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Show 1899.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF AFRICA. 341 and very closely punctured ; legs robust, the posterior metatarsus as long as the following two joints. Hab. Cameroons (Conrad). The single specimen in my collection, Avhich Dr. Kraatz has kindly sent me, is of an entirely pale testaceous colour; it differs from its African allies of similar coloration in the black antennas, the very transversely shaped thorax, and the distinct and close punctation of the elytra. PHYGASIA MELANOCEPHALA, sp. n. Testaceous, the head, antennas, and the legs black ; thorax sparingly and minutely punctured, the basal sulcation shallow ; elytra very finely and closely punctured. Length 4 millim. Elongate and parallel; the head entirely impunctate, black, shining, the frontal elevations very broad, distinctly raised, the clypeus with an acute central ridge, penultimate joint of the palpi thickened; antennas entirely black, the second one short, monilif orm, the third and fourth joints equal, the terminal five joints slender and elongate ; thorax twice as broad as long, the sides rounded, with a narrow margin, the disc with a few very minute punctures, testaceous, the base with a shallow transverse sulcus, bounded laterally by perpendicular grooves ; elytra wider at the base than the thorax, very finely and closely punctured, their epipleuras broad and continued below the middle : the underside and the base of the femora testaceous, the posterior femora but moderately thickened, the first joint of the posterior tarsi as long as the following joints together; claws appendiculate; prosternum very narrow; the anterior coxal cavities open. Hab. Verulam, Natal (G. Marshall). At once to be distinguished from every other species of the genus by the black head and legs. PHYGASIA BRUNNEA, sp. n. Pale fulvous, terminal joints of the antennas and the legs piceous ; head and thorax impunctate, the latter with deep basal sulcus; elytra finely and very closely punctured. Length 3 millim. Head impunctate, broad, the frontal tubercles small but distinct, the carina broad, labrum black ; antennas not extending to the middle of the elytra, robust, fulvous, the terminal joints more or less stained with fuscous, of subquadrate shape, the third joint the longest; thorax twice as broad as long, the sides strongly rounded at the middle, constricted at the base, anterior angles slightly thickened, the surface transversely convex, fulvous, shining, with a few microscopic punctures, the basal sulcus deep, bounded at the sides by a perpendicular groove ; scutellum triangular ; elytra wider at the base than the thorax, extremely finely and closely punctured : underside fulvous, finely clothed with white pubescence; the legs P R O C ZOOL. Soc-1899, No. XXIII. 23 |
