OCR Text |
Show 1897.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF AFRICA. 551 placed above the base of the antennae; the latter not extending to the middle of the elytra, entirely fulvous, the third and fourth joints equal, longer than the second, terminal joints gradually thickened ; thorax twice as broad as long, the sides feebly rounded, the anterior angles not produced, posterior ones acute, the surface closely and finely punctured at the sides, more sparingly so at the disc, the anterior margin with a deep longitudinal groove at each side extending to about one-third the length of the thorax, the base with a much shorter groove at each side ; scutellum fulvous ; elytra with closely approached rows of larger punctures, the interstices everywhere closely and finely punctured, slightly wrinkled here and there; the space in front of the lateral margins slightly thickened and accompanied by some deeper punctures; elytral epipleurae very broad, concave and nearly smooth; underside and legs entirely fulvous, impunctate ; prosternum narrowdy elongate ; the first joint of the tarsi in the male strongly widened. Hah. Madagascar, Diego-Suarez (C. Alluaud). This is quite a distinct species from N. delecta, Dalm., on account of the deeper and longer anterior thoracic grooves, and the very close punctuation, of the elytra, amongst which the larger punctures are but obsoletely arranged in rows. NlSOTRA CHAPUISI, n. Sp. Oblong, testaceous, terminal joints of the antennae fuscous ; thorax closely and finely punctured, with obscure basal grooves; elytra very closely and semi-regularly punctured ; abdomen and femora more or less piceous. Length 1-1 \ line. Head microscopically punctured at the vertex ; the clypeus with a few deeper punctures and a fovea at the base ; antennae not extending to the middle of the elytra ; the lower six joints testaceous, the rest black, third and fourth joints equal, terminal joints thickened, pubescent, the last more elongate; thorax at least twice as broad as long, the sides very strongly rounded at the middle, all the angles acute but not produced; the disc convex, very closely and rather finely punctured ; the anterior and posterior margins with a very small indentation at each side, only visible under a strong lens; elytra oblong, scarcely widened, pointed at the apex, very closely punctured in irregular rows, the punctures rather larger than those of the thorax and evenly distributed, without arrangement in pairs ; underside and the posterior femora more or less black. Hab. Madagascar, Diego-Suarez (C. Alluaud). A species of rather elongate shape and closely allied to N. testacea, Chap., from Abyssinia, but smaller, the lower six, not four, joints of the antennae testaceous, the thorax with scarcely perceptible grooves, and the elytral punctation irregular, not geminate. EPITRIX WEISEI, n. sp. Black, pubescent; antennae, tibiae, and tarsi flavous; thorax |