49

A XEW GIANT SPECIES OF RUTELINE COLEOPTERA

By Gilbert J. ARROW,F.Z.S., F.R.E.S.

British ..lImeunz (,Vat. Hist.).

AMOXGST the numerous species, amounting to several thousands, in the

Lamellicorn subfamily RUTELINAE those of two genera, only distantly related,
reach gigantic size, viz., Heterosieriaus and Spodochlamys and, as is the case with
the giants of so many different groups of animals, both display a remarkable
dissimilarity between the two sexes, a t least in those species which attain the
largest size and in full-sized examples of their species. In the genus Spodoch-
laiuys only one species among those at present described (the largest, S. mimbilis
C. 0. Waterhouse) shows a high degree of dimorphism, the males and females
of others of comparatively small size being only distinguishable by a close
examination. Another, now described, of equal size to S. riairabilis is dimorphic
to an equally remarkable extent, for it can be safely assumed that the unknown
female closely resembles that of X. mirabilis.

FIQ. 1.-Males of Spalochlaniys latipes sp. n. (left) and S. mirabilis (right). Actual size.

Spodochlamys latipes sp. n.

Deep grass-green above and dark metallic green or red beneath, the legs deep yellow,
with a metallic suffusion, the pygidium greenish-yellow, closely clothed with decumbent
white hairs, and with a terminal tuft of long yellow hairs, the punctures of the upper
surface containing very minute and inconspicuous white setae. Head and pronotum
strongly and closely punctured, elytra shining, less closely and more finely punctured.
PROC. R. EXT. SOC. LOND. (B) 15. PTS. 5-6. (JUNE 1946.) D
50 3Ir. G. J. Arrow 011 n giutit beelle.
0'. Clypeus broad, gently rounded in front, pronotiin1 elevated in the niiddle. t!ie sides
dilated in the posterior half, inclined upwards and produced to a hlunt angle. the anterior
half strongly contracted, gently sinnnte externally and produced to a sharp angle, elytrn
slightly rugose a t the base and sides. narroxer a t base than the pronoturn, the shoulders
simply rounded. Xiddle and hind tibiae short and broad, front tibia elongate, stroiigly
curved and very narrow in its posterior half and broad and flat in its anterior half, the tibia1
spur large and clavate, front femur armed with a very strong sharp spine, gently curved
but not hooked a t the tip, longer clan of the front and middle feet entire. that of the hind
foot cleft.
Length 4.5 111111. ; breadth 2 11i:n.
E. ECCADOR: llangosisa R., alt. 660 in. (L. G m e z } .
The close relationship of S. 1ntipe.s to S . irnbilis is unniisiitl~abi.~.The
males of these two species alone seem to possess the st.out spine upon the
front femur, and only these and S. curribrncl&dis Ohaus, the grotesquely
elongated front tibiae. The last-mentioned species differs also in the nietallic
reflections of the head, thorax a d scutellum. It is a native of Colonibia and
the other two inhabit Ecuador. The differences between S. )nirnbilis and l a t i p
are slight but numerous. The new form is more brightly coloured, the upper
surface having the rich green colour of S. weberi Ohaus a d more shining,
particularly upon the elytra, the surface closely but less densely punctured and
t,he minute setae borne by the punctures less numerous in consequence. Thc
clypeus is not produced in front but gently rounded, the pronotum is more
narrowed in front, with more produced front angles, and inore dilated behind, it.;
greatest convexity being in the middle and not behind it. The shoulders of the
elytra are simply rounded and not spined. The spine upon the front feniur is
longer than that of AS.niimbilis and not hooked a t the tip. The front tibia difiers
little from that of the allied form but is strongly curved and not bent in its basal
half and a little broader in the fore-part. The tibia1 spur is stout and club-
shaped, as in s.wirnbilis, but less broad. The middle and hind tibiae are shorter,
broader and flatter and the two transverse ridges a t the outer edge less distinct.