LAMPROSOMA. 
281 
Elytra gradually narrowed posteriorly, the apex rounded, cover- 
ing abdomen entirely ; epipleurse angularly produced below base, 
suddenly narrowed posteriorly, often provided with three fovea). 
Prosternum generally subquadrate and flat but variable ; inner 
margin of the side-pieces of breast raised, forming a groove at 
sides of prosternum for the reception of the antenna) ; meta- 
sternum produced as far as prosternum, hollowed, at sides for 
reception of femora. Legs short, not protruding beyond elytra ; 
tibiae carinate ; femora with sulci into which the tibiae can be 
placed ; tarsi short and broad, the third joint deeply divided or 
bilobed ; claws appendiculate. 
The forms in this subfamily are as a rule short and convex, 
often of brilliant metallic coloration. In India they are repre- 
sented by species of more sombre aspect, but in tropical South 
America, where they swarm, they mostly assume rich metallic 
colours. The short carinate legs which fit into abdominal grooves 
and the very short antennae are good distinguishing marks of 
these insects. 
Genus LAMPROSOMA. 
Lamprosoma, Kirby , Trcms. Linn. Soc. Lond. xii, 1818, p. 445. 
Oomorphus, Curtis, Brit. Ent. viii, 1831, p. 347. 
Type, L. bicolor , Kirby, from South America. 
Range. Europe; S. America; India; Japan. 
Characters those of the subfamily. The Indian species are of 
small size and mostly of dark metallic-blue or purplish colour. 
483. Lamprosoma assamensis, sp. n. 
Black, ovate, narrowed posteriorly. Head, seen under a strong 
lens, extremely minutely punctured ; antennse extending to base 
Fig. 110 . — Lamprosoma assamensis. 
of thorax, basal joint fulvous beneath, all following joints 
gradually widened, subtriangular, furnished with single stiff hairs. 
Thorax strongly transverse, narrowed at sides, latter straight, 
posterior margin oblique, medial lobe slightly prominent and 
pointed ; surface extremely minutely and closely punctured. 
Scutellum small, triangular. Elytra slightly wider at the shoulders 
