African arid Asiatic Species o/" Melyris. 159 



structure, except that the median lobe of the aedeagus of the 

 S. African M. viridis and laxicornis is strongly toothed 

 towards the tip, the tooth being altogether absent in all the 

 other species dissected by myself. The females have the 

 fifth ventral segment truncate at the apex, and the sixth so 

 deeply sulcate down the middle as to appear cleft, this 

 terminal segment (and the corresponding dorsal one) being 

 almost invariably infuscate or black, even when the abdomen 

 is testaceous. The males have the fifth ventral segment 

 more or less hollowed or emarginate at the apex, the sixth 

 smoother, notched at the tip, and usually hollowed or foveate 

 on each side of the somewhat convex median portion, the 

 sixth sometimes rufescent when the rest of the ventral 

 surface of the abdomen is metallic or black. In some species 

 the abdomen differs in colour in the two sexes, the base, 

 apex, or median portion being infuscate in ? , when the rest 

 of the ventral surface is wholly testaceous in £ . The 

 colour of the metasternum (pectus) and legs has been used 

 by various authors as a distinctive specific character in the 

 present genus, and on the whole it seems to be fairly 

 reliable. 



In arranging the African Melyris it has been found 

 convenient to group them under various geographical areas, 

 notwithstanding the fact that some of the species of wider 

 distribution are not confined to the areas in question, there 

 being a mixture of Eastern and Western forms in Uganda, 

 Northern Rhodesia, and the Congo Region. 



According to the notes attached to various specimens 

 captured by Dr. G. H. D. Carpenter, H. C. Dollman, and 

 other collectors, these insects are mainly found upon flowers, 

 especially of Acacia. 



The material examined belongs to the British Museum 

 when the collector's name only is quoted. 



Key to the Arrangement of the Species of Melyris, sensu lato. 



I. Prothoracic carinas present. 



a. Antennae loosely articulated, long in <$ , joints 4-10 



triangular ; prothoracic carinas abbreviated pos- 

 teriorly ; median lobe of tf aedeagus armed with a 

 sharp, backwardly-directed triangular tooth towards 

 apex beneath. [S. Africa] [Melyris, F., s. str.] . . Nos. 1, 2. 



b. Antennae shorter and broader (except in Nos. 20 and 



43), strongly serrate or dentate ; median lobe of S 

 aedeagus without tooth *. 



* So far as ascertained in the species dissected. 



13* 



