OCR Text |
Show 1900.] FROM SOUTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA. 211 Allied to P. hemorrhagica Gerst., but quite distinct in the fine elytral punctation, the abbreviated humeral band and the great width of the posterior one, also iu the markings of the thorax; in regard to this I may add to the description that the flavous anterior and lateral stripes are bounded by the extreme black edges of the thoracic margins. P. abyssinica Lefcv. seems also closely allied, but the description says nothing of an anterior flavous margin, and gives only a black humeral spot, not an angulate band, nor are the tibiae described as fulvous. I have received several specimens of this handsome species from Mr. G u y Marshall. PEPLOPTERA LEFEVRE1, sp. n. Subcylindrical, black; thorax flavous, sparingly punctured, the disc with a broad black band; elytra flavous, rather regularly punctate-striate, a spot on the shoulders and a transverse band near the apex, as well as the extreme apical margins, black. Length 7 millim. Head black, the vertex strongly swollen, longitudinally sulcate at the middle, the space between the eyes strongly punctured and slightly rugose, non-pubescent; the antennae not extending to the base of the thorax, black, the second and third joints fulvous; thorax twice as broad as long, but little narrowed in front, the sides nearly straight, the median lobe broad, not much produced, and preceded by a distinct transverse depression, the surface with a few fine punctures near the base and the posterior angles, fulvous ; the middle of the disc occupied by a broad subtriangular black patch, which extends to the anterior margin, where it is greatly narrowed; scutellum small, black ; elytra flavous, with regular rows of fine punctures, which become a little more confused at the sides and near the apex, the interstices rather closely and very minutely punctured, the shoulders with a black spot, a transverse narrow black band of somewhat irregular shape is placed below the middle, extending to the sides in some instances, but interrupted in others; below and the legs black, closely covered with silvery pubescence ; tarsi broad and rather robust. Hab. Delagoa Bay. In spite of its great similarity in coloration to P. angustata Erichs., P. cylindriformis Lac, and one or two other African species, the punctation of the elytra does not permit m e to identify P. lefevrei with either of these ; the elytral rows are fairly regular and more distantly placed than in tbe named species, and the interstices are likewise finely punctured; in the allied forms the punctation is almost always close and irregular and that of the thorax more distinct. The species would find its place amongst Lacordaire's group in which the tarsi are broad. PEPLOPTERA SEMIFASCIATA, sp. n. Black, the tibiae and tarsi fulvous; thorax strongly and sparingly punctured, fulvous ; elytra strongly, closely, and semiregularly |