Art. XXXVI.—On the Coleoptera of the Kermadec Islands.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 42, 1909, Page 291

Art. XXXVI.—On the Coleoptera of the Kermadec Islands. By Major T. Broun, F.E.S. [Read before the Auckland Institute, 22nd Novermber, 1909.] The beetles collected by the recent scientific expedition were received from Mr. W. L. Wallace, of Timaru, on the 3rd February, 1909. Before proceeding with the result of my examination of the various species, it seems but right that some of the difficulties encountered by the members of the expedition should be recorded. Denham Bay, with about 200 acres of level land, was selected as the most suitable site for the main camp. When starting on a collecting tour, an almost perpendicular wall, ranging from 800 ft. to 1,500 ft. in height, had to be ascended, each man having 30 lb. or 40 lb. weight of food, water, and other necessary articles strapped on his back. When the crater was to be explored, there was a dangerous climb of 800 ft. along a winding track up the face of loose pumice formation, which was constantly slipping away from under their feet, the descent, on returning to the main camp, being even more hazardous. The huge crater, which now consists of undulating forest land and three lakes, was descended with the help of tree-roots.

The whole of Sunday Island is very rough, broken country, being almost everywhere a succession of steep, narrow ridges upwards of 1,000 ft. high, and intervening ravines, where unfortunately, except in the crater, no water fit for drinking can be obtained. The party took from Auckland supplies of flour, sugar, tea, salt, &c.; but for meat, goats had to be hunted, fish caught, and mutton-birds caught and preserved, occupations which, together with cooking, necessarily absorbed a considerable amount of time. At first, many insects that had been captured under such unfavourable conditions were destroyed by ants and rats, which latter swarm to such an extent that it appears wonderful how they find enough food. One source of supply, no doubt, consisted formerly of the larger insects and grubs, as only a single specimen of moderately large size could be found during the ten months the expedition resided there. I have endeavoured to make this memoir complete, not only by describing the novelties, but, without entering into minute details of generic structure, also giving such descriptions of exotic species as will enable them to be identified without referring to books which, unfortunately, are not procurable by students living in this Dominion. Those species that are also found in New Zealand, amounting to more than half of this collection, are included in the following list. With two or three exceptions their descriptions will be found in the “Manual of New Zealand Coleoptera.” One, however, having been erroneously described in London under another name, has been fully redescribed. List of Coleoptera. Group Carabidæ 1. Cylothorax insularis, Motsch. Sunday, Macauley, and Curtis Islands, also in New Zealand. Group Hydroporidæ. 2. Bidessus plicatus, Sharp. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Colymbetidé. 3. Rhantus pulverosus, Stephens. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Hydrophilidæ. 4. Philydrus tritus, Broun. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Staphylinidæ. 5. Creophilus oculatus, Fabr. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Xantholinidæ. 6. Xantholinus socius, Fauvel. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Omalidæ. 7. Omalium fossigerum, Fauvel. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Carpophilidæ. 8. Carpophilus vittiger, Matth. Sunday Island and Polynesia.

Group Colydidæ. 9. Pycnomerus sophorœ, Sunday Island and New Zealand. 10. Coxelus xanthonyx, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. 11. Coxelus punctatus, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Brontidæ. 12. Cryptamorpha suturalis, White. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Lathridiidæ. 13. Corticaria longula, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Byrrhidæ. 14. Curimus zealandicus, Redten. Macauley Island and New Zealand. Group Lucanidæ. 15. Mitophyllus curvidens, Broun. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Aphodidæ. 16. Aphodius raulensis, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Elateridæ. 17. Monocrepidius exsul, Sharp. Sunday Island and New Zealand. 18. Ochosternus zealandicus, White. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Enopliidæ. 19. Necrobia ruficollis, Fabr. Sunday Island, New Zealand; cosmopolitan. Group Trachyscelidæ. 20. Phycosecis atomaria, Pascoe. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Salpingidæ. 21. Salpingus lepidulus, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Otiorhynchidæ. 22. Rhyncogonus planidorsis, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. 23. Catoptes cheesemani, Broun. Sunday Island. Group Calandridæ. 24. Sitophilus oryzœ, Linn. Sunday Island and New Zealand; cosmopolitan. Group Cryptorhynchidæ. 25. Acalles metrosiderœ, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. 26. Aldonus hylobioides, White. Sunday Island and New Zealand. 27. Rhynodes saundersi, White. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Cossonidæ. 28. Pentarthrum gracilicorne, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. 29. Sericotrogus subœnescens, Wollaston. Sunday Island and New Zealand.

30. Eutornopsis piceus, Broun, gen. & sp. nov. Sunday Island. 31. Dioedimorpha debile, Sharp. Sunday Island and New Zealand. 32. Microtribus sculpturatus, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. 33. Phlœophagosoma dilutum, Wollaston. Sunday Island and New Zealand. Group Platypidæ. 34. Platypus posticus, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Eumolpidæ. 35. Peniticus wallacei, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Galerucidæ. 36. Psylliodes solanœ, Broun, sp. nov. Sunday Island. Group Coccinellidæ. 37. Coccinella 11-punctata, Linn. Sunday Island, New Zealand, Europe. 38. Holopsis nigellus, Broun. Sunday Island and New Zealand. (A specimen received from Mr. Wallace after this paper had been completed.) The typical specimens are preserved in the Museum at Auckland. Group Colydiidæ. Coxelus xanthonyx, sp. nov. Robust, oblong, opaque, fusco-piceous, sides of thorax and the legs rufescent; with erect, yellow, coarse, but not squamiform setæ. Head with indefinite granular sculpture. Eyes prominent and bearing some setæ externally. Thorax almost as long as broad, medially curvate in front; its sides slightly rounded and explanate, subcrenulate, slightly narrowed behind; base emarginated towards the sides so that the nearly rectangular angles do not touch the shoulders; the disc with 1 median impression and 2 indistinct basal ones, its granular sculpture well marked. Elytra oblong, without depressions, each with about 6 series of granules but not distinctly striate; there is a slight sutural elevation on the top of the posterior declivity. Antennæ reddish, the club darker, basal joint concealed, 2nd large and thick, 3rd elongate, 4th and 5th longer than broad, 6–8 equal, 9th evidently broader than the preceding ones; 10th abruptly enlarged, transverse; 11th subrotundate, narrower than the 10th. Tibiæ nearly straight, with shorter setæ than those on the dorsum, the tarsi with long slender setæ underneath the basal 3 joints, claws yellow. This has been compared with each of its New Zealand allies, but does not agree with any of them. The central thoracic impression is broad. In most species the elytral sculpture is ill defined, so that series of punctures appear, when viewed in different directions, to be granular elevations. Length, 1 ⅝ lines; breadth, ⅝ line. Raoul Island. One, found in decayed Metrosideros in the crater by Mr. W. L. Wallace. Coxelus punctatus, sp. nov. Oblong, opaque, piceous, legs and antennæ rufescent; with erect, pale-yellow, moderately coarse setæ, the tibiæ with shorter and finer setæ. Head granulate. Thorax rather broader than long, its sides slightly rounded, only a little narrower behind than in front; with a linear median

impression not reaching the base, near which there are 2 broad indefinite impressions, its granular sculpture is distinct. Elytra rather more convex behind than at the base, without depressions, their coarse punctures seriate but not deep or sharply marked, their lateral sculpture subgranular. Antennæ rather short, their 1st joint hardly visible above, 2nd stout, 3rd elongate, the following two rather longer than broad, 6–8 small, 9th broader, 10th much broader, the terminal not as broad as its predecessor. This is obviously smaller than C. xanthonyx. The sides of the thorax, though flattened, are less concave within the margins, and the elytral sculptur is entirely different. There is no similar species. Length, 1 ¼ lines; breadth, ½ line. Sunday Island. One, also discovered by Mr. Wallace along with the preceding one. Group Aphodiidæ. Aphodius raoulensis, sp. nov. Parallel, rather narrow, moderately transversely convex nude; nigropiceous, the legs and margins of head pitchy - red, antennæ and tarsi testaceous. Head simple, rather closely and finely punctured behind, indistinctly in front, the frontal margin medially incurved. Thorax a fifth broader than long, subquadrate, slightly broader in front than at the base, which is as broad as that of the elytra, its sides slightly curved, anterior angles obtuse, the posterior rectangular but not projecting; the surface very irregularly and coarsely punctured, in front and on most of the intervals the punctures are much finer than those on the head. Scutellum narrow, elongate, and convex. Elytra strongly crenate-striate, the punctures near the sides more distinctly separated than those in the dorsal striæ; interstices with numerous minute punctures. Underside shining, nigresecent, nearly smooth along the middle, flanks of mesosternum finely punctate, ventral segments with a transverse series of fine punctures at the base. Middle coxæ distant. Basal joint of posterior tarsi bare, hardly as long as the terminal tibial spurs, the intermediate joints bear yellow setæ. Closely allied to A. exsculptus, the punctation of the thorax rather coarser, that of the elytra obviously so and more evidently crenate. Length, 2 ¼ lines; breadth, quite ¾ line. Raoul Island. Found under rotten logs by Mr. Wallace. Apparently rare. Group Salpingidæ. Salpingus lepidulus, sp. nov. Elongate, moderately transversely convex, shining; pubescence scanty, slender, suberect, and greyish. Head fusco-rufous, thorax cupreo-fuscous; elytra testaceous, but with the suture, and a large subovate spot just behind the middle of each, usually confluent with a lateral streak, dark fuscous; legs testaceous; antennæ fusco-testaceous, the terminal 4 articulations darker. Head densely and minutely sculptured, rather dull, its punctation shallow, rather fine and moderately close. Eyes prominent. Antennæ elongate, basal joint stout, 3rd evidently longer than the contiguous ones,

2nd and 4th nearly equal and elongate, 5–7 elongate and oviform, 8–10 broader than the preceding, the terminal conical, the last 4 distinctly pubescent. Thorax cordiform, widest near the front, apex truncate, lateral margins obsolete; the surface distinctly, closely, and moderately finely punctured, rather more finely near the base. Scutellum broad. Elytra oblong, subparallel, curvedly narrowed posteriorly, slightly wider than thorax at the base; distinctly striate-punctate, their sculpture less distinct behind, the punctation of the sutural region, near the base particularly, irregular and closer. Underside fuscous, the sternum and basal ventral segment coarsely, the remaining segments more finely, punctured, the terminal one fringed apically with fine grey pubescence. Larger than S. bilunatus, with differently formed antennæ, the head and thorax relatively more finely punctured, &c. Length, 1 ¼ lines; breadth, quite ⅜ line. Raoul Island. Several specimens brought by Mr. W. L. Wallace. Group Otiorhynchidæ. Rhyncogonus planidorsis, sp. nov. Subovate, opaque, piceo-rufous, covered with depressed circular scales of a greyish colour. Rostrum not longer than the head, marked off by a curved linear impression extending from the front of one eye to the other. Eyes obliquely oval, convex and prominent, more distant from each other than they are from the thorax. Scape stout, squamose, and bearing also erect greyish setæ like those of the funiculus, it reaches backwards to beyond the front of the thorax; 2nd joint of funiculus quite as long as the basal one, 3rd longer than any of the following four, which are submoniliform; club quadri-articulate, oblong-oval. Thorax about as long as it is broad, its sides rounded, narrower in front than behind, base and apex truncate, distinctly punctate. Scutellum small. Elytra subcordate, of the same width as thorax at the base, widest before the middle, much narrowed and declivous apically; disc rather flat, the 5th and 6th interstices are gradually and obtusely elevated from before the middle to the summit of the posterior declivity; they are regularly but not coarsely striate-punctate. Legs squamositate and setigerous. Underside punctate and squamose, and bearing also some fine setæ. Basal 2 ventral segments as long as the metasternum; 3rd and 4th nearly nude, short, with deep sutures; 5th closely punctured. A rather small species, distinguished by the abbreviated rostrum and the somewhat flattened cordiform hind-body. The scrobes are short and deep, and quite open above. There are no ocular lobes. Length (rostrum included), 2 ½ lines; breadth, 1 ⅓ lines. Raoul Island. One, captured by Mr. Wallace. Group Cryptorhynchidæ. Acalles metrosideræ, sp. nov. Convex, compact, subovate; much, but not at all abruptly, narrowed anteriorly; opaque; piceous, antennæ rufescent; densely covered with depressed variegated squamæ, and coarse erect greyish and slightly infuscate

setæ; the sides for the most part are infuscate grey, but in unabraded specimens there is a whitish band across the top of the posterior declivity, the middle of the dorsum being brownish. Rostrum slightly and gradually narrowed medially, squamose behind, rather closely rugose-punctate in front. Antennæ inserted behind the middle; the scape short and attaining the front of the eye, very gradually thickened; funiculus nearly twice the length of the scape, basal 2 joints very elongate, equal, 3–7 gradually decrease in length but are of nearly equal breadth; club ovate, its basal portion rather narrow. Eyes subtruncate in front. Thorax nearly as long as broad, widest near the subtruncate base, which is closely adapted to and of about the same width as that of the elytra; it is rather gradually narrowed, but not constricted anteriorly, its apex rounded; the surface is moderately finely and closely punctured; ocular lobes present. Elytra subcordate, widest near the middle; they are punctate-striate, the sutural 2 striæ are well marked and quite deep behind, the punctures oblong and distinctly separated, interstices moderately convex. Legs long and stout, densely clothed; tarsi setose underneath, penultimate joint expanded and lobate. Underside nearly plane, punctate and densely squamose. Pectoral canal deep, limited between the intermediate coxæ by the strongly elevated borders of the mesosternum. Metasternum short. Basal ventral segment large, quite a half longer than the next one, which is longer than the metasternum; 3rd and 4th short. Somewhat variable, most specimens almost wholly obscure grey; two bear much darker fuscous scales, with the lighter parts tawny. In some a small scutellum is visible. Length (rostrum exclusive), 1 ¾ lines; breadth, 1 line. Raoul Island. Found on Metrosideros by Mr. Wallace. Aldonus, White. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 482 Body oblong-oval, moderately convex, squamose or setose. Male.—Rostrum a fifth shorter than the thorax, its frontal portion slightly thicker than the basal. Scrobes deep, beginning between the apex and the middle, and extending to the front of the eyes, and with an apical prolongation. Scape moderately stout, very gradually incrassate, barely reaching the eye. Funiculus 7-articulate, 2nd joint rather longer than 1st, both moderately elongate; joints 3–7 gradually thickened, so that the transverse 7th is as broad as the base of the club, which is rather narrow, subovate, and indistinctly triarticulate. Head immersed nearly to the eyes, short and rounded. Eyes flat, their frontal or inner margin truncate. Thorax broader than long, contracted but not abruptly in front, the base bisinuate so that the obtuse angles rest on the elytra, the ocular lobes finely ciliated. Scutellum small and depressed. Elytra slightly wider than thorax at the base, humeral angles obtusely prominent. Femora deeply notched near the extremity, and appearing medially angulate below. Tibiæ strongly uncinate. Tarsi with silky hairs under-neath the basal 2 joints; the 3rd with short brushlike vestiture, much shorter and broader than the preceding ones, and evidently bilobed; the terminal joint of about the same length as the basal. Pectoral cańal deèper in front than it is between the coxæ, not extending into the mesosternum, being limited behind by the mesosternal lamina,

which is broad and cordiform and medially concave in front in a reversed New Zealand specimen, but more deeply concave and sublunate in one from the Kermadec Islands. Metasternum between the middle and hind coxæ hardly longer than the 2nd ventral segment, which at the sides, is but little shorter than the basal one; 3rd and 4th together quite as long as the 2nd. The mentum projects half-way into the buccal cavity, where the porrect 4-jointed palpi are clearly discernible. Female.—Rostrum rather longer and more slender, subparallel, slightly dilated at the base. Scrobes well defined, starting just before the middle, and without any trace of subapical prolongation. Scape more slender and flexuous. In my genus Nothaldonus the rostral canal is deep throughout and extends into the cavernous mesosternum, the sharply elevated borders of which are in contact with the anterior coxæ. The mentum is broader and the rigid palpi more prominent. The tarsal vestiture is more scanty, and the eyes more finely faceted. (See page 1235, Man. N.Z. Colept.) Aldonus hylobioides, White. Piceous, the derm slightly nitid, covered chiefly with greyish-yellow scales, but with a large lateral area behind the middle, and other ill-defined spots, bearing dark-fuscous squamæ; legs and antennæ more or less piceorufous. Thorax closely rather coarsely and rugosely punctate, usually with a slightly raised smooth line along the middle; its sides moderately rounded but nearly straight though slightly narrowed behind, the apex only half the width of the base; it is broader than long. Elytra with indefinite sculpture, consisting apparently of 7 dorsal striæ or series of oblong punctures on each, the striæ more distinct behind; interstices uneven and asperate, usually with small granular elevations intermingled with the squamæ; they are slightly wider than the thorax at the base, with prominent shoulders; their sides are more or less gradually narrowed backwards, and cover the abdomen. Legs with variegated scales and setæ, these latter finer and more hairlike along the inside of the tibiæ than those along the sides of the body. Underside shining pitchy-black, irregularly and rather coarsely punctured, the yellowish scales thicker near the sides than along the middle, the terminal ventral segment rufescent and closely punctured. Male.—Rostrum with longitudinal sculpture, subcarinate and grooved behind, punctate in front, more or less squamose. Female.—Rostrum shining, reddish, finely punctured but appearing smooth. Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½-5 ½ lines; breadth, 1–2 ⅓ lines. Sunday Island. Mr. Wallace states that the insect is common in rotten karaka and other timber. Having examined about twenty specimens, I have drawn up a more modern description than the original one. The subsequent discovery of allied genera in New Zealand renders redescription necessary. Group Cossonidæ. Pentarthrum gracilicorne, sp. nov. Subdepressed, sparingly and minutely pubescent, moderately nitid; thorax nigrescent, its apex of a metallic coppery hue; elytra, legs, and rostrum piceo-rufous; the antennæ and tarsi paler red.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, parallel, or only indistinctly narrowed near the eyes, slender, finely punctate, nearly quite smooth along the middle. Occiput broad and convex above, distinctly marked off just behind the eyes from the narrow forehead; it is but little swollen underneath. Eyes only slightly prominent. Antennæ elongate and slender; scape inserted just behind the middle of the rostrum and reaching the back of the eye; it is incrassate near the extremity; 2nd joint of funiculus evidently longer than 3rd, the terminal, 3 as long as broad; club ovate, indistinctly ringed. Thorax about a third longer than broad, constricted in front, its sides but little rounded, slightly and gradually narrowed anteriorly, base truncate; disc nearly plane, moderately closely but not coarsely punctured, more finely in front, and with an ill-defined median impression near the base. Scutellum small but distinct. Elytra slightly wider than thorax at the base, which is subtruncate, their sides subparallel, curvedly narrowed posteriorly; dorsum very slightly convex, almost crenate punctate-striate, the sutural 2 striæ on each deepest throughout; interstices finely seriate-punctate. Legs normal; 3rd joint of the tarsi a little expanded and lobate. Underside shining, entirely nigrescent, with some minute greyish hairs; distinctly but not closely or coarsely punctured, more sparingly on the basal 2 ventral segments, which are not visibly delimited; there are no impressions except the metasternal groove. The position of the coxæ is similar to that of P. zealandicum. Along the centre of the rostrum there is an almost smooth line which is gradually expanded behind, where it is divided by a broad groove; the buccal cavity also differs from that of P. zealandicum. This is a rather small species, with the antennæ implanted a little further from the eyes, and more slender than in the female P. zealandicum; the rostrum is rather longer, the thorax is different in form, the smooth occiput is dissimilar, and the penultimate tarsal joint is more dilated and subbilobed. The discovery of the male will, I have no doubt, render generic separation necessary. Female.—Length, 1 ⅝ lines; breadth, ⅜ line. Raoul, Sunday Island. Two examples taken from rotten ngaio wood by Mr. Wallace. Eutornopsis, gen. nov. Body transversly convex, subcylindric, nude above, finely pubescent underneath, moderately nitid, distinctly sculptured. Head and rostrum slightly arched and, together, as long as thorax; he outline almost uninterrupted, there being only a slight inflation near he eyes; the former exserted, globose below, and with only a very slight post-ocular stricture; the latter as long and nearly as broad as the head, parallel, or only just perceptibly narrowed anteriorly, that of the male not appreciably different from the female. Scrobes deep, prolonged downwards along the front and lower part of the eyes. Scape rather short, medially inserted, attaining the back of the eye, strongly flexuous. Funiculus rather short, its 5 articulations transverse, the basal one somewhat larger. Club annulate, oval or oblong-oval. Eyes as far from each other as they are from the thorax, quite lateral, slightly prominent and rotundate. Thorax a little longer than broad, rather gradually narrowed anteriorly, without any definite constriction, the basal margin truncate and a little depressed. Scutellum rather small, but distinct. Elytra slightly

wider than thorax at the base, very gradually and slightly narrowed backwards, with simple apical margins. Legs moderately stout; tibiæ uncinate, the anterior acutely prominent at the inner extremity. Tarsi narrow, their third joint concave in front but entire underneath, unexpanded, the terminal one elongate and slender. Prosternum straight in front. Anterior coxæ distinctly separated. Metasternum shorter than the abdomen. The type of this genus has the aspect of Eutornus, one of the Cossonides, a circumstance which suggested its name. It departs from Pentarthrum by the much less distant front coxæ, by the different rostrum, head, and thorax, as well as by the strongly bent scape and slender terminal joint of the tarsi, and, moreover, the female in Pentarthrum is strongly differentiated from the male by her slender rostrum, differently shaped thorax, and different antennal insertion, whereas Eutornopsis presents no very obvious sexual characteristics. Eutornopsis piceus, sp. nov. Piceous, moderately shining, with a rufescent mark behind each shoulder, antennæ and legs piceo-rufous; the club and inner face of the front tibiæ bear yellow pubescence. Rostrum distinctly and moderately coarsely punctured, its apical portion and the head more finely and distantly, the occiput smooth behind. Thorax broadest near the base but not very evidently dilated or rounded there; its punctation moderately coarse and close, but much finer in front. Elytra punctate-striate, the 2nd and 3rd striæ deepest near the extremity, the outer striæ indistinct, the punctures are somewhat transversal and distinctly separated from each other; interstices with fine distant serial punctures. Underside shining, piceous, rather finely, not closely, and somewhat irregularly punctured, the basal ventral segment more closely than the metasternum, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments with deep sutures, 5th closely punctate and slightly impressed across the middle, the metasternum and basal 2 segments slightly flattened but not concave. The pubescence yellow and scanty. The rostrum has almost seriate punctures, but along each side of the middle there is an elongated smooth space. Female: Rather larger, her rostrum very slightly longer and more finely punctate. Length, 2 ¼-2 ¾ lines; breadth, quite ½ line. Sunday Island. Several specimens found by Mr. W. L. Wallace amongst decaying ngaio and karaka. Microtribus sculpturatus, sp. nov. Fusiform, sparingly clothed with very fine suberect grey hairs; moderately shining, piceous, apical margin of thorax slightly rufescent, antennæ and legs piceo-rufous. Rostrum of about the same length as the thorax, moderately stout, slightly arched, parallel; distinctly, moderately finely but not closely punctured, more indistinctly in front, where there are some fine yellowish setæ. Head rather more distantly and finely punctate. Thorax longer than broad, its sides hardly at all rounded; rather closely and coarsely punctured, the intervals densely and minutely sculptured. Scutellum absent. Elytra elongate, subovate, slightly wider than thorax at the

base, quite glossy; regularly and coarsely striate-punctate, interstices with fine distant punctures, closer alongside the suture than elsewhere. Antennæ medially inserted, indistinctly pubescent, the rather narrow club more distinctly; scape slightly flexuous; 2nd joint of funiculus of nearly the same length as the basal one, joints 3–5 about as long as broad. Legs pubescent, the inner extremity of the front tibiæ particularly; tarsi densely setose, their 3rd joint with well-developed lobes. Underside nitid, piceous, coarsely punctured as far as the extremity of the 2nd ventral segment, the 5th more finely and closely but without depressions. Prosternum slightly emarginate. Anterior coxæ subcontiguous, the intermediate moderately, posterior widely separated. Metasternum and basal ventral segment broadly but not at all deeply impressed, 2nd segment indefinitely delimited in front. Materially different from the typical species (M. huttoni) in appearance. The thorax rather larger, cylindric rather than ovate, and rather more coarsely and closely and slightly rugosely punctured. The elytra are a little narrower near the apex, and their coarser sculpture is continued to the extremity. This species however, agrees structurally. Length, 1 ½ lines; breadth, ⅜ line. Sunday Island. Found on the leaves of Solanum by Mr. W. L. Wallace. Only two specimens. Group Platypidæ. Platypus posticus, sp. nov. Cylindric, rather slender, moderately shining, rufo-fuscous. Thorax oblong, apex truncate, base medially angulate, each side incurved behind the middle and with a slight obtuse angulation there; its surface very finely and indistinctly punctate, with minutely sculptured intervals; there are a few larger, yet fine, punctures near the base, just in front of the latter, at the middle; there is a small fovea from which an indefinite linear impression proceeds forwards; it bears a few slender yellowish hairs. Elytra parallel-sided, base bi-arcuate; on each elytron there is a shallow basal impression near the middle, and a more slender one nearer the suture, which can hardly be termed striæ; along the disc 5 or 6 series of very fine punctures can be seen, the suture is depressed; near the extremity there are 6 or 7 deep grooves, on each the outer angle is distinctly dentiform and projecting, the suture slightly so, this posterior portion bears fine but obvious yellow pubescence. Pygidium nearly vertical, and only visible from behind. Described from a single damaged specimen. Several were taken from the trunk of a dead nikau, but, unfortunately, made their escape by eating through the cork of the tube in which they had been placed. It is nearly as slender as P. gracilis, but with very different sculpture. Length 2 ¼ lines; breadth, ⅝ line. Raoul Island. Found by Mr. Wallace. Group Eumolpidæ. Peniticus wallacei, sp. nov. Robust, shining, æneo-fuscous, head and thorax darker than the elytra, legs fusco-testaceous, tibiæ usually darker than the femora and tarsi, antennæ rufo-fuscous.

Head moderately finely and irregularly punctured, middle of occiput generally smooth and with a slight impression behind; it is immersed up to the moderately prominent subrotundate eyes. Labrum reddish. Antennæ longer than the head and thorax, pubescent, 2nd joint short and subglobular, 3–11 elongate and nearly equal. Thorax about a fourth broader than long, its base only feebly rounded or truncate; its sides well rounded, widest near the middle and obtusely prominent there, more straight-sided or feebly sinuate behind in the male; posterior angles rectangular, but scarcely acutely prominent, the anterior deflexed and acute; the surface irregularly, distinctly, but moderately finely punctured, basal and lateral margins distinct. Scutellum smooth, or with a single puncture. Elytra as wide as thorax at the base, moderately rounded; on each there is a distinct, somewhat curvate carina or plica at the base just outside the middle, and another near the side but distant from the base; these are testaceous, as are also, but less definitely, 2 or 3 of the interstices and the apical portion, sometimes there are 2 less obvious plicæ near the side; there are 3 or 4 striæ on each behind, these, however, do not attain the apex; the punctation is moderately fine, not quite seriate, closer near the base and irregularly duplicated near the middle; the intervals are minutely and densely sculptured. Underside nitid, sparingly pubescent, æneo-fuscous, terminal ventral segment paler or rufescent, distinctly but rather finely and not closely punctate. Anterior coxæ rather less widely separated than in P. suffusus. Basal segment in the middle as long as the following three combined, 4th not medially abbreviated, almost the same length as the preceding one, 5th plane, longer than the intermediate ones, very scantily pubescent, with a well-marked foveiform apical depression. Posterior tibiæ grooved near the extremity. Front tarsi with broad, subcordate basal articulations, 2nd narrow at the base, deeply emarginate at the apex, the 3rd with elongate and rather narrow lobes, claws thickened near the base but less dentiform than in the New Zealand species. Female.—Ventral segments 4th and 5th somewhat violaceous, the former rather shorter than the 3rd, the 5th simple, basal segment longer than that of the male. Basal joint of front tarsi subtriangular. Var. a: Elytra with one elevated basal plica on each elytron; this, as well as the base and apex, is more or less testaceous, but there are no pale discoidal streaks; the serial punctures hardly at all duplicated. Thorax more obtusely angulated laterally behind the middle, and therefore appearing more obliquely narrowed towards the slightly projecting basal margins. Terminal ventral segment with a deep fovea; the 3rd, however, is very slightly abbreviated in the middle. Length, 2 ⅜-2 ¾ lines; breadth, 1 ⅛-1 ½ line. Raoul Island. Several specimens discovered under dead nikau leaves by Mr. W. L. Wallace, in whose honour I have named the species. Group Galerucidæ. Psylliodes solanæ, sp. nov. Compact, convex, oblong-oval, narrowed anteriorly, glabrous, nitid; viridescent, somewhat æneous; tibiæ and basal 3 or 4 joints of antennæ testaceous, the remaining joints slightly infuscate; posterior femora bronzed brown.

Head finely punctate, hardly as wide as front of thorax. Eyes large, obliquely oval. Thorax widest at the base, which is oblique towards the sides, posterior angles nearly rectangular; its sides almost straight, only slightly narrowed, anteriorly, their margins fine, but in front very distinctly incrassate and oblique; it is moderately finely, distinctly, but not closely punctured. Scutellum smooth. Elytra oblong-oval, finely margined, the base as wide as that of the thorax, the shoulders smooth, sometimes very slightly raised; they are moderately striate-punctate, the striæ, however, are distinct at the sides only, the sutural series of punctures extend obliquely from the base to the middle, the posterior sculpture is irregular, the apices are separately broadly rounded or subtruncate, so that the terminal abdominal segment is usually exposed. Underside shining, bronzed. Abdomen rather elongate, very convex transversely, rufo-fuscous, finely and sparingly punctate and pubescent; basal segment largest, somewhat hastate, and medially depressed, between the coxæ; 2–4 equal, 5th moderately elongate, truncate at apex, the supplementary conical and deeply concave. Prosternum short, the intercoxal process moderately broad and punctate. Mesosternum carinate and medially incurved in front. Metasternum shorter than the basal segment, convex, triangularly impressed behind, its frontal process triangular and with carinate margins between the coxæ. Posterior femora strongly developed, very broad and subtruncate at the base but tapering backwards. Tibiæ, posterior, widely incurved, narrowed and broadly grooved near the extremity, this part minutely denticulate externally. Tarsi, the hind pair as long as the tibiæ, attached to these at some distance from the apex; their basal joint elongate, longer than the following three taken together, 3rd bilobed, claws simple. Antennæ inserted at the front and inner margins of the eyes, reaching backwards to the middle of the wing-cases, 10-articulate; basal joint curvate, not much longer than either of the following two, 4–9 rather thicker than the preceding one, the 10th with a small apical articulation. The distinguishing features of the genus, the only one in Lacordaire's group Psilliodites, are the 10-jointed antennæ, and peculiar tibiæ and tarsi, which I have described above. The species are numerous and widespread. None in my collection, from Europe and America, resemble this. The supplementary terminal articulation of the antennæ will serve as a good differentiating character. Length, 1 ½ lines; breadth, ¾ line. Sunday Island. Found by Mr. W. L. Wallace on the common Solanum Group Carpophilidæ. Carpophilus vittiger, Matt. Elongate, subdepressed, the whole derm densely and minutely sculptured so as to appear subopaque, clothed with decumbent yellowish hairs; head and thorax fuscous, the front and back of the former, the sides and apex of the latter, somewhat rufescent; elytra obscure fusco-testaceous, the suture, apical portion, and an irregular discoidal area on each fuscous, the scutellum and the 2 uncovered abdominal segments also more or less infuscate; legs and antennæ fusco-rufous, the club darker. Head nearly as broad as front of thorax, contracted behind the large, prominent, subrotundate eyes, its surface moderately finely and closely

punctate. Thorax transversely quadrate, its sides distinctly margined, nearly straight, in some examples slightly rounded, its angles obtuse, base and apex subtruncate; its punctation rather finer than that of the head, not close, and on some parts indistinctly granulate, some specimens with a median linear space nearly smooth. Scutellum large, finely punctate or subgranulate. Elytra suboblong, of about the same width as the thorax at the base, their apices oblique towards the suture, their sides finely marginated and but little curved; their sculpture finely punctate or granulate according to the point of view. Abdomen with the first exposed segment transverse, the second longer and narrowed posteriorly, and, in male specimens, with a very small apical segment. Underside moderately shining, dark fuscous, scantily pubescent, finely yet distinctly but not closely punctate. Prosternal process broad, finely grooved laterally, attaining the mesosternum. Coxæ nearly equally separated. Metasternum rather shorter than abdomen, medially grooved. Ventral segments unequal, 5th longest, subconical, the basal one rather longer than the 4th, 2nd and 3rd very short. Femora moderately dilated, grooved underneath. Tibiæ gradually expanded towards the extremity, with distinct terminal spines. Tarsi 5-jointed, the basal 4 of the anterior dilated and, together, but little longer than the terminal one; the 4th of the posterior pair small. Antennæ rather longer than the head, 11-articulate, basal joint large, dilated towards the apex, 2nd cylindric, 3rd slender, slightly longer than 2nd, 4–7 short, 8th obconical, slightly broader than 7th; club large, 3-jointed, but with an additional small, sometimes indistinct, apical appendage. Length, 1 ½-2 lines; breadth, ½-¾ line. Sunday Island. Common in decaying oranges and bananas. Obs.—The species are numerous and widely distributed. Another species (C. hemipterus) was found by me in different parts of Auckland. The allied genus Brachypeplus is represented by a species (B. brevicornis) which I discovered thirty years ago at Tairua, and in January, 1909, I again met with it on trees at Waimarino. Group Enoplidæ. Necrobia ruficollis, Fab. Suboblong, moderately transversely convex, bearing short and elongate outstanding infuscate and yellowish-grey hairs; shining; thorax, base of elytra, and legs red; remainder of elytra and the head blue; antennæ nigrescent. Head as broad as front of thorax, narrowed anteriorly, distinctly and somewhat irregularly punctured. Eyes large, prominent, coarsely faceted. Thorax about a fourth broader than long, widest near the middle, base finely margined and bisinuate, lateral margins minutely crenulate, its angles obtuse; disc distinctly but not closely punctate, the sides more closely. Elytra oblong, broader than thorax, evidently seriate-punctate, less distinctly at the base, the suture and interstices finely punctured. Legs stout, hairy; femora rather short. Tarsi apparently only 4-jointed, the true 4th joint minute, yet discernible between the lobes of the 3rd, the 2nd and 3rd with membranous lamellæ underneath, terminal joint elongate; claws thickened at the base.

Antennæ 11-articulate, basal joint subpyriform, 2nd short, 3rd evidently longer than the contiguous ones, 5–8 short; club large, its basal joints strongly transverse, the terminal one about as long as the preceding two combined, subtruncate at the extremity. Length, 2 ¾ lines; breadth, 1 ⅛ line. Sunday Island. The Bell family, on one occasion, dried a great quantity of sea-birds' eggs, which became a moving mass of this species. It is nearly cosmopolitan, and occurs in New Zealand amongst the bones and skins of dead animals, &c. Group Calandridæ. Sitophilus oryzæ, Linn. Elongate, subovate, nearly plane above, subopaque; colour variable, piceous, fuscous or ferruginous, thorax darker than elytra, these latter with 4 reddish spots, 2 basal and 2 subapical; scantily clothed with short, erect, yellowish setæ, those on the legs paler. Rostrum shorter than thorax, slightly arched, moderately stout, cylindrical, but somewhat dilated at the base, with longitudinal series of rather coarse punctures which almost form grooves. Scrobes short, basal, not visible above. Head rather short, conical, finely punctate behind, with an interocular depression. Eyes flat, strongly transverse. Scape stout, inserted at the dilated basal portion of the rostrum, extending backwards beyond the eyes. Funiculus much longer than the scape, 6-articulate, 2nd joint as long as the basal, 6th slightly larger than 5th; club oval, solid, but with a small, pubescent, apical appendage. Thorax a fifth longer than broad, gently narrowed anteriorly, abruptly contracted at apex, posterior angles rounded; coarsely, closely, and rugosely punctured at the sides, the middle of the disc more finely and less closely. Scutellum distinct. Elytra slightly longer than thorax, as wide at the base, gradually narrowed posteriorly, apices broadly rounded or subtruncate; the sutural region is somewhat depressed, they are evidently punctate-striate, with narrow interstices. Pygidium uncovered, vertical, with short, coarse setæ. Legs elongate; tibiæ with well-developed apical hooks, the inner extremity of the anterior acutely spiniform. Tarsi moderately elongate, their 3rd joint excavate above but not distinctly bilobed. Underside closely and coarsely punctured, the basal ventral segment medially depressed. Female.—Rostrum finely seriate-punctate. Male.—Length (rostrum inclusive), 2 lines; breadth, ⅝ line. Sunday Island. Found in rice and flour; sometimes only too common at Auckland, where I saw it during 1866. Group Coccinellidæ. Coccinella II-punctata, Linn. Compact, convex, broadly oval, glabrous, shining; head, thorax, and legs black elytra testaceous or rufescent, all these, except the legs, maculate; antennæ pale fuscous. Head narrower than thorax, closely punctate; the front margin of the forehead and 2 interocular spots pale yellow. Thorax strongly transverse, deeply emarginate in front, so that the anterior angles appear obtusely

prominent; base widely rounded, with rounded angles; the sides slightly curved and narrowed anteriorly, their margins more distinct behind than in front; its surface closely and finely punctured, and with a large yellowish spot at each anterior angle. Elytra broader and much longer than the thorax, with rounded shoulders, lateral margins distinct, they are finely and closely punctate; at the middle of the base there is a large spot which is divided by the suture, there is a smaller one about as distant from each side as from the base, across the middle there are 4, and there are 4 others behind, all of which are black. Legs with fine grey hairs. Tarsi apparently tri-articulate, the small true 4th joint, however, is visible within the excavation of the 2nd, which is quite the length of the basal one, the terminal is as long as the preceding two combined; claws thickened at the base. Antennæ rather short and slender, 11-jointed, the basal 2 are thick, 3rd and 4th equal, moderately elongate, 5 to 8 decrease in length; the joints of the club gradually expanded, the terminal one broad and obtuse at the apex. Underside black. Length, 2 ¼ lines; breadth, 1 ½ line. This valuable European ladybird is sometimes abundant in New Zealand. Two specimens were brought by Mr. Wallace from Macauley Island; in both the 4 median spots are transformed into 2. None were found on Sunday Island.