68 M. W. NIELSON 



Biology. Unknown. 



Remarks. Tharra solomonensis is a unique species, and can be separated from 

 other species of Tharra by the combination of a needle-like ventral appendage of 

 the aedeagus and subquadrate plate. 



Tharra robusta sp. n. 



(Text-figs 164-168) 



Length: $ 4-90-5-30 mm, § 5-70-6-10 mm. 



General colour ochraceous with elytra testaceous in £, elytra testaceous with numerous 

 ivory spots in $; sexual dimorphism apparent. 



Crown ochraceous with four small testaceous spots between eyes, spots sometimes absent 

 in^; eyes light griseous to fuscous; pronotum ochraceous; scutellum light griseous to ochraceous; 

 elytra deeply fuscous to testaceous in $, deeply fuscous to testaceous but with numerous ivory 

 spots in cells in O., large ivory spot on clavus in $; clypeus and clypellus light griseous 

 to ochraceous. 



Head narrower than pronotum; crown long and narrow, produced distally beyond anterior 

 margin of eyes, distal length about one-third entire median length; striate radially, lateral 

 margins broadly convex, slightly carinate, disk elevated above eyes; ocelli moderate size, 

 situated anteriorly; eyes large, occupying about two-thirds of entire dorsal area of head; 

 pronotum long, median length greater than median length of crown, surface finely knobbed; 

 scutellum large, median length greater than median length of pronotum; elytra elongate, veins 

 somewhat obscured, appendix well developed, venation as in description of genus; clypeus 

 elongate, broad anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly, without median longitudinal carina, surface 

 finely granulose, rugulose along anterior margin; clypellus with lateral margins broadly concave. 



Male pygofer in lateral aspect with long, narrow, curved process arising from caudoventral 

 margin, process broad basally, narrowed along middle, and slightly expanded apically, 

 aperturized apically, apex sometimes broader than basal portion; aedeagus in lateral aspect 

 with dorsal appendage narrow throughout, slightly attenuated and curved apically; dorsal 

 appendage with distinct semicircular flange basally; ventral appendage short, narrowed 

 tube-like, closely appressed to dorsal appendage, apex reaching apex of dorsal appendage; 

 gonopore apical; connective Y-shaped; style hooked apically; plate with distal appendage 

 very broad, subquadrate. 



Female seventh sternum with posterior margin produced slightly medially. 



Specimens examined. 



Holotype <$, New Caledonia: Mt Des Kogis, 600-goo m, 19.iii.1968 (T. C. Maa) 

 (BPBM, Honolulu). 



Paratypes. New Caledonia: allotype $, same data as holotype (BPBM, 

 Honolulu); 1 $, 14 $, same data as holotype; Vallee d'Amoa, 2 $, 7.11.1963 (C. M. 

 Yoshimoto); Bourail, 3^, hi. 1959 (N. L. H. Krauss); Col des Pirogue, 1 <$, 14. ii. 1963 

 (N. L. H. Krauss); Yiambi, N.E. 500-700 m, 1 $, 14.X.1967 (/. & M. Sedlacek); 

 between Plum and Yati, 2 <$, 25.iii.1968 (T. C. Maa) ; Mt Panier Trail, 4 <$, 8-9.fi. 1963 

 (N. L. H. Krauss); Mt Panier, 500-1000 m, 2 $, n.x.1967 (/. Sedlacek) (BPBM, 

 Honolulu); Col des Roussettes, 450-550 m, 1 <$, 4-6.ii.1963 (/. L. Gressitt); Mt 

 Kogi, 500m, 1 $, 15.fi. 1963 (C. M. Yoshimoto) (BMNH, London); Mt Kogi, 



