HEMIPTERA HETEROPTEHA. 55 



Africa. 



7. Melucha atra. 



Foem. Atra, lata; antenine corpore mullo breviores, articulo Ao \o 



paullo breviore ; prothorax tuberculalus, anguiis posticis obtiisis 



prominulis; sculellum transverse rugutosuin, apice testaceum ; 



abdomen piceo-nigrum ; femora posiica subtns apices versus dilatata 



et angulata ; tibia poslicce supra sublnsgue dilalatae ; tarsi postici 



fulvi ; alee posiica cyaneo purpureuque nitenles. 



Female. Deep black, broad. Head small. Eyes piceoiis, prominent. 



Anteunffi much shorter than the body; joints from the first to the third 



successively decreasiug in length ; fourth a little shorter than the first. 



Prothorax with numerous tubercles of various size and with a lonjiitudinal 



furrow; hind angles obtuse, rather prominent. Scutellum transversely 



rugulose, testaceous at the tip. Abdomen piceous-black. Fi)ur anterior 



femora beneath with a suhapical spine, which is accompanied by a smaller 



spine nearer the tip. Hind femora much shorter than the abdomen, dilated 



and angular beneath near the tips; a cluster of suliapical spines. Hind 



tibiae as long as the hind femora, much dilated above and beneath, where 



the dilatation is greatest near the base. Hind tarsi tawny. Hind wiugs 



black, with blue and purple reflections. Length of the body 11^ lines. 



a. West Africa. From Mr. Eraser's collectioD. 



8. Melucha aurulenta. 

 FoBtn. Picea; antenna graciles, corpore mullo breviores; prothorax 

 aureo tome7ttosiis, anguiis posticis rotundatisnonprominulis ; sculellum 

 peracutum; abdominis dorsum ochraceum, nigro marginatum^ apice 

 atrum ; segmentum 2um venirale tumidum ; femora posiica incrassata, 

 abdomine mullo breviora, subtus unidentata ; tibice posiica laliuscula ; 

 ala antica rufo-fusca, membrana obscure fusca ; ala posiica 

 nigricantes. 

 Female. Piceous. Eyes prominent. Rostrum extending nearly to 

 the middle coxae, testaceous towards the tip, which is piceous; third joint 

 shorter than the others. Antennae slender, much shorter than the body ; 

 joints from the first to the third successively decreasing in length. Prothorax 

 with gilded tomentum ; transverse ridge near the hind border slight; sides 

 straight; hind angles much rounded, not prominent. Scutellum elongate- 

 triangular, very acute. Abdomen above bright orange, bordered with 

 black, deep black towards the tip; second ventral segment with a large 

 protuberance, which is excavated on its fore side. Four anterior femora 

 beneath with three minute suhapical spines. Hind femora incrassated, 

 much shorter than the abdomen, slightly dentate beneath between the tips 

 and a stout spine which is at a little beyond the middle. Hind tibite 

 rather broad, shorter than the hind femora. Tarsi tawny. Fore wings 

 reddish brown ; membrane dark brown. Hind wings blackish. Length of 

 the body S^ lines. 

 o. West Africa. From Mr. Fraser's collection. 



