OCR Text |
Show 1906.] COLEOPTERA OF T H E G E N U S SCIOBIUS. 271 impressions. Elytra ovate, truncate at base, shoulders very oblique, sides moderately rounded, broadest about middle; upper surface convex, with fine stria? which are found to be much broader and distinctly punctured when the scaling is removed, the intervals of about equal width, almost plane, quite smooth and impunctate. Legs rather long and slender, densely squamose, anterior tibia? straight externally in $ , greatly curved in $ , first tarsal joint rather elongate. TYPE, 2 in the British Museum, <3 in the Oxford Museum. N A T A L : Pinetown (II. Junod), Howick (Dr. F. Dimock Brown), Estcourt (G. A. K. M.) From the two preceding small green-scaled species prasinus differs by reason of its more slender and abruptly clavate scape and its very elongate antennal club, by the obsolescence of the exterior rostral carinae, and by its narrower and more acuminate elytra. 36. SCIOBIUS VITTATUS, sp. nov. (Plate XIX. fig. 8.) Long. 54 lat. 24 m m. Head strongly transverse, slightly convex, with close shallow punctuation and dense grey scaling; forehead not impressed ; eyes slightly prominent. Rostrum scarcely longer than broad. arcuate at base, sides gradually convergent from base to apex, gena? not dilated ; upper surface almost plane, tricarinate, with dense grey scaling except on the central carina, the outer carinae straight but gradually diverging .interiorly. Antennce moderately long and slender, piceous, with fine grey scaling; scape sub-compressed, rather sharply curved and gradually thickened to apex; funicle with the first joint equal to the third, the sub-terminal ones rather short and distinctly clavate. Prothorax strongly transverse, base subtruncate, apex narrower and truncate sides slightly rounded, broadest about middle, with a shallow constriction at apex ; upper surface convex, evenly coriaceous and without impressions, scaling dense uniform brownish grey. Elytra short ovate, jointly sinuate at base, sides strongly rounded, broadest at middle; upper surface very convex, with fine striae containing small shallow and closely-set punctures; the intervals broad, almost plane, smooth and impunctate ; colour black, with dense even scaling, the intervals being alternately grey and brown, the latter with a slightly brassy reflection. Legs moderate, piceous with fine grey scaling; the anterior tibiae ( S ) straight externally, but with the internal angle somewhat strongly produced. T Y P E $ in the British Museum. TRANSVAAL. Described from a single male leceived from Dr. W . Horn. This is a near ally of S. viridis Mshl., but apart from its very different colouring, it may be distinguished by its relatively shorter and broader elytra, more prominent eyes, undilated genae and its broader and more sharply curved scape, as well as by the crenulation of the posterior tibia?. |