-Méneville, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. 128.
Trigonops Jekelii (Pl. VII. fig. 9.)
T. piceus, punctato-granulatus, squamis viridescentibus tectus; elytris brevibus, perpendiculariter deflexis; femoribus basi rufis.
Hab. Celebes (Manado).
♂ Elytris convexis, angulis posticis cornutis.
♀ Elytris deplanatis, angulis posticis muticis.
Ovate, dark pitchy-brown, sparingly furnished above with pale yellowish-green scales; rostrum longer than the head, gibbous below the eyes, and separated from them by a semicircular depression, with a broad longitudinal furrow in the middle; prothorax shortly ovate, closely granulated, and covered with coarse deep punctures; scutellum none; elytra very short, perpendicularly bent down behind, roughly punctato-granulated, slightly convex in the male, with the posterior angle produced into a long flexible process, flat and depressed in the female, and without any prolongation; legs moderate, furnished with stiff scattered hairs, the femora orange-red, except at the apex (in the female darker); antennæ black, shorter than the body, slightly hairy; body beneath pitchy, coarsely punctured. Length 3½ lines (♂), 3 lines (♀).
BLAPSILON [Cerambycidæ].
Head short, scarcely convex in front. Eyes small, lateral, deeply emarginate. Antennæ shorter than the body, sublinear, distant at the base, the first joint thickened, shorter than the third, which is longest, the fourth moderate, the remainder very short and subequal. Labrum small, slightly emarginate. Mandibles robust. Palpi stout, the terminal joint elongate-ovate, truncate. Mentum very short and transverse. Prothorax broader than long, narrower in front. Scutellum elongate, produced anteriorly. Elytra ovate, broader than the prothorax at the base, elevated in the middle, and produced at the shoulder into a short, hooked, horizontal process. Legs moderate; coxæ distant; tarsi short, very slightly dilated. Presternum received into a notch of the mesosternum.
The scutellum of this genus is remarkable. It is not only unusually narrow and somewhat hexagonal in form, but it is projected forwards on the prothorax, which is probably notched for its reception, although this point cannot be ascertained without risk of injury to the specimen. Blapsilon must be placed near Tmesisternus.
Blapsilon irroratum. (Pl. V. fig. 8.)
B. fusco-piceum, maculis hirtis ochraceis punctisque impressis adspersis.
Hab. New Caledonia.
Broadly ovate, dark pitchy-brown, the whole upper surface, except the scutellum, covered with small, round, hairy ochraceous spots and deeply impressed closely-set punctures; body beneath pitchy-brown; anterior tibiæ and tarsi paler. Length 7 lines.
There are two specimens in the British Museum, collected during the surveying expedition of H.M.S. Herald.
AUXA [Lamiidæ].
Head small, convex in front, the vertex elevated. Antennæ setaceous, longer than the body, pedunculate, the first joint thickened, pyriform,
VOL. I. K
the third longest, slightly curved, the rest subequal. Eyes small, deeply divided. Epistome and labrum large and transverse, the latter broadly emarginate. Palpi long, acuminated. Prothorax elongate-ovate, broader than the head, very irregular, toothed at the sides. Elytra narrow, convex, tapering posteriorly. Winged. Legs stout; femora clavate; tarsi short. Prosternum dilated posteriorly; mesosternum slightly bilobed.
The unusually large prothorax of this insect and its narrow, tapering elytra at once suggest some Dorcadion form, but its real position appears to be with Pogonochœrus and its allies. The specimen from which the description has been drawn up is in the Hopean collection at Oxford.
Auxa amplicollis. (Pl. VI. fig. 2.)
A. fuscata, subtilissime pubescens; elytris pallidioribus, plagis magnis duabus, una basali, alteraque apicali, albescentibus.
Hab. Madagascar.
Dull brown, finely pubescent; prothorax very irregular, transversely corrugated, the centre armed with two strong recurved teeth and a shorter tooth at the side; scutellum very transverse, whitish; elytra narrow, apiculate, spined at the shoulder, pale brown, a large whitish irregular patch at the base and another at the apex; antennæ rather longer than the body, ferruginous-brown, slightly ciliated beneath; palpi testaceous; legs dark brown, rather glossy, the base of the femora paler, a whitish patch on the posterior; body beneath with a greyish-white pubescence. Length 3½ lines.
CACIA [Lamiidæ].
Newman, The Entom. p. 290.
Cacia anthriboides. (Pl. V. fig. 5.)
C. atra, pubescens; capite prothoraceque strigis, elytrisque (parte antica) albo-cinereis; antennis tarsisque albo-annulatis.
Hab. Amboyna.
Deep black, covered with a very short dense pubescence; head below the eyes, and two nearly confluent stripes between them, ashy-white, lip margined with white; prothorax longer than wide, subcylindrical, a little bulging at the sides, with a broad central stripe and the sides ashy-white; scutellum subquadrate, the apex white; elytra much wider than the thorax at the base, rather short, very slightly receding towards the apex, which is rounded, with considerably more than its basal half white, except at the shoulders and around the scutellum ashy-white, a few white spots also at the apex; legs rather short and robust, slightly tinged with ashy, the two basal joints of all the tarsi white; antennæ nearly twice as long as the body, the base of the third, fourth and fifth joints white, the fourth with a slight tuft of hairs at its apex; body beneath ashy. Length 8 lines.
OMOSAROTES [Lamiidæ].
Head exserted, vertical, quadrate in front. Eyes very deeply divided, the two portions connected only by a narrow line. Antennæ distant, robust, shorter than the body, pedunculate, and ciliated beneath, the first joint slightly incrassated, the third longest, the rest gradually decreasing in length. Epistome very short. Labium small, transverse, rounded. Palpi slender, subacuminate. Prothorax arched, narrower than the elytra, rounded in the middle, contracted anteriorly and posteriorly, the sides strongly toothed. Scutellum quadrate. Elytra short, narrow, broadest at the base, convex. Legs moderate; tibiæ compressed, the anterior emarginate internally; tarsi very short, the basal joint triangular. Prosternum broad, rounded posteriorly; mesosternum sub-bilobed.
This genus, with Scopadus, appears to enter into a small group of South American Longicorns, of which the Cerambyx sericeus of Perty may be considered as the type. This is one of Mr. Bates's rarest captures, he having never met with more than two specimens; one is now in my collection, the other in his own.
Omosarotes singularis. (Pl. VIII. fig. 5.)
O. atro-piceus, crinitus, pube sparsa griseo-fulva varius; elytris basi pedunculo-fasciculatis.
Hab. Brazil (Para).
Pitchy-black, with long slender scattered hairs, particularly on the posterior part of the elytra and legs, and rather thinly covered with a greyish-yellow pubescence, which is most predominant on the pro-thorax and basal half of the elytra, forming also a sort of band, which is margined with a little white anteriorly, across their posterior third; head narrower above the eyes, the peduncles bearing the antennæ rather distant, with a longitudinal groove between them; lateral tooth of the prothorax on the middle; a sharp carina half the length of the elytra terminating at the humeral angle, the side below it bent abruptly down, near the base an elevated protuberance bearing a fascicle of long, nearly erect black hairs; tibiæ with a line of thickly-set yellowish hairs externally; body beneath deep black, the throat, breast and abdomen very glossy. Length 5 lines.
LANGURIA [Languriidæ].
Latreille, Gen. Crust. et Insect. iii. p. 65.
Languria illœtabilis. (Pl. V. fig. 4.)
L. elongata, rubro-fusca; elytris chalybeo-viridibus; antennarum clava, pedibusque fuscis.
Hab. Natal.
Narrowly elongate, dark reddish-brown, smooth, shining; head and prothorax finely punctured, the latter much narrower posteriorly; scutellum subcordate, reddish-brown; elytra narrow, parallel, striato-punctate, dark steel-green; antennæ pale at the base, the club black;
legs dark brown; eyes black; body beneath smooth, glossy black, the breast reddish-brown. Length 3 lines.
Languria pulchella.
L. elongate, fulva; prothorace medio sulcato; capite elytrisque viridibus; antennarum clava fusca; pedibus flavis.
Hab. Natal.
Narrowly elongate, smooth, shining; head dark green; prothorax finely punctured, reddish-yellow, longitudinally grooved in the middle; scutellum subcordate, black; elytra punctato-striate, glossy bluish-green; antennæ dark brown, paler at the base; legs yellow; body beneath glossy black, the breast reddish-yellow. Length 3 lines.
This and the above are probably distinct from the true Languriœ.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
PLATE V.
| Fig. | Fig. | ||
| 1. | Acropis aspera. Para. | 7. | Tithassa corynomelas. Rio. |
| 2. | Dioptoma Adamsii. Dacca. | 8. | Blapsilon irroratum. Lord Howe's Island. |
| 3. | Bothrideres succineus. Rio. | ||
| 4. | Languria illœtabilis. Natal. | 9. | Sphargeris physodes. Melbourne. |
| 5. | Cacia anthriboides. Borneo. | ||
| 6. | Prostomis morsitans. Darjeeling. | 10. | Antenna of Chœrodes trachyscelides, White. |
PLATE VI.
| 1. | Sosylus sulcatus. Para. | 6. | Dastarcus confinis. New Guinea. |
| 2. | Auxa amplicollis. Madagascar. | ||
| 3. | Asprotera inculta. Natal. | 7. | Chariotheca coruscans. Moluccas. |
| 4. | Althœsia pilosa. New Guinea. | 8. | Chœtyllus anthicoides. Ega. |
| 5. | Atractocerus morio. Moluccas. | 9. | Omolipus corvus. Moreton Bay. |
PLATE VII.
| 1. | Hyberis araneiformis. Borneo. | 6. | Dipsaconia Bakewellii. Melbourne. |
| 2. | Discoloma Fryi. Rio. | ||
| 3. | Chorites aspis. Borneo. | 7. | Elascus crassicornis. Melbourne. |
| 4. | Rhyssopera areolata. Tasmania. (Trophi of R. illota.) | 8. | Elascus lunatus. Melbourne. |
| 5. | Cotulades fascicularis. Melbourne. | 9. | Trigonops Jekelii. Celebes. |
PLATE VIII.
| 1. | Pharax laticollis. Rio. | 7. | Docalis exoletus. Melbourne. |
| 2. | Glyptolopus histeroides. Rio. | 8. | Anarmostes sculptilis. Rio. |
| 3. | Lemmis cœlatus. Rio. | 9. | Glœania ulomoides. Rio. |
| 4. | Distaphyla mammillaris. Para. | 9a. | Its anterior tarsus seen from beneath. |
| 5. | Omosarotes singularis. Para. | ||
| 6. | Ethelema luctuosa. Rio. |
