1913.] L75 



DESCEIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MUSICODEBUS {Staphylinwj-) 



FEOM JAMAICA. 



ijY MALCOLM CAMEEON, M.B., R.N., F.E.S. 



MUSICODERUS NIGKOC^RULEUS, 11. Sp. 



Shining blue black, the extreme apices of the joints of the palpi and the 

 claws testaceous. The first joint of the antennae withotit spines. Length 7 to 

 8 mm. 



From M. gracilis, Shp., M. cephalotes, Shp., and M. convexus, Bernh., it differs 

 by its entirely blue black colour ; from M. spiniconiis, Cham])., it is separable by 

 its broader head, the absence of spines on the 1st joint of the antennae of the male, 

 the much closer punctiiration of the elytra, and the smaller size. 



Head large, transverse, as broad as the elytra in (J , as broad as long and 

 narrower than the elytra in 9 . Eyes large, not prominent, their diameter less 

 than the length of the temples in c? , as long as the temples in ? . Temples 

 slightly convergent posteriorly, the angles rounded ; front with a median narrow 

 impressed line ; sides of the head and temples with large scattered setiferous 

 punctures, the vertex smooth. Mandibles prominent, reddish. Palpi with 

 apical extremities of the joints narrowly testaceoxis ; 2nd joint of labial palpi a 

 little longer than first. Antennae black, 1st joint narrow at the base, gradually 

 thicker towards apex, arcuate, as long as 2nd and 3rd together, and fiu-nished 

 with three or four fine setae, but not spinose in either sex, 2nd shorter than 1st 

 and 3rd, 4th a little longer than broad, oth and 6th sqiiare, 7th to 10th distinctly 

 transverse, 11th nearly as long as the two preceding together. Thorax about as 

 long as broad in c? , a little longer than broad in ? ; slightly dilated at the 

 anterior angles, which are deflexed, distinctly narrowed to the posterior angles, 

 which are effaced ; disc with a row of five setiferous punctures on either side 

 of the middle line and five or six irregularly disposed punctures on either side. 

 Scutelhim closely punctured. Elytra a little longer than the thorax, slightly 

 longer than broad, moderately finely and not very closely punctured. Abdomen 

 distinctly, but not very closely punctured at the bases of the anterior segments, 

 still more sparingly punctate posteriorly. Tibiae setose. 



J . Besides the differences already mentioned of the head and thorax, this 

 sex has the whole of the under surface of the anterior and the basal half of the 

 posterior femora strongly spinose. The last ventral plate of the abdomen is 

 distinctly emarginate in the middle of the posterior margin. 



Hab. : Jamaica, Newcastle district, 3,000 feet above the sea level, 

 in the axils of tree ferns. 



Type in my Collection. 

 June, 1913. 



