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Broun,  Thomas 

Revision  of  the  New 
Zealand  Byrrhidae 


596 
B97U76 


[Registered  for  transmission  by  post  as  a  magazine. 


NEW    ZEALAND    INSTITUTE 


BULLETIN     No.     2. 


EEVISION 


OF  THE 


NEW  ZEALAND  BYRRHIDAE, 


WITH 


B 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  NEW  SPECIES. 


Y     MAJOR     T.     BROUN.     F.E.S 


EDITED    AND    PUBLISHED    UNDEE    THE    AUTHORITY    OP    THE    BOARD    OF 
GOVERNORS    OF   THE    INSTITUTE. 


ISSUED    30th    AUGUST,    1910. 


$cto  3cal;mb  : 

JOHN    MACKAY,    GOVERNMENT    PRINTER,    WELLINGTON. 

WM.   WESLEY  AN1>   SONS,   28  ESSEX   STREET,   STRAND,   LONDON    W.C. 

Price,  to  the  pubUc  2s.,  to  membeis  Is.  6d.] 


1 


NEW    ZEALAND    INSTITUTE. 


BULLETINS. 


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Zealand  Institute  hopes  to  issue,  from  time  to  time,  important  papers 
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general  style  with  the  Transactions  of  the  New  Zealand  Institute,  but  will 
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on   the  published  price. 


NEW    ZEALAND    INSTITUTE 


BULLETIN     No.     2, 


RE  VISION 


OP   THE 


NEW  ZEALAND  BYRRHIDAK, 


WITH 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF   NEW   SPECIES. 


By     MAJOR     T .     BROUN.     F .  E .  S 


EDITED    AND    PUBLISHED    UNDER   THE    AUTHORITY    OF   THE    BOARD   OF 
GOVERNORS    OF   THE    INSTITUTE. 


ISSUED    30th    AUGUST.    1910. 


JOHN    MACKAY,    GOVERNMENT    PRINTER,    WELLINGTON. 
Wm.  Wesley  and  Sons,  28  Essex  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


b'9L 
Bf7  &7L 


I 


REVISION    OF   THE 

NP^W    ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE, 

WITH    DESCRIPTIONS  OF  NEW  SPECIES. 
By  Majoe  T.  Buoun,  P.E  S. 


INTRODUCTION. 


There   were   several   reasons   for   undertaking   this   task,    one    being    the 
scattered  nature  of  the  literature  on  the  subject. 

The   first   description   appeared   in   vol.   ii   of  the   great   German    work. 

'  Voyage  of  the  '  Novara,'  '  1867,  and  was  followed  bv  that  of  Pascoe's 
Morychus  coruscans  in  the  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist,  for  September,  1875. 
Since  then  many  more  have  been  published  in  different  volumes  of  the 
latter  work,  and  in  separate  parts  of  the  Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  so  that  a 
colonial  entomologist  who  wished  to  identify  his  captures — perhaps  a  dozen 

—probably  less,  as  they  are  generally  rare — would  have  to  procure  just  as 
many  separate  volumes,  or  parts,  as  the  number  of  species  in  his  collection. 
After  this  necessary  expense  had  been  incurred,  he  would  not  be  long  in 
coming  to  the  conclusion  that  the  numerous  species  assigned  to  Morychus 
or  Pedilophorus  within  the  last  thirty  years  are  not  by  any  means  easily 
recognised  by  descriptions  alone. 

When  studying  the  genera  of  this  family,  he  would  have  to  consult 
Lxordaire's  Hist,  des  Ins.  Coleopt.,  in  Latin  and  French.  There  he  would 
see  Pedilophorus  treated  as  a  synonym  of  Morychus ;  but  on  referring  to 
the  "  Catalogus  Coleopterorum  "  of  Gemminger  and  Harald,  the  standard 
work,  which  was  published  about  fourteen  years  later  than  Lacordaire's, 
it  would  be  found  that  the  process  had  been  reversed.  In  many  cases  it 
would  be  found  necessary  to  dissect  some  of  his  rare  specimens  in  order 
to  ascertain  whether  the  details  of  structure  corresponded  with  their 
European  descriptions. 

In  this  memoir,  instead  of  recapitulating  these  generic  diagnoses  in 
detail,  certain  salient  characteristics  that  arc  comparatively  easily  seen 
are  given  as  the  characters  of  each  genus  represented  in  New  Zealand  ; 
and,   as  another  aid  to  identification,   Mr.  A.   Waterworth,   of  Northcote, 


4  NEW    ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE. 

has  been  kind  enough  to  prepare  micro-photographs  to  illustrate  this  paper. 
This  is  the  first  step  towards  simplification — one  which,  it  is  hoped,  will  be 
appreciated  here. 

The  species  belonging  to  Nosodendron,  Curimus,  Cytilissus.  and  Lim- 
nichus  are  not  difficult  to  distinguish  from  one  another.  Liochoria  huttoni 
is  not  represented  in  my  collection,  but  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  most  nearly 
related  to  Pedilophorus  lewisi. 

Pedilophorus,  it  may  be  stated,  has  been  retained  in  accordance  with 
the  "  Catalogus  Coleopterorum "  of  1868.  To  this  genus,  considering 
Morychus  as  synonymous,  twenty-three  species  have  been  attached.  Here 
arises  the  principal  difficulty — a  real  one,  too.  They  are  very  homogeneous, 
varying  chiefly  in  colour  and  sculpture,  but  without  any  well-marked  or 
prominent  differences,  such  as  tubercles  or  superficial  inequalities,  that 
would  be  serviceable  in  tabulation.  At  first  it  was  thought  that  the  antennal 
structure  would  be  useful  in  separating  these  species  into  series  or  sections, 
but  after  a  good  deal  of  time  had  been  expended — I  had  almost  said,  wasted 
— it  became  apparent  that  these  important  organs  are  not  reliable  guides 
in  classification,  because,  after  carefully  examining  the  left  antenna  of 
several  species,  or  varieties,  under  the  microscope,  it  was  found  that  the 
right  differed  more  or  less.  The  membranous  appendages  of  the  third 
tarsal  joints  were  tried  next  :  these  also  were  found  unsatisfactory  :  the 
anterior  or  posterior  were  sometimes  well  developed,  but  if  the  tarsi  had 
been  smeared  with  gum  in  mounting  the  specimens  on  cardboard,  or  with 
dried  sappy  substances  in  the  forest,  they  could  hardly  be  seen  at  all.  The 
extremities  of  the  mandibles  are  bifid,  or  even  trident  ate  in  some  species  ; 
but,  as  a  rule,  it  is  difficult  to  examine  them  properly  in  the  case  of  old 
specimens  without  running  the  risk  of  spoiling  the  insects,  and  even  in  fresh 
examples  they  are  not  at  all  easy  to  manipulate.  The  scutellum  and  eyes 
vary  but  little,  whilst  the  form  of  the  head  and  thorax  offers  no  distinct 
feature  for  discrimination.  The  species  have,  nevertheless,  been  divided 
into  two  sections,  as  will  be  seen  on  referring  to  their  descriptions. 

After  a  prolonged  scrutiny  of  all  the  specimens  in  my  collection  it  was 
decided  that  eleven  species  should  be  detached  from  Pedilophorus,  and,  along 
with  three  new  ones,  placed  in  a  new  genus,  which  has  been  named  Synorthus. 
These  fourteen  species  have  been  arranged  in  four  sections,  each  with  one 
or  more  special  characteristics,  so  as  to  facilitate  identification.  Those 
that  are  located  in  the  first  section  will  give  more  trouble  than  the  others. 

Pedilophorus,  thus  reduced  by  half  of  its  older  members,  is  now  in  a  very 
different  position  ;  and.  although  three  species  that  proved  to  be  new  are 
now  added,  five  or  six  of  the  total  number,  fifteen,  exhibit  certain 
obvious  characters  that  will  lead  at  once  to  their  recognition:  the 
remainder  cannot  be  separated  from  one  another  quite  so  easily. 

As  the  typical  member  of  each  section  of  Pedilophorus  and  Synorthus, 
as  far  as  possible,   has  been  pretty  fully  described,  the  general  form  and 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

structure  of  its  nearest  allies  can  he.  comprehended  without  the  repetition 
of  unnecessary  details.  With  one  or  two  exceptions,  all  measurements 
include  the  head  as  set  out  on  cardboard  ;  hut  I  cannot  yet  guarantee 
thai  this  applies  to  Redtenbacher's  Curimus  zeelandicus  or  Keitter's  Pe- 
dilophorus hdmsi.  Throughout  this  group  very  little  variation  occurs  as 
regards  size  amongst  the  individuals  of  any  species  :  measurement,  there- 
fore, is  another  aid  to  identification. 

On  perusal  of  the  following  list  it  will  he  seen  that  the  Nosodendridae, 
Byrrhidae,  and  Limnichidac,  all  of  which  are  here  included  in  the  general 
family  name  Byrrhidae,  comprise  forty-two  species,  which  are  distributed 
among  seven  genera. 

In  Britain  there  are  twelve  species  and  nine  genera.  In  North  America 
there  are  also  nine  genera  and  about  forty  species  ;  whilst  Europe,  with  the 
same  number  of  genera,  possesses  about  sixty  species. 

Our  list,  doubtless,  will  be  augmented  in  course  of  time  ;  yet  even  now 
it  equals  that  of  such  a  huge  territory  as  that  portion  of  America  which 
extends  southwards  to  the  border  of  Mexico.  Although  New  Zealand  has 
already  yielded,  so  far  as  this  particular  group  is  concerned,  a  number 
altogether  out  of  proportion  to  its  limited  area,  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  some  other  extensive  groups  of  Coleoptera  are  either  entirely  absent 
or  only  very  poorly  represented. 


LIST  OK  THE  NEW  ZEALAND  BYRRHIDAE. 


Nosodendron  ovatum  Broun. 

„  zealandieum  Sharp. 

Curimus  squamiger  Broun. 
.,         striatus  Broun. 
vestitus  Broun. 
„         zeelandicus  Redtenbacher. 
Synorthus  stern alis  Broun. 
,,  orbicularis  Broun. 

nigricans  Broun. 
insuetus  Broun. 
nigralis  Broun. 
mixtiis  Broun. 
mandibulars  Broun.  3157 
laevigatas  Broun.     3158. 
,,  setarius  Broun. 

rotundus  Broun. 
,,  villosus  Broun. 

pygmaeus  Broun.     3159. 
anomalus  Broun. 
,,  granulatus  Broun. 

Pedilophorus  foveigeru.s  Broun.  3160. 
,,  gemmeus  Broun. 


Pedilophorus  laevipennis  Broun. 
,,  probus  Broun. 

,,  puncticeps  Broun. 

tibialis  Broun. 
creperus  Broun. 
pulcherrimus  Broun. 
picipes  Broun. 
laetus  Broun. 
,,  lewisi  Broun. 

„  sculpturatus   B  r  o  u  n. 

3161. 
cognatus  Broun.    3162. 
coruscans  Pascoe. 
helmsi  Reitter. 
„  bryobius  Broun.    3163. 

Liochoria  huttoni  Pascoe. 
Cytilissus  claviger  Broun. 
Limnichus  decorus  Broun. 
,,  simplex  Broun. 

picinus  Broun. 
„  nigripes  Broun. 


NEW    ZEALAND   BVKKHI  I) AK. 


Group  BYRRHIDAE. 


Nosodendron    Latreille.      Lacordaire,    Hist,    des    Ins.    Coleopt.,    torn,    ii, 

p.  478. 

Head  not  retracted  during  repose.  Labrum  indistinct.  Antennae  11- 
articulate,  inserted  below  the  sides  of  the  head  ;  club  abruptly  enlarged, 
3-jointed.     Tarsi  simple,  pentamerous. 

Nosodendron  ovatum  Broun.      Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  212.     {Fig.  1.) 

Oval,  convex,  subopaque,  fusco-piceous  ;  bearing  numerous  short  ful- 
vescent  setae,  some  of  which  are  decumbent  and  a  little  thicker  than  the 
more  numerous  erect  ones  ;  legs  and  antennae  piceo-rufous.  club  rulo- 
castaneous. 

Head  quite  as  long  as  broad,  gradually  narrowed  anteriorly  ;  evenly, 
distinctly,  yet  not  closely  punctured,  more  finely  and  densely  in  front. 
Eyes  quite  lateral,  transverse,  not  prominent.  Thorax  twice  as  broad 
as  long,  base  widely  rounded,  with  obtuse  angles  ;  the  sides  nearly  straight, 
but  gradually  narrowed  towards  the  acute  anterior  angles  ;  its  sculpture 
slightly  finer  and  closer  than  that  of  the  head.  Scutellurn  moderate,  tri- 
angular, minutely  punctate.  Elytra  as  broad  as  thorax  at  the  base,  cioselv 
applied  thereto,  curvedly  narrowed  posteriorly,  their  punctation  similar 
to  that  of  the.  thorax. 

Antennae  shining,  2nd  joint  as  long  as  the  exposed  portion  of  the  basal 
oik',  but  not  as  stout;  3rd  elongate  and  slender,  quite  the  length  of  the 
following  2  combined,  both  of  these  latter  distinctly  longer  than  broad  ; 
7th  slightly  broader  than  6th;  8th  transverse,  obconical,  rather  broader 
than  the  preceding  one  ;  club  finely  pubescent,  abruptly  marked  off.  un- 
symmetrical,  the  joints  being  attached  to  each  other  outside  of  the  middle, 
and  therefore  appearing  to  be  dilated  inwardly,  its  basal  joint  inwardly 
narrowed  behind,  the  intermediate  rather  shorter  and  more  transversal, 
the  terminal  rather  larger  and  subrotimdate. 

Femora  broad  at  the  base,  gradually  narrowed  outwardly.  Tibia* 
slender  at  the  base  gradually  expanded,  so  as  to  be  almost  elongate- 
triangulax  :  they  are  finely  denticulate,  or  spinose  externally.  Tarsi  short, 
their  terminal  joint  only  extending  beyond  the  outer  extremity  of  the  tibiae. 

Underside  distinct]}'  punctate,  with  short  setae.  Prosternal  process 
cuneiform,  narrowed  behind,  not  projecting  beyond  the  coxae.  Meso- 
sternum  delimited  by  a  fine  straight  suture  between  the  intermediate  coxae. 
with  a  rather  narrow,  polished,  median  cavity  in  front.  Metasternum 
elongate.  Ventral  segments  with  strongly  sinuated  sutures,  the  basal  4 
about  equal,  5th  longest. 

The  insect  in  its  natural  state  is  usually  covered  with  sappy  matter, 
which  must  be  removed  before  the  sculpture  and  clothing  can  be  seen. 

Length,  2— 2f  lines  ;   breadth,  l£-lf  lines. 

Tairua,   Waitakerei,  and  Hunua  Ranges.     Four  specimens  in   my  own 


c 


ollection. 


Nosodendron  zealandicum  Sharp.     Man.   N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  1106. 

Oval,  convex,  black,  moderately  nitid  ;  sparingly,  very  finely,  and 
indistinctly  pubescent  :  antennae  and  legs  rufo-piceous.  club  dull  fuscous; 
rather  densely  and  finely  punctate,  the  elytra  with  several  series  of  fine 
pund  ures  near  the  base. 


NOSODENDKON.  7 

Rather  larger,  more  shining,  with  closer  and  finer  sculpture  than 
N.  ovatwn.  The  scutellum  is  larger,  the  tarsi  more  elongate,  and  the  tibiae 
are  less  expanded  towards  the  extremity. 

Antennae  slender,  the  basal  joint  concealed  under  the  side  of  the  head  ; 
2nd  stout  ;  3rd  slender  and  very  elongate,  as  long  as  the  following  3  or  4 
taken  together  ;  4th  and  5th  equal,  about  twice  as  long  as  broad  ;  (it  I,  and 
7th  obconical,  longer  than  broad;  8th  transverse;  club  elongate,  sym- 
metrical, the  intermediate  joint  transverse,  the  terminal  largest,  subcorneal. 

Length,  2|  lines  ;    breadth,  1|  lines. 

Greymouth  (Mr.  R.  Helms).  My  specimen,  in  bad  order,  was  sent  to 
me  by  Mr.  P.  Seymour  from  Te  Oneroa. 

(Curimus  Erichson.     Lacord.,  Hist,  des  Ins.  Coleopt.,  torn,  ii,  p.  481. 

Head  retracted  during  repose.  Antennae  11 -articulate,  inserted  at  the 
sides  of  the  head,  basal  joint  not  hidden.  Labrum  transverse.  Prosternal 
process  broad,  augulate  behind,  and  fitting  closely  into  the  mesosternal 
cavity.  Legs  and  tarsi  closely  packed  together  when  at  rest.  Tibiae  slender 
at  the  base,  dilated,  or  subangulate  above  the  middle. 

In  the  New  Zealand  species  the  eyes  are  rather  flat,  and,  being  situated 
at  the  sides  of  the  head,  just  below  the  lateral  margins,  they  are  not  at  all 
prominent  ;  sometimes,  even  in  well-mounted  specimens,  they  are  hardly 
discernible  when  looked  at  from  above. 

Curimus  squamiger  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  1448.     {Fig.  2.) 

Convex,  broad,  suboblong,  moderately  nitid,  densely  covered  with 
depressed,  minute,  circular,  dull  smoky  squamae,  and  many  short,  erect, 
greyish-yellow  setae  ;  body  black  ;  antennae,  palpi,  and  legs  rufo-piceous  ; 
claws  rufescent. 

Head  conical,  rather  narrow,  finely  margined,  indefinitely  sculptured, 
with  some  minute  grey  scales.  Thorax  transverse,  the  length  about  half 
the  width,  its  sides  nearly  straight,  but  much  narrowed  towards  the 
deflexed  subacute  front  angles,  apex  medially  rounded  ;  base  widely  and 
slightly  bisinuate,  apparently  with  rectangular  angles  ;  a  denuded  spot  is 
smooth,  but  the  scales  cause  the  surface  to  appear  minutely  granulate. 
Scutellum  distinct.     Elytra  finely  striate,  the  interstices  plane. 

Tibiae  deeplv  grooved  for  the  accommodation  of  the  tarsi,  the  anterior 
in  front,  the  others  behind,  they  are  fringed  with  greyish  setae  ;  tarsi 
apparently  without  membranous  appendages.  Antennae  slender ;  basal 
2  joints  of  equal  length,  the  1st  the  stouter  ;  3-6  cylindrical ;  7-9  short, 
obconical.  rather  broader  than  preceding  one ;  10th  obconical,  rather 
broader  than  9th  ;  the  11th  as  broad  as  the  10th,  but  nearly  twice  as  long, 
these  terminal  2  finely  pubescent,  so  that  the  club  seems  to  be  only  biarticu- 
late. 

Underside  moderately  shining,  black,  with  short  grey  setae ;  meta- 
sternum  distinctly  but  not  coarsely  punctate,  the  last  ventral  segment  finely 
and  closely. 

Differentiated  from  C.  striatus  by  the  squamosity  and  thoracic  sculpture. 

Length,  If  lines  ;   breadth,  1^  lines. 

Ashburton.     A  pair  from  Mr.  W.  W.  Smith. 

Curimus  striatus  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  244. 

Suboblong,  rather  broad,  convex,  moderately  nitid,  black,  sparingly 
clothed  with  short  greyish  and  erect  fuscous  setae. 


8  NEW    ZEALAND    BYKHH1DAE. 

Head  rather  short,  apparently  minutely  and  closely  granulate.  Thorns 
more  than  twice  as  broad  as  "it  is  long,  its  sides  slightly  explanate.  consider- 
ably narrowed  anteriorly,  the  apex  broadly  rounded  medially  and  finely 
margined,  base  widely  Insinuate  and  very  closely  fitted  to  the  elytra  :  its 
surface  closely  and  finely  yet  distinctly  punctured,  it  is  laterally  depressed 
in  front.  Scutettum  elongate-triangular,  but  not  easily  seen.  Elytra  parallel- 
sided,  but  much  narrowed,  and  rather  abruptly  declivous  behind  :  on 
each  there  are  6  sharply  impressed,  impunctate,  discoidal  striae  which 
become  irregular  behind,  the  sutural  are  broad  and  deep  near  the  extremity  ; 
there  are  also  4  lateral  striae,  the  dorsal  grooves  scarcely  reach  the  base, 
where  the  sculpture  is  minutely  rugose  :  the  Brd  interstices  are  rather 
broader  than  the  others,  and  the  5th  are  slightly  and  obtusely  prominent 
near  the  top  of  the  declivity.  The  terminal  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  is 
acuminate. 

Length,  head  excl..  If  lines  ;    breadth.  1^  lines. 

Parua.  Whangarei.  My  somewhat  damaged  specimen  was  found  by 
Mr.  T.  Beasely. 

Curimus  vestitus  Broun.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Jul}-,  1904. 

Convex,  subovate,  slightly  nitid,  fusco-piceous,  legs  dark  rufous,  an- 
tennae and  palpi  piceous ;  densely  covered  with  small,  flat,  greyish-yellow7  and 
grey  scales,  these  latter  predominate  on  the  head  and  near  the  hind  angles 
of  the  thorax,  they  also  form  irregular  spots  near  the  sides  of  the  elytra  ; 
there  are  also  numerous  short,  erect  setae,  which  are  fuscous  on  the  dorsum, 
but  grey  near  the  sides,  and  nearly  quite  white  but  more  slender  on  the 
forehead  ;   tibiae  with  setiform  denticles  along  the  outside. 

Head  suboblong,  rather  flat.  Eyes  quite  lateral  and  longitudinal, 
narrowed  backwards,  not  prominent.  Thorax  strongly  transverse,  gradually 
narrowed  towards  the  acute  anterior  angles,  its  punctation  concealed, 
shallow.  Seidell  w»  triangular.  Elytra  with  simple,  sharply  defined  striae, 
interstices  plane. 

Underside  opaque,  sparingly  studded  with  short,  suberect  grey  setae, 
the  punctation  rather  coarse  and  shallow. 

Antennae  sparsely  hispid,  2nd  joint  nearly  as  long  as  the  exposed  portion 
of  the  1st,  3rd  and  4th  equal,  about  twice  as  long  as  broad,  the  next  2 
longer  than  broad  but  shorter  than  the  preceding,  7th  short.  8th  and  9th 
trans  y<ms«.  10th  evidently  broader  than  9th,  11th  oblong,  large,  closely 
muted  to  the  10th ;  these  terminal  2  therefore  appear  to  form  the  oblong 
club. 

Rather  smaller  than  its  two  predecessors,  and  at  once  distinguishable 
by  the  dense  pallid  vestiture. 

Length,   L|  lines:    breadth,  1  line. 

Ophir.  Otago.     Discovered  by  .Mr.  J.  H.  Lewis.     Two  examples. 

Curimus  zeelandicus  Redtenhacher.     Voy.  "  Novara,"  Zool. 

Breviter-ovatus,  valde  convexus,  niger,  supra  cinereo  nigroque  squamu- 
bi t  us.  Betie  erectis,  clavatis  nigris  in  interstitiis  alternis  elytrorum  in  fasci- 
culos  longitudinales  irregulares  condensatis.  maculaque  transversa  post 
mediana  elytrorum  albido  squamosa. 

Long.,  \  lin. ;  lat.  T%  lin. 


SYNORTHUS.  9 

Synorthus  gen.  nov. 

Body  subrotundate,  convex.  Scutetiwn  absent.  Thorax  and  elytra 
truncate  at  base. 

Head  during  repose  with  the  eyes  and  organs  of  the  mouth  uncovered. 
Labrum  transversely  quadrate,  carinate  at  base.  Mandibles  variable. 
Maxillary  palpi  with  subovate,  not  acuminate,  terminal  joints.  Antennae 
11 -articulate,  their  1st  joint  quite  free,  being  attached  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  forehead,  at  some  distance  from  the  eye,  by  means  of  a  stalk-like 
articulation  ;  they  are  gradually  incrassate  from  the  6th  or  7th  joint  on- 
wards. Tibiae  without  well-marked  tarsal  furrows,  not  dilated  towards 
the  extremity.     Tarsi  pentamerous,  3rd  joint  with  membranous  appendage. 

Prosternal  process  projecting  into  the  semicircular  mesosternal  cavity  : 
it  is  broader  than  in  Pedilophorus  (Morychus),  so  that  the  anterior  coxae  are 
more  widely  separated.  The  posterior  coxal  laminae  differ,  their  trochan- 
teral  portion  being  three  or  four  times  longer,  from  front  to  rear,  than  the 
outer,  whereas  in  Pedilophorus  they  taper  gradually  towards  the  sides, 
their  basal  portion  being  barely  twice  the  length  of  the  lateral.  It  is  more 
nearly  allied  to  Pedilophorus  than  to  Byrrhus,  Cytilus,  Simplocaria.  &c. 

Section  1. 
Bodv  glabrous,  or  nearly  so.     Forehead  indistinctly  margined. 
Synorthus  sternalis  Broun.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,  1893. 

Glossy,  black,  front  margin  of  thorax  rufescent,  legs  and  basal  joint  of 
antennae  dark  rufous,  remaining  joints  paler,  tarsi  testaceous. 

Head  distinctly  but  rather  finely  punctured,  more  distantly  on  the  middle 
than  at  the  sides,  with  a  few  minute  slender  setae,  the  labrum  with  distinct 
yellow  ones  ;  forehead  broadly  rounded,  finely  margined  near  the  antennae  ; 
basal  carina  of  labrum  separated  from  the  forehead  by  a  broad  groove. 
Thorax  twice  as  broad  as  long,  its  sides  finely  margined,  straight  but  nar- 
rowed anteriorly  ;  apex  widely  sinuate  and  finely  margined  towards  the 
acutely  rectangular  angles  ;  its  sculpture  like  that  of  the  head,  but  becoming 
finer  and  less  definite  towards  the  base  and  sides.  Elytra  abruptly  de- 
clivous and  narrowed  behind,  their  punctation  shallow  and  irregular,  a 
little  coarser  than  on  the  thorax,  the  sides  and  apex  almost  smooth. 

Tibiae  with  minute  slender  grey  setae,  the  anterior  nearly  straight, 
with  short,  external,  subapical  grooves  ;  the  intermediate  more  outwardly 
curvate  than  the  posterior.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  tibiae,  with  well- 
developed  appendages.  Eyes  large,  more  prominent  in  front  than  behind, 
with  indefinite  facets.  Antennae  pubescent,  basal  joint  thick,  cylindric, 
and  nearly  double  the  length  of  the  next,  which  is  not  as  stout ;  3rd  elongate 
and  slender,  nearly  as  long  as  the  following  3  combined  ;  4-6  about  equal, 
evidently  longer  than  broad  ;  7th  longer  than  broad,  only  slightly  thickened  ; 
8-10  as  long  as  broad  ;  11th  elongate,  yet  shorter  than  the  preceding  2  taken 
together  ;  the  club  therefore  very  elongate,  apparently  5- jointed,  but  not 
at  all  well  marked  off.     Mandibles  obtusely  bifid  at  apex. 

Underside  shining,  piceous,  with  fine  brassy  hairs,  which  are  more  con- 
centrated on  the  terminal  ventral  segment  than  elsewhere.  Metasternum 
grooved  behind,  rather  finely  and  not  closely  punctured,  the  abdomen  more 
finely  and  closely,  quite  densely  near  the  sides. 

Prosternum  much  abbreviated  in  the  middle,  its  process  plane  and  finely 
punctate  ;   the  flanks  distinctly  curvate  and  margined  inwardly,  moderately 


10  NKW     ZEALAND    BVRRHIDAE. 

concave  in  trout,  the  basal  half  more  deeply.  Epipleurae  broad,  concave 
at  the  base,  but  becoming  linear  behind  the  metasternum.  Basal  ventral 
segment  gradually  depressed  at  the  sides,  but  not  concave. 

Length,  2  linos:    breadth.,  If  lines. 

Ligars  Bush.  Papakura.     Two.  found  under  logs. 

Synorthus  orbicularis   Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  245. 

Glabrous,  shining,  piceo-rufous  ;    antennae,  palpi,  and  legs  flavescent. 

Head  distinctly  punctured,  more  closely  near  the  eyes  than  on  the  vertex  ; 
forehead  slightly  rounded,  finely  margined  between  the  eyes  and  antennae. 
Thorax  finely  yet  distinctly  margined  in  front,  its  sculpture  rather  finer 
than  on  the  middle  of  the  head,  much  finer  but  closer  towards  the  base. 
Elytra  with  rather  shallow  irregular  punctures,  less  distinct  than  those 
near  the  front  of  the  thorax. 

Eyes  finely  faceted.  Maxillary  palpi  with  broad  terminal  joints,  which 
are  truncate  at  the  apex.  Antennae  with  the  club  apparently  6-articulate, 
the  6th  joint  being  rather  broader  than  the  preceding  one,  the  11th  largest. 

Like  S.  sternalis,  but  distinguished  therefrom  by  the  thoracic  margins 
and  uniformly  yellow  colour  of  the  limbs. 

Length,  If  lines  ;    breadth,  1£  lines. 

Parua,  Whangarei.     Under  logs  ;    two  individuals. 

Synorthus  nigricans  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  671. 

Nitid,  nude,  piceo-niger,  legs  dark  red,  tarsi  fulvescent,  antennae 
castaneo-rufous. 

Head  moderately  coarsely  punctured,  distantly  on  the  middle  ;  forehead 
subtruncate  in  the  middle,  finely  margined  near  the  eyes.  Thorax  distinctly 
but  not  closely  punctate,  more  finely  than  the  head,  more  finely  towards 
the  base,  with  an  elongate  median  fovea  behind  the  middle,  the  apex  slightly 
margined  near  the  angles.  Elytra  with  unequally  distributed  punctures, 
which  are  less  definite  than  those  near  the  front  of  the  thorax,  not  effaced 
near  the  extremity  :   the  sutural  region  a  little  depressed  behind  the  middle. 

Antennae  gradually  thickened,  the  club  apparently  6-jointed,  basal  joint 
thick,  pitchy-red. 

The  narrow  ante-basal  fovea  on  the  thorax  is  a  good  differentiating 
feal  tire. 

Length,  2  lines;    breadth.  1^  lines. 

Paina.      Unique. 

Synorthus  insuetus  Broun.      Man.   X.Z.   Coleopt.,  p.   769. 

Shining,  glabrous,  quite  black,  legs  and  basal  joint  of  antennae  rufous. 
remaining  joints  pale  rufo-castaneous,  tarsi  fulvescent. 

Head  rather  strongly  rounded  in  front,  and,  though  without  margins, 
rather  well  defined  there;  it  is  finely  yet  distinctly  punctured  but  nearly 
smooth  along  the  middle.  Thorax  very  finely,  rather  distantly  and  in- 
distinctly punctate,  the  apex  finely  margined  near  the  angles.  Elytra 
very  finely  and  ^definitely  sculptured. 

Eyes  only  moderately  prominent,  strongly  transverse,  with  obsolete 
facets.  Antennae  with  the  6th  joint  rather  broader  than  its  predecessor, 
-o  that  the  club  is  indistinctly  6-articulate,  joints  8-10  are  strongly  trans- 
verse. 


SYNORTHUS.  H 

The  fine  sculpture,  form  of  the  eyes,  and  unusually  broad  joints  near  the 
terminal  one,  will  lead  to  its  recognition. 
Length,  I]  lines;    breadth,  L|  lines. 
Parua.     Unique. 

Synorthus  nigralis  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  1348.     (Fig.  3.) 

Glossy,  nearly  nude,  having  only  a  few  minute  yellowish  hairs,  which  are 
most  easily  seen  near  the  extremity  of  the  hind-body;  it  is  Mack,  with 
testaceous  tarsi,  fulvescent  antennae  ;  the  basal  joint,  however,  and  the 
legs,  rufous. 

Head  broadly  rounded,  obtuse  and  not  at  all  well  limited  in  front  ; 
finely  yet  distinctly  punctured,  closely  near  the  eyes,  nearly  smooth  on 
the  middle  ;  on  the  vertex  there  are  4  shallow  foveae.  Thorax  not  margined 
in  front,  with  acutely  prominent  anterior  angles,  its  sculpture  similar  to  that 
of  the  sides  of  the  head.  Elytra  somewhat  irregularly  and  finely  punctate 
less  distinctly  near  the  base  than  on  the  disc,  the  suture  a  little  depressed 
behind  the  middle,  as  in  S.  nigricans. 

Tibiae  with  fine  grey  setae,  the  anterior  slightly  curved,  the  others 
normal.  Club  apparently  5-articulate,  joints  8-10  moderately  transversal. 
Mandibles  obtuse  and  not  distinctly  dentate  at  the  extremity.  Eyes  ob- 
soletely  faceted.  Antennal  grooves  broad  and  deep,  extending  underneath 
alongside  the  eyes,  as  in  S.  sternalis. 

Underside  shining,  rufo-piceous,  abdomen  rufescent,  clothed,  on  the 
femora  and  sides  especially,  with  slender  brassy  setae.  Metastemum  finely 
and  distantly  punctured,  middle  of  abdomen  still  more  finely  and  indis- 
tinctly, the  sides  and  terminal  segment  very  densely  and  minutely  sculptured. 
Prosternum  less  abbreviated  than  in  S.  sternalis.  the  front  of  its  flanks 
plane. 

Maxillary  palpi  with  thick  terminal  joints,  their  apical  portion  distinctly 
narrower  and  truncate  at  apex. 

Somewhat    similar    to    S.    nigricans.     The    forehead    different,    thoracii 
angles  more  acute  and  prominent,  the  antennae  more  elongate,  &c. 

Length,  2  lines  ;    breadth,  1J  lines. 

Boatman's,  Reefton.     Mr.  T.  Cavell  ;   three  examples. 

Synorthus  mixtus  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  901. 

Nitid,  black,  head  and  thorax  slightly  bronzed,  legs  dark  rufous,  tarsi 
and  intermediate  joints  of  antennae  rufescent,  basal  joint  pitchy-red. 
terminal  joints  paler. 

Head  with  some  slender  grey  setae,  medially  curved  but  not  margined 
in  front  ;  closely  and  finely  punctured  near  the  eyes,  very  distantly  on  the 
middle.  Thorax  not  perceptibly  margined  in  front,  with  acute  rectangular 
angles  ;  distinctly  but  finely  and  not  closely  punctate,  indistinctly  near  the 
base.  Elytra  finely  and  irregularly  punctured,  and,  like  the  thorax,  bearing 
some  minute,  hardly  discernible  setae. 

Front  and  hind  tibiae  slightly,  the  intermediate  evidently,  arched,  with 
distinct  slender  grey  setae.  Antennae  with  the  club  5-articulate  ;  3rd 
joint  almost  as  long  as  the  following  3,  which  are  just  a  little  longer  than 
broad,  9th  and  10th  transverse.  Maxillary  palpi  with  unusually  broad 
terminal  joints,  their  apical  portion  sub-membranous  and  impressed  or 
concave.     Eyes  large,  finely  faceted. 

Underside   piceo-niger,    nitid,    with   slender   greyish   pubescence.     Meta- 

num  distinctly,  abdomen  finely  punctate,  the  5th  segment  densely. 


19  XKW    ZEALAND    HYKHHIDAE. 

Smaller  and  rather  less  rotundate  than  the  other  members  of  this  Bection. 
The  remarkable  palpi,  if  quite  natural,  as  they  Beem  to  be,  cannot  well  be 
mistaken  for  any  ordinary  form. 

Length,  1!  lines  :    breadth,  1  tine. 

Mount  Maungatua,  Otago.     Mr.  S!  W.  Fulton:    two  individuals. 

3157.  Synorthus  mandibularis  sp.  nov. 

Glossv.  aeneo-niger,  legs  and  1st  antenna!  joint  rufous,  remaining  joints 
infuscate,  tarsi  testaceous. 

Head  with  some  slender  greyish  hairs,  rather  large,  the  forehead  rounded, 
not  margined  ;  it  is  finely,  distinctly,  and  closely  punctured,  but  nearly 
smooth  behind.  Thorax  with  acute  and  slightly  prominent  anterior  angles. 
its  apex  with  slender  margins  near  the  angles  only  ;  its  punctation  finer  than 
that  of  the  head,  and  apparently  absent  on  some  parts.  Elytra  with  ir- 
regular, rather  shallow,  and  not  close  punctures,  and  appearing  slightly 
coriaceous. 

Tibiae  with  fine  flavescent  setae,  the  anterior  nearly  straight,  the  others 
moderately  arched  externally  ;  tarsal  appendages  well  developed.  Eyes 
only  slightly  prominent,  rotundate  behind,  truncate  in  front.  Mandibles 
thick,  curvate,  and  acute  at  the  extremity  as  examined  from  above  ;  when 
carefully  examined  from  the  front  they  are  seen  to  be  minutely  tridentate, 
though  appearing  nearly  truncate,  at  the  apex.  Antennae  with  the  last 
5  joints  enlarged,  9th  and  10th  transverse,  3rd  nearly  the  length  of  the 
following  3  taken  together  ;  these  3,  though  longer  than  broad,  are  not 
elongate. 

Underside  shining,  piceous,  with  numerous  slender  pale  brassy  setae. 
Metasternum  distinctly  but  not  closely  punctured,  the  ventral  segments 
more  finely  and  closely,  the  5th  even  more  closely.  Maxillary  palpi  with 
broadly  ovate  terminal  joints,  truncate  at  the  apex. 

Differentiated  by  the  small  size  and  glossv  bronzed  surface.  S.  mixtus 
can  be  distinguished  by  its  peculiar  palpi. 

Length,  1|  lines:   breadth.  1  line. 

.Mount  look,  at  an  elevation  of  2,500ft.  A  solitary  individual  found 
by  Mr.  T.  F.  Cheeseman,  January,  1909. 

3158.  Synorthus  laevigatus  sp.  nov. 

Glabrous,  very  glossy,  black,  apex  of  thorax  and  extremity  of  elytra 
slightly  rufescent,  legs  Eusco-rufous ;  tarsi,  palpi,  and  antennae  fusco-tes- 
taceous,  the  basal  joint  of  these  last  rufous. 

Head  moderately  convex,  the  forehead  broadly  rounded  and  rather 
sharply  defined,  but  not  margined  except  near  the  antennae  ;  there  are  a 
few  line  indistinct  punctures  near  the  sides.  Thorax  with  some  scattered 
line  punctures,  .interior  angles  acutely  rectangular,  its  sides  not  perfectly 
straight,  yet  hardly  perceptibly  curved.  Elytra  very  slightly  depressed 
and  pointed  just  at  the  apical  margin,  their  punctation  distant  and  obsolete. 

Eyes  only  slightly  prominent.  .Maxillary  palpi  with  broad  terminal 
articulations,  obtuse  or  subtruncate  at  the  extremity,  and  somewhat  con- 
cave  or  flattened.  Tibiae  with  slender  greyish  setae,  the  anterior  nearly 
straight,  gradually  narrowed  towards  the  extremity,  without  tarsal  fur- 
rows. Antennae  rather  short,  the  club  5-articulate  ;  joints  8-10  evidently 
transverse,  7th  subquadrate,  rather  smaller  than  8th  but  broader  than 
the  moniliform  6th,  4th  and  5th  longer  than  broad  but  not  elongate,  3rd 


SYNORTHUS.  L3 

slender,  about  as  long  as  Ith  and  5th  combined,  the  terminal  subcorneal, 
not  doable  the  length  of  the  penultimate. 

Another  alpine  species,  which  may  be  known  by  the  glossy  surface  and 
almost  entire  absence  of  sculpture  ;  indeed,  with  an  ordinary  lens  it  seems 
quite  smooth. 

Length,  If  lines  ;    breadth.  I  line. 

Mount  Arthur.  My  specimen  was.  among  other  species  of  Coleoptera, 
collected  by  Mr.  T.  F.  Cheeseman,  and  the  late  J.  Adams,  master  of  the 
Thames  High  School. 

Section  2. 

Body  with  erect  setae.     Forehead  distinctly  margined. 

Synorthus  setarius    Broun.      Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  245.       Fig.  4.) 

Piceous,  thorax  somewhat  rufescent,  legs  and  basal  joint  of  antennae 
dark  rufous,  the  other  joints  paler,  tarsi  testaceous  :  moderately  shining, 
with  numerous  outstanding  fulvescent  setae. 

Head  finely  yet  definitely,  but  not  closely,  punctate  ;  forehead  widely 
rounded,  distinctly  margined  from  one  eye  to  the  other  ;  carina  of  labrum 
distinct.  Thorax  strongly  transverse,  apex  subtruncate,  slightly  marginated 
near  the  sides,  anterior  angles  acute  and  a  little  prominent,  its  sides 
margined,  straight  but  gradually  narrowed  anteriorly  ;  distinctly,  finely, 
and  moderately  closely  punctured,  more  distantly  near  the  sides.  Elytra 
moderately  and  rather  distantly  punctate. 

Tibiae  finely  setose,  the  anterior  nearly  straight,  unimpressed  in  front, 
the.  others  curvate  externally.  Tarsi  rather  slender,  with  distinct  append- 
ages. Eyes  prominent  in  front.  Mandibles  sometimes  minutely  tridentate 
at  the  extremity.  Antennae  with  the  basal  joint  stout  and  cylindric.  2nd 
rather  smaller,  3rd  slender  and  as  long  as  the  following  3  combined,  7th 
about  twice  as  broad  as  the  6th.  joints  8-10  still  broader,  transverse, 
11th  largest  ;    the  club  therefore   appears  5-articulate. 

Underside  piceous.  a  little  nitid.  the  slender  but  distinct  yellowish 
pubescence  thicker  at  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  and  on  the  last  segment 
than  it  is  elsewhere.  Metasternum  moderately  coarsely  punctate,  the 
sculpture  of  the  ventral  segments  fine  and  indistinct. 

Prosterncti  process  very  broad  and  flat.  The  flanks  of  the  presternum 
and  the  basal  portion  of  the  epipleurae  are  deeply  concave,  and  form  a 
continuous  cavity  for  the  accommodation  of  the  femora  ;  the  basal  ventral 
segment  is,  at  the  sides,  much  below  the  level  of  the  epipleurae. 

Length.  1|  lines  ;    breadth,  1  line. 

Mount  Manaia,  Whangarei.     Unique. 

06s. — The  description  of  the  lower  surface  is  derived  from  a  reversed 
specimen  of  a  varietal  form,  which  I  got  at  Ligars  Bush.  Papakura.  The 
body  is  concolorous,  If  by  1|  lines,  with  more  elongate  terminal  joints  to  the 
antennae,  but  otherwise  presenting  no  obvious  differences  from  the  type. 
In  both  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  is  broad. 

Synorthus  rotundus   Broun.      Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  671. 

Rufo-piceous,  moderately  nitid,  bearing  many  erect  pale  setae  ;  legs  and 
basal  joint  rufous,  remaining  joints  pale  ferruginous,  tarsi  flavescent. 

Head  rounded  and  margined  in  front,  with  distinct,  though  fine,  distant 
punctures.  Thorax  very  distinctly  yet  finely  and  rather  closely  punctate  ; 
the  front  slightly  medially  rounded.  Elytra  more  finely  and  much  more 
distantly  punctured  than  the  thorax,  rather  abruptly  vertical  behind. 


14  NEW    ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE. 

Eyes  finely  faceted,  not  prominent.  Antennae  rather  short.,  basal 
2  joints  aormal,  3rd  slender  and  equalling  the  following  2  in  length,  5th 
distinctly  shorter  than  4th,  6th  very  small,  7-10  gradually  dilated,  11th 
large,   ovate   somewhat   pointed   towards  the   extremity;    club  evidently 

5-jointed. 

Smaller  than  S.  setarius,  the  thorax  more  rounded  in  front  and  there- 
fore rather  longer,  "s  punctation  more  definite  and  closer,  that  of  the  elytra 
much  (loser.  The  body  more  rotundate.  and  at  the  extremity  quite  pre- 
cipitous  instead  of  sloping.     The  antennae  also  differ. 

Length,  \\  lines  ;   breadth,  f  line. 

Parua,  Whangarei.     Unique. 

Section  3. 
Body  villose.     Forehead  not  distinctly  margined  in  front. 

Synorthus  villosus  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  900. 

Piceo-fuscous.  slightly  nitid,  head  feebly  aeneous,  legs  rufous ;  antennae, 
except  the  red  basal  joint,  fulvescent  ;  tarsi  testaceous  ;  rather  thickly 
covered  with  long,  slender,  suberect  greyish  hairs,  and  some  shorter  decum- 
bent ones  with  others  attached,  so  as  to  appear  somewhat  feather-like. 

Head  closely  and  finely  punctured,  rather  large,  not  visibly  margined  in 
front.  Eyes  moderately  large  and  prominent,  rather  distinctly  faceted. 
Thorax  very  finely  and  distantly  punctured,  of  the  ordinary  form.  Elytra 
finely  and  distantly  punctate,  more  distinctly  than  the  thorax. 

Tibiae  with  fine  setae,  the  front  unimpressed,  and.  like  the  posterior, 
a  little  curvate,  the  intermediate  more  strongly.  Tarsi  with  well-developed 
membranes,  their  claws  evidently  thickened,  but  not  dentate,  at  the  base. 
Antennae  with  fine  grey  pubescence,  the  7th  joint  small,  only  half  the  size 
of  the  8th.  which  is  haTdly  as  broad  as  the  9th,  the  11th  subcorneal  ;  the 
clnb,  nevertheless,  seems  5-jointed. 

I 'mlr, side  piceous,  abdomen  quite  rufescent,  rather  thickly  clothed  with 
long  slender  greyish  hairs ;  the  sculpture  concealed,  apparently  rather 
coarse  and  shallow  on  the  metasternnm.  but  close  and  minute  on  the  sides 
of  the  abdomen. 

The  slender  elongate  pubescence  is  its  best  distinguishing  character. 

Length,  If  lines  ;    breadth,  |  line. 

Dunedin.     Mr.  T.  Ohalmer ;    two  individuals. 

3159.   Synorthus  pygmaeus  sp.  nov. 

Fusco  piceous,  legs  ferruginous,  Tarsi,  palpi,  and  joints  3-11  of  the  an- 
tennae Elavescenl  :  covered  with  elongate,  slender,  decumbent,  cinereous, 
and  suberect  yellowish  hairs,  these  latter  more  conspicuous  on  the  thorax 
than  on  the  hind-body. 

//""/  rather  la  rue.  finely  punctured,  more  finely  and  distantly  on  the 
vertex,  the  forehead  broadlv  rounded  hut  not  rimmed.  Thorax  of  the 
usual  form,  almost  smooth  on  the  denuded  central  portion.  Elytra  finely 
punctured  near  the  suture,  on  the  middle  quite  perceptibly  there,  but 
seemingly  impunctate  elsewhere. 

Tibiae  finely  setose,  the  front  and  hind  pairs  nearly  straight,  the  inter- 
mediate moderately  arched.  Tarsi  relatively  rather  stout  and  short,  with 
well  -  developed  appendages.  Eyes  moderately  convex,  not  prominent  in 
front,  .\niin, in,  rather  short,  with  thick  rufous  basal  joints,  3rd  elongate, 
almost  as  long  as  the  following  2  combined,  6th  and  7th  short  and  rather 


sYNOKTHUS.  15 

small,  8-10  abruptly  enlarged  arid  strongly  transverse.  1  Itli  large,  sub- 
ovate  ;  club  apparently  quadri-articulate. 

Underside  shining,  with  distinct  yellowish  pubescence.  Mctasternnm 
piceous,  rather  large,  relatively  coarsely  punctured  on  the  middle,  finely 
behind.  Abdomen  rufescent,  basal  3  segments  finely  punctate,  the  5th, 
in  the  middle,  with  excessively  short  yet  quite  definite  setae. 

This  is  the  smallest  species  of  the  genus,  with  long  slender  vestiture  like 
that  of  S.  villosus,  with  shorter  tarsi,  and  its  eyes  less  prominent  in  front. 

Length,  1|  lines  ;   breadth,  f  line. 

Southland.     Sent  by  Mr.  A.  Philpott,  with  the  number  265  attached. 

Section  4. 

Body  with  distinct  vestiture.  Forehead  not  perceptibly  margined. 
Scutellum  present. 

Synorthus  anomalus  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  243. 

Rufo-castaneous,  legs  ferruginous,  antennae,  tarsi,  and  palpi  fulvescent ; 
rather  thickly  and  irregularly  clothed  with  tawny,  decumbent,  slender 
setae,  and  many  erect,  coarser  ones,  which  are  more  or  less  irregularly  con- 
centrated, there  being  3  tufts  on  each  elytron. 

Head  curvate  in  front,  not  margined  ;  its  sculpture  ill  defined,  not  close, 
fine  and  distant  on  the  vertex,  rather  closer  and  apparently  almost  punctate- 
granulose  at  the  sides  ;  carina  of  the  labrum  distinct.  Thorax  with  very 
minute  distant  sculpture,  apparently  granular  ;  it  is  subtruncate  in  front, 
and  very  much  narrower  there  than  at  the  base.  Elytra  minutely  and 
remotely  granulate. 

Tibiae  with  moderately  coarse  flavescent  setae,  all  very  little  arched 
externally,  without  visible  tarsal  furrows.  Tarsi  with  distinct  appendages, 
claws  very  small.  Maxillary  palpi  with  elongate-oval  terminal  articulations, 
which  taper  towards  the  extremity.  Antennae  gradually  thickened  from 
the  6th  joint,  so  that  the  club  seems  to  be  6-jointed,  4th  and  5th  equal,  the 
latter  elongate-oval.  3rd  distinctly  longer  than  4th  and  thickened  towards 
the  apex.  Eyes  finely  but  distinctly  faceted.  Scutellum  small,  but  dis- 
tinctly marked  oft'. 

This  and  the  following  species,  no  doubt,  will  not  remain  permanently 
with  this  genus,  but,  as  they  are  represented  by  single  specimens  only,  and 
are  difficult  to  manipulate,  it  is  not  advisable  to  proceed  further  until  more 
specimens  are  available. 

Length,  If  lines  ;   breadth,  1^  lines. 

Tairua.  Unique.  When  found  it  was  covered  with  a  film  of  sappy 
matter  which  was  diffieu't  to  scrape  oft  with  the  point  of  a  needle,  and  until 
that  had  been  done  its  sculpture  could  not  be  seen. 

Synorthus   granulatus  Broun.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,  1893. 

Shining,  rufo-piceous,  sparingly  clothed  with  erect,  moderately  coarse, 
yellowish  setae  ;  legs  and  1st  joint  of  antennae  red,  the  other  joints  and  the 
tarsi  fulvescent. 

Head  finely  and  rather  closely  punctate,  in  some  aspects  appearing 
minutely  granulate  ;  the  forehead  not  perceptibly  margined,  labral  carina 
only  moderately  distinct  and  rather  distant  from  the  forehead.  Eyes  large 
and  prominent,  with  fine  facets.  Thorax  very  finely  but  not  closely  granu- 
late,  much   depressed  towards  the   anterior  angles,   its  width   more  than 


li,  NEW    ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE. 

double  ili<'  length.  Sctttellum  small,  triangular.  Elytra  most  convex  be- 
fore the  middle,  much  narrowed,  bu1  not  vertical  behind;  their  surface 
slightly  uneven,  but  without  definite  depressions;  the  sutural  region 
slightly  elevated  behind  :   their  sculpture  resembles  that  of  the  thorax. 

Tibiae  moderately  finely  setose,  the  anterior  unimpressed  but  obliquely 
narrowed  externally  near  the  apex,  the  other  pairs  are  slightly  arched  out- 
wardlv  :  the  tarsal  appendages  are  moderately  developed.  Antennae 
moderately  elongate,  2nd  joint  hardly  more  than  half  the  size  of  the  1st. 
Ith  slender  and  elongate  yet  distinctly  shorter  than  3rd.  5th  and  6th 
evidently  longer  than  broad,  7th  very  slightly  longer  but  nearly  as  broad 
as  the  8th.  9th  and  10th  rather  broader  than  long,  11th  elongate,  about  as 
long  as  the  preceding  2  combined  ;   club  apparently  5-jointed. 

Differentiated  by  the  minute  granular  sculpture,  somewhat  uneven 
elytra,  &c. 

Length,  H  lines  :   breadth,  1  line.     • 

Ligars  Bush,  Papakura.     A  solitary  individual. 

Pedilophorus  StefTahny. 

Bodv  convex,  oviform  ;  glabrous  or  nearly  so.  Scutellum  distinct. 
Thorax  Insinuate  at  base. 

Section  I. 

Anterior  tibiae  curved,  flattened  or  impressed  along  the  outer  portion 
of  the  front  face. 

3160.  Pedilophorus  foveigerus  sp.  now     {Fig.  5.) 

(  Mossy,  viridi-aeneous,  the  head  and  the  sides  and  base  of  elytra  rufeseent, 
legs  dark  rufous,  tarsi  and  intermediate  joints  of  antennae  ferruginous, 
the  terminal  joints  rather  darker,  the  basal  piceo-rufous. 

Head  with  rather  shallow  but  distinct  punctures,  and  appearing  slightly 
rugose  :  forehead  moderately  rounded,  not  margined.  Thorax  moderately 
finely,  no!  deeply  or  closely,  but  regularly,  punctured ;  its  sides  finely 
margined,  nearly  straight,  but  gradually  narrowed  towards  the  acixte  and 
somewhal  prominent  anterior  angles,  the  apex  widely  sinuate  towards  the 
-ill'-.  Scutellum  triangular,  rather  small,  not  transverse.  Elytra  not  at 
all  vertical  behind,  their  sculpture  like  that  of  the  thorax. 

Tibiae  with  a  few  slender  inconspicuous  setae,  the  anterior  rather  more 
curved  below  the  middle  than  above  it,  the  intermediate  strongly  arched 
externally,  with  small  apical  spines.  Tarsi  stout,  the  appendages  of  the 
3rd  joints  prolonged  half-way  underneath  the  5th.  Eyes  large,  finely 
faceted,  more  prominenl  in  front  than  behind.  Antennae  moderately 
elongate  ;  3rd  joint  slender  and  elongate  ;  1th  and  5th  also  long  yet  shorter 
than  3rd  :  6th  longer  than  broad,  very  slightly  thicker  ;  7th  slightly  longer 
than  broad,  rather  thicker  than  6th  -.  8-10  enlarged,  sometimes  transversal,. 
Il'h  longer;  the  club,  therefore,  appears  5-jointed:  the  thick  1st  joint 
is  free,  having  a  short  basal  stalk  by  which  it  is  attached  to  the  head  near 
the  iront  (,|  t  he  eve. 

Underside  Bhining,   with  some  slender  yellow  hairs  on  the  5th  ventral 

nent.    the    rest    of   the    pubescence   is    indistinct.     Metasternum    finely 

punctate,    the    more   rufeseent    abdomen    still   more   so.     Terminal  ventral 

segment,  at    the   apex,    with    a    well-marked   broad   fovea,  which   seems   to 

terminate  in  a  short  fissure. 


PEDILOPHORUS.  17 

Prosternal  process  little  more  than  half  the  width  of  that  of  Synorthus 
stemalis.  The  flanks  are  depressed  behind,  but  level  in  front.  The  posterior 
coxal  laminae  taper  gradually  towards  the  sides,  their  trochanter]  portion 
being  barely  twice  as  long,  from  front  to  rear,  as  the  lateral.  The 
sides  of  the  mesosternum  are  deeply  concave,  and  the  epipleurae  are  linear 
except  at  the  short  flattened  space  alongside  the  metasternum.  The  basal 
ventral  segment  is  simply  gradually  depressed,  and  the  femora  fit  in  below 
the  coxal  laminae. 

Pedilophorus  gemmeus  Broun.     Man.   N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.   769. 

Shining,  glabrous,  dark  rufo-cupreous.  head  aeneo-niger,  legs  pale 
ferruginous,  antennae  pale  rufo-castaneous,  their  basal  joint  pitchy  red, 
tarsi  and  palpi  testaceous. 

Head  distinctly  punctured,  less  closely  on  the  vertex  than  near  the 
eyes  ;  forehead  simple,  rather  strongly  rounded.  Thorax  twice  as  broad  as 
long,  its  sides  not  quite  straight,  being  slightly  sinuate  behind  the  middle, 
so  that  the  posterior  angles  seem  to  extend  slightly  outwards  ;  the  apex 
sinuate  and  distinctly  margined  near  each  side  ;  punctation  rather  finer 
than  that  of  the  head,  but  quite  distinct.  Scutellum  triangular,  small. 
Elytra  finely  punctured  and  coriaceous. 

Antennae  gradually  thickened  from  the  6th  joint  onwards,  5th  joint 
hardly  thicker  than  the  more  elongate  4th  ;  the  club  therefore  appears 
6-articulate.  Eyes  finely  yet  distinctly  faceted.  Tarsi  rather  slender, 
with  moderate  membranes  ;  claws  of  the  front  pair  evidently  thicker 
throughout  than  the  posterior. 

The  strongly  curved  forehead,  the  sinuate  sides,  and  distinctly  mar- 
ginated  apex  of  the  thorax  are  its  distinguishing  characters. 

Length,  If  lines  ;   breadth.  1  line. 

Parua.     Unique. 

Pedilophorus    laevipennis    Broun.       Ann.    Mag.    Nat.    Hist.,    September, 
1893. 

Shining,  aeneo-piceous,  head  and  thorax  slightly  cupreous,  legs  rufo- 
piceous.  antennae  dark  red,  the  last  six  joints  somewhat  castaneous. 

Head  distinctly  and  rather  evenly  punctured,  nearly  as  closely  on  the 
vertex  as  at  the  sides  ;  forehead  moderately  rounded,  simple  ;  labrum. 
mandibles,  and  palpi  almost  black.  Thorax  with  the  apical  margins  quite 
as  definite  as  the  lateral,  its  sculpture  like  that,  of  the  head  but  rather 
shallow.  Scutellum  triangular,  very  small.  Elytra  nearly  smooth,  finely 
coriaceous,  and  with,  in  some  lights,  indications  of  obsolete  striae.  Claws 
very  small.     Club  apparently  6-jointed. 

Metasternum  rather  flat,  very  finely  and  distantly  punctate.  Abdomen 
with  minute  sculpture  and  pubescence. 

This  is  the  second  species  with  definite  margins  extending  from  the 
anterior  angles  to  near  the  middle  of  the  thorax  at  the  apex.  In  appearanee 
it  differs  much  from  the  preceding  ones. 

Length,  1|  lines  ;   breadth,  quite  1  line. 

Mount  Pirongia,  Waikato.     Unique.     December,  1892. 

Pedilophorus  probus  Broun.      Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,  1893. 

Nitid,  aeneo-niger,  tinged  with  blue,  the  base  and  sides  of  elytra  slightly 
rufescent,  the  legs  and  basal  joint  of  the  antennae  rufo-piceous,  remaining 
joints  and  the  tarsi  red. 
2— No.  2. 


18  NEW    ZEALAND    BYKRHIDAE. 

Head  broadly  rounded  in  front,  distinctly  punctured,  very  closely  near 
the  sides,  with  2  smooth  spots  on  the  middle.  Thorax  regularly  and  dis- 
tinctly punctate,  rather  more  finely  than  the  head:  the  frontal  margins, 
towards  the  sides,  moderately  definite.  Scutellum  triangular.  Elytra  irregu- 
larly, rather  finely,  vet  quite  perceptibly  and  rather  closely,  punctured,  less 
evidently  near  the  base. 

Tibiae  finely  setose,  the  anterior  a  little  dilated  below  the  middle.  Eyes 
distinctly  but  finely  faceted.  Antennae  with  the  club  apparently  5-jointed  ; 
7th  joint  obconical,  slightly  enlarged,  8-10  transverse,  11th  large,  subovate. 

This  comes  near  P.  foveigerus,  but  can  be  recognised  by  the  dilatation 
of  the  front  tibiae  and  the  moderately  developed  apical  margins  of  the 
thorax. 

Length,  2}  lines  ;   breadth,  If  lines. 

Taieri,  Otago.     My  specimen  was  found  by  Mr.  S.  W.  Fulton. 

Pedilophorus   puncticeps    Broun.       Ann.    Mag.    Nat.    Hist.,    September, 
1893. 

Glossy,  aeneous  ;  the  head  obviously,  the  sides  of  the  thorax  and  elytra 
slightly,  rufo-cupreous  ;  legs  dark  red,  tarsi  and  antennae  fulvescent,  the 
latter  becoming  duller  and  more  castaneous  towards  the  extremity,  basal 
joint  dark  red. 

Head  moderately  coarsely  punctured,  very  closely  near  the  eyes  ;  fore- 
head rounded.  Thorax  evidently  yet  less  coarsely  punctured  than  the 
head,  more  closely  and  finely  near  the  middle  of  the  base,  the  central  linear 
space  nearly  smooth,  the  margins  of  the  apical  sinuations  slightly  developed  ; 
its  sides  straight  but  narrowed  anteriorly,  the  posterior  angles  rather  more 
acute  than  the  anterior.  Scutellum  small,  triangular.  Elytra  finely  and 
not  closely  punctate,  somewhat  coriaceous,  towards  the  extremity  par- 
ticularly. 

Tibiae  with  slender  greyish  setae,  the  front  pair  moderately  curved,  and 
broadly  impressed  near  the  outer  margin.  Tarsi  rather  slender.  Eyes 
finely  but  distinctly  faceted. 

Antennae  gradually  incrassate  from  the  7th  joint  onwards,  the  2nd 
lather  slender,  but  little  thickened  at  the  base  ;  3rd  elongate,  yet  scarcely 
longer  than  the  following  one  ;  5th  also  elongate,  just  appreciably  shorter 
than  the  4th  ;  6th  twice  as  long  as  broad,  hardly  at  all  dilated  ;  7th 
obconical.  rather  longer  than  broad  ;  8-10  broad,  moderately  transverse  ; 
11th  oblong,  not  quite  the  length  of  the  preceding  2  combined:  club  appa- 
rently 5-articulate. 

The  coarse  punctation  of  the  head,  rather  slender  tarsi,  and  the  structure 
of  joints  2  to  f>  of  the  antennae,  render  its  identification  easy. 

Length,  2{- lines  ;   breadth.  If  lines. 

Clevedon,  Hunua  Range.  My  specimen  was  found  by  Mr.  G.  Campbell 
Munro. 

Pedilophorus  tibialis    Broun.      Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist..  September.  1893. 

Convex,  rather  narrow,  shining,  aeneous,  the  head  and  sides  evidently 
rufescent  ;  legs  and  antennae,  save  the  dark  basal  joint,  ferruginous,  tarsi 
fusco-testaceous. 

Hi  iid  with  a  few  slender  grey  hairs,  rather  short,  middle  of  forehead 
subtruncate,  simple  ;  the  punctation  very  distinct,  closer  near  the  eyes 
than  on  the  vertex.     Thorax  rather  finely  punctate,  still  more  so  towards 


PEDILOPHORUS.  19 

the  sides  and  base,  with  straight,  anteriorly  narrowed  sides  and  acute  angles, 
the  frontal  margins  rather  slender.  Scutellum  small,  triangular,  minutely 
punctate.     Elytra  finely  punctate,  more  or  less  coriaceous. 

Tibiae  with  slender  hairs,  the  anterior  widely  explanate  and  strongly 
curvate  outwardly,  the  dilated  outer  half  broadly  impressed.  Tarsi  stout. 
Eyes  prominent,  distinctly  yet  finely  and  closely  faceted.  Antennae 
rather  short,  3rd  joint  elongate  and  slightly  oviform,  4th  and  5th  gradually 
narrowed  towards  the  base,  of  nearly  equal  length,  each  obviously  shorter 
than  3rd;  6th  as  long  as  broad,  only  slightly  dilated,  obconical ;  7th 
broader  than  long,  not  double  the  width  of  6th  ;  9th  and  loth  transverse  ; 
11th  subovate.  not  as  long  as  the  preceding  2  combined;  club  apparently 
5-jointed. 

This  beautifully  iridescent  species  can  be  readily  identified  by  its  widely 
expanded  front  tibiae. 

Length.  1J  lines  ;  breadth,  1  line. 

Dyer's  Pass,  near  Christchurch.  My  rather  mutilated  specimen  was 
found  by  Mr.  H.  Suter. 

Section  2. 
Anterior  tibiae  nearly  or  quite  straight,  grooved  along  their  outer  face. 

Pedilophorus  creperus  Broun.      Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist..  September,  1893. 

Convex,  oval,  moderately  nitid,  sparingly  clothed  with  minute  yet  quite 
perceptible  grey  hairs  ;  piceo-niger,  elytra  slightly  bronzed,  legs  piceo- 
rufous,  tarsi  and  antennae  ferruginous,  basal  joint  of  the  latter  dark  red. 

Head  moderately  coarsely  and  rather  evenly  punctured,  forehead  sub- 
truncate.  Thorax  distinctly  punctate,  less  coarsely  than  the  head  ;  its 
sides  straight,  very  gradually  narrowed  anteriorly,  the  angles  rectangular 
and  acute  but  not  prominent,  the  front  margins  definite  near  the  sides 
and  only  slightly  sinuate.  Scutellum  triangular,  small.  Elytra  with  cori- 
aceous sculpture,  the  fine  punctation  distinct  on  the  disc. 

Tibiae  with  slender  grey  setae,  the  anterior  straight,  rather  narrow, 
impressed  along  the  outside  ;  the  other  pairs  moderately  curvate  externally. 
Tarsi  stout,  with  well-developed  membranous  appendages.  Eyes  prominent, 
with  numerous  fine  facets.  Antennae  moderately  elongate:  basal  joint 
stout ;  2nd  more  slender  and  shorter ;  3rd  elongate  and  slender  ;  4th  and 
5th  also  elongate,  both  shorter  than  3rd  ;  6th  longer  than  broad,  slightly 
thickened;  joints  8-10  transversal,  11th  nearly  double  the  length  of  the 
penultimate  ;  the  terminal  5  joints  appear  to  form  the  elongate  club,  the 
7th  being  a  little  broader  than  the  6th.  Terminal  joint  of  maxillary  palpi 
rather  thick,  subtruncate  at  apex.     Mandibles  apparently  bifid  at  extremity. 

This  is  somewhat  similar  to  P.  laevipennis,  belonging  to  Section  1,  but 
much  darker,  less  shining,  with  more  distinctly  sculptured  elytra,  and 
quite  perceptibly  pubescent. 

Length,  1|  lines  ;    breadth,  1|  lines. 

Dyer's  Pass,  Canterbury.     Unique.     Another  of  Mr.  H.  Suter's  captures. 

Pedilophorus  pulcherrimus    Broun.       Ann.   Mag.   Nat.   Hist.,   May,    1909. 
(Fig.  6.) 

Oval,  bearing  numerous,  hardly  perceptible  on  the  elytra,  more  distinct 
on  the  head,  greyish  slender  setae  ;  brilliant  viridi-aeneous,  the  head, 
scutellum.   sides,   and   base  of  elvtra  with  metallic  red  reflections  ;    tibiae 


•20  NKW    ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE. 

and  basal  joint  of  antennae  dark  rufous,  remaining  articulations  paler  or 
more  infuscate,  tarsi  fulvescent. 

Head  moderately  coarsely  punctured,  more  closely  near  the  sides  than 
013  the  vertex  :  forehead  slightly  rounded.  Thorax  quite  twice  as  long 
as  it  is  broad,  its  sides  not  quite  straight,  being  widely  yet  only  slightly 
incurved  near  the  middle  ;  the  apical  margins,  near  the  sides,  nearly  as  well 
defined  as  the  lateral  ;  its  punctation  very  distinct  and  regular,  but  not 
quite  as  coarse  as  that  of  the  head  ;  it  has  2  shallow  discoidal  foveae.  Scu- 
tellum  triangular,  small.  Elytra  nearly  smooth  at  the  base,  elsewhere  finely 
though  quite  distinctly  punctured. 

Tibiae  with  small  terminal  spurs,  finely  setose  ;  the  anterior  nearly 
straight,  grooved  along  the  outside.  Tarsi  stout,  with  well-developed 
appendages.  /'Ji/cs  prominent,  with  fine  facets.  Antennae  with  their  3rd 
joint  rather  longer  but  much  more  slender  than  2nd,  T-6  gradually  ab- 
breviated ;  all.  however,  are  elongate  ;  7th  rather  smaller  than  8th.  but 
broader  than  6th  :  9th  and  LOth  transverse.  11th  as  long  as  the  preceding 
2  combined  ;    club  apparently  5-jointed. 

Underside  shining  piceous.  with  reddish  reflections,  with  slender,  scanty, 
yellowish  pubescence.  Metasternurn  distinctly,  abdomen  more  finely  and 
closely,  punctured.  Maxillary  palpi  normal,  terminal  articulations  not 
truncate  at  apex.     Mandibles  apparently  trifid  at  extremity. 

P.  foveigerus  is  like  this  in  appearance,  but  is  more  finely  sculptured, 
destitute  of  pubescence,  and  the  sides  of  the  thorax  are  not  sinuate. 

Length,  2  lines  :    breadth.  1£  lines. 

[nvercargill.     Two.  from  Mr.  A.  Philpott. 

Pedilophorus  picipes   Broun.      Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist..  September,  1893. 

Shining,  aeneo-piceous,  head  and  thorax  slightly  rufescent,  legs  and 
antennae  rufo-piceous,  tarsi  pitch v-red. 

Head  distinctly,  moderately  coarsely,  and  closely  punctured  near  the 
sides,  irregularly  and  much  more  distantly  on  the  vertex,  with  a  few  fine 
grey  hairs  :  forehead  slightly  curved.  Eyes  distinctly  but  not  coarsely 
Faceted.  Thorax  distinctly  but  not  closely  punctate,  more  finely  near  the 
base,  formed  as  in  the  preceding  species.  Scutellum  small,  triangular. 
Elytra  finely  and  moderately  closely  punctate  somewhat  coriaceous,  be- 
coming smooth  behind. 

Front  tibiae  nearly  straight,  grooved  along  the  outer  face,  the  inter- 
mediate moderately  arched.     Club  apparently  6-articulate. 

The  unusually  dark  legs  and  antennae  will  lead  to  its  identification. 

Length,  l'J  lines:    breadth,  L|  lines. 

Midhirst.  T.uanaki.      I  could  find  only  a  single  specimen. 

Pedilophorus  laetus   Broun.      .Man.  X.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  1349. 

Glossy,  aeneous,  tinged  with  rufo-cupreous,  legs  and  basal  joint  of  an- 
tennae dark  rufous,  remaining  joints  and  the  tarsi  dark  fulvescent. 

Head  moderately  curved  in  front,  rather  coarsely,  a  little  rugosely,  and 
irregularly  punctate.  Thorax  distinctly,  moderately  finely,  and  closely 
punctured,  less  evidently  near  the  base.  Scute/lion  small,  triangular. 
Elytra  very  distinctly  and  rather  closely  punctured  almost  to  the  extremity, 
where  there  are  a   few  slender  setae. 

Tibiae  with  slender  grey  setae,  the  front  pair  nearly  straight  and  slightly 
grooved  along  the  outer  face,  the  others  moderately  arched.     Eyes  finely 


I-KDILOPHORUS.  2l 

yet  distinctly  faceted.  Antennae  moderately  elongate,  3rd  joint  elongate 
and  slender,  -4th  and  5th  similar  kit  rather  shorter  than  3rd  ;  6th  as  long 
as  broad,  only  slightly  thickened;  7th  subtriangular  and  moderately  ex- 
panded :   the  club,  consequently,  seems  to  be  5-articulate. 

Underside  shining  black  with  metallic-red  reflections,  sparingly  and  very 
finely  pubescent.  The  metastemum  distinctly  punctate,  abdomen  rather 
more  closely  and  finely,  the  last  segment  large,  unimpressed. 

Prostemal  process  broadly  concave  along  the  middle.  Epipleurae  very 
slightly  expanded  and  flattened  alongside  the  metastemum. 

One  of  the  largest  and  finest  of  our  species.  The  concave  prostemal 
process  and  simple  terminal  ventral  segment,  by  themselves,  are  sufficient 
for  the  separation  of  this  from  the  other  Westland  species,  P.  foveigerus. 

Length,  2f-3  lines  ;   breadth,  If— If  lines. 

Boatman's,  Reefton.     Discovered  by  Mr.  T.  Cavell.     Two. 

Pedilophorus    lewisi     Broun.      Ann.    Mag.    Nat.    Hist.,    January,    1907. 
(Fig.  7.) 

Body  broadly  oval,  moderately  convex,  minutely  and  sparingly  pubescent, 
nitid  ;  bronzed  black,  legs  and  1st  antennal  joint  piceo-rufous,  remaining 
joints  and  the  tarsi  rather  paler. 

Head  distinctly  and  rather  closely  punctate  ;  the  forehead  obtuse,  not  at 
all  sharply  limited  in  front.  Thorax  strongly  transverse,  the  middle  of  its 
apex  subtruncate,  its  sculpture  similar  to  that  of  the  head  but  becoming 
finer  towards  the  base.  Scutellum  subcordifonn.  Elytra  rather  more  finely 
sculptured  than  the  thorax,  and  with  from  2  to  7  series  of  punctures,  which 
sometimes  form  indefinite,  striae,  on  each  elytron. 

Tibiae  finely  setose,  with  short  terminal  spurs  ;  the  anterior  a  little 
curved,  and  grooved  along  the  outside.  Antennae  very  gradually  dilated, 
the  club  apparently  6-jointed,  the  4th  joint  rather  smaller  than  the  con- 
tiguous ones. 

Underside,  femora  inclusive,  shining  pitchy  -  black,  sparingly  clothed 
with  greyish-yellow  slender  hairs.  Metastemum  coarsely,  abdomen  finely 
yet  distinctly  punctured,  terminal  segment  with  an  indistinct  apical  fovea. 

Prostemal  process  nearly  plane,  moderately  broad,  finely  punctate.  Epi- 
pleurae  moderately  broad  and  flat  alongside  the  metastemum.  Mandibles 
trifid  at  the  extremity.  Tarsi  thickly  pubescent  underneath,  their  mem- 
branous appendages  generally  only  moderately  developed. 

This  fine  species  may  be  immediately  identified  by  a  glance  at  the  elytral 
sculpture. 
ijp]  Length,  3|-3§  lines  ;    breadth,  2-2£  lines. 

Old  Man  Range,  Otago,  at  an  elevation  of  4,100  ft.  Named  in  honour 
of  Mr.  J.  H.  Lewis,  its  discoverer. 

3161.  Pedilophorus  sculpturatus  sp.  nov. 

Oblong-oval,  only  moderately  convex,  sparingly  clothed  with  fine  erect 
grey  setae  ;  shining,  aeneous,  with  rufo-cupreous  and  violaceous  reflections, 
legs  and  first  joint  of  antennae  dark  rufous,  remaining  joints  and  the  tarsi 
infuscate. 

Head  slightly  uneven,  moderately  coarsely  and  closely  punctate  ;  forehead 

subtruncate  in  the  middle.     Thorax  hardly  twice  as  broad  as  long,  hind 

angles  acutely  rectangular,  the  anterior  a  little  prominent ;    its  sculpture 

very  distinct,   almost  similar  to  that  of  the  head.     Scutellum  triangular. 

3— No.  2. 


NEW    ZEALAND    BYKHHIDAE. 

Elytra  distinctly  but  not  closely  punctured,  more  finely  behind  ;  they  are 
of  unusually  oblong  form,  with  nearly  straight  sides  before  the  middle,  and 
not  at  all  abruptly  declivous  behind. 

Tibiae  with  slender  yet  quite  distinct  grey  setae,  the  front  pair  slightly 
curved,  the  intermediate  moderately.  Tarsi  stout,  with  well-developed 
appendages.  Mandible*  trifid  at  extremity.  Eyes  finely  faceted.  An- 
tennae  stout.  basal  joint  thick,  3rd  only  twice  as  long  as  broad,  4th  shorter 
than  5th  ;  6th  small,  not  broader  than  5th  ;  7-10  transverse,  very  gradually 
dilated  ;  11th  nearly  the  length  of  the  preceding  2  combined  :  club  5-articu- 
late. 

Underside  shining,  black,  with  decumbent  brassy  hairs  ;  the  punctation 
verv  distinct,  coarse  on  the  sternum. 

Differs  from  all  our  species  by  the  more  elongate .  form,  the  sides  of  the 
elytra  being  but  little  curved  for  half  their  length,  the  thorax  is  just 
appreciably  longer  than  usual,  and  the  sculpture  is  obvious  throughout. 

Length,  2A  lines  ;    breadth,  1£  lines. 

Broken  River,  Canterbury.     Mr.  J.  H.  Lewis.     Unique. 

3162.   Pedilophorus  cognatus  sp.  nov. 

Oblong-oval,  only  moderately  convex,  shining,  bronzed  black,  legs  piceo- 
rufous,  antennae  and  tarsi  fusco-rufous  ;  the  setae  short  and  slender,  erect, 
and  numerous. 

Very  similar  to  P.  sculpturatus  as  regards  form  and  sculpture  ;  the 
hind-body  even  less  convex,  without  iridescent  reflections,  much  darker 
in  colour;  the  setae  of  the  under-surface  more  distinct,  and  with  joints 
4  and  5  of  the  antennae  more  elongate.  The  sides  of  the  thorax  are  not 
quite  straight,  being  just  perceptibly  rounded.  The  middle  tibiae  are 
nearly  straight. 

Length,  2\  lines  ;    breadth,  1^  lines. 

Broken  River.     Mr.  J.  H.  Lewis.     One. 

Pedilophorus  coruscans  Pascoe.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  245. 

Elliptical,  very  convex,  shining,  aeneous,  antennae  and  legs  pale  fer- 
ruginous. 

Head  finely  and  almost  closely  punctate.  Thorax  and  elytra  coriaceous, 
very  finely  punctate.     Scutellum  transversely  triangular,  smooth. 

Underside  ferruginous,  finely  punctate.  Femora  and  tibiae  sparsely 
setose. 

Length,  2  lines. 

Wellington. 

Pedilophorus  helmsi  Reitter. 

Oval,  short,  very  convex,  smooth,  finely  and  evenly  punctured  above  ; 
glossy,  black,  subaeneous,  legs  ferruginous;  antennae  elongate,  these  and 
the  tarsi  fusco-testaceous. 

Head  nearly  smooth  on  the  middle,  its  sides  coarsely  punctured.  Thorax 
very  much  narrowed  anteriorly,  with  acute  front  angles.  Scutellum  minute. 
Elytra  acuminate  behind. 

Long.,  3-7  mm. 

•  irevmouth.     Mr.  R.  Helms. 

Obs.— Not  in  my  collection  ;  placed  temporarily  in  Section  2. 


I'KmijOl'HOKUS.  _I3 

Section  3. 
Body  obviously  setigerous. 

3163.   Pedilophorus  bryobius  sp.  nov. 

Oblong-oval,  only  moderately  convex,  shining,  viridi- violaceous,  legs 
and  antennae  fusco-rufous  ;  bearing  numerous  outstanding,  elongate,  ful- 
vescent  setae. 

Head  closely  punctured  near  the  eyes,  more  coarsely  and  distantly  on  the 
vertex  ;  forehead  strongly  rounded,  the  groove  between  it  and  the  punctate 
labium  deep  and  smooth.  Thorax  almost  twice  as  long  as  broad  ;  bisinuate 
at  the  base,  so  that  its  angles  appear  rather  prominent  and  directed  back- 
wards, the  sides  margined  and  much  narrowed  towards  the  straight  anterior 
angles;  apex  medially  truncate,  sinuated  and  margined  behind  the  pro- 
minent eyes  ;  its  surface  moderately  coarsely  but  distantly  punctate.  Scu- 
tellum  triangular,  distinct.  Elytra  rather  distantly,  moderately  coarsely,  and 
subseriate-punctate,  but  quite  estriate,  the  sculpture  less  distinct  behind. 

Tibiae  nearly  straight,  indistinctly  impressed,  with  fine  elongate  greyish 
setae.  Tarsi  with  well-developed  membranous  appendages.  Antennae  with 
thick,  pyriform,  dark-red  basal  joints,  3rd  joint  longer  than  4th,  7-10 
gradually  dilated  but  hardly  transversal  ;  11th  elongate,  nearly  the  length 
of  the  preceding  2  combined  :  these  terminal  5  joints  are  more  densely 
pubescent  than  the  others,  and  evidently  form  the  elongate  club. 

Underside  nitid,  nigrescent,  clothed  like  the  legs,  the  breast  coarsely, 
the  abdomen  finely  punctate.  The  posterior  eoxal  laminae  very  much 
narrowed  towards  the  sides. 

Length,  2  lines  ;   breadth,  nearly  1|-  lines. 

Mount  Quoin,  Wellington.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  A.  O'Connor  for  a  pair 
found  by  him  amongst  moss  on  trees,  at  an  elevation  of  about  3,800  ft. 

Liochoria  Pascoe.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,  1875. 
Antennae  sub-elongatae,  articulis  sex  ultimis,  ultimo  excepto,  perfoliatis, 
clavam    angustatam    formantibus.     Labrum    magnum,    distinctum.     Paljn 
maxillares  articulo  ultimo  ovali.     Tibiae  anticae  extus  excavatae. 

Liochoria  huttoni  Pascoe.     Ann.   Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,   1875. 

L.  elliptica  convexa,  nigra,  nitida,  antennis  pedibusque  piceis  ;  capite 
prothoraceque  confertim  subtiliter,  elytris  subtilissime.  punctatis  ;  scutello 
aequilateraliter  triangulari  ;  corpore  infra  femoribusque  subtiliter  punctatis, 
sparse  hirsutis  ;   tibiis  extus  integris,  intus  ciliatis. 

Long..  3f  lin. 

Otago.     Captain  Hutton. 

Cytilissus  Broun.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  September,  1893. 

Body  subrotundate,  convex.  Labrum  moderately  carinate  at  the  base. 
Thorax  and  elytra  truncate  at  the  base.  Scutellum  absent.  Tarsi  with 
well-developed  membranous  appendages.  Eyes  large,  prominent,  dis- 
tinctly faceted.     Maxillary  palpi  with  rather  broad  terminal  joints. 

Antennae  free,  rather  short ;  basal  joint  cylindric,  thick  ;  2nd  quite 
half  the  length  of  the  1st,  narrowed  apically  ;  3rd  slender,  nearly  as  long  as 
the  following  2  combined  :  club  large,  compact,  indistinctly  articulated, 
but  apparently  composed  of  2  nearly  equal  joints.  The  antennae,  there- 
fore, seem  to  be  only  7 -articulate,  a  character  which  at  once  separates  it 
from  all  its  congeners. 

The  only  exponent  of  this  genus,  in  facies,  resembles  a  hairy  Synorthus. 


•_)  I  NK\\     ZEALAND    BYRRHIDAE. 

Cytilissus  claviger   Broun.     Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist..  September,  1893. 

Fusco-piccous.  Blightly  oitid,  tibiae  and  basal  joint  of  antennae  dark 
red,  remaining  joints  and  the  tarsi  testaceous  ;  with  numerous  erect,  elongate. 
slender,  greyish-yellow  hairs. 

Head  finely  and  distantly  punctured  :  the  forehead  subtruncate  between 
the  antennae,  with  fine  margins  near  these  latter  and  the  eyes.  Thorax 
strongly  transverse,  its  sides  finely  margined,  straight,  but  gradually 
narrowed  anteriorly  :  apex  subtruncate.  with  deflexed  acute  angles  ;  its 
surface  very  finely,  rather  distantly  and  indistinctly  punctate.  Elytra 
with  sculpture  similar  to  that  of  the  thorax,  their  suture  very  fine  and  close, 
the  apex  broadly  rounded. 

Tibiae  moderately  arched  externally,  with  fine  setae,  the  anterior 
slightly  grooved  along  the  outer  face. 

Underside  piceous,  punctate,  with  elongate  pale  hairs. 

Length,  1|  lines  ;   breadth,  quite  |  line. 

Mount  Pirongia.  Only  a  single  specimen  could  be  secured  during  several 
visits. 

Limnichus  Latreille.     Lacord.,   Hist,  des  Ins.  Coleopt.,  torn,  ii,  p.   486. 

Body  oblong-oval,  moderately  convex.  Organs  of  the  mouth,  and  the 
eyes,  concealed  during  the  retraction  of  the  head.  Antennae  10-articulate. 
The  species  very  small. 

Limnichus  decorus   Broun.      Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  247.     {Fig.  8.) 

Oval,  moderately  convex,  glossy  ;  black,  slightly  olivaceous,  legs  and 
antennae  rufo-piceous  :  rather  thickly  clothed  with  bright-yellowish  and 
grey,  decumbent,  moderately  slender  setae,  the  grey  ones  scattered  over 
the  elytra. 

Head  about  as  long  as  the  thorax,  only  half  its  width,  a  little  narrowed 
anteriorly,  not  distinctly  punctate,  rather  densely  pubescent.  Thorax 
twice  as  broad  as  it  is  long,  its  sides  straight  but  gradually  narrowed 
Ulteriorly  :  apex  subtruncate.  anterior  ancles  acute  and  slightly  prominent  : 
base  slightly  sinuate  towards  the  sides,  hut  in  the  middle  incurved  in  front 
of  the  scutellum  :  its  punctation  very  fine  and  close,  rather  indistinct. 
ScutcUiim  proportionally  rather  large,  elongate-triangular,  minutely  sculp- 
tured. Elytra  curvedly  narrowed,  hut  not  abruptly  declivous,  posteriorly: 
with  line  coriaceous  sculpture,  and  near  the  base  with  a  few  fine  distant 
punctures  or  minute  granules,  their  suture  well  marked. 

Tibia*  rather  slender,  nearly  straight.  Tarsi  simple,  terminal  joint  of 
the  posterior  equals  the  basal  f  combined  in  length.  Eyes  lateral,  rather 
Hat.  Antenna*  about  as  long  as  the  head  and  thorax,  rather  laxly  articu- 
lated, intermediate  joints  narrowed  apically,  8th  and  Dth  slightly  broader, 
10th  rather  larger  and  subrotundate  ;   club  Particulate. 

Length,  -|  line  :   breadth,  \  line. 

Tairua.     Two  specimens  in  my  own  collection. 

Limnichus  simplex  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt..  p.  247. 

Oblong-oval,    moderately  shining,   Mack,    covered    with   depressed  grey 

Thorax  indistinctly  sculptured,  its  clothing  slightly  flavescent ;  formed 
,s  m  L.  decorus.  Scutellum  large.  Elytra  finely  sculptured,  appearing 
minutely  granulate  when  examined  under  the  microscope. 


LlftfttlOHtfB.  25 

Vnderside  black,  shining,  finely  punctate,  with  depressed,  slender,  brassy 
setae  ;  these  are  somewhat  concentrated  along  the  middle  of  the  last  ventral 
segment.     Metasternum  distinctly  sulcate  along  the  middle. 

The  name  originally  applied,  L.  punctatus,  having  been  used  before  for 
a  North  American  species,  has  now  been  changed  to  L.  simplex. 

Length,  1  line  ;   breadth,  \  line. 

Lindis  Pass,  Otago.     Captain  F.  W.  Hutton. 

Limnichus  picinus   Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  671. 

Oblong-oval,  moderately  convex,  slightly  nitid,  piceo-niger,  sparingly 
clothed  with  short  yellowish  setae. 

Head  indistinctly  sculptured.  Thorax  finely  yet  distinctly  and  closely 
punctured  ;  apex  medially  truncate,  but  obliquely  prolonged  towards 
the  acute  anterior  angles.  Scutellum  large,  triangular,  finely  punctate. 
Elytra  minutely  granulate  near  the  base,  punctate  along  the  dorsum,  the 
sculpture  becoming  obsolete  towards  the  sides. 

The  more  definite  sculpture  differentiates  this  from  the  preceding  species. 

Length,  1|  lines  ;   breadth,  f  line. 

Castle  Hill,  Canterbury.     Mr.  J.  D.  Enys.     Unique. 

Limnichus  nigripes  Broun.     Man.  N.Z.  Coleopt.,  p.  1449. 

Oblong-oval,  moderately  convex,  nigrescent,  legs  and  antennae  piceous  ; 
nitid,  irregularly  clothed  with  depressed  yellowish  setae,  the  tibiae  with 
fine  grey  setae. 

Head  subopaque,  indefinitely  sculptured.  Thorax  finely  and  indistinctly 
punctate  ;  the  setae  near  the  middle  exceedingly  short,  but  at  each  side 
of  the  middle,  near  the  base,  rather  elongate  and  disposed  transversely. 
Scutellum  triangular,  large,  punctate.  Elytra  distinctly  and  closely  punc- 
tate or  subgranulate.  the  sculpture  near  the  sides  hidden  by  the  dark  clothing 
there.     Eyes  large,  but  only  very  slightly  convex. 

Underside  black,  bearing  depressed  almost  white  setae,  finely  and  not 
closely  punctate.  The  prosternum  in  the  middle  is  cuneiform,  truncate 
in  front  and  tapering  towards  the  extremity.  Cavities  for  the  reception  of 
the  legs  moderately  deep.     Metasternum  finely  grooved  along  the  middle. 

With  more  brightly  coloured  setae  than  L.  simplex,  the  elytral  sculpture 
more  distinct  than  in  L.  decorus. 

Length,  1  line  ;   breadth,  |  line. 

Ashburton,  Canterbury.  A  pair,  in  excellent  condition,  from  Mr. 
W.  W.  Smith. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  PLATE. 


Fig.   1.  Nosodendron  ovatum  Broun. 

2.  Curimus  squamifer  Broun. 

3.  Synorthus  nigralis  Broun. 

4.  „  setarius  Broun. 

5.  Pedilophorus  foveigerus  Broun. 
'>•  „  pulcherrimus  Broun. 
1-            „              lewisi  Broun. 
8.  Limnichus  decorus  Broun. 


NEW    ZEALAND    BYKRHIDAE. 


~S\ 


2 


A.  Waterworth,  photo. 


To  face  p.  'Hi. 


I 


• 


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B97B76  Zealand  Byrrhidae 


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