1878. 99 



mueli interest to discover from fresh specimens wliat parasitical or 

 other exigencies the very j^eculiar and apparently defensive structure 

 is intended to serve. 



In the ease of the flask-shaped gall (fig. 1), there was also no 

 clue by determinable insect-presence to the gall-former ; but in all 

 probability it belonged to one of the PsyUidoB. ■ 



Spring Grove, Islewortli : 



September, 1878. 



NOTES ON AFRICAN HEMIPTERASETEROPTERA. 

 BY W. L. DISTAKT. 



SCUTATA. 



Genus ASPONGOPUS, Lap. 



ASPONGOPUS INTEEMEDIUS, n. Sp. 



Greenish-blact, corium and membrane dull purplish. Pronotum and scutellura 

 tliickly and coarsely punctured, the scutellum transversely rugulose, corium thickly 

 and finely punctured. Pronotum with the lateral edges broadly reflexed and luteous 

 above and below, border of corium, at base only, of the same colour on both sides. 

 Antennae black, 2nd and 3rd joints sub-equal, 4th somewhat incrassated and sulcated, 

 a little shorter than apical joint, which is the longest, and clothed with pale pu- 

 bescence. Eostrum piceous, 1st joint sulcated, 2nd joint the longest. Abdomen 

 above pale olivaceous, with a marginal segmental row of alternate quadi'ate black 

 and luteous spots. Under-side shining dark olivaceous, very thickly and finely 

 punctured, with a marginal row of quadrate luteous spots occupying the centre of 

 the outer edges of the segments. Femora and tibiffi strongly sulcated. 



^ . Long. 17 mm. 

 Madagascar (Crossley) . 



This species is allied to A. Jlavo-marginatiis, Sign., and A. rotiin- 

 datiis. Sign., its place being between the two. It differs from the first by 

 its very much smaller size, the very strongly reflexed and rounded lateral 

 edges of the pronotum (sinuated somewhat in flavo-marginatus) , and 

 in the luteous costal border of the corium being confined to the base 

 only. From A. rotundatus it is distinguished by its very much larger 

 size, and Stal, who seems to have examined the species, thus writes 

 (Hem. Afr., i, p. 217), " articulo secundo antennarum tertio sub- 

 breviore," and, in comparison with A. Jlavo-marginatiis, the pronotum 

 is "marginibus lateralibus multo minus late flavesceutibus." The 

 general colour also seems to be different. 



