Astathes and allied Genera of Longicom Goleoptera. 69 



Genus Plaxomickus. 



Plaxomicrus, Thorns., Archiv. Ent., i, p. 57 (1857). 

 Placomicrus (Thorns.), in Cat. Getnm. and Harold. 



Head depressed between the antenniferous tubercles. Antennae 

 sparsely ciliate, a little longer than the body in the male, shorter 

 than the body in the female ; first joint shorter than the third, 

 asperate in front at the apex ; second joint longer than broad ; last 

 joint more or less sharply pointed, but not glabrous at the apex. 

 Prothorax slightly protuberant at the middle of each side, and with 

 a central swelling or tubercle on the disc. Elytra more or less 

 strongly dilated posteriorly, attaining their greatest breadth at about 

 a third or fourth of their length from the apex ; broadly rounded at 

 the apex. Intercoxal process of prosternum very narrow in the 

 middle, and but slightly raised. Mesosternal process narrow and 

 nearly flat, prolonged between the middle coxae for the greater part 

 of their length. Middle tibiae bent inwards near the apex, very 

 strongly in the male, less strongly in the female. Tarsal claws 

 appendiculate in both sexes. 



Type of the genus : Plaxomicrus ellipticus, Thorns. 



1. Plaxomicrus ellipticUs. (Plate IV, fig. 7.) 



Plaxomicrus ellipticus, Thorns., Archiv. Ent., i, p. 58 

 (1857) (?). 



Yellowish-testaceous and nitid ; with the elytra almost entirely 

 violaceous, the extreme basal and apical margins only being 

 testaceous ; the last six or seven joints of the antennae deeply 

 infuscate ; the tarsi, and the apices of the tibiae slightly infuscate. 

 Head feebly and sparsely punctured, impressed with a median 

 longitudinal line. Prothorax closely and rather strongly punctured 

 over almost the whole ivpper surface : the anterior transverse groove 

 straight and distinct across the middle as well as at the sides ; the 

 posterior groove bent back in the middle forming a boundary to the 

 central tubercle. Elytra very strongly dilated behind, strongly but 

 sparsely punctured in their anterior half, with the interstices finely 

 and sparsely punctulate ; furnished above with sparsely scattered 

 erect setae, and along the outer margins with a fringe of short setae. 

 Underside rather thickly clothed with tawny setae. 



& . Antennae a little longer than the body. Middle tibiae strongly 

 bent inwards at about one-third from the apex ; first tarsal joint of 

 the same legs with a long laminate process projecting in front of the 

 second joint and equal in length to that joint. 



