Mr. D. Sharp on the Elateridae of New Zealand. 469 



XL VII. — On the Elateridae of New Zealand. 

 By D. Sharp. 



[Continued from p. 413.] 



25. Mecastrus convexuSj n. sp. 



M. niger, nitidus, evidentor pubescens, convexus ; prothorace par- 

 cius minus fortiter punctato, angulis posterioribus leviter di- 

 vergcntibus ; elytris stria suturali inte;i,ra, in dimidio basali 

 seriebus punctorum, interstitiis subtiliter punctatis. Long. 

 9-9;! 111. m. 



Mas antennis nigris, crassiusculis, intus fortiter serratis, articulis 

 secundo et tertio brevissimis ; abdominis apicc vix rufcscente. 



Fem. antennis fusco-rufis, tenuioribus, intus leviter serratis, arti- 

 culis secundo et tertio minus abbreviatis, conjunctim quarto 

 paulo brevioribus ; abdominis apicc rufcscente. 



This species may be readily distinguished from the prece- 

 ding ones by its more convex form, and by the apical half of 

 the elytra being quite free from strife. 



Discovered at Auckland by Mr. Lawson. Recently an 

 individual has been sent me from Tairua by Captain Broun 

 as No. 28, and the information that the species occurs on 

 Leptosjpermum and is exti-emely active and difficult to cap- 

 ture. 



26. Mecastrus vicinus^ n. sp. 



M. uiger, nitidus, evidenter pubescens, convexus ; prothorace parce 

 subtiliter punctato, angulis posterioribus vix divergentibus ; 

 elj'tris stria suturali integra, in dimidio basali seriebus punc- 

 torum, interstitiis subtiliter punctatis. Long. 6^ m. m. 



The only individual I have seen is a male ; it is excessively 

 similar to No. 25, but is a good deal smaller and has the 

 middle coxse separated by a considerably narrower interval. 



Westland. 



27. Mecastrus discedens, n. sp. 



M. niger, sat nitidus, evidenter pubescens, subdepressus ; prothorace 

 crebre fortiter punctato, angulis posterioribus leviter divergenti- 

 bus ; elytris leviter striatis, striis ad apicem vix distinctis, inter- 

 stitiis crebre subtiliter punctatis. Long. 7-9 m. m. 



Var. elytris versus humeros plaga testacea. 



Mas antennis crassiusculis, articuhs secundo et tertio brevissimis, 

 articulis 4-10. intus fortiter serratis. 



Fem. antennis tenuioribus, articulis secundo et tertio brevibus, 

 4-10. intus subscrratis. 



I think I am right in considering the above forms the 

 Ann. tC- May. N. Hist. Scr. 4. Vol xix. 32 



