330 
COLEOPTERA. 
Belg., XXV, p. 165) ; he has recently listed the known species in Genera 
Insectorum and is monographing the species of the world. By far the 
larger number of recorded Indian species are Himalayan or Burmese. 
A very small number are common in the plains with a small number 
that have been occasionally recorded. 
Sternocera includes large brightly coloured species, of somewhat 
oval shape, with smooth elytra and deeply punctate pronotum, the 
sternal process prominent. They are rarely found outside the hills 
and forest areas, S. chrysidioides, C. & G., and S. nitidicollis , C. & G., 
being occasionally captured. 
Julodis is of similar form but without a marked sternal process, 
the elytra pointed at the apex. J. atkinsoni, Kerr., was reported (in 
error) as an injurious insect in the Punjab but is rarely found in North- 
West India. It appears to be a genus characteristic of sandy desert 
areas. 
Chrysochroa includes 17 Indian species, of which C. mutabilis, Oliv., 
is found in the plains. This is a metallic green insect with red reflec¬ 
tions especially at the margin of the elytra. 
C. chinensis, C. & G., is the beautiful green 
and red beetle sold as a curiosity in the 
hills and very common in some forest 
localities, while C. edwardsii, Ho., is the big 
yellow-blotched species abundant in the 
Khasi hills and also a source of income to 
the Khasi insect collector. 
Psiloptera cupreosplendens , Saund., is 
occasionally caught in the plains, a smaller 
green and red metallic insect, the elytra 
much punctured. 
Sphenoptera is the most abundant in culti¬ 
vated areas, several species being found breed- Fl ^’ HR ° A 
ing in wild or cultivated plants. They are 
deep metallic bronzy insects, not of large size and by no means easy to 
discriminate. Kerremanns gives 20 Indian species. S. gossypii , Kerr. 
(Plate XX), is the cotton stem borer of the cotton areas, apparently wide¬ 
spread over India, and, as a rule, very common but only once found in 
