INSECTA MADERENSIA. 123 



Genus 46. MELIGETHES. 



(Kirby) Steph. Ill Brit. Ent. iii. 45 (1830). 



Corpus minusculum, convexum, colore ssepius obscuro vel submetallico : prothorace vix marginctto : 

 ebjtris apice truncatis, pygidium totum \{x tegentibus : alls amplis. Antenrue breviusculse, 

 articulis primo et secundo (illo praecipue) magnis crassis, tertio reliquis longiore graciliore, inde 

 ad octavum paulatim brevioribus crassioribus, reliquis capitulum magnum subsolidum orbiculato- 

 ovatum triarticulatum efficientibus. Labrum antice ciliatum et profunde bilobum. Mandibula 

 valida;, apice denticulatpe, basi latse. Maxilla lobo singulo elongate pubescenti instructse. Palpi 

 subfiliformes, articulo ultimo subacuminato-truncato. Mentum transversum antice angustatum, 

 summo apice emarginato. Ligula apice biloba, lobis magnis pubescentibus. Pedes contractiles : 

 tibiis (prjesertim anticis) ad marginem externum sfepius spinulosis : tarsis articulo quarto minu- 

 tissimo, anticis articulis tribus dilatatis. 



Ileligethes, altliougli differing but slightly in real stritcture from the neigh- 

 bouring genera, has nevertheless, as may be gathered from the above diagnosis, 

 small distinctive features of its own (amongst which the elongated lobe of its 

 maxillge should be especially noticed) even in the details of its oral organs. In 

 its deeply bilobed upper lip and in the truncated apex of its labial palpi it coin- 

 cides with Pria ; whilst, on the other hand, its transverse mentum and the short- 

 ness of its antennae would tend to strengthen its relation with Nitidula. Exter- 

 nally, however, there is but little fear of confounding the species which compose it 

 with those of any of the neighboui'ing groups, their convex and usually darkly 

 coloui'ed bodies, which are generally either entirely black or else ornamented with 

 a slightly metallic tinge, in conjunction with the comparatively unmargitied 

 edges of their prothorax, at once serving, even prima facie, to identify them. Of 

 the four Madeu-an representatives which I have hitherto succeeded in detecting, 

 two would appear to be undescribed, and are probably peculiar to these islands. 



101. Meligethes Isoplexidis, Woll. 

 M. oblongo-ovatus subdepressus niger longe olivaceo-pubescens, elytris ad apicem magis abbreviatis, 

 antennis pedibusque infuscato-ferragineis, tibiis anticis apicem versus subdilatatis atque extus 

 valde pectinato-serratis. 

 Var. /3. subcyanescenti-niger et cinereo-pubescens, prothorace paulo latiore, antennis pedibusque 

 pallidioribus. 

 Long. Corp. lin. li-H. 



Habitat Maderam, in floribus necnon super folia Isoplexidis Sceptri, ad rupes locis editioribus 

 nascentis, sestate baud infrequens : ad Feijaa de Corte mense Augusto inwnte a.d. 1850 

 utrumque sexum (in copula) copiosissime cepi. 



M. oblong-ovate, somewhat acuminated before and behind, comparatively depressed, black, finely and 

 closely punctulated, and densely clothed with a long, and rather robust, olivaceous (sometimes 

 nearly golden-yellow) pubescence. Prothorax subquadrate. Elytra more truncated behind than 



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