K A MALA. 



255 



Genus KAMALA*, gen. nov. 



Genotype, Hypnophila violaceipennis, Jacoby. 



This genus is proposed for the reception of four Ceylonese 

 insects, which were placed in Hypnophila by Jacoby. The genus 

 Hypnophila was erected by Foudras in 1860 (Mulsant, Col. France, 

 Altisides, p. 282) for a European species which he called caricis, 

 Markel. Foudras separated the genus from Apteropeda, Chevr. ; 

 I have no means of examining his genotype. Chapuis (Gen. Col. 

 xi, 1875, p. 129) places Hypnophila in his group Mjsiophilites, 

 which is characterized, according to him, by having the anterior 

 coxal cavities open behind. In the four species of Kamala from 

 Ceylon described here the anterior coxal cavities are closed behind. 

 Accepting Chapuis's view of this part of the insect's structure in 

 Hypnophila, I have no other alternative but to erect a new genus 

 for the Ceylonese beetles. Geographical considerations, moreover, 

 lend additional weight to the view which I have taken. In 

 describing these insects Jacoby is silent about the coxal cavities, 

 neither does he say if he has seen Foudras's genotype of Hypno- 

 phila. 



Very small, spheroidal insects, narrowed in front and more so 

 behind. All are apterous. Head broad, vertex not very convex, 

 frontal tubercles and carina absent, interantennal space rather 

 br*>ad. Antennae very short, reaching about to the base of the 

 pronotum, the five basal segments always coloured and constructed 

 differently from the remaining segments, which form a dilated 

 club; first segment usually long and thickened at its apex ; second 

 generally thicker than third, fourth, fifth, and sixth shorter, the 

 latter generally forming the base of the club ; the segments 

 composing the latter are gradually dilated, somewhat narrowing at 

 the apex. Prothorax always broader than long, sides somewhat 

 rounded, the four angles generally more or less rounded • surface 

 convex and smooth, with sides sloping down, while in some cases 

 there is on each side, perpendicular to the base, a small vertical 

 notch, which has to be carefully looked for. JScutellum always 

 insignificant. Elytra scarcely, or at most slightly, broader at base 

 than prothorax, widening immediately behind the base and 

 attaining their greatest width about the middle, then narrowing 

 considerably towards the apex ; surface extremely convex arid 

 punctate-striate. Underside : prosternum comparatively broad 

 and often marked with small pits ; anterior coxal cavities closed 

 behind; abdominal sternites generally smooth, convex along the 

 longitudinal middle line ; posterior femora and tibiae very well 

 developed, the latter dilated and flattened towards the apex, 

 generally bearing a row of fine spinules on the outer edge of the 

 flattened surface and a well- developed spine at the apex; tarsi 

 generally prominent, claw-segment long ; in the hind tarsi the 



* A Sanskrit name for the lotus. 



