COLEOPTEEOUS INSECTS. 155 



BUPRESTIS CHRYSIS. 



PLATE VI. Fig. 1. 



Buprestis chrysis, Oliv. 32, pi. 2, fig. 8, a, <£, e. — Bup. ster- 

 nicornis, De Geer — Bup. sternicornis, Var. Linn — Ster- 

 nocera chrysis, Esch. Dejean. 



The body of this species is very stout and con- 

 vex anteriorly, and the elytra taper towards the 

 hinder extremity. The antennae are of a blackish 

 colour, and rather shorter than the thorax. The 

 head and thorax are of a brilliant golden green, 

 and the latter is sculptured with numerous exca- 

 vated dots, rather of large size, which have ash- 

 coloured hairs in the bottom. Each elytron bears 

 three small teeth at the hinder extremity ; the sur- 

 face, although thickly covered with minute punc- 

 tures, is smooth and glossy, and of a uniform deep 

 chestnut colour, occasionally with a greenish gloss 

 towards the base. The under side is of a brassy 

 green, very highly polished, and the terminal seg- 

 ment is usually margined with chestnut colour ; 

 the legs are of the latter hue. The sternum has 

 a strong conical projection directed downwards. 



This insect was once regarded as a variety of the 

 following species, from which it differs in several 

 important characters. It is a native of the East 

 Indies, in some parts of which it appears to be rather 

 common. 



