OCR Text |
Show 1897.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF AFRICA. 529 the others black, distinctly thickened; thorax scarcely twice as broad as long, the sides rounded, scarcety narrowed anteriorly, the angles distinct, the surface convex, strongly and closely punctured, dark greenish, not very shining; elytra parallel, sub-cylindrical, finely punctate-striate in closely approached rows ; the interstices minutely punctate; legs entirely fulvous,rather robust. Hah. Mashonaland (67. Marshall). British Mus. coll. and m y own. Whether this species is the male of the preceding one I am unable to say. I have not enough specimens for examination, as only two were obtained, and those are glued to cards; but the dilated anterior tarsi are no doubt peculiar to the male sex, as in mostEumolpidae. Since, however, the antennas differ in colour and structure, and the thorax entirely in shape and punctuation, as well as the legs in colour, I cannot look upon the present insect as identical; but the elytra show scarcely any did'erence in regard to the punctuation. LEFEVREA ABDOMINALIS, n. sp. Metallic greenish or bluish, the antennae (the apical joints excepted), the legs, and the abdomen fulvous; thorax very strongly and remotely punctured; elytra bluish, finely punctate-striate. Length 1| line (3 millim.). Head strongly but not closely punctured, greenish aeneous ; labrum fulvous; antennae not extending to the middle of the elytra, robust, fulvous, the three or four apical joints fuscous, the third and fourth joints equal, slightly longer than tbe second one, the fifth slightly longer, the following three joints slightly dilated (6), the apical ones thinner again, the last more elongate; thorax about one-half broader than long, the sides moderately rounded, the surface greenish, impressed wdth deep and round punctures not closely placed; elytra subcylindrical, bluish, finely punctate-striate, the punctures slightly larger at the base, the interstices smooth and impunctate; breast dark and aeneous; abdomen and legs fulvous, the anterior tarsi rather short and robust. Hah. Mashonaland (67. Marshall). Coll. Brit. M u s . and my own. The two specimens before m e are evidently males, and differ in every respect from the preceding species in regard to details, but not generically. The structure of the antennae and the colour of the abdomen and legs will separate the species at once. LEFEVREA INTERMEDIA, n. sp. Dark greenish or bluish, the basal joints of the antennae and the anterior legs fulvous ; thorax strongly and subremotely punctured ; elytra closely punctate-striate, the interstices distinctly punctured, partly costate at the sides. Length Ik line. |