THE 



^SJ^ VOLUME X. ^/^ 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF BLIND 

 COLEOPTERA FROM ITALY. 



BY D. SHARP, M.B. 



Ttphlodes : gen. noiK Xantholinorum, inter genera Leptacimim et 

 LeptoUnum locandum. 



AntenncB geniculatce. 



Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo prcecedente multo minore. 



Oculi fere nidJi. 



Thorax linea marginali sup>erio7'e dejiciente. 



Coxis intermediis distantibus. 



Labrum deeply divided in the middle, eacli of the two lobes rounded : labial 

 palpi very short, the terminal joint mnch more slender than the preceding joint, but 

 nearly as long as it. Maxillary palpi short, their terminal joint not more than half 

 the length or half the breadth of tlie preceding joint. Mandibles short, very stout. 

 Antennae rather long, the first joint elongate, and the second and third articulations 

 much longer than the following joints. Head with four obsolete furrows in front, 

 the lateral ones very oblique. Eyes apparently absent, but, on a minute examination 

 being made, traces of them are to be seen in the form of a very small and almost 

 ungranulated spot on each side of the head, close to the base of the mandible. Tho- 

 rax with the side piece broad in the middle but narrow at the base, the upper mar- 

 ginal line absent, except at the extreme base, where it is present, although very fine. 

 Anterior tarsi not dilated, but stouter than those of the other legs. Intermediate 

 coxae moderately separated ; breast very short. The four hinder tarsi slender. The 

 suture of the elytra imbricate. 



The place of this genus appears to me to be between Leptacinus 

 and Leptolinus. It differs from Leptacinus by the elongate basal 

 joints of the antennae, by the indistinct frontal grooves, and by the 

 absence of the upper side-line of the prothorax. It is more nearly 

 allied to Leptolimis, from which it differs by the absence of eyes, by 

 its undilated anterior tarsi, by its shorter palpi, and by its distinctly 

 indicated frontal furrows. It has much of the form and size of a 

 slenderly built individual of Xantholimts tricolor. 



1873. 



