P1IYLL0DECTA. 



83 



Genus PHYLLODECTA, Kirby. 



Pht/llodecta, Kirby, Fauna Bor.-Amer. iv, 1837, p. 216 ; Weise, Ins. 

 Beutsckl. vi, 3, 1884, p. 511; Fowler, Ool. lirit. Isl. iv, 1890, 

 p. 316; Jacobson, Hor. Ross, xxxv, 1902, p. 89; Everts, Col. Neeii. 

 ii, 1903, p. 440 ; Keitter, Fauna Germ, iv, 1912, p. 127. 



Genotype, Chrysomela vitellines, L. 1758 (Europe). 



Kirby formed this genus by separating P. vitdlinee, L., from 

 Chrysomela*, from which it is distinguished by having the second 

 antennal segment equal to the third. Actually these two 

 segments look not exactly, but approximately, equal in length. 

 1 have examined P. vitelline in the British Museum collection; it 

 is similar to the follow ing^nsect from within our faunistic limits, in 

 general structure as well as in the form of the antennas. P. vitellines 

 occurs in Europe, Siberia and North America. Two other im- 

 portant generic characters are (1) that the anterior coxal cavities 

 are open in the present insect and (2) the appendiculate nature 

 of the claws. The third (bilobed) segment of the tarsus is not 

 entire as is usually found in the subfamily, but split — a feature 

 which is also present in Agasta for mosa and Chrysomelet popidi. 

 The occurrence of this Paitearctio genus within our boundaries 

 is interesting. 



Ranye. North America, Alaska, Kamchatka, China, Siberia, 

 Asia Minor, Armenia, Europe. 



54. Phyllodecta abdominalis, Bedy. 



Phratora abdominalis, Baly, Cist. Ent. ii, 1878, p. 375. 



Body elongate. Colour shining blue; the two basal segments 

 of the antennas brown, stained above with piceous, the other 

 segments piceous or black ; the two apical abdominal sternites 

 may be brown. 



Head quadrate, vertex impressed, but not very closely, with 

 large deep punctures, in front more closely but less coarsely 

 punctured; the whole surface uneven, the roots of the antennas 

 swollen, consequently the surface anterior to them is deeply 

 depressed. Antennas scarcely more than half the length of the 

 body, and sparsely covered with tine hairs ; first segment thick- 

 ened, second long and slender, very slightly shorter than the third 

 and equal to the fourth in length, fifth almost equal to fourth, the 

 sixth to the eleventh slightly thickened, almost equal, elongate. 

 ProthorcLv narrower than the elytra, quadrate, almost as broad as 

 long, being about one-half millimetre shorter along the shortest 

 length than the width, front margin emarginate, anterior angles 

 slightly drawn forwards, sides almost straight or slightly convex 

 in the middle, base widely arched, posterior angles ending in 

 an acute tooth ; upper surface irregularly punctate, interspaces 

 smooth and shining in the middle and finely ru^ulose at the sides. 



= genus Chrij6uliua of the preceding pages. 



G 2 



