1902.] 281 



OYNANDROTETHALMA AFFINIS, Hellw., A GENUS AND SPECIES 

 OF COLEOPTERA NEW TO BRITAIN. 



BY THE REV. CANON W. W. FOWLER, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., P.E.S. 



Among some doubtful beetles sent to me to be named for Mr, 

 W. Holland, of the Hope Museum, Oxford, I found a small insect, 

 which was evidently new to Britain ; through the kindness of Mr. 

 Champion and Mr. Gahau 1 have been enabled to identify it as 

 Gynandrophthahna affinis, Hellw. (collaris, Schrank, nee Fabr.). The 

 genus Gynandrophthahna of Lacordaire belongs to the CJythrince, and 

 is placed by Weise (Naturgeschichte der Insecten Deutschlands, vi, 

 p. 121) between Olythra, Laich., and Ohilotoma, Lac. ; it contains a con- 

 siderable number of species, seventy-three being enumerated by 

 Gemminger and Harold ; twenty-four have been found in Europe, and 

 the others are very widely distributed, having been recorded from 

 Egypt, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Zanzibar, Cape of Good Hope, Eio 

 Janeiro, Thibet, and (Singapore, &c. 



The following is a description of G. affinis, which appears to 

 have occurred throughout the greater part of Europe up to Finland, 

 where it is very rare, according to Lacordaire. 



Oblong, subparallel ; head dark, closely and somewhat rugosely punctured with 

 a strong depression at base ; eyes large and prominent ; antenna? short and stout, 

 red at base, infuscate towards apex, with joints 5-10 broader than long; prothorax 

 much broader than head, finely punctured, almost smooth, red, with the central 

 part broadly dark ; elytra blue or greenish-blue, strongly and more or less irregularly, 

 in parts somewhat rugosely, punctured ; legs clear orange-red, the anterior pair 

 being the longest. Long., 2£ — 4 mm. 



Mr. Holland's specimen was taken by him at Wychwood, near 

 Witney, Oxfordshire, on June 18th, 1899 ; the species is said to occur 

 in Germany from May to July on oak-shoots or in flowers ; super- 

 ficially, at first sight, it a little resembles Gastrophysa polygoni. The 

 very short and stout antennae, and the structure of the legs and tarsi 

 will, however, easily distinguish it from any member of the Chri/so- 

 melince. The occurrence of the species in the heart of the country 

 is very interesting, and it is to be hoped that Mr. Holland will be able 

 to find more examples next year. 



Eotherfield Peppard Rectory, 



Henley-on-Thames : 

 November 6th, 1902. 



