302 COLEOPTERA 



Lacon. 



Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 



The characters of the genus Lacon are well known. L. variabilis 

 may be readily distinguished from all the other known New Zealand 

 ElateridcE by the prosternal sutures being quite open for half the length 

 of the thorax, so as to receive and conceal the antennae ; this character 

 is approached only by Parinus villosus ; but L. variabilis may be 

 distinguished at a glance from it by the tarsi having the fourth joint well 

 developed and not at all lobed beneath, and by the form of the front 

 part of the head, which is almost that of the Corymbites group. 



539. L. variabilis, Cand. Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 

 1877. L. depressus, latiusculus, omnino opacus, fuscus, setis crassis 

 brevissimis parce vestitus; antennis brevibus, articulis 4-10 intus serra- 

 tis ; prothorace subquadrato, angulis posterioribus haud productis, sub- 

 rectis; elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis, interstitiis i, 3, 5, 7, paulo eleva- 

 tis. 



Long., 10-14 mm - 



This species varies much in size and colour, but cannot very well be 

 mistaken. 



Abundant under stones and logs near Auckland. 



The specimens quite agree with South Australian individuals of the 

 species ; and I suspect it has been introduced by means of maritime 

 traffic into New Zealand. 



Geranus. 



Sharp ; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. May, 1877. 



Forehead produced between the antennae and terminating with a 

 small abruptly inflexed portion over the labrum, this portion repre- 

 senting, as I consider, the clypeus ; labrum very small and scarcely to 

 be seen ; antennal spaces rather large and very deep, almost circular, 

 widely separated from one another by the produced forehead ; antenna 

 either nearly filiform or strongly serrate. Prosternum moderately long, 

 with excessively abbreviated chin-piece ; lateral sutures open for one- 

 third or one-half their length ; prosternal process short and stout. 

 Middle coxcz moderately distant ; mesosternal cavity with thick but not 

 raised borders ; hind coxal lamina as long at its external portion as at 

 its internal one, so that there is no trace of a trochanteral lobe. Tarsi 

 slender, basal joint as long as the three following together ; the third 

 and fourth joints with a produced membrane on their underside. 



In the following species the structure of the head is intermediate 

 between that of the Protelater group and that of the ordinary forms of 

 the ElateridcB. 



540. G. COllaris, Pascoe. Sharp ; Ann, Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 

 1877. G. //wrdwpedibusque testaceis, antennis abdomineque rufis, elytris 

 pectoreque nigricantibus vel fuscis ; antennis elongatis, serratis, articulis 



