PHYTOPHAGA FROM SOMALILAND 337 



2. Miopristis somalensis, n. sp. — Below more or less fuscous, 

 finely pubescent, head and thorax pale fulvous, the latter strongly 

 and closely punctured , shining , elytra pale testaceous , closely 

 punctured, each with two small spots on the shoulders and two 

 others, placed obliquely transverse near the apex, black, legs 

 obscure fulvous. 



Var. Thorax with four small piceous spots. 



Length 2-2 1 / 2 lines. 



Mas. Head more or less fulvous, shining, the vertex closely 

 punctured, sparingly pubescent, closely rugose between the eyes, 

 the latter very large, clypeus semicircularly emarginate, the 

 sides produced into a tooth, the anterior margin and the labrum 

 flavous, antennae not extending to the base of the thorax, black, 

 the lower four joints flavous, the basal joint much thickened, 

 the second very short, the third triangularly elongate, laterally 

 produced into a tooth, the following joints shorter, strongly 

 transversely dentate , thorax of equal width , more than twice 

 as broad as long, the sides much rounded, as well as the poste- 

 rior angles , the basal margin sinuate at each side , its median 

 lobe scarcely produced, the surface obsoletely depressed at each 

 side, strongly and irregularly punctured, the interstices shining, 

 more or less stained with darker fulvous, a narrow central space 

 nearly impunctate, scutellum piceous, finely pubescent, its apex 

 truncate , with a more or less distinct fovea , elytra pale testa- 

 ceous, distinctly punctured in closely approached, semi-regular 

 rows, the basal margin in shape of a narrow transverse ridge, 

 a small piceous spot on the shoulders is followed directly below 

 it by another black spot, placed a little nearer to the lateral 

 margin, near the apex, two other small black spots are situated 

 below the middle , transversely oblique , forming a semicircle 

 across the elytra, the underside more or less dark , very closely 

 covered with white silky pubescence, the abdomen often fulvous 

 as well as the legs, the tibiae more or less dark, the anterior 

 ones much elongate and rather curved, the first joint of their 

 tarsi rather longer than the following two joints together, 

 claw joint long and slender, the claws thickened at the base. 



Ann. del Mus. Civ. dì St. Nat. Serie 2.a, Vol. XVII (21 Gennaio 1897) 22 



