366 



HALT 10IN JB. 



surface with ;i, very obscure depression at each side, finely granu- 

 late and punctate. Scutellum triangular, with the apex rounded 

 and surface i in punctate. Elytra somewhat broader at base than 

 prothorax, extremely minutely punctate. 

 Length, 3| mm. 



Bombay: Belgaum ; Dharwar. 

 Type in the British Museum. 



This species and L. discoidea conform to the generic characters 

 of Luperomorpha, particularly in the sh:ipe of the prothorax and 

 the structure of the posterior tibiae, but 1 cannot see any seta-like 

 hairs on the apical part of the surface of the elytra. 



Genus APHTHONA, Chevrolat. 



Aphthona, Chevrolat, in d'Orbigny, Diet. univ. Hist. nat. ii. 1842, 

 p. 5; Chapuis, Gen. Col. xi, 1875. p. 72; Fowler, Col. Brit. Is. iv, 

 1890, p. 368. 



Genotype : after the short diagnosis of this genus three species 

 are mentioned by Chevrolat, of which the first is Altica cyparissim, 

 Koch, Ent. Heft, ii, 1803, p. 80 (Europe). I find no 'record of 

 the type of the genus having been fixed subsequently, and there- 

 fore the species mentioned above is hereby designated as the 

 genotype. 



This genus, being artificial, is very difficult to define. The form 

 and size of the body vary considerably, and the colour also varies 

 very much. 



Head with vertex ira punctate, and often furnished with oblique 

 lines and tubercles. Antennas not generally so long compared to 

 the length of the body as in Longitarsus, hardly extending beyond 

 the middle ; the basal segments vary in length in relation to each 

 oilier, but the first is always long and club-shaped. Eyes oval, 

 more or less prominent. Prothorax broader than long, without a 

 basal transverse depression, anterior lateral angles often obliquely 

 truncate, each of the four corners usually furnished with a fine 

 seta which rises out of a pore ; surface usually punctate. /Scutellum. 

 triangular with the apex rounded, surface generally impunctate. 

 Elytra, usually broader at the base than the prothorax, oblong, 

 rounded at the apex ; surface finely and confusedly punctate. 

 Underside : prosternum very narrow ; anterior coxal cavities open 

 behind ; posterior femora incrassate ; posterior tibiae dilated from 

 base to apex, the ou f er side flat with the edges set with fine 

 bristles, and the outer edge sometimes with spinules; the apex 

 usually ends in a spine situated on the outer side, but this is 

 sometimes absent altogether; first segment of posterior tarsi 

 distinctly less than half the length of the corresponding tibia, 

 second segment shorter, third bilobed, and fourth terminating 

 in simple claws. 



In some cases the males may be distinguished from the females 

 by the more obtuse sutural angles of their elytra, by their com- 



