OCR Text |
Show 1887.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF CEYLON. 93 narrow but distinct, longer than broad, its base slightly widened rounded. The general appearance of the insect for which I am obliged to propose the present genus has much the appearance of a species of Chrysomela on account of the ovate and strongly convex shape and the very transversely shaped thorax ; the space between the insertion of the antennse is much greater than is the case in the majority of the Halticina, while the strongly incrassate posterior femora leaves no doubt as to the proper place of the genus amongst the latter family. CHABRIA NIGROPLAGIATA, sp. nov. (Plate X. fig. 8.) Black; antenna and the tibise flavous ; above fulvous or flavous, a spot at the vertex, two at the thorax, two transverse bands at the elytra, and a triangular spot, near the apices of the latter black. Length 2\ lines. Head impunctate, the vertex with a black spot (sometimes wanting); palpi piceous as well as the apices of the jaws ; antennse entirely flavous or fulvous, scarcely half the length of the body, the third joint about one half longer than the second, the terminal joints gradually and slightly thickened. Thorax more than three times broader than long, the sides rounded, the anterior angles obliquely truncate (in one specimen more pointed), the surface with a few scarcely visible punctures, fulvous, with a black spot of variable shape placed on each side at the base. Scutellum black, or with the base only of that colour. Elytra very convex, rounded towards the middle and pointed at the apices, their surface scarcely or not visibly punctured ; each elytron with a broad concave-shaped band near the base, not quite extending to either margin ; another transverse band is placed at the middle, each end being widened, and a triangular-shaped spot near the apex. Underside and the femora and tarsi black. Bogawantalawa. CHABRIA APICICORNIS, sp. nov. (Plate X. fig. 9.) Piceous ; antennse testaceous, the two apical joints black ; thorax and elytra minutely punctured; the posterior tibise and the tarsi testaceous or flavous. Var. The basal joints of the antennse piceous. Length 2^-3 lines. Head rather broader than long, impunctate, the frontal tubercles almost entirely absent, the space between the antennse broad, divided at the base by a rather deep groove and bounded behind by another transverse groove; clypeus broad, scarcely narrowed above, and forming a single piece with the face; labrum transverse, with a row of fine punctures; palpi incrassate at the penultimate joint, the apical one acute and conical. Antennae half the length of the body, the third and fourth joints equal, the following slightly widened at their apices, the two or three terminal joints black, the others testaceous. Thorax with the sides very strongly rounded and narrowly margined, the anterior angles entirely obsolete and oblique and |