438 
CIIRYSOMELIDiE. 
767. Mesocolaspis nigrita, sp. n. 
Black ; basal joints of antennae fulvous. 
Head finely rugosely punctured and pubescent, very broad ; 
clypeus not separated from the face, anterior margin nearly 
straight ; eyes entire, rather small. Antennae extending to base 
of elytra, basal two joints short and thick, following four joints 
slender and more elongate, terminal five transversely thickened. 
Thorax about half as broad again as long, sides rounded and 
moderately narrowed in front, the lateral margins with a row of 
fine teeth, surface rugose, with short and stiff pubescence. Scu- 
tellum ovate, not longer than broad. Elytra closely and strongly 
punctured, basal portion more irregularly punctured, posterior 
portion with rows of regular punctures, interstices with rows of 
short, strongly-curved grey hairs. Eemora each with an acute 
tooth beneath. Underside and legs black, shining. Prosternum 
strongly punctured. 
Length 2 mm. 
Hub. Southern India : Nilgiris ( Anclrewes ). 
This species agrees in all structural details with the type, but 
differs totally in colour and markings. 
Subaiiadrate-ovate. Head broad, deeply inserted in thorax ; eyes 
globular, obsoletely sinuate ; antennae filiform. Thorax transverse, 
sides rounded, narrowly margined. Elytra generally irregularly 
punctured, sides more or less rugose at base, as a rule more so in 
the female than in the male. Legs robust : femora thickened at the 
middle, generally unarmed ; apex of tibia) in male mostly thickened 
and curved inwards, in female straight ; tarsi rather short and 
broad ; claws bifid. Prosternum subquadrate, often densely- 
pubescent. 
Metallic species very rarely pubescent above, with a strongly 
transverse thorax and of rather broad shape, more or less resem- 
bling true species of Chrysomela. The thorax is as wide as the 
elytra at the base, the head very flat and perpendicular. 
Fig. 154. — Mesocolaspis nigrita . 
Group EUMOLPINI. 
