1330 COLEOPTEBA 



Antiporus. 



Nov. gen. 

 (Sharp; Aquatic Coleop., p. 410.) 



Posterior portion of epipleura comparatively broad ; hind tibia 

 punctured on the infero-external aspect ; the true fourth joint of 

 front tarsus is scarcely visible. The mcsosternal fork is not con- 

 nected with the intercoxal process of the metasternuni. 



Eight species form this aggregate ; the individuals are in colour 

 a mixture of black and yellow, in a rather indefinite and variable 

 manner : the form is oblong-oval, moderately convex beneath ; the 

 surface is densely and evenly punctured both on the upper and 

 under sides, and is not shining, and bears an excessively minute, 

 scarcely visible pubescence. The eyes are convex and prominent ; 

 the portion of the lieacl in front of them is very short, its front edge 

 is variable in form but does not possess a raised margin. The an- 

 terior tibics are slender, and their tarsi usually have the joints 

 elongate, and narrow at the base, the third being deeply bilobed, the 

 real fourth jomt not visible ; the terminal (apparent fourth) joint 

 elongate, and inserted near the base of the third joint. The pos- 

 terior portion of the cjjij;Ze«rff is rather broad ; there is no definite 

 genicular area, the epipleura being punctured up to the point where 

 it becomes contiguous with the prothorax : on the inner face of the 

 wing-case there exists a well-marked ridge ; this is not developed 

 into any distinct ligula near the apex, although there is a short 

 more or less distinct prominence on the ridge at the point where the 

 ligula exists in some other genera. The hind coxce have a very con- 

 siderable anterior extension, as in most species of Ccelambus. The 

 terminal portions of the coxal lines are parallel, not turned out- 

 wards ; the hind legs are slender, and their tibite are punctate 

 externally. The external sexual disparities are nearly confined to 

 the legs; the males are usually in this respect remarkable. 



The species of this aggregate, in form and sculpture, and even in 

 colour, approximate to the Deronecti of Europe, and, as in that 

 genus, the wing-cases are frequently denticulate at the tip ; the 

 broader hind portio)i of the epipleura separates the aggregate from 

 most of those near it, but approximates it. to Chostonectes, from 

 which it differs by the shape of the front tarsi, which have always 

 an elongate terminal joint, as well as by numerous minor characters, 

 amongst which the fine dense sculpture of the undersurface is con- 

 spicuous. 



These insects are found only in Australia, Tasmania, and New 

 Zealand. 



2337. A. uncifer, n.s. {Sharp ; Aquatic Colcop., p. 411.) 

 Oblongo-ovalis, brevissime pubescens, dense sequaliter sat subtiliter 

 punctatus, subopacus, niger, supra testaceo fuscoque variegatus, 

 antennis pedibusque testaceis ; prothorace elytris angustiore ; cor- 

 pore subtus densissiine tequaliter punctulato, fere opaco. 



Lony.. 5mm. ; lat., 2ffmm. 



