OCR Text |
Show 1900.] INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS PROM SOMALILAND. 23 parce granulatis; antennis ferrugineis, articulo primo nigro, fusco-hirto ; tibiis anticis acute quadridentatis, aliis serratis. Long. 21 mm., lat. 13 mm. Type in British Museum. The single specimen was obtained in Central or Eastern Somaliland (1897). This species is allied to T. denticulatus Oliv., which also occurs in Somaliland, but it is considerably larger and relatively broader, the widely dilated margins of the elytra making their outline almost circular. The elytral costa? consist of irregular tubercles which are separate at the base, more or less confluent on the disc, and small and scattered towards the apex; the alternate rows only of these reach the basal margins of the elytra. Tbe anterior tibia is armed with four acute teeth placed at right angles to its axis and regularly increasing in size towards its extremity, the last being very sharp and prominent. T.funestus Lansb., a W . African species, appears to be nearly related to this insect, but is smaller and narrower, T. expansus being one of the largest at present known in the genus. SCARAB.EUS ISIDIS Cast. North Central Somaliland, Bally Maroli in the Haud District. Two examples, June 25, 1897. This occurs throughout the Nile Valley and also in S.W. Asia. SCARAB^EUS BETTONI Waterh. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xx. p. 553 (1897). One specimen found July 26, 1895, at Whardi Datal, Northwest Somaliland. It was recently discovered by Mr. Betton in British East Africa. GYMNOPLEURUS L^EVIS Arrow, sp. n. G. splendenti valde affinis, sed colore, et sculptura minus evidente, distinctus, fusco-niger, Icevis, opacus; pedibus antennisque fusco-rvfis, harum clavis ferrugineis; capite subtiliter granidato, antice acute quadridentato; proihorace convexo, subtiliter coriaceo, linea media Icevi angusta, basi bi-impressa, lateribus parum grosse foveolatis, marginibus lateralibus anguMe refiexis postice obtuse angulatis; elytris subtilissime disperse granulatis et vix striatis, absque plicatulis ; pedum anteriorum tibiis serratis, dentibus tribus terminalibus acutis et longissimis munitis, femoribus emarginatis et dentatis. Long. 16 mm. Type in British Museum. One example (1895 or 1897). This insect is almost black without a trace of metallic lustre. The surface is very smooth, with a fine granulation which is most apparent on the head and exceedingly minute on the elytra. The striation of the latter is almost obsolete and only visible under a lens. The three teeth upon the anterior tibia? are very long and acute. G. lugens of Fairm. is very near this species, but is more nearly related to G. splendens Cast., if not merely a variety of it. |