116 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CACAO PLANTS 



slope ; the upper surface closely and evenly set with small low shiny granules of various 

 sizes. Scutellum transverse, smooth and impunctate. Elytra broadest at the 

 shoulders, where they are only slightly broader than the prothorax, and gradually 

 narrowing from there to the apex ; the dorsal outline rising very slightly from the 

 base to one-fourth the length, then gradually sloping backwards and becoming steeper 

 in the apical third ; the basal lobes longitudinally wrinkled, and a shallow depression 

 involving the bases of striae 1 and 2 behind the scutellum ; the striae very shallow 

 on the disk, rather deeper at the sides and apex, the punctures moderately large, 



Fig. 3. Alcides theobromae, Mshl. sp. n., $. 



their septa narrower than the intervals, which are smooth and shiny and bear very 

 small scattered punctures, except on interval 1 and the juxta-apical area, which are 

 rather rugosely punctate ; a distinct epipleural carina from the hind coxae to the 

 apex, the epipleurae being oblique in front, but quite horizontal at the apex and there 

 bearing coarse confluent punctures. Legs moderately stout, all the tibiae with a 

 sharp internal tooth near the apex, the front pair with a broad triangular tooth about 

 the middle, which is represented by a feeble angulation on the middle pair. Sternum : 

 the metasternum granulate and with a large prominence on each side in front of the 

 hind coxae. 



Length, 8 ; breadth, 3J mm. 



Very closely allied to A. cultrirostris, Thorns., which differs in the following points : — 

 The elytra are mahogany red, the tibiae lack the inner apical tooth, the anterior 

 slope of the prothorax is less steep, and the punctures on the disk of the elytra are 

 much larger, so that their septa are scarcely narrower than the intervals. 



The larvae of this weevil bore longitudinal galleries in the small branches of 

 cacao trees ; the leaves subsequently turn yellow and the branch dies. The beetle 

 is not as yet sufficiently numerous as to be regarded as an important pest. 



