1897.] of the Goleoptera of South Africa. 101 



approximate at base, thick, clavate at apex, similar in each sex ; 

 maxillary palpi large, first joint inconspicuous, second subelongate, 

 arcuate, clavate at tip and provided with an apophyse, third oblong, 

 angular externally and with an apophyse, fourth oblong, dilated at 

 base, provided with an apophyse and strongly acuminate at tip ; 

 prothorax subpentagonal, tuberculate and foveate ; elytra short, 

 dorsal and sutural striae entire ; abdomen large, broadly marginate ; 

 legs long, femora clavate ; tibiae slender ; posterior coxee very much 

 separated ; intermediate and posterior trochanters elongated, clavate ; 

 tarsi subelongate and having two equal claws ; head armed under- 

 neath with a long, strong, recurved spine under the eye. 



Very closely allied to the African genus, Desimia, Eeitt., and more 

 especially to the American one, Ctcnisis, Eaffr., but differs from 

 both by the antennae having a three-articulated club in both sexes, 

 instead of the long cylindrical four- jointed club of the male in 

 Desimia and Ctenisis. It differs also from Ctenisis by the shape 

 of the antennae and that of the palpi, the third and fourth joints of 

 which are not transverse. 



This genus is purely a South African one, and includes only two 

 species closely allied to each other. 



Laphidioderus capensis, Eaifr., 

 Eev. Entom., 1887, p. 21, pi. i., figs. 2, 3. 



Piceous red or obscurely rufous, shining, covered all over with 

 sparse ochreous squamae, all the foveae and the sutural part with 

 yellowish glandulose squamae ; head subelongate, strongly depressed, 

 narrowed in the anterior more than in the posterior part ; antennal 

 tubercle large, subdivided, minutely foveate at base, two large foveae 

 between the eyes, which are large ; antennae reaching the median 

 part of the elytra, gradually clavate, all the joints as broad as long, 

 penultimate ones increasing, eleventh oblongo-ovate, obtuse at tip ; 

 prothorax longer than broad, attenuate in front with the sides not 

 quite straight, and having three longitudinal deep sulci reaching 

 further than the median part, base depressed transversely ; elytra 

 not longer than the prothorax, attenuate at base, little oblique 

 laterally, deeply bifoveate at base, sutural and dorsal striae strong 

 and entire ; abdomen once and a half longer than the elytra, first 

 dorsal segment a little shorter than the following one ; metasternum 

 deeply sulcate ; anterior tibiae much arcuate. 



Male : Antennae with the eighth to tenth joints increasing in size, 

 eleventh oblong, club quadri- articulate ; metasternum having on each 

 side a large subconical tubercle acute at tip. 



Female : Eighth joint of antennae a little shorter than the pre- 



