OF NEW ZEALAND. 669 



Body oblong, somewhat convex transversely, and a little arched 

 longitudinally. 



1 1 66. P. optandus, n.s. Oblong, transversely convex, nude, 

 shining ; dark rufo-fuscous, somewhat dilute laterally ; a large irregu- 

 larly-formed spot behind each shoulder, and four small more or less 

 distinct ones in line with posterior femora, testaceous ; antennae glossy, 

 reddish ; club opaque, piceous, and pubescent ; legs pale-castaneous. 



Read finely but distinctly punctured, unimpressed otherwise. Pro- 

 thorax much broader than long, with fine rims, transversely convex, 

 almost imperceptibly rounded anteriorly, front angles depressed, the 

 posterior nearly rectangular, but not prominent; its punctation nearly 

 similar to that of the head. Scutellum punctulate. Elytra slightly broader 

 than thorax, twice its length, oblong, transversely convex, finely margined ; 

 each with a fine sutural stria, distinct behind, but becoming obsolete 

 before the middle, three or four others equally fine, but irregularly abbre- 

 viated ; the sculpture in other respects like that of the thorax. Pygidium 

 closely punctulated. Tibice punctulate, sparsely clothed with short yellow 

 hairs. Abdomen finely punctured, bearing many short griseous hairs. 



Male. Mandibles stouter and longer than in the female, and obliquely 

 truncated at the apex ; all the basal joints of the tarsi dilated, the anterior 

 most strongly. 



Female. Narrower ; posterior tarsi scarcely expanded ; the elytra 

 gradually narrowed towards the apex. 



$ . Length, 2 lines ; breadth, nearly i . 



One pair, discovered recently near Wellington by Mr. P. Stewart. 



Group SYNCHITIDJE (P. 182). 

 Ablabus (P. 183). 



1167. A. crasSUS, n.s. Convex, oblong; elytra testaceous, tarsi 

 fulvous, the other parts of the body more or less rufescent. 



The head bears numerous small tubercles. Prothorax transversal, 

 strongly curved laterally, anterior angles prominent; disc transversely 

 convex, the sides explanate and on a much lower plane than the elytra, 

 contracted posteriorly, but not distinctly notched; it is broadly de- 

 pressed on the middle, the depression bordered by irregular elevations, 

 and with a smaller impression before the scutellum ; the surface bears 

 many minute rounded elevations and yellow setae. Scutellum small. 

 Elytra not much longer than broad ; a little broader than thorax ; their 

 sides and apex nearly vertical ; striate-punctate, with a large compressed 

 elevation on the third interstice at the base, and two others behind, the 

 one on the summit of the posterior declivity the larger; three others 

 nearer the side are placed further back, the anterior being near the 

 middle of the elytron ; they are clothed with a few yellowish setae. Legs 

 moderate ; tibiae a little arched externally, with fine setae ; tarsi elongate. 

 AntenncB red, club well-limited ; the exposed portion of the basal joint as 

 large as the second, both stout ; third more slender, longer than the 

 next ; joints four to eight equal ; ninth broader than the eighth, yet 

 hardly one-third the breadth of the tenth ; the terminal smaller than the 



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