PHYLLOTRKTA. 



377 



Genus PHYLLOTRETA, Stephens. 



Phyllotreta, Stephens, Manual Brit. Col. 1839, p. 291 ; Foudras, 

 Mulsant's Col. France, Altisides, 1860, p. 230; Chapuis, Gen. 

 Col. xi, 1875, p. 73 ; Fowler, Col. Brit. Is. iv, 1890, p. 361. 



Genotype, Chrysomela nemorum, L. (Syst. Nat. ed. x. 1758, 

 p. 373; Europe). 



Body oblong, almost paraliel-sided. Head as broad as the pro- 

 thorax ; eyes small ; frontal tubercles not very strongly developed, 

 interantennal carina short. Antennae extending to the middle of 

 the elytra or a little distance beyond ; first segment club-shaped, 

 second and third small ; either the fourth or both the fourth and 

 fifth somtitnes much enlarged in the male. Prothorax broader 

 than long, sometimes slightly narrowed in front, front and hind 

 borders almost straight, sides slightly rounded, front and hind 

 angles rounded, or the posterior angles sometimes right angles 

 and the anterior somewhat thickened; surface gently convex, 

 without any impressions. Scutellum small, sometimes not out- 

 wardly visible. Elytra hardly broader at base than prothorax, 

 oblong-ovate, more or less convex, generally confusedly punctate; 

 sometimes the punctures tend to form rows. Underside : pro- 

 sternum very narrow between the coxae ; front and coxal cavities 

 open behind; posterior femora strongly incrassate ; posterior tibia) 

 slender, not channelled on the outer side and with a small spine 

 at the apex ; posterior tarsi somewhat shorter than the corre- 

 sponding tibia, the first segment equal in length to the following 

 three together ; claws simple. 



Range. World-wide. 



This genus contains many serious pests of cultivated crops. 



Key to the Species. 



1. Elytra unicolorous 2. 



Elytra brown with a reddish-piceous 



longitudinal stripe L. birmanica, Harold, p. 377. 



2. Colour black with a slight bronzy tint ; 



fourth antennal segment in the male 



enormously expanded P. oncei-a, sp. n., p. 378. 



Colour different 3. 



3. Colour metallic bronze with greenish or 



bluish reflections ; posterior part of 



the surface of the elytra without ribs . P. chotanica, Duviv.,p. 379. 

 Colour metallic green with a bluish tint ; 

 posterior part of the surface of the 



elytra with short longitudinal ribs . . P. dotvnesi, Baly, p. 380. 



296. Phyllotreta birmanica, Harold. 



Phyllotreta birmanica, Har., Mitt. Munch. Ent. Ver. i, 1877, p. 109. 



Body somewhat convex, shining. Head and prothorax red- 

 brown ; elytra brown, the suture in front and behind narrowly, 

 and a longitudinal stripe extending from the humeral callus and 



