OF NEW ZEALAND. 1115 



Group MELOLONTHID^E. 



Stethaspis. 



1976. S. prasinus, n-s. Nitid, green, suture and sides of 

 elytra pale obscure-red, antennae ferruginous, legs greenish, knees, 

 extremity of tibiae and of the tarsal joints, as well as the claws, 

 rufescent ; underside pale-green, clothed with greyish hairs, sternal 

 process and coxae testaceous. 



Differs from S. suturalis as follows : 



Clypeus broadly emarginate in front, with more rounded angles. 

 Eyes more depressed. Thorax more deeply emarginate at apex, the 

 emargination almost truncate, anterior angles more prominent, its 

 sides rather more curved and with a wide but not deep sinuosity 

 near the front ; its surface somewhat uneven and more closely and 

 coarsely punctured. Scutellurn shorter. Elytra more obviously 

 punctated, their apices more rounded, and armed at the suture with 

 (on each elytron) a distinct spiniform process. Sternal process a 

 little shorter and more obtuse at apex. Hind coxa more acutely 

 prolonged behind. 



$ . Length, 11 ; breadth, 6 lines. 



Mr. G. V. Hudson was kind enough to send me a specimen from 

 Wellington. 



OBS. Lacordaire states that the antennae of Stethaspis are com- 

 posed of nine joints, and that Hope gave them ten. Neither is right : 

 the real structure is as follows : 



Antenna 8-articulate, first largest, gradually thickened and 

 obliquely cut away at the extremity, second longer than third and 

 gradually thickened, third cylindrical, fourth rather larger than 

 third and obliquely truncate at apex, fifth .very short and transverse, 

 a little produced inwardly ; club triarticulate, each leaflet as long as 

 the stalk in the male sex. 



Female. Club half as long as in the other sex. 



Costleya. 



Nov. gen. 



Allied to Stethaspis, but presenting the following differences of 

 structure : 



Sternal process abbreviated, and, on a lower plane, nearer to the 

 breast, provided with a second connate process projecting further 

 forward, yet not attaining the front coxae. The intermediate joints 

 of the tarsi but little longer than broad. Anterior coxce more pro- 

 minent and elongate. 



The above characters are sufficient to justify generic separation, 

 and, regarding the name itself, a few words may be appropriately 

 added. Although the late' Mr. Edward Costley did not distinguish 

 himself as a scientific worker, his munificent bequest to the Auckland 

 Museum is enough, I think, to warrant my action in thus per- 

 petuating his name. 



