1878.; 57 



NEW SPECIES OF GEODEPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA FROM NEW 



ZEALAND. 



BT H. W. BATES, F.L.S. 



(Concluded from p. 28). 



SCOPODES YERSICOLOE. 

 E majoribus. Supra Icete sericeo-nitens, ciipreus, interdum nigrescens ; corpore 

 suhtus, antennis, palpis pedibusque chalyheo-nigris, atitennis basi cBneis : capita supra 

 minus regulariter et subtilius strigiiloso : thorace cordato, lateribus antice obtusis- 

 sime angulatis, deinde leviter incurvatis, angiilis posticis rotundatis, supra subtiliter, 

 irregulariter, transversim utriguloso : elytris supra vix undulatis, striis Tiaud pro- 

 fundis cum foveis tribus parvis cyaneo-tinctis. Long. 3 lin. 



The eyes, though large, are much less prominent than in the 

 typical species, and the neck, in consequence, appears less constricted. 

 The labrum is richly metallic and punctured ; the neck is vaguely 

 rugulose-punctured, the rest of the surface of the head is covered with 

 fine longitudinal strigae, less sharp and less continuous than in many 

 other species. The thorax appears, at first sight, rounded, but the 

 reflexed margin at the dilated anterior part really forms an obtuse 

 angle ; from this the sides are sinuated, and the margin is gradually 

 rounded off to the place vihere it ceases, a little before the true base. 

 The elytra are long and ample in proportion to the anterior part of 

 the body ; the striae are much less interrupted than usual, and shallow : 

 they show but slight traces of punctuation, and, like the three small 

 discoidal foveae, are tinged with bluish-green. The species has a 

 striking general resemblance to Semhidia of the section Tachypus. 



Under stones. Otira Pass, S. Island, ISTew Zealand (C. M. Wake- 

 field). The nigrino variety appears to be rather common. 



One example, from the West Coast, in Mr. Wakefield's collection, 

 has a nearly smooth thoracic surface. 



ScOPODES PEASINUS. 

 Supra depJanatus, viridis, sub-opacus, antennis basi et tibiis rufo-testaceis : 

 epistoniate et labro alutaceis, collo et vertice subtiliter strigosis : thorace postice 

 valde angustato, lateribus utrinque bidentatis, margine inter dentes biflexuoso, dorso 

 alutaceo, transversim minus distincte striguloso : elytris supra paulo inceqttalibus, 

 striis et foveis vix imjoressis, illis elongato-punctatis. Long. 2j lin. 



Differs from the allied species in the nearly uniform green colour 

 of its upper surface, including labrum, outer side of the mandibles and 

 femora ; the colour on head and thorax is metallic, on elytra more 

 olivaceous and duller. The usual strigae of the thorax are finer, and 

 more irregular and indistinct than usual, and the two lateral dentiform 

 projections very prominent, the margin between them being biflexuous. 



