180 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



Tutuila : 760-900 ft., iv.1918 (Kellers), 1 $ example. 

 Type in British Museum. 

 Described from nine examples. 



Pycnophthalma, gen. nov. 



Body ovate. Eyes large, touching each other on upper side of head. Near 

 the root of each antenna a certain area is without the facets of the eye, so that 

 there is a deep emargination. Antennae eleven-segmented, extending almost to 

 middle of body, the six apical segments thickened but not formed into a club. 

 Prothorax narrowed in front ; base not margined, edge with serrations, part 

 opposite scutellum produced into a lobe which ends in an acute point ; sides 

 margined ; anterior and posterior angles rounded. Scutellum visible from above, 

 narrow, oblong with rounded apex and base fitting against point of prothoracic 

 lobe. Elytra not broader at base than prothorax, punctate-striate, longitudinal 

 series of punctures being deeply imbedded in channels. The striae appear, at 

 least on discal area, to be inclined to the suture, i.e. they are not parallel to it. 

 Viewed from above, pygidium not exposed. Under side : intercoxal process of 

 prosternum almost quadrate or slightly longer than broad, with surface rough 

 and coarsely pitted, sides margined, and posterior edge widely arched. 

 Epipleurae of elytra broader at base and narrowed from middle to apex. Legs 

 fairly stout, not long, so that when withdrawn they are not visible from above ; 

 claw segments of tarsi projecting a little beyond bilobed segment ; claws 

 appendiculate. 



Genotype : Pycnophthalma tutuilana Maulik. 



Range : Samoa. 



Relationship. — In the form of the body and the character of the eyes 

 Pycnophthalma resembles the genus Caenobius, which was erected by Suffrian 

 in 1857 for an African insect. Since then, owing to the eye character, many 

 species found in Australia, New Guinea, the Fiji Is., Japan, the Philippine Is., 

 the Malay Peninsula, India, and Africa have been included in Caenobius. 



The species do not seem to form a homogeneous group, and some of them, 

 particularly the African genotype, differ in many respects from the type 

 species of the present new genus. In all probability several species, especially 

 such as occur in the Australian Region, will find a more suitable place in 

 Pycnophthalma, 



