112 



INSECTS OP SAMOA. 



to black posteriorly, the extreme reflexed basal margin on each side white, 

 ' ventral sides brown. The anterior collar at the sides (narrowly), and the spines 

 on each side of the dorsal surface of the anterior collar, white. Scutellar spine 

 white, pro-, meso-, and meta-sterna pale yellowish-brown. Hemielytra colour- 

 less hyaline. Legs yellowish-white, the femora and tibiae multi-annulate with 

 brown, the femoral annulations incomplete on the under side ; apical halves of 

 tibiae brown. Abdomen pale green. 



Structure. — Head seen from above slightly longer than wide across the 

 eyes (33 : 31), three-fourths the length of the pronotum, intensely shining with 

 a few scattered, short, erect hairs, especially at apex ; rostrum extending beyond 

 the hind coxae almost to second abdominal segment, relative length of segments 

 35 : 17 : 20 : 22 ; antennae longer than body, relative length of segments 

 130 : 66 : 48 : 42. Pronotum about as long as broad across humeral angles 

 (45 : 46), deeply and more or less regularly punctate, humeral angles sub- 

 globosely swollen (much more so than in P. decorus Uhl.), the median longitudinal 

 carina on disc very distinct, posteriorly strongly elevated between the tumescent 

 humeral lobes, and dilated to form an elongate, lobe-like protrusion ; spines of 

 anterior collar long and robust, about as long as head is wide between eyes, 

 almost erect with a slight anterior-lateral inclination. Scutellar spine erect 

 with a distinct posterior inclination on apical two-thirds ; about one-fourth 

 longer than pronotal spines. Rostrum and venter sparsely covered with short 

 and (venter) long erect hairs. Hemielytra extending well beyond the apex of 

 abdomen. 



Total length including hemielytra, 4 mm. Breadth across humeral angles, 

 0-72 mm. 



Samoa : — Apia : 1 larva and 2 adults, 13.ix.l923 (Swezey and Wilder) ; 

 1 specimen, 20.xi.l924. 



Fiji: — Nausori : 1 specimen, x.l926 (R. Veitch) : Lautoka : 1 9 specimen 

 (type), 9.vii.l921 (W. Greenwood) ; 2 specimens, 22.xi.1921 (R. Veitch). 



Easily distinguished from Protacanthus decorus Uhl., and P. bihamatus 

 Distant, by the strongly elevated median lobe in the middle of the entirely black 

 posterior third of the pronotum. 



