1974] Werner — Primitive Meloidae 15 1 
perceptibly emarginate between the angulations; tergum IX small, 
undivided and weakly sclerotized; sternum IX Y-shaped with broad 
lateral arms. Male genitalia (Fig. 14) with gonostyli fused dorsally 
from base to beyond middle; base of fused gonostyli produced pos- 
tered on dorsal side in a process that surpasses the gonostyli and bears 
three dorsal and ca. 9 lateral short, stout setae on each side; gono- 
coxal plate cupped, ca. 1/2 as long as gonostyli. Aedeagus (Fig. 15) 
long, symmetrical, downcurved toward base, movable in relation to 
gonostyli; with two oblique lateral ridges on each side toward apex; 
secondary gonopore apparently apicodorsal ; there is no indication of a 
sclerotized rod or projection from the internal sac in this region; 
dorsal surface of aedeagus apparently open for most of its length. 
Female abdominal segment VIII retracted into apex of abdomen, 
weakly sclerotized, its sternum with a long, slender apodeme (Fig. 
17); ovipositor (Fig. 16) well-developed, long, with one-segmented 
gonostyli. 
Type species. Thambospasta howdeni new species; fixed by present 
designation. 
Remarks. This genus contains only the type species, described 
below. It is known from both sexes. 
Thambospasta howdeni, new species 
Male. Entirely rufescent brown except for black eyes, only tips 
of mandibles appreciably darker; pubescence concolorous, fine, and 
therefore inconspicuous. Length 3. 6-4.4 mm > mean 3.88, SD 0.29, 
holotype 4.4. Surface generally shiny, but deep punctures dull it 
somewhat. Punctures on head uniform, flat-bottomed, ca. 0.04 mm 
across, 0.05 center to center, even across midline; midline indicated 
only as a notch on vertex. Antennal calluses distinct, grading into a 
small elevation over base of antenna, with punctures like rest of head. 
Head depressed across front between antennae, in region of fronto- 
clypeal suture, which is not visible, punctures extending evenly across 
whole region; clypeus ending in a smooth shelf ca. 0.04 mm wide 
and flat, over base of labrum. Eye facets almost exactly 0.03 mm 
in diameter, very regularly arranged. Punctures of pronotum just 
Figs. 1-12. Thambospasta howdeni. 1, dorsal view of holotype male; 
2, head of holotype in front view ; 3, same in oblique lateral view ; 4, an- 
tenna of paratype male; 5, profile of abdominal sterna of holotype; 6, max- 
illa of paratype male; 7, labium of same; 8-9, pieces of tarsal claws of 
same; 10, tip of front tibia of same; 11, front tarsus of same; 12, detail of 
front tarsal claws, ventral view. 
