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REVISION OF THE NEW ZEALAND COSSONIDÆ, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.

BY CAPT. T. BROUN, M.E.S.

(Read before the Auckland Institute, Oct. 3rd, 1881.)

COSSONIDÆ.

On page 731, Part II., of the Manual of the New Zealand Coleoptera, there is an allusion to the difficulty likely to be experienced in accurately identifying the numerous species of this group, now seventy. Having recently made a thorough examination of its somewhat heterogeneous exponents, I came to the conclusion that a revision had become necessary. The species have accordingly been re-arranged in my cabinet in such a way that, it is hoped, their determination will be greatly facilitated. The following list will express my views:

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The old No. 925 proving on re-examination to be identical. with Entiam aberrans, has been expunged from the list, and a new species (Pentarthrum ferrunincum) substituted. The generic names Novitas and Lasiorhinus have been replaced by more

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appropriate ones (Beliniphorus and Pogonorhinus). Nos. 912, 913, and 923 have had a new name (Rhinanisus) coined for them. Nos. 917 and 918 have been treated in a similar way. A new species (Agastegnus ruficollis) has been made the type of another new genus, and with it are associated Nos. 930, 922, and 933. No. 1305 has been deemed the representative of another distinct form (Baorophalus). Pentarthrum asperirostre (No. 921) has become Proconus asperirostris. Euodontus punctithorax is a new genus and species.

I have adopted Pentarthrum apicaleas the typical form of the genus. The five following agree with it in having the margins of the elytra explanated apically, their relationship therefore can be easily perceived. The name Pentarthrum should, in my opinion, be restricted to the species from No. 906 to No. 904; the succeeding four are certainly of abnormal form, and had the author (the late T. V. Wollaston) of the original diagnosis of this genus considered, as I do, the P. sharpianum the exponent of a new genus, I would have placed Nos. 910 and 924 along with it, and then made a distinct generic name for P. crenatum. Had it been expedient to pursue the course indicated, I would have located all the species from No. 910 to 936 after Belinophorus nigrans, so that Scricotrogus subanescens should succeed P. crena

tum.

The student having these remarks and the descriptions before him will, I hope, find the nomenclature of a cossonideous collection much simplified.

COSSONIDE.

Pentarthrum ferrugineum, n.sp.—Shining, ferruginous, tarsi and antennæ sub-fulvous.

Rostrum cylindrical, moderately broad, with a few fine fulvous hairs near the sides and apex, rather finely and not closely punctured, nearly smooth along the middle. Antennæ inserted behind the middle, stout, 2nd. joint of the funiculus slightly longer than 3rd, with fine grayish hairs, club rather short and rounded, obsoletely articulated. Prothorax longer than broad, triangularly ovate, a good deal narrowed and constricted in front, considerably rounded behind the middle, leaving an obvious space between the dilated part and the elytral angles; plane above, its dorsal line smooth, the rest of its surface moderately punctated, the punctures not confluent. Elytra rather short, base bisinuated, apices not explanate, sub-depressed; striate-punctate, interstices with a row of minute and distant punctures, nevertheless, owing to the sub-crenate punctures in the striæ, appearing rugulose, the first three reach the apices, but the others are abbreviated and cause ante-apical depressions. Legs moderate, tarsi rather pilose. A few fine hairs may be seen near the base of the thorax, but none elsewhere.

When placed side by side with P. zealandieum the difference in size at once strikes the eye, the elytra being notably shorter,

the thorax is more strongly rounded laterally and quite as braod as the elytra, and, though the smooth neck is distinctly marked off, the eyes seem a trifle less prominent, the snout is stouter than that of the female but not so broad as in the other sex of that species.

Length, 1%; breadth, 4 line.

I found one near Parua. This species is substituted for P. punctatum, which on re-examination proves to be identical with Entium aberrans.

Pentarthrum erenatum, n. sp.-Sub-depressed, moderately glossy, dark red, antennæ and tarsi paler, pubescent.

Rostrum cylindrical, slightly narrowed behind, bearing a few yellow hairs along the sides and front, distinctly punctured. Prothorax ovate-triangular, constricted in front, impressed along the dorsum, moderately coarsely and closely punctured, not rugose, sparingly clothed with fine but rather elongate yellow hairs. Scutellum smooth. Elytra truncate at base, rather broad, parallel, rounded apically; disc rather plane, striated, the striæ crenate-punctate, interstices moderately broad, quite rugulose, the six inner attain the apices, these latter not in the least explanate. Legs moderate, tarsi stout, their penultimate joint sub-bilobed. Antenna pubescent. inserted medially, 2nd joint of the funicle decidedly longer than 3rd. Club rather narrow and clongate.

This insect presents some peculiarities as compared with the true Pentarthra. The rostrum is intermediate in form between the two sexes of P. zealandicum; the eyes are depressed; the thorax is rather short, and the elytra are broader than it; the yellowish, brassy hairs are conspicuous. The coarse punctation of the head ceases abruptly behind the eyes, leaving a broad smooth neck.

Length, 1; breadth, 3g line.

Described from one example in my own collection, probably from the Waitakerei.

Rhinanisus, n. gen.-Allied to Pentarthrum, distinguished from it by the rostrum being evidently narrower behind the antennal insertion than its broad anterior portion, even in the female sex; in the eyes being smaller and less convex; and in the form being rather broad and sub-depressed, instead of being cylindrical as in that genus.

The type is No. 912, now Rhinanisus fulvicornis; Nos. 913 and 923 become R. parvicornis and R. contiguus respectively.

Dioëdimorpha, gen. nov.-Rostrum of variable length, rounded and dilated at apex and again at antennal insertion; scrobes short, oblique, so that the scape in repose extends below and as far as the back part of the eye. Head large, sub-oblong, with a broad neck. Eyes small, depressed, distinctly facetted, anterolateral. Antenna moderate, funiculus 5-articulate, club-ovate. Prothorax not greatly exceeding the head, sub-conical, Scutellum

Pro

distinct. Elytra very elongate, puite parallel, not quite so broad as thorax. Legs rather short and stout; femora moderately inflated; tibia sub-triangular, with terminal hooks. Four anterior coxa small. with obvious cavities; all three pairs distant. sternum large, truncate behind. Mesosternum and metasternum convate, without the least trace of suture, conjointly, very elongate. Abdomen long, its two large basal segments not distinctly separated, the next three sutures profound. Body linear and depressed.

This genus is intended for the reception of Pentarthrum wollastonianum and debile, as these two species cannot be satisfactorily referred to Pentarthrum. The above diagnosis has been taken from the male of the former species; in the other sex the rostrum is more elongate, and the apical and antennal dilatations are less evident.

Agastegnus, n, gen.—Rostrum of moderate length, slightly and gradually dilated anteriorly among the males, nearly cylindric in the other sex. Antennæ elongate; scape flexuose, and gradually incrassated; funiculus 5-articulate, 2nd joint longer than 3rd.; club ovate, moderate: they spring from just before the middle of the beak. Head immersed nearly to the eyes, not contracted behind. Eyes oviform, distinctly facetted, flat. Prothorax almost triangularly ovate, narrowed and constricted in front. Scutellum small but distinct. Elytra rather broad, sub-depressed, sub-parallel. Legs long; thighs moderately inflated; tibia flexuose, with terminal hooks; tarsi elongate, their three basal joints short and broad; penultimate sub-bilobed, the terminal equalling the other three. Anterior coxa distant. Body pilose.

Differs from Pentarthrum and Sericotrogus in having long legs, a short head, and depressed eyes, whilst the form of the antennal club separates it from Macroscytalus, to which it is, on the whole, most nearly allied.

Besides the typical species it includes Nos. 922 and 930, which must accordingly be named A. gratus and A. longipes. I have a specimen of Dr. Sharp's Scricotrogus simulans, or what I believe to be one. If I have judged correctly it belongs to this genus, but as the author does not allude to "long legs and flattened eyes," it must be considered doubtful at present.

1432. Agastegnus ruficollis, n. sp.-Slender, moderately elongate, sub-depressed, clothed with fine elongate yellowish hairs; beak and thoracic disk rufescent, elytra and legs piceous, the latter darker; antennæ testaceous-red, the club and tarsi pitchy

red.

Rostrum shorter than thorax, not broad, gradually expanded towards the extremity, nude, shining, sparingly and finely punctured. Head more coarsely punctated, pubescent. Prothorax longer than broad, sub-depressed, constricted and narrowed in front, obtusely rounded behind the middle, leaving an evident gap between it and the humeral angles, moderately coarsely but not very closely nor rugosely punctured, the intervals between the punctures very minutely punctulated. Scutellum smooth.

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