18 MEALIE BEETLE. 



FAM. TENEBEIONID^E. 

 PSAMMODES OBLIQUATUS, Sol. (Fig. 9.) 



Psammodes obliquatus, Solier, Mem. Ac. Torin. 1844, 

 p. 309. 



M K 



FIG. 9. Psammodes obliquatus. 



Injurious to Mealies. 



Elongate-ovate, convex, piceous-black or red-brown ; 

 head, thorax, and under side dull, the elytra shining. 

 The head is flat and finely punctured, with the eyes 

 small and prominent ; the front part is a little convex, 

 more sparingly punctured and shining ; the antennae 

 are dull brown, sparsely pubescent, with the base and 

 apex reddish. The thorax is transverse, broadest in 

 the middle, with the basal and anterior angles a little 

 produced and rounded, convex in the centre, and closely 

 covered with fine setiferous punctures ; the sides are a 

 little reflexed and transversely wrinkled. The scutellum 

 is very closely punctured, short and almost entirely con- 

 cealed when the thorax is raised. The elytra have three 

 slightly oblique longitudinal ridges on each, which do not 

 extend quite to the apex ; these ridges and the elevated 

 sutural margin are closely punctured and covered with 

 coarse depressed brownish setse ; the other parts have 

 coarser remote punctures furnished with similar setse, 

 the outer margin is reflexed, and the apex has a small 

 notch at the suture. The under side and legs are black 

 or piceous, and closely covered with fine setiferous punc- 

 tures ; the tarsi are reddish. The length of the body is 

 14 15 millm. 



