66 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol XI, January, 1957 
third to fifth segments, pitchy on remainder. 
Head slightly hairy and finely punctured an- 
teriorly, smooth on occiput; antenna three- 
fourths as long as body, slender except for 
swollen and somewhat Fattened scape; third 
and fourth segments oblique apically; pro- 
thorax subtrapeziform, broadest slightly be- 
hind apex, with a deep transverse depression 
which is widened and bent slightly backward 
at middle; elytron finely and irregularly punc- 
tured and with humeral area clothed with fine 
erect hairs; last sternite with a large concave 
oblong process with a deep narrow emargina- 
tion on each side. 
Female: Antenna two-thirds as long as 
body; scape less swollen; pronotum less 
deeply grooved; humerus not pubescent; last 
sternite with a broad terminal emargination. 
Length 6-7.5 mm.; breadth 2. 6-3. 6 mm. 
Y AS AW A: Yalobi, Waya L, July 1937, St. 
John. 
viti levu: Nandi, June 1913, Illingworth; 
Nandovi, Singatoka, May 1915, Veitch; 
Waito, Tailevu, Sept. 1937, Valentine. 
ovalau: Levuka, July 1938, Zimmerman. 
vanualevu: Lambasa, Oct. 1955, Gressitt. 
taveuni: Ngathabula (Qacabula), on 
pumpkin, Nov. 1937, Valentine. 
LAU: Ongea I., Oneata I., Komo I., Aug. 
1924, Bryan. 
central Fiji: Matuku I., July 1924, Bryan; 
Naroi, Moala I., Aug. 1938, Zimmerman. 
kandavu : Wai Salima, Apr. 1941, Krauss. 
hosts: Citrullus vulgaris Schrad., Cucurbita 
pepo DC, Cucumis melo L., C. sativus L., and 
other cucurbits. 
Knowles (1907) and Jepson (1911) re- 
ported Aulacophora fabricii Baly as damaging 
melons and pumpkins in Fiji. Lever (1942) 
reported A. coffeae in addition to A. similis , 
and stated that Knowles’ record applies to 
A. coffeae. We have not been able to verify the 
records of A. coffeae. 
Tribe Galerucini 
Genus malacotheria Fairmaire 
Malacotheria Fairmaire, 1882, See. Ent. de 
France, Ann. Ser. 6, 1: 486 (type here des- 
ignated as M. funerea Fairm.; Fiji). 
Head nearly as broad as prothorax; pro- 
notum concave longitudinally, partly smooth; 
elytron finely and irregularly punctured, often 
carinate at side; antennal segments subequal, 
with second shorter. 
The species below have been difficult to 
delimit. There are clearly at least three species, 
but perhaps more, for there is much variation 
within each series, and the material at hand 
does not seem to fit well with the original 
descriptions. This genus is found in Fiji and 
the Papuan subregion. 
key to fijian species of Malacotheria 
1. Body less than twice as long as broad; 
elytron feebly carinate or not carinate. . . 2 
Body more than twice as long as broad; 
elytron distinctly carinate along side. .... 
Tateritia 
2. Pronotum largely smooth, subglabrous, 
black in center; elytron pale brown, with 
silvery pubescence funerea 
Pronotum pubescent, in part densely punc- 
tured; elytron dull with thin golden buff 
or silvery buff pubescence. . . . strigiscuta 
91. Malacotheria funerea Fairmaire 
Fig. 3 6^ 
Malacotheria funerea Fairmaire, 1882, Soc. 
Ent. de France, Ann. Ser. 6, 1: 487 (Viti; 
type in Paris Mus.). 
Pale brown, pitchy on occiput, central por- 
tion of pronotum, and scutellum; pubescence 
silvery on elytron. Head slightly concave on 
occiput, feebly punctured; antenna with fourth 
and fifth segments longest; pronotum concave, 
smooth, feebly punctured, subglabrous; ely- 
tron finely and irregularly punctured, dis- 
tinctly broadened behind middle. Length 6.7- 
7.7 mm.; breadth 3. 5-4.1 mm. 
VITI LEVU: Mt. Victoria and Nandarivatu, 
Sept. 1938, Zimmerman; seven specimens. 
i 
