A NEW WEEVIL PEST OF SWEET POTATOES IN JAMAICA. 271 



Palaeopus grenadensis, sp. nov. 



Extremely similar in general appearance to P. costicollis, but differing in the 

 following particulars : — 



j. Head with a shallow semicircular impression in front, the floor of which is 

 opaque and uneven like the base of the rostrum, the rest of the head smooth, shiny 

 and impunctate. Rostrum with the basal carinae indistinct, the apical area much 

 less coarsely punctured, and the central stria scarcely perceptible. Prothorax 

 relatively a little longer, almost as long as broad, and without any central costa, 

 the anterior constriction much more shallow, the setae much narrower, and the 

 punctures on the side of the prosternum markedly coarser. Elytra slightly narrower 

 proportionately, with larger punctures, the tenth stria entirely lacking ; the dorsal 

 outline flat only to the middle, thence sloping backwards, so that the posterior 

 declivity is much less steep. Legs much more slender, the femora not compressed, 

 the setae on the latter suberect and not recumbent, those on the tibiae much more 

 slender than in P. costicollis, about half the width. Length, 3J mm. ; breadth, 1 J mm. 



Grenada : Balthazar, windward side (H. H. Smith). 



Palaeopus subgranulafus, sp. nov. 



Also very similar superficially to P. costicollis, and to be distinguished as follows : — 



Head and rostrum as in P. grenadensis. Prothorax broader than in either species 



and without any central costa, markedly more convex longitudinally, the greatest 



depth being not far from the base. Elytra not striate on the disc, but with rows of 



very shallow and often ill-defined punctures, each of which bears at its anterior end 



a small overhanging granule ; on the inflexed margins there are no granules, and 



the punctures form two shallow striae, the abbreviated tenth stria being entirely 



absent ; the dorsal outline not flat, but sloping upwards from the base to about the 



middle, the posterior declivity being longer and more gradual than in either of the 



other species. Legs similar to those of P. grenadensis, but stouter and the setae on 



the tibiae almost as broad as those of P. costicollis. Length, 4 mm. ; breadth, 2 mm. 



St. Vincent (H. H. Smith). 



Faust's two species, P. adspersus and P. laticollis, were described from Venezuela, 

 and nothing is known with regard to their habits. The following key may assist 

 in the discrimination of the five known species of the genus : — 



1 (8). Front portion of the head with a shallowly impressed semicircular rugose 



area ; prothorax without any central costa. 



2 (5). Head distinctly sculptured above the impression ; the dorsal carinae on the 



tibiae sharply angulated close to the base ; the elytra with an abbreviated 

 tenth stria. 



3 (4). Vertex of head coarsely punctate ; prothorax somewhat broader than long ; 



metasternum not tuberculate . . . . . . . . adspersus, Fst. 



4 (3). Vertex of head transversely striate ; prothorax much broader than long ; 



metasternum with a tubercle projecting over the hind coxa on each 

 side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . laticollis, Fst. 



5 (2). Head quite smooth and impunctate above the semicircular area ; the dorsal 



carina on the tibiae simple ; elytra without any tenth stria. 



