1897.] of the Coleoptcra of South Africa. 51 



Gen. PEODALMA. 



Body oblong, subconvex ; head large ; antennae distant from one 

 another, eleven-jointed, club little swollen, last joint larger than the 

 others ; palpi moderately large, first joint hardly noticeable, second 

 slender and clavate at tip, third ovate, minute, fourth large, slightly 

 securiform and acuminate at tip ; prothorax cordate, sulcate trans- 

 vei'sely and bifoveate ; elytra short, attenuate at shoulders, but 

 dentate, lateral margin sulcate, sutural stria entire, dorsal one 

 abbreviate ; first dorsal segment of abdomen larger than the others, 

 female with six ventral ones, male with seven, seventh segment of 

 the male very minute and tuberculate ; intermediate and posterior 

 coxge approximate ; metasternum convex and slightly transverse ; 

 tarsi thick, first joint very minute, second large, thickened at tip, 

 third smaller, cylindrical, one claw. 



In general facies this genus is very different from Eicplectus, and 

 nevertheless the generic characters are much the same ; the last 

 joint of the maxillary palpi is much larger and a little oblique 

 inwardly. One species only is included in this genus. 



Prodalma capensis, 

 Plate XVI., fig. 19. 



Entirely rufous ; antennse and legs testaceous, covered with a long 

 pilosity not closely set ; head large, convex, and a little broader than 

 long, rounded behind, slightly attenuate in front, with the frontal 

 part truncate, and having two foveas situated between the eyes as 

 well as two oblique sulci connected with a well-marked, transverse 

 frontal sulcus ; vertex carinate ; antennae moderately elongate, the 

 two basal joints larger than the others, the second one briefly ovate, 

 third somewhat conical, fourth to eighth inclusive moniliform, 

 seventh and eighth transverse, tenth larger, transverse, eleventh 

 large, briefly ovate, acuminate ; prothorax a little broader than the 

 head and especially longer, very cordate, and having two lateral 

 foveas and a transverse sulcus slightly narrowed ; elytra not longer 

 than the prothorax and a little broader at apex, slightly rounded 

 laterally and attenuate at base, without shoulders but minutely 

 dentate at the humeral angle, bifoveate at base and with the dorsal 

 stria shortened before the median part ; abdomen slightly more 

 attenuate at base than the elytra, slightly arcuate laterally ; first 

 dorsal segment much larger than the others, impressed transversely 

 at base ; anterior femora thicker than the others. 



Male : Antennge much thicker ; elytra bisinuate at apex ; third to 

 fifth ventral segment short, equal, sixth large, incised at apex, 

 seventh minute, tuberculose ; eyes larger. 



