474 FAUNA HAWAIIENSIS ■ 



Etipetinus laevigatus var. molokaiensis, var. nov. 



Elytrorum margines angustiores. Prothorax magis elongatus. 



Two small female specimens from Molokai differ in the above respects from the 

 Maui specimens. It is possible that if we had a larger series, this would prove to be a 

 distinct species. 



Hab. Molokai ; mountains, above 3000 ft. (nos. 177 and 179, Perkins). H. S. 



Nesopeplus, gen. nov. 



Prosternum mox pone coxas deorsum curvatum. Elytra margine externo haud 

 explanato. 



The members of this genus are readily distinguished from Gonioryctits by their 

 smaller eyes which are finely faceted, by the less angulate antennal grooves and the 

 smaller tarsi. They come much nearer to Nesopetinus, in which genus the prosternal 

 process when seen in profile (PI. XIV. fig. 16) appears to be somewhat prolonged 

 behind the insertion of the coxae, and with its apex but little directed upwards ; and 

 when seen from behind shows a free edge (PL XIV. fig. 18), whereas in Nesopeplus the 

 process is curved upwards immediately behind the coxae (PI. XIV. fig. 15) and when 

 seen from behind presents a short vertical face (PI. XIV. fig. 17). The character is not 

 a very good one, as there are some differences in each of the genera both as to the 

 curving upwards of the process, and as to its length. 



Nesopeplus and Nesopetimts may be further characterised as follows. The apex 

 of the male pygidium has more or less of an emargination. This ranges from an 

 extremely shallow, hardly noticeable, sinuation, to a deep definite notch ; and the apical 

 angles vary in form from rounded and not at all produced in the former case, to definite 

 tubercles or sharp produced teeth in the latter. The males of Eupetirms do not have 

 the pygidium emarginate. Nesopeplus and Nesopetinus also lack the four definite im- 

 pressions on the thora.x, and the impressions on the elytra, so frequent in Eiipctimis 

 and its allies : the elytra also, though almost always seriately punctuated, lack the very 

 definite longitudinal furrows of Etipetinus, and their lateral margins are not expanded 

 as in that genus. The whole form of the insects is much smoother, and usually more 

 convex, than in Eupetinus, and the thorax is frequently less strongly transverse and 

 less angular. Nesopeplus and Nesopetiinis are also characterised by more or less of a 

 brassy lustre ; and by delicate pubescence, also almost always brassy-lustred, and not 

 aggregated into definite tufts as in several species of Orihoslolus, &c. 



In many species of this genus and Nesopetinus, sexual dimorphism is exhibited 

 also in the form of the thorax ; that of the male being very distinctly broader and more 

 closely-punctured than that of the female. 



The species of this genus defy attempts at tabulation. The following division into 

 groups, though very unsatisfactory, may possibly be of some little assistance. 



