518 COLEOPTERA 



Antenna inserted at the middle of the rostrum, stout ; scape stout, 

 straight, not quite so long as the funiculus, the joints of which are 

 rather short, the second slightly longer than the third, the fifth nearly as 

 broad as the basal joint of the club ; they are reddish-yellow. Rostrum 

 nearly as long as the prothorax, a little narrowed posteriorly, somewhat 

 depressed longitudinally on the middle, aud rather closely sculptured. 

 Head densely punctate to behind the eyes. Thorax triangularly-ovate, 

 sub-depressed, a little constricted in front, and rather coarsely almost 

 rugosely punctured. Scutellum small. Elytra not twice the length of 

 the thorax, nor broader than it, parallel-sided, with shallow punctured 

 striae, and somewhat rugulose interstices. The body is dark-red, not 

 very shining, with the head somewhat pitchy, and sparingly clothed with 

 rather long but exceedingly fine hairs, which are not, however, very 

 perceptible. 



Length, i line. 



Described from one example found near Whangarei Heads. 



924. P. lateritia, n.s. This species resembles P. sharpianum in 

 general outline, but it is much more slender, smaller, and of a paler red 

 colour ; the eyes are similarly situated but are smaller and less promi- 

 nent \ the rostrum is relatively longer, and there are other differences. 

 Antenna inserted at the middle of the rostrum, rather slender, scape 

 slender but thickened towards the apex, and as long as the funiculus, 

 the first joint of which is stout, the second much longer than third, 

 slender at its base, thick at the apex; joints four to six increase in size ; 

 the club large, ovate. Rostrum cylindrical, parallel, arcuated, rather 

 slender, about as long as the head and thorax, a little depressed at its 

 base, finely punctulated, and of a shining red colour. The head is more 

 distinctly punctured than the beak, the punctation terminating behind 

 the eyes, leaving the occiput or neck smooth and shining. Thorax 

 longer than broad, triangularly-ovate, a little contracted behind, more 

 gradually narrowed anteriorly, and slightly constricted in front ; it is 

 very slightly convex, distinctly but not closely punctured on the disc, 

 but more finely and closely beyond. Elytra elongate, parallel, very 

 little wider than thorax, twice its length, sub-depressed, with punctured 

 striae, these, however, are not very deep, the interstices are finely punc- 

 tulated, and their sculpture is abbreviated at the apex beyond the third 

 stria. The insect is of a brick-red colour, the thorax somewhat lighter 

 than the rest of the body, which exhibits no distinct pubescence. 



Length, ij line (rost. incl.). 



I found one mutilated individual at Tairua. 



925. P. punctatum, n.s. Cylindrical, moderately shining, dark- 

 red, the legs and antennae paler, the elytra sparsely clothed with rather 

 long cinereous hairs. Rostrum short and stout, about two-thirds the 

 length of the thorax, cylindrical, not very finely punctate, with a few 

 fine hairs near the front. Eyes distant from thorax, moderate, not pro- 

 minent, and coarsely facetted. Head narrowed anteriorly and distinctly 

 punctured for some distance behind the eyes. Prothorax longer than 



