OCR Text |
Show 98 MR. M. JACOBY ON THE [Feb. 1, The antennae and the legs in this species are subject to variation in colour; sometimes the first two joints of the antennse are stained with piceous as well as the legs and tarsi, the latter in other specimens being entirely testaceous with the exception of the posterior femora. A L Y T U S (gen. nov. Halticinorum). Body ovate, pointed behind. Head not longer than broad ; fronta tubercles strongly raised ; antennse as long as or longer than the body, the second and third joints nearly equal. Thorax subquadrate, the angles not produced, the surface with a distinct transverse groove near the base, extending to the posterior angles. Scutellum trigonate. Elytra ovate convex, pointed posteriorly, regularly punctate-striate. Posterior femora strongly incrassate, their tibiae with a distinct spine ; the first joint of the posterior tarsi as long as the two following joints together ; claws appendiculate. Anterior coxal cavities open. Prosternum narrowly elongate, much longer than broad ; mesosternum distinct, subquadrate. In its general appearance the insect, for the reception of which I am obliged to establish the present genus, resembles a species of Longitarsus, from which the distinct transverse groove of the thorax and the short metatarsus of the posterior legs separate it; the punctate-striate and the ovate and strongly pointed elytra are further characteristic of Alytus. A single species is before me. ALYTUS CEYLONENSIS, sp. nov. Fulvous or testaceous ; posterior femora piceous; the disk of the thorax impunctate, the groove punctured; elytra strongly punctate-striate. Length |-1 line. Head impunctate, the frontal tubercles strongly developed, elongate ; the third joint of the antennse thinner than the second, but scarcely longer, the following joints more slender and elongate. Thorax transversely quadrate, slightly constricted at the base, the sides nearly straight, the angles rather obtuse, the surface entirely impunctate, the transverse groove closely punctured. Elytra ovate, convex, widened at the middle, fulvous ; each elytron with about ten rows of regular and distinct punctures, the first row very short. Legs testaceous, the apices of the posterior femora piceous. The general colour of the upper surface is dark fulvous, very shining, the thorax and the legs being of a paler tint. The elytra are strongly narrowed at the base and at the apices, so that the thorax is broader than the elytra at the base. THRYL_EA (gen. nov. Halticinorum). Body rounded, subovate ; eyes rather large; frontal tubercles in shape of oblique narrow ridges. Antennae rather short, the terminal joints thickened. Thorax transverse, the anterior angles obliquely truncate, the surface without transverse groove, the basal |