African Phytophagous Coleoptera. 223 



edge broadly truncate, the lower one produced triangularly, 

 the apical cavity partly occupied by a very convex or curved 

 ball-like projection. 



Pcploptera barkeri, sp. n. 



Black, the head impubescent, thorax scarcely perceptibly punc- 

 tured, fulvous, with a central black band and two lateral spots, 

 elytra strongly and regularly punctate-striate, flavous, a sutural 

 band, a humeral spot and another lateral band, slightly curved 

 at the apex and abbreviated near the latter, as well as the legs black. 



Length 4-5 millim. 



One of the smallest species of the genus, which might easily be 

 mistaken for a small variety of the preceding one but certainly 

 distinct on account of the totally differently structured penis ; 

 the head is not pubescent as in P. curvilinea, strongly punctured in 

 front of the eyes only, not rugose ; the clypeus is broad and with a 

 few punctures only, the antennae are black with the second and 

 third joint fulvous, thorax very minutely and irregularly punctured, 

 fulvous, the middle with a broad black band strongly constricted 

 anteriorly, the sides with a small black spot and a distinct transverse 

 depression, the median lobe is margined with black and has a row 

 of punctures as is generally the case, scutellum black, triangular 

 and impunctate, elytra with a transverse depression below the 

 base, strongly and regularly punctate-striate, the apex nearly im- 

 punctate, narrowly margined with black, the sutural band widened 

 posteriorly and not extending to the base nor apex, the marginal one 

 commencing below the shoulders and reaching as far as the sutural 

 band, its apex curved inwards, the shoulders with a subquadrate 

 black spot. 



Hah. Natal, Malvern (C. Barker)) also Dunbrody, 

 Cape Colony {Rev. O'JSfeil). 



The pattern of the elytra in this species is identical with 

 that of many others, but the very small size, sculpturing 

 of the head, and principally the structure of the penis will 

 at once distinguish it ; this latter organ is of very com- 

 plicated structure, short and stout, the upper surface 

 deeply channelled with the sides in shape of acute 

 ridges which join in front in shape of a deflexed tri- 

 angular apex ; the lower margin of the penis is produced 

 into a triangular point, 'deeply hollowed out above, 

 between this upper and lower margin are two spoon- 

 shaped projections, one at each side, which partly fill up 



