183 



NOTE ON HELOTA GEMMATA, Gorh., and 



HELOTA FULVIVENTRIS, Kolbe. 



By C. Eitsema, Cz. 



In a " List of Coleoptera new to the fauna of Japan, with 

 notices of unrecorded Synonyms " (see ante, p. 150), Mr. G. Lewis 

 declares Helota fidviventris, Kolbe, 188Q* = Helota gemmata, 

 Gorh., 1874. f This assertion is, however, incorrect. Both are 

 undoubtedly distinct species. 



Tlie female sex of Helota fidviventris differs from that of 

 gemmata, as is correctly indicated by Mr. Kolbe (l. c), by its 

 apical ventral segment, this being somewhat longer, and having 

 no apical depression. Moreover, the apices of the elytra are 

 rounded in the female of fidviventris (see the figure which 

 accompanies Kolbe's description) ; in that of gemmata, however, 

 they are acuminate. Finally, the sides of the prothorax in fidvi- 

 ventris are more distinctly crenulate, and the strige on the inner 

 half of the elytra are more irregularly continued, the 2nd and 

 3rd, as well as the 4th and 5th striae, being here and there 

 coalescent, dividing their interstices into detached polished 

 portions, thus forming a sort of chain ; the space between these 

 two chains is irregularly covered with strong punctures. 



Li the male sex the two species are easily distinguished by 

 the shape of the apical portion of the anterior tibige ; in gemmata 

 the inner margin of the under surface is thrown up so as to form 

 a compressed keel, which is not the case in the male of 

 fidviventris. 



Synopsis of the three Japanese species of Helota : — 



A. Pronotum rugose, with raised, nearly impunctate, patches. Upper 



surface dark bronze. Larger species. 



a. 3rd and 5th elytral interstices continuous, here and ther*^ with a 



large puncture. S' • Anterior tibise with a compressed keel at the 

 end of the inner margin of the under surface. ? . Apices of 

 elytra acuminate ; last ventral segment with a depression at the 

 apex. ...-.--.- gemmata. 



b. 3rd and 5th elytral interstices divided by the often coalescing 



bordering strise into detached ovate portions, c^. Anterior tibite 

 witliout a compressed keel at the end of the inner margin of the 

 under surface. ? . Apices of elytra rounded ; last ventral segment 

 without depression at the apex. . . - . fidvive7itris. 



B. Pronotum more finely and evenly punctured, without raised patches. 



Upper surface bronze-green. Smaller species. - cereopunctata. 



Helota gemmata, Gorh., and cereopunctata, Lewis, are known 

 from Japan only ; fulviventris, Kolbe, moreover, from Korea and 

 Amur (Berlin Museum), 



Leyden (Holland), Rapenburg 94. May, 1893. 



* Arch. f. Naturgescli. 1886, p. lb'2 ; pi. xi., fig» 25. 

 f Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1874, p. 448. 



