MIOPHISTIS. 



Scutellum black, oblong, slightly raised. Elytra nearly parallel 

 very obsoletely punctured, flavous or fulvous, below the base is a 



Fig. 20. Merilia lunulata, 



black subtriangular large spot or patch that has its upper and 

 lower margin deeply emarginate, and a transverse black band of 

 curved shape near apex. 



Length 6-7 mm. 



Hob. India generally : Madras, Coromandel Coast, etc. 



This is evidently a not uncommon species which may be known 

 by its black and shining thorax and the peculiar emarginate black 

 spot below the base of the elytra. The d 1 has very prominent 

 and thickened mandibles and the head is prolonged anteriorly and 

 subquadrate. The anterior legs and tarsi are very elongate. In 

 the $ all these parts are normal. 



Genus MIOPRISTIS. 



Miopristis, Lacord. Mon. Phytoph. ii, 1848, p. 25 ; Chapuis, Gen 

 Coleopt. x, 1874, p. 109. 



Type, M. lepida, Lacord., from Africa. 



Range. Africa ; India. 



Characters mostly those of Merilia but the head not more than 

 usually produced, the eyes notched, the thorax more transverse 

 and of different shape. The only Indian species seems to fall 

 better under this than under any other genus, although the anterior 

 tarsi are not so elongate as in its African congeners. 



178. Miopristis bimaculata, sp. n. 



c? . Fulvous ; the labrum, apical joints of antennae, breast and 

 abdomen black. Elytra with a transverse black spot near apex. 



H2 



