84 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



about one-third as long as the first tarsal joint ; penultimate joint of posterior 

 tarsi simple. 



Genotype : Bryanella samoensis, sp. n. 



But for the distinct prosternal sutures, this genus, in the key to the genera 

 of the subfamily Dircaeinae given by Seidlitz (supra), would appear to resemble 

 the Australian genus Talayra, Champion, from which, however, it further differs 

 in the form of the palpi, in the proportionate lengths of the abdominal 

 segments, and in the shorter and more unequal posterior tibial spurs. From 

 Dircaea, Phloeotrya, etc., with prosternal sutures distinct, it is separated by the 

 slender antennae, serrulate tibial spurs and simple penultimate joint of the 

 posterior tarsi. 



23. Bryanella samoensis, sp. n. 



Dark castaneous-brown, with iridescent reflections ; thorax darker, almost 

 black ; legs, antennae and palpi paler. 



Thorax coarsely and densely punctate, the punctures obliquely impressed, 

 each with a tubercle near its anterior margin bearing a long backward-sloping 

 seta. Elytra with a strong sutural stria on each, puncturation similar to that 

 of thorax, but notably finer. Prosternum separated from the pleurae by a 

 distinct curved suture, and more coarsely and less densely punctate ; meta- 

 sternum finely strigulate in middle, coarsely punctate at sides, metapleurae very 

 densely and finely punctate ; posterior coxae and first abdominal segment rather 

 coarsely punctate at sides, the following abdominal segments successively 

 more finely punctate. Posterior tibial spurs somewhat unequal, the longer 

 about one-third as long as the first tarsal joint. Anterior femora feebly arcuate, 

 with rather long, dense, yellowish pubescence beneath (? <$). 



Length : 3 mm. 



Savaii : Safune, lowlands to 1000 ft., l.v.1924 (Bryan). Type in Bishop 

 Museum, Honolulu. 



The unique individual described above does not seem to fit into any 

 recognised genus of the family. Superficially it resembles a very small specimen 

 of Talayra elongata Mack, but, in addition to the marked generic characters 

 noted, it differs entirely in sculpture, which has no suggestion of transverse 

 lines as in that species. 



