CHRYSOMELIDJE. 



767. Mesocolaspis nigrita, sp. n. 



Black ; basal joints of antennae fulvous. 



Head finely rugosely punctured and pubescent, very broad; 

 clypeus not separated from the face, anterior margin nearly 

 straight ; eyes entire, rather small. Antennae extending to base 

 of elytra, basal two joints short and thick, following four joints 

 slender and more elongate, terminal five transversely thickened. 

 Thorax about half as broad again as long, sides rounded and 

 moderately narrowed in front, the lateral margins with a row of 

 fine teeth, surface rugose, with short and stiff pubescence. Scu- 

 tellum ovate, not longer than broad. Elytra closely and strongly 

 punctured, basal portion more irregularly punctured, posterior 



Fig. 154. Mcsocolaspis nigrita. 



portion with rows of regular punctures, interstices with rows of 

 short, strongly-curved grey hairs. Femora each with an acute 

 tooth beneath. Underside and legs black, shining. Prosternum 

 strongly punctured. 



Lenytli 2 mm. 



Nab. Southern India : Xilgiris (Andreives). 



This species agrees in all structural details with the type, but 

 differs totally in colour and markings. 



Group EUMOLPINI. 



Subauadrate-ovate. Head broad, deeply inserted in thorax ; eyes 

 globular, obsoletely sinuate ; antennae filiform. Thorax transverse, 

 sides rounded, narrowly margined. Elytra generally irregularly 

 punctured, sides more or less rugose at base, as a rule more so in 

 the female than in the male. Legs robust ; femora thickened at the 

 middle, generally unarmed ; apex of tibiae in male mostly thickened 

 and curved inwards, in female straight ; tarsi rather short and 

 broad ; claws bifid. Prosternum subquadrate, often densely 

 pubescent. 



Metallic species very rarely pubescent above, with a strongly 

 transverse thorax and of rather broad shape, more or less resem- 

 bling true species of Chrysomela. The thorax is as wide as the 

 elytra at the base, the head very flat and perpendicular. 



