SPIL35BODEKMA . 



317 



punctate, the punctures sometimes stronger t hfin those of the 

 pronotum, irregular, or with a tendency to form longitudinal rows ; 

 in some cases the rows are paired, but very often there are only 

 four pairs, the intervals being full of confused punctures ; besides 

 the larger punctures there are often very minute punctures, and 

 along the lateral margin there is a broad space, somewhat narrow- 

 ing towards the apex, and generally covered with minute punc- 

 tures (though it has sometimes been referred to as an im punctate 

 space) ; along the extreme margin there is always a row of 

 strongly impressed punctures. Underside : prosternal process 

 somewhat broad aud elevated between the coxae, narrowed in the 

 middle, somewhat dilated and truncate behind ; anterior coxal 

 cavities open behind ; mesosternum reduced to a fine transverse 

 arched carina. Legs short and robust ; posterior femora much 

 thickened, thicker than the others, and channelled underneath 

 for the reception of the tibiae ; tibiae somewhat dilated at the 

 extremity, which is furnished with a small spine, while their 

 outer surface is narrowly channelled to a short distance ; first 

 segment of the tarsi about as long as the following two together, 

 third broad and bilobed and not split longitudinally along the 

 middle, fourth terminated by two appendiculate claws. 



The males are distinguished by the broader anterior tibiae and 

 by the dilated first segment of all the tarsi. 



Range. The largest number of species occurs in Asia, but some 

 have have also been found in Europe, Africa, and America. 



Key to ilie Species. 



1. Elytra dark violaceous-blue 2. 



Elytra not so coloured 3. 



2. Larger insects (4 mm. long), more ob- 



long; colour purer and deeper vio- 

 laceous-tilue ; punctuation on elytra 

 irregularly arranged in closely placed, 



paired rows S. ge?ninata, Jac, p. 319. 



Smaller insects (3 mm. long), more 

 rounded ; colour not pure violaceous- 

 blue ; elytral punctures confused .. & discicollis, Jac, p. 319. 



3. Elytra piceous ; on each elytron a large 



yellow-brown patch S. ornatipennis, Jac, p. 320. 



Elytra not so coloured 4. 



4. Elytra pale yellow-brown; the sutural 



and extreme lateral margins and a 

 large spot at the middle of each 



elytron piceous , S. UplcKjiai a , Jac, p. 321. 



Elytra not so coloured 5. 



5. Large insects (5| mm. long) ; colour 



above shining black ; anterior lateral 

 angles of the pronotum strongly pro- 

 duced and expanded S. acutangula, Jac, p. 321. 



Insects always less than 5^ mm. long ; 

 anterior lateral amrles of the pro- 

 notum not strongly produced and 

 expanded 6. 



