SPHAERIUS. 167 
SPHAERIUS. 
Spherius, Waltl, Isis, iv. p. 272 (1838). 
Microspourus, Kolenati, Melet. Ent. v. p. 64 (1846). 
Body exceedingly convex, often hemispheric. Head large, sessile, the mouth produced, the gular portion 
convex ; eyes large, not prominent. Antenne 11-jointed—1 very large, turgidly incrassate; 2 large and 
incrassate, smaller than 1; 3 very long and very slender; 4, 5, 6 slightly incrassate, nearly equal to 
each other; 7 and 8 much smaller than 6; 9-11 much incrassated, forming a subsolid club, either 
ovate or orbicular, furnished with long sete. Mawvillary palpi long, 4-jointed—1 small; 2 very long and 
very slender, slightly incrassated towards the apex; 3 large and much incrassate, ovate, with the apex 
truncate; 4 small and slender, contracted towards the middle, and dilated at the base and apex, the apex 
flat. Labial palpi cylindrical, very small and slender ; 3-jointed—1 small and short, quadrate; 2 more 
than twice as long as 1, but not broader; 3 short, more slender than 2, truncate at the apex. Labriin 
large, suboblong, widest at the base, slightly rounded in front. Mandibles bipartite; the apical portion 
formed of a strong, roundly incurved, simple hook, and the basal portion abruptly incrassated, and 
produced on the inner side into an obtuse elevated point. Mawille feebly bilobed; the outer lobe 
thin and flat, with the apex acutely pointed and sparingly setose; inner lobe nearly as long as the outer 
lobe, slender, and armed with a few setiform teeth at the apex; stipes large and strong. Mentum 
very large, suboblong, widest at the base, strengthened with broad lateral cost ; all the angles rounded. 
Labium short, transversely oblong, with broad lateral cost. Icegua rather large, fan-shaped, ciliated on 
its anterior margin, as long as the labial palpi. Pronotum short, transverse, widest at the base. Scutellum 
generally large, triangular. Zlytra entire. Wings very large, not pedunculate, with very strong neura- 
tion; the lower main nerve much incurved towards the middle of the wing, with its extremity broadly 
dilated ; the lower margin of the wing fringed with setiform hairs. Abdomen composed of seven segments, 
all coriaceous ; segment 7 much longer and more corneous than 6, with a deep and broad conical impres- 
sion, the apex of which is on the fourth segment and its base on the extreme margin of the seventh. 
(This description was made from S. acaroides.) Protkoraw short ; prosternum carinated, the carina dilated 
posteriorly ; episterna distinct ; epemera small, partly inclosing the coxal cavities; coxal cavities large, 
oval, partly open behind. Pectus with the mesosternum very short; episterna long and narrow; epimera 
small and narrow, extending to the coxal cavities; coxal cavities large, elongate oval, abruptly excavated 
at the outer extremity, and very widely separated from each other. Metasternwm very large, nearly 
extending to the sides of the body, the basal margin excavated on each side; episterna small and narrow, 
not reaching to the coxe; epimera long and narrow, extending to the coxe. Venter composed of five 
segments—I very long and large; 2 and 3 very short; 4 and 5 very long ; apical segment entire. Legs: 
anterior with the trochanters very short; femora large and very robust, deeply grooved on the underside, 
with the edges of the groove produced near the middle into an acute angle; tibia broadly dilated, widest 
near the middle, deeply excised on the outer side towards the apex, armed at the commencement of the 
excision with short spines; tarsi robust, simple, 3-jointed—1 long, cylindrical, appearing like two amal- 
gamated joints, 2 like the first, but much smaller, 3 elongate; claws moderate, simple; intermediate like 
the anterior, but with the femora grooved only on the apical half; tibize less dilated and simple, with a 
short spur at the apex on the inner side; posterior much smaller than the preceding; trochanters very 
large, fusiform ; femora simple; tibiee simple, setose and dentate on the inner side, with several short 
spurs at the apex. Coww: anterior long and narrow, prominent, divided by the carina; intermediate 
small, oval, widely separated; posterior enormously large, extending to the fourth ventral segment, 
contingent, and reaching to the sides of the body, slightly laminated on the outer side. 
1. Spherius tropicus, sp. n. 
Ovatus, validissime convexus, nitidissimus, totus impunctatus, glaberrimus, aterrimus ; capite magno, antice 
producto; oculis magnis, haud prominentibus; pronoto parvo, brevi, ad basin latissimo, lateribus fere 
rectis, margine basali fere recta angulis vix acutis ; elytris quam caput atque pronotum latioribus et longi- 
oribus, prope media latissimis, lateribus modice rotundatis, late marginatis; pedibus atque antennis flavis, 
harum capitulo orbiculari. Long. corp. 74; lin. =0°63 millim. 
Body ovate, exceedingly convex, deep black, very smooth and very shining, impunctate. Head large, much 
