370 FAUNA HAIVAIIEXSIS 



EoPENTHEs Sharp. 



Eopenthcs Sharp. Tr. DubHn Soc. iii. 18S5, p. 153. 



This genus, though very closely allied to Megapenthes, had better be kept distinct. 

 The characters are as follows. Front of head but little produced in the middle, feebly 

 margined, closely approximate to the front margin of the epistome, but separated from 

 it by a definite space. Trochanteral notch of the coxal cavity broad and ver)- definite, 

 usually projecting on each side as a sharp angle or spine. Antennae with second and 

 third joints subequal : in the female about as long as the thorax, in the male about one- 

 third or one-fourth longer. Elytra usually more or less spinose at tips. 



North American species of Elater such as E. carbonicolor Eschscholtz appear on 

 the whole to be the nearest allies, but as closely-allied forms are found all over the 

 world, this is not of much importance. 



The species are very difficult to distinguish, but perhaps the following table may 

 prove of some assistance. 



a. Colour metallic Species i and 2 



a . Colour not metallic. 



b. Prostemal process not bent upwards behind the front coxae Species 3 — 5 



b'. Prostemal process bent upwards behind the front coxae. 



c. Tarsi notably thickened, fourth joint of hind feet not minute. 



d. Prostemal process before the apex projecting as a sharp denticle ...Species 6 — 28 



d'. Prostemal process before the apex not denticular Species 29 



c. Tarsi thickened, fourth joint of hind feet minute Species 3 



o- 



'jj 



(i) Eopenthes caet^ilejis, sp. nov. 



Gracilis, caeruleus. nitidus, femoribus rufis, tibiis, tarsis antennisque nigris. Long. 

 8i — 9^ mm. 



Narrow, of a beautiful blue colour, shining, with a scanty, rather long, black 

 pubescence. The head and thorax are rather coarsely but not densely punctured, very 

 shining ; the thorax elongate and narrow, the posterior angles markedly divergent. 

 Elytra deeply striate, but the striae posteriorly are evanescent ; the apices rather 

 strongly spinose. Tarsi elongate, the anterior and middle pairs distinctly incrassate. 



\'ar. molokaiensis : paulo latior, subtilius punctata. 



The species is so distinct by its colour that it is not necessary to discuss it. The 

 series of about 20 specimens from Lanai van,- but little. The 4 specimens from Molokai 

 are slightly different but are not. 1 think, another species. 



H.\B. Lanai, Molokai. — Lanai: Halepaakai, vii. 1894; Lanaihale, vii. and viii. 

 1S94: Mts. Koele. 3000 ft. vii. 1894. — Molokai: Kalawao, viii. 1893 (Perkins). 



