1896.] of the Coleoptera of South Africa. ■ 165 



mandibles ; palpi thick ; labial palpi projecting from a basal excava- 

 tion on each side of the ligula ; mentum with the lateral lobes very 

 long, nearly straight, and a median tooth nearly as long as the lateral 

 lobes ; head with two supra-orbital setae ; antennae massive ; the 

 apical joints a little compressed ; prothorax short, more or less cordi- 

 form ; elytra hardly convex, truncate behind ; no wings except in 

 Planetes ; '■' tarsi thick, triangular ; claws not pectinate. 



This tribe is represented in South Africa by four genera, three of 

 which have very close affinity ; in fact the differences are more in 

 general facies than in generic characters, and perhaps it would be 

 well if the genus Macrochilus were made to include Meladroma and 

 TvicBiiogenius. Planetes, however, is very different. 



Synopsis of Genera. 



Mentum with a long, acute, median tooth. 



Prothorax narrowed behind. 



Posterior angle projecting above the base tarsi, hairy under- 

 neath Macrochilus. 



Prothorax cordiform, posterior angle not projecting above the 

 base. 



Tarsi hairy underneath Meladroma. 



Tarsi not hairy underneath Tricvnogcnius. 



Mentum without any median tooth. 



Prothorax a little broader near the apex than at the base, 

 with the anterior sides rounded Planetes. 



Gen. MACEOCHILUS, Hope, 

 Coleopt. Man., ii., 1838, p. 166. 



Ligula long, broad, horny ; the anterior margin slightly sinuated 

 with two setae near the centre and the outer angles rounded, not 

 very concave on the anterior part, the basal part hollowed on each 

 side, paraglossae very small and almost pellucid, last joint of labial 

 palpi thickened and truncated obliquely, that of the maxillary nearly 

 twice as thick as the labial, labrum very long, convex ; prothorax 

 broader in the anterior part, with the sides rounded, not much 

 attenuated towards the basal part, where the outer angle projects 

 above the base ; elytra parallel, plane, striato-punctate, truncate 

 behind ; tarsi triangular, hairy underneath. 



The genus is represented in Africa (Senegal, Abyssinia, Guinea), 

 India, Java, and China. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Elytra black, with an ovate reddish spot on each side ; legs tes- 

 taceous red hilpagiatus 



Tibise and tarsi infuscate hyhridus. 



This applies to the South African species only. 



