OCR Text |
Show 578 PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA FROM MADAGASCAR. [Nov. 1, following elongate, gradually diminishing in length ; thorax transverse, short, the sides nearly straight; elytra irregularly punctured, their epipleurae very narrow, entirely disappearing below the middle ; legs slender ; all the tibiae with a spine, the first joint of the posterior tarsi as long as the following three joints together ; claws appendiculate ; prosternum invisible between the coxae, the anterior coxal cavities open. The insect for which this genus is proposed has the general appearance of the species forming the genus Mimastra, from which it is distinguished by the mucronate tibiae; the narrow epipleurae, invisible below the middle, and the spines on all the tibiae separate the genus from Luperus. MlMASTROlDES MADAGASCARIENSIS, n. Sp. (Plate X X X I X. fig. 11.) Obscure testaceous, the base of the head, the labrum, antennae, the upperside of the femora, and the tibiae and tarsi black ; thorax and elytra testaceous, closely semi-rugosely punctured. Length 3 lines. Head finely and sparingly punctured on the vertex, the basal portion blackish, the frontal elevations small but distinct, the clypeus triangular, raised, yellowish ; labrum and palpi black; eyes very large; antennae about half the length of the body, black, the first joint elongate, thickened at the apex, the second one short, the third and fourth slender, equal, the apical joints shorter ; thorax twice as broad as long, the sides straight, the anterior angles thickened and slightly oblique, the posterior angles in shape of a small tubercle, the surface flat, closely punctured, tbe interstices slightly rugose; scutellum obscure piceous, broad ; elytra without basal depression, punctured like the thorax, obscure testaceous ; breast slightly darker, the upper portion of the femora, the tibiae, and tarsi black ; the apex of the last abdominal segment triangularly emarginate. GALERUSOMA, n. gen. Elongate, impubescent. Head produced, eyes entire; palpi slender; antennae filiform, the first joint very long and the longest; thorax subquadrate, scarcely broader than long, the surface flat without depression; scutellum rather broad ; elytra wider at the base than the thorax, elongate, irregularly punctured, their epipleurae narrow, disappearing below the middle ; legs slender ; tibiae unarmed, the first joint of the posterior tarsi as long as the following three joints together; claws bifid ; the anterior coxal cavities closed. This genus, in its elongate and slender shape, resembles somewhat the genus Mimastra; its principal distinguishing characters are the very long and slender first joint of the antennae and the bifid claws, which separate the genus also from Mimastroides. GALERUSOMA APICICORNE, n. sp. Fulvous, the lower and the apical three joints of the antennae, the tibiae, and tarsi black; thorax very minutely, elytra more strongly and very closely and irregularly punctured. |