CHR YSOMELID AE . 



199 



13. Plesistia brunnea, sp. nov. (Text-figs. 10 and 11). 



General colour grey-brown ; in some specimens brown colour more 

 prominent, grey colour being more conspicuous on pronotum and head ; elytra 

 sometimes speckled with red spots ; vertex of head black, generally concealed 

 by pronotum. Eight apical segments of antennae blackish on upper, brownish 

 on under side, first three segments and basal part of fourth brown. On under 

 side, portions of metathorax and the abdominal sternites blackish, tarsi and apices 

 of tibiae piceous. 



Head large, somewhat exserted, impunctate, vertex with median longi- 

 tudinal impressed line which is continued along interantennal space to base of 

 labrum ; base of antennae situate in an excavated area. First segment of 

 antennae long and club-shaped, second much shorter than third, latter shorter 

 than either first or fourth, which is the longest ; fifth and following segments 



Text-fig. 10. — Coxal cavities of Plesistia brunnea. 



about equal and more hairy, last segment bluntly pointed. ProtJiorax with 

 upper surface having a somewhat flattened appearance, with a shallow depres- 

 sion anteriorly on each side of middle longitudinal line. (The general uneven- 

 ness of the surface can be more easily detected if the insect is examined from 

 different angles.) Scutellum triangular, with broadly rounded apex and hairy 

 surface. Elytra slightly broader at base than prothorax ; each elytron with 

 ten ribs including a short scutellar one, but excluding suture, which is also raised 

 like a rib ; short scutellar rib anastomosing with suture ; rib next suture weak, 

 alternate ribs more strongly raised ; between lateral margin and next strong 

 rib is a wide space, which contains last weak rib and is closely and irregularly 

 punctate ; lateral margin very slightly explanate. 

 Length, 8 mm. 



Upolu : Apia, v.1924, 1 example ; v.1925, 1 example ; 25.V.1924, 1 example ; 

 vii.1924, 4 examples (including the type) ; iii.1924, 1 example ; ii.1924, 



