MELANODBMA. 



69 



in all the varieties the colour of the under surface is always the 

 same, but this cannot be maintained. 



Length 9 to 10 ; breadth between pronotal angles 6 millim. 



Hah. India ( WesUvood). — E. maura occurs generally throughout 

 the Palsearctic Eegion, and is included here on the specimens 

 described by Westwood now in the Hope Collection at Oxford. 



According to Leon Duiour this species is common in Trance 

 upon the ears of wheat, which it pierces and sucks while they are 

 in a green state. 



Genus MELANODEMA. 



Melanodema, Jakmcl. Troudy Ent. Ross, xi, p. 205 (1880) ; Oschan. 

 Zoogeogr. Char. Faun. Polusch. lurkest. pp. 28, 65 (1891). 



Type, M. carbovaria, Jakowl., from Turkestan. 



Distribution. Turkestan and North-western India. 



Body oblong, convex above, broadest near apex of abdomen. 

 Head large, convex, deflected ; antennse five-jointed, second and 

 third joints smaller than fourth and fifth. Pronotum sexangular, 

 widest between the lateral angles, which are rounded, transversely 

 impressed near centre and with a central longitudinal cariuation. 

 Scutellum large, almost completely covering the abdomen, the 

 cerium exposed at base. Eostrum reaching the posterior coxae. 



127. Melanodema apicifera, Dist. A. M.N. H. (7) iv, p. 46 (1899). 



Black, coarsely punctate ; an irregular elongate apical spot to 



scutellum ochraceous ; legs and 

 antennse (in type) mutilated ; 

 pronotum and scutellum with 

 a distinct centi-al, longitudinal, 

 carinate line. Allied to M. car- 

 bonaria, Jakowl., but broader ; 

 apical spot to scutellum much 

 larger ; pronotum less foveate ; 

 scutellum much less foveate at 

 basal margin ; central carina 

 to pronotum and scutellum 

 distinct. 



Length 9 millim. 

 Hab. Bombay {Leith, Coll. Dist.). 



The specimen on which this species is founded was contained in 

 the collection of Dr. Leith, which I acquired more than twenty 

 years ago. These specimens were all described as" from Bombay, 

 but Mr. Blanford informs me that Dr. Leith collected also in 

 Sind — a fact to be remembered in connection with the habitat of 

 this species. 



Fig. 32. — Melanodema apicifera. 



