182 HEMIPTERA. 



basal joint thickest, very short, not passing the apex of the head ; 

 second, third and fourth joints about equal, cylindrical ; fifth a 

 little shorter. Rostrum very long, reaching the posterior mar- 

 gin of the fifth segment of the abdomen, inserted on a level with 

 the base of the antennae ; first joint not passing the base of the 

 head, second much longer than the first ; third longest, twice the 

 length of the second ; fourth longer than the first, shorter than 

 the second; second joint thickest, somewhat fusiform. Body 

 ovate, depressed. Thorax hexagonal, with the anterior margin 

 deeply emarginate for the reception of the head, the lateral mar- 

 gins slightly crenulated, the lateral angles rather prominent, ob- 

 tuse, the posterior angles somewhat spinous. Scutellum very 

 long, reaching the apex of the abdomen ; the apex deeply 

 notched with two distinct teeth in the emargination. Coriaceous 

 portion of the elytra much longer than the membrane ; mem- 

 brane with longitudinal nervures ; concealed, in repose, beneath 

 the scutellum. Margins of the abdomen unarmed. Ventral 

 furrow strong, reaching the posterior margin of the fifth segment 

 of the abdomen. Legs moderate ; tarsi with the basal joint as 

 long as the two others together. 



1. PELTASTICUS punctatus, n. s. PL VI. fig. 5. 



P. supra griseus, maculis parvis albidis undique notatus, fusco- 

 punctatus, subtus castaneus; linea media e capitis apice ad 

 apicem scutelli ducta, albida; abdominis marginibus flavo ni- 

 groque variis ; antennis nigris. 9 - 

 Long. lin. 9. 



Above griseous, thickly covered with blackish brown punc- 

 tures, and with numerous small,, impunctate whitish spots on the 

 thorax, scutellum, and the coriaceous portion of the elytra. 

 Head black, with the lateral margins, and a central longitudinal 

 line, which is continued to the apex of the scutellum, yellowish 

 white. Thorax with a more or less distinct red spot on each side 

 of the central line, near the anterior margin. Scutellum with an 

 interrupted blackish band about the middle, and with a distinct 

 black tubercle in each basal angle. Margins of the abdomen, 

 both above and beneath, variegated with orange and black, the 

 centre of each segment being orange. Abdomen beneath chest- 

 nut-brown, opaque, impunctate, with the sides of the central 

 furrow red. Breast variegated with red and black, slightly shi- 

 ning and sparingly punctured. Thighs brownish red, with the 

 apex black ; tibiae and tarsi pitchy. Rostrum pitchy black, with 

 the basal joint, and the back of the second and third, testaceous. 

 Antennae black. 



a. S. Africa. Presented bv Dr. A. Smith. 



