54 



CHEYSOMELIWiE. 



than the basal segments and compressed ; in presenting this 

 strong contrast between the thickness of the six basal and the 

 five apical segments, this genus differs from Paralina and EumeTa. 

 The apical segment of the maxillary palpi is truncate, and not 

 much smaller than the preceding segment. Prothorax much 

 broader than long. Elytra broader at the base than the prothorax, 

 but becoming much wider behind. Underside : the anterior end 

 of the metasterna] process is not pointed and hardly goes beyond 

 the intercoxal space between the middle legs. The anterior coxal 

 cavities are open behind. The inner edge of the epipleuron of the 

 elytra has a row of fine cilia-like bristles. 



Baly distinguished this genus from Chrysomela ( = ChrysoJina) 

 by the short antennae and the difference in the form of the 

 prothorax. Two species have been described. 



Bange. India. 



Key to the Species. 



Pronotum blue-black to green, elytra 

 dark brown generally with a metallic 



sheen . 8. rajah, Guer., p. 54. 



Pronotum bright metallic blue, elytra 

 dark brown without a metallic sheen. S. templetoni, Baly, p. 55. 



33. Spheerolina raj all, Guerin. 



Chrysomela rajah, Guer., Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 41 ; id., Voy. Deless. 

 ii, Zool. 1843, p. 64. 



Body strongly convex. The colour of the elytra is generally 

 shining rich brown, the rest of the body being deep blue-black ; 

 in some cases the elytra are much darker brown, the margins and 

 suture retaining the lighter brown colour, and sometimes they 

 have a greenish-purplish sheen, the rest of the body then tending 

 to green rather than blue-black. 



Head, impunctate except for a few scattered punctures, parti- 

 cularly near the eyes, and with a few scattered hairs; clypeus 

 well marked off, the central median longitudinal line, which meets 

 the upper boundary of the clypeus, being faint. First segment of 

 antennae large, club-shaped, second small, third about twice as 

 long as second, fourth almost equal to third, fifth slightly shorter 

 than fourth, sixth shorter than fifth, the next five segments 

 forming a thick club, more hairy and less shining than the basal 

 segments. Prothorax twice as broad as long, front margin widely 

 emarginate, sides very slightly widened anteriorly, anterior angles 

 rounded, posterior almost right angles ; upper surface gently 

 convex, with hardly any punctures in the middle area (in some 

 specimens more than in others), lateral areas and basal marginal 

 area more or less covered with coarser and finer punctures ; in 

 some specimens the upper surface is impunctate but for a few 

 scattered punctures. Scutellum triangular with apex rounded ; 

 surface smooth, impunctate, the colour always that of the 

 pronotum. Elytra a little broader at the base than the base of 



