OCR Text |
Show 1885.] COLEOPTERA FROM JAPAN. This species evidently represents the subsection of the European genus Oreina in Japan, and is I think closely allied to C. speciosa, Fabr., or one of its numerous varieties, but is, I have no doubt, distinct from that or any other species of this most difficult group. According to Mr. Baly, C. speciosa has the deep thoracic lateral groove broadly interrupted at its middle; in the present insect this groove is very deep and extends upwards to more than two thirds the length of the thorax, being interrupted only close to the anterior margin. In this as well as in coloration all the 30 specimens before me agree ; but the punctuation, as already remarked, of the upper surface is extremely variable, but much more strongly and rugose than in any of the European species with which I am acquainted. Genus PHYTODECTA. P H Y T O D E C T A ROBUSTA, sp. nov. Broadly ovate, subquadrate, fulvous ; thorax sparingly punctured at the sides only; scutellum black; elytra strongly punctate-striate, the interstices finely punctured, fulvous ; two elongate spots at the base and two behind the middle, sometimes connected, black. Length 3 lines. Head finely and distantly punctured. Antennae very short, not extending to the base of the thorax, entirely fulvous, the last five joints transversely dilated. Thorax transversely convex, the sides nearly straight, the basal margin broadly rounded at the middle ; disk very distantly and finely punctured, the sides impressed with a few strong and more closely placed punctures. Scutellum black. Elytra convex, not broader at the base than the thorax, each elytron with ten rows of deep punctures, visible to the apex, the interstices finely but closely punctured ; each elytron with an elongate subtriangular spot at the shoulder, another more rounded one at the base near the scutellum, a third, generally elongate and of triangular shape, at the sides below the middle and connected with a fourth shorter spot near the suture, this latter spot sometimes isolated ; another very small sutural spot is placed at the apical angle. Underside and legs entirely fulvous, the abdominal segments strongly punctured. Tibiae short, and broadly dilated at the outer side. Miyanoshita, Hiogo (also coll. Jacoby). This species is of a much more convex and robust shape than most of our European forms, from which and others it may be further distinguished by the nearly impunctate or sparingly punctured thorax, the entirely fulvous and short antennae, and the different shape of the elytral spots, the outer ones of which are very elongate, the inner ones of more rounded shape. The tibiae are also very short and more dilated than usual, and the broad base of the elytra gives the insect a general square-shaped appearance. A single specimen is contained in m y own, two others in the collection of Mr. Lewis. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1885, No. XIV. 14 |