1887.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF CEYLON. 85 



Aphthona ceylonensis, sp. nov. 



Ovate ; obscure piceous ; antennae, tJie apices of the tibije, and the 

 tarsi testaceous ; thorax transverse, very finely punctured ; elytra 

 more distinctly and very closely punctate. 



Var. Entirely obscure testaceous. 



Length | line. 



Head impunctate ; the frontal tubercles narrowly transverse. 

 Antennae closely approached, nearly as long as the body, testaceous, 

 the terminal joints more or less stained with fuscous, the third and 

 the two following joints nearly equnl, smaller and thinner than the 

 second, the following ones slightly thickened. Thorax much broader 

 than long, the sides slightly rounded, the anterior angles oblique ; 

 the surface rather closely and finely punctured, the interstices 

 extremely finely alutaceous. Elytra distinctly widened at the middle, 

 rather convex, the shoulders rounded, closely and very distinctly 

 punctured, the interstices somewhat rugose ; the legs piceous, the tibiae 

 more or less testaceous ; the first joiut of the posterior tarsi as long 

 as the two following together. 



Horton Plains. 



This very small species seems to vary much in regard to colour 

 from nearly black to testaceous, and several intermediate degrees are 

 before me. The ovate, anteriorly and posteriorly narrowed shape of 

 the elytra and their close punctuation, as well as that of the thorax, 

 and the small size of the insect will help in the recognition of A. 

 ceylonensis. 



Aphthona lewisi, sp. nov. 



Fulvous ; antennae with the fifth to the tenth joints black ; thorax 

 finely and subremotely punctured; elytra black or piceous, very 

 closely punctured. 



Length 1 line. 



Head impunctate, shining, fulvous. Antennae two thirds the length 

 of the body, the four basal joints fulvous, the following six black, the 

 apical joint fulvous. Thorax twice as broad as long, the sides straight, 

 slightly converging towards the apex, the anterior angles obliquely 

 truncate, forming a distinct angle before the middle ; the surface 

 covered throughout with very fine but not very closely placed 

 punctures. Scutellum obscure fulvous. Elytra nearly parallel, sub- 

 cylindrical, the shoulders distinct but not prominent, the surface 

 more distinctly and more closely punctured than the thorax ; 

 underside and legs fulvous. 



Bogawantalawa. 



A. lewisi may be known by the general coloration, the finely 

 punctured thorax, and the colour of the antennae, which agree in all 

 the specimens before me. 



Aphthona proxima, sp. nov. 



Obscure piceous ; the five or six basal joints of the antennae fulvous ; 



