PROTHYMA. 



309 



This is a somewhat abnormal species and ought, perhaps, to be 

 referred to Heptodonta. Dr. Horn has placed it provisionally in 

 both genera; the fringe of hairs on the outside free margin of the 

 posterior coxse, which is one of the chief characteristics of the 

 genus Heptodonta, appears to be absent ; but the question can 

 hardly be decided on one example. In seems to be a very distinct 

 insect. 



92. Prothyma belloides, W. Horn. 



Prothyma belloides, W. Horn, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique, 1907, p. 311. 



This is a very small species which Dr. Horn describes as 

 differing from all the other species of the genus in having the last 

 ventral segments of the abdomen clothed with short and sparse 



greyish pubescence ; this character, 

 however, does not always appear to 

 be very evident. He compares it 

 witb Odontochila rotJischildi,W . Horn, 

 which it resembles in size, and with 

 Cicindela belli, W. Horn, with which 

 it agrees in convexity, sculpture, and 

 the variegated sheen of the upper 

 surface. The general colour is cya- 

 neous black, with more or less of the 

 front parts and the sides bright cya- 

 neous, and on the elytra there are some- 

 times two or three greenish-cyaneous 

 hook-like branches proceeding from 

 the sides to the disc and more shining 

 than the surrounding surface ; these, 

 however, are not evident in the only 

 specimen I have seen ; labrum large, 

 metallic cyaneous-black ; eyes very 

 prominent; head rather long behind 

 the eyes, finely shagreened and rather 

 dull ; pronotum sculptured much as 

 Fig. 140.— Prothyma belloides. head, longer than broad, with the sides 



almost straight, the transverse furrows 

 moderately developed and the central longitudinal furrow distinct, 

 though not strongly marked. Elytra parallel-sided, convex, shining, 

 strongly punctured in front, almost smooth behind ; sutural angle 

 without any visible spine ; underside glabrous, cyaneous ; antennae 

 blackish ; palpi slender, testaceous (except the last joint of the 

 labial palpi and the last two joints of the maxillary palpi, which 

 are metallic black) ; legs and trochanters yellowish, apex of tibia?, 

 knees and all the tarsi dark. 

 Length 5|-6 millim. 

 Bombay : Kanara (T. R. J). Bell). 



