OCR Text |
Show 1906.] COLEOPTERA OF T H E G E N U S SCIOBIUS. 257 rows of close punctures, the intervals almost plane, smooth and impunctate ; colour black, evenly covered with fine and not very dense grey scaling. Legs moderately long and stout, piceous, with the tibia? paler and covered with thin grey pubescence, the anterior tibia? broad and distinctly curved at apex, the interior edge bisinuate. T Y P E cf in the Stockholm Museum. N A T A L : Estcourt (A. E. Haviland). CAPE C O L O N Y : Kentani (Rev. Dr. Kolbe). I have seen onry four examples, all of which appear to be males. In the unique type the second interval of the elytra is not dilated, but in two other examples this is the case to a slight extent. The curvature of the anterior tibia? and the lateral inflection of the elytra also vary somewhat. It is possible that two species are involved, but they cannot be satisfactorily discriminated without further material. 18. SCIOBIUS BARKERI, sp. nov. (Plate XVIII. fig. 8.) Long. 5-6, lat. 2|-3 m m. Head transverse, convex, finely aciculate, with thin pale seti-form scaling forming a dense ring round the eyes, which are not very prominent; forehead with a shallow central impression. Rostrum short, as long as the width at base, gradually narrowed towards apex, the gena? rounded and not dilated ; upper surface plane, aciculate, and with fine pale setiform scaling, with three narrow carina?, the outer pair straight and parallel, the apical emargination very deep and acute. Antennce slender, piceous, with fine pale pubescence ; scape subcompressed, strongly curved and gradually dilated to apex; funicle with the third joint a little longer than the first, subterminal joints elongate. Prothorax twice as broad as long in the 2 > a little less transverse in the <3 distinctly arcuate at base, narrower and truncate at apex ; sides slightly rounded in the $ , more so in the tf, broadest rather behind middle ; upper surface convex, set with scattered depressed granules and without any lateral impressions ; colour black, with thin grey or yellowish setiform scaling which is dense beneath and usually forms three denser lines above. Elytra ovate in the 2 , narrower and more acuminate posteriorly in the cS, jointly sinuate at base, sides gently rounded in the 2 » less so in the $, broadest about middle; upper surface slightly convex, with fine stria? containing shallow punctures separated by small granules, the intervals smooth and devoid of granules, in the 9 broad and slightly convex; the second interval is also much dilated and depressed near the base, thus causing the third interval to appear strongly sinuate in its basal half; this character is only faintly indicated in the tf, which has all the intervals narrower and more convex; colour black, somewhat thinly covered wTith minute pale scaling which is denser towards the sides and apex, the scales with either a yellow, pinkish or green reflection. Legs slender, piceous, with fine pale pubescence, |