Oriental Aphodiid Coleoptera. 535 



angustis separatae, posticae contiguue, prosterno antico et postico 

 valde producto ; pedes oiniies breves, tibiis sine dentibus vel carinis, 

 tarsis omnibus 3-articulatis, articulis brevibus, crassis ; elytronim 

 epipleuric latre ; abdomen valdc contractum, segraenta in medio 

 solidati ; pygidium ventrale. 



Stereomera pusilla, sp. n. 



Lata, valde depressa, rufo-picea ; capite lato, piano, prothoracis 

 atque elytrorum lateribus cxacte coadaptatis, fere rectis et 

 parallelis ; prothorace antice leviter angustato, angulis omnibus 

 acutis, parte mediana antice et postice valde elevata ibique breviter 

 longitudinaliter costata, margiue postico valde siuuato ; elytris 

 brevibus, epipleuris latis, lateribus parteque postica abrupte 

 verticalibus, singulo elytro costis tribus internis pluribusque 

 trans versis ornato. 



Long. 2-5 mm. 



Hah. Singapore. 



A single specimen of this minute beetle, found by 

 M. Raffray in November 1889, lias been kindly given to the 

 National Collection by Mr. George Lewis. Although having 

 no superficial resemblance to any other genus of Aphodiidas, 

 such of its structural features as are not entirely peculiar 

 point clearly, in my opinion, to a place in that family. The 

 3-jointed tarsi, much-reduced abdomen, and the form of the 

 thorax and elytra isolate it from all known genera, but in its 

 general anatomy it shows many points of relationship with 

 Ehijparus. 



The head is large and unarmed, the thorax short and 

 broad, with a deep transverse furrow about the middle which 

 interrupts a series of longitudinal costse continuous with 

 similar costse upon the elytra. These are also obliterated in 

 front of the scutellum by a sharply elevated boss. The 

 elytra exactly fit against the prothorax behind, and at two 

 thirds of their length become rather abruptly perpendicular. 

 The sides are also abruptly perpendicular, and broad folds 

 wrap the abdomen beneath, the elytra being immovable and 

 the suture entirely obliterated. There are three longitudinal 

 costai on each side in addition to the lateral carina, and the 

 last interval is about twice the width of the others. The 

 intervals are crossed by fine transverse ridges, wliich produce 

 a reticulated appearance. The angles formed by the lateral 

 caririse at the declivity are somewhat turned inwards. 



The head in the contracted position fits against the front 

 femora, entirely enclosing the eyes and antennae, the latter 

 fitting into deep fossae in the lower face of the clypeus. 

 Tiiere is a very long and slender anterior prosternal process 



