42 



INSECTS OP SxiMOA. 



CUCUJIDAE. 



15. Prostomis samoensis, sp. n. 



Pallide flavus, nudus, nitidus, capite ubique modice, lateraliter grosse. 

 pimctato, mandibulis fortiter punctatis, baud latis, basi deflectis, deinde 



atteniiatis, lateribus baud angulatis aut lobatis, 

 processubus genalibus modice discretis, baud 

 convergentibus ; pronoto ubique sat fortiter 

 punctato, longitudine fere ad latitudinem 

 aequab', medio sulcato, sulco bene punctato, 

 lateribus fere rectis, antice laevissime arcuatis,. 

 angulis posticis distinctis, basi fortiter arcuato ; 

 elytris valde et crebre seriato-punctatis ; cor- 

 pore subtus ubique sat fortiter et aequaliter 

 punctato, metasterno medio valde sulcato ;, 

 antennis brevissimis, articulis 5-10 transversis, 

 9 et 10 latis, 11 paulo elongato. 



Long. 8 mm. ; lat. max. 2 mm. 

 Upolu I. (Swale). 

 Three specimens were found. 

 The species of this very peculiar and 

 distinct genus, although scattered in widely 

 separated areas from Southern Europe to Tasmania, are remarkably alike 

 in appearance, the best marked distinctions being found in the mandibles. 

 These, in P. samoensis, are strongly punctured and broadest at the base, where 

 they are widely deflected, and taper from before the middle to the tips without 

 marginal tooth or lobe. The species closely resembles the Fijian P. pacificus, 

 Fairm., in which the mandibles are similar but bear a very strong lateral lobe 

 at the base. In addition the genal processes of P. samoensis are long, nearly 

 parallel and separated at the base by an interval twice their own width at that 

 point (not more than twice, as in P. pacificus). It is rather more strongly 

 punctured than P. pacificus, the head and pronotum bearing moderately large 

 punctm'es and the latter a deep median groove containing close punctures. 

 The pronotum is a very little wider than it is long and very slightly narrower in 

 front than behind. The elytra bear rows of rather larger, closer and more 

 regular punctures. The lower surface also is more evenly punctured, the 



"Text-fig. 2. — Prostomis samoensis, 

 sp. nov. ; A, left mandible 

 further enlarged. 



