IT'Rtr\tTED }:rOM CtnoxJ. So. (Bro. Scr). Vot. 13, Nos. l &2, Apttll9ll9 The Blister Beetles (Meloidae) of Sd Lankar by MoTTAMED SALLEH MonaMHrsAto2 Depdrtment of Entomology, Universiry of lllinois, fi[rith fifty three text {.Jrbana, Illinois 6rgor, U.S./. figures) ABSTRACT This is a studi' of the taxonomy erd distribution of the Meloidae of Sri Lanka. se_ven genera are recorded : Eletica, Mylabrk' Cotyn\' Epicdutc, Sybaris, Horia, i,nd Zonitoschema. *pi"r*-,"d rry E._tesiaced. si",p""l"r.i Myldbris !.s are recorded :. M. balaata, M. ceyloniu, new combinatio n, M.-Ete.tka orient.elis, M. thunberyi. Two geographic species variants of of Mylabri Fabricius' The M, ,"il.a,ir. p niiiiii, the sub-genus Mylatut1. The. geju: ciryna is r.epteseoted by'one species_, c: species of the genus Epiuuta is E. haemaocephala'(L,taas-Rutinuerg;i sytrrii s' il, punutoro, j"r;i""i"i recognizei."J* Meroc ciciorii iil"ae*';,""*'rrlr"ii," ryp* K,zin, baied oo u. ,iiiirii)it rnerefore reduced t'o "r'6" of tl" svr.iy-y -ili'o'iri."l"""ra.a thanberoi are sub-geaus .Ez zonabri? ;;;.i,';;; ;;;ilil ;6;";J'tffi;;:+#;;"1.)U,ru, ti i; new record, znd s-. yakkala,.new--species. 2onitis ceytiiica is'reduced the synonyny of 3.;;grifrir: Horiait represented by two species, H- debyi ud H, .fihiciana, o.* ,..oid. rt Zi"iitinema is represenrea u-1" o"*, rp."i"r, z. hrombcini, A uumerical compaiison ofthe meloid fauna ors.i r""ra " ,"".r ai".ii"a'.r"li!rirloL.^Ua.ia.", :'--' rnd seasonal distribution of thi genus Myrabris in sri Lenka, "iJ-l"aia, di;;";;"dtestaced, [""* "." -- INTRODUCTION This report is a preliminary study of the taxoiroiuy and distribution of the Meloidae or blister beetles of Sri Lenka (forrneily known as ceylon) based princip"ti; ;;-;;;;,rl collected by members of the Sii Lankalnsecr Projec odthe'u"ir"a siri;;i[;'.J'rutrr.o*. It is the first cornprehensive treatment of rhe family Meloidae of Sri Lr"d;;J ,fr" nr* attemPt to comPare the meloid fauna of the islani with that of rnainland India. Meloidae is a family of heteromerous Coleoptera conraining somewhat over z5oo [t has long been of interest as a source ofiantharidin, obiained l*re.ly from OId :!:"i:t. World species of the genera_ Mylabris, Epicauta, ardLytta. The adult beetles"are, with few exceptions, herbivorous, and those of some species ardof considerable economicimrorr"o"" both as parasites of grasshoppers and bees irithe larval stage and as p*r inihe rdutr "rop stage. The- present work was undertaken #ith the primary aims of clarifyine species limits among the meloids.of Sri rapftx and.providing il"rrr of identifying rp."it.irr, *irh rh" " underscanding 'of"th^e intention of contributing, in a \yay, t; an classification and -smalf distribution of the family as a whole and, rnore immediately, ofitimulatiog *a A.ifit"tirg investigation 9f the bionomics, ecology, and evolurion of rhe family Meloidae in Sri Lanka description or diagnosis of the-adult stage is ptesented for ali species k"o*n ,o o..or. ltt.lf. + in Sri Lanka, together with keys to geoera andspeiies and a summaiy of daga on seasoRal ' lThir work is based on a theris presented in partial fulfillment of M.S. requiremeqts at the University of ZPrerent address : Jabrtaa Biologi, universiti Kebaugsaar Malaysia, 1io.1" f,nmfutr M;;":-' 33-164s8 flinois, Urbeae. MOHAMED SALLBH MOHAMEDSAID distribution. As a result of the study new synonymy and new combinations are recorded from Sri Lanka for the first i.op'*.d, four previously described species 'Finally, "r" an attempt has been made to review and rwo new foecier are'described. ti*"^, ",id of Sri Lanka. fauna cite all literature p&taining ro the meloid and seoqraphic . GEOGRAPHIC SETTING Sri Lanka is clearly continental in origin and was, in fact, part of mainlurd hrdia as recendv as late Pleistoiene times. With rJspcct to landforrns, soils, climate,'and natural *g"iriion, Sri Lanka is higSly reminiscent bf South India (Mani, rg74). Three climatic zones may be recognized, based on precipitation zones (see Fig. r). HISTORICAL RESUME : arid, dry, and wet The first meloids known to occur on the island were described by Walker (1858) as Mylabnk hutuernlis, M. aberna, and Epicauta nigrifinis. The first two of these were subse;;';rrt" reduced io th" synonymy of th" mrinl"nd species M. ytustulata (Thunberg) and ii. tikbrrpiBillberg, rerpectively, by Blair (tgzr),whollso trausferrcd Walker's E. nigrifiuis i" ,t. senis Sybals|- In rssq Walker described a fourth nominal species, Mylabris recognita, *t i.tr"glrir trinsferred ro rhe genus Decapoton a. Near the end cf the last century, Haagnot"ob.rg (r88o) named Lyttahaemtocephila from Sri Lanlca. This form was subsequently placed in"tL. genas Epicaito by Borcirmann (rgtl). Borchmann_later (rq+o). described Eoiyio ceyloniia and a' variety ahdrewesi from' the island. According 1o Far{o. Alcaide (iqiE, this species and its variety are synonyms of the mainland species Mylabris rouxi (Castelnau). The first reporr of the occutrence of a. species of the "ldtid tribe Horiini in Sri Lanka is Green's (r9oz) record of Horia debyi (Fiffmaire) (as Cissites drbyl. from rgrz to r94r added several names to the list of Sri Lankan i*o varieties of Zonabris punctuffi : puttalaffiersrs and he'described *.t"iJr. i" rgr2 these are regarded as strict synonyms of Mylabris present work In the ,iouloriornnis. by Pic in 1916 was regarded as merely.a varietl4 of described ioil'rr6o.' Zonabris kandy'ata, -tWuloirit described in the same year, Zonabris ceylonica, species A second Biair. thurfierfi by the name Mylabris ceylonica (Pic). Finally, under herein ir treated ;;;;;rr to b. va'lid ; it to the s)'nonymy of Sybaris nigrifnis. reduced herein Fiiiig+r) described Zonitis ceylonica, Scattered works bv Pic In 1955 Kaszab reported the occurren ce of Eletica testacea var. rufocincla Pic MATERIALS AND in Sri Lanka. METHODS Almost all of the material studied is in the collection of the United States National Several specimens were obtained from thc Field Museum (washington, D.c.) [usNM] -[FMNH], Musdunr National D'Histoire Naturelle (Chicago; N"t*"rl History Mo|g;; Jf Tr{E BLrsrER BEETtEs,(unroroar) oF snr LANtrA zos of Soybean-Associated Arthropods and the private collection of Richard B. Selander IRBS]. In listing records, all records not associated with one of the above acrorryms are in thl U.S. Pgit) FIYpt, .Inte_rnational (*!"1r, Illinois) ,[RCSAA], ReGrence Collectioa Dissection Dissection of the abdo1.l Tq genitalia was done af,ter pinned specimens had been relaxed in heated 7ofi gthyl alcohol. The dissected prrtr w.ie then lieated again bur in alcohol solution with the addition of^ one or rwo peliets of sodium hydroxiie. Measurements Linear meesurements used in the description are as follows : Body length is the distance frorn frcnt of head (in .hyfognathous posirion) ro the apices oi elyia. Head length is the distance_from frontoclypeal suture tobcciput, measure,i-on the midiine. Head width lvas measured at the widcst point, Measurements of prouotal length and width" were taken at the longest and the widest points, respeciveiy. Maps - Yrpt of geographic distribution of the species were preparcd wirh aid of a map entitled "ceylon: Quarter lnch: (4 sheets), published by Suiveyor General of ceylon (tg6g)". SYSTEMATICS Diagnosis of the Meloidae of Sri Lanka ' Body robust to slender; length 8-33 mm. Head defexed, constricted behind to a narrow neck ; verrex normally not elevated, stro:rgly so.inEletic.a ; cephalic outline generally subquadrate, trapezoidin Horia, triangular in Zonitoschefia. A.ntemnegenerally eleven-segrnented, nine-segrirented in Coryna, clavate, filiform, or serrate. Labrurn distinct. Mandibles moderarel| ro very robust, curved. ylelder to strongly compressed. Eyes small to'moderately large, lateral in approximate on uuder side. position orrylpi Ma-:rillary Pronotum narrower than base of elytra, transverse, or longer thau wide, punctate; pleural region large ; prosternum short ; procoxal cavities large, couflu"nt, op& behind. Mesosternum short, triangular, with or without elevated ridge. Metasternum long. Legs long, slender or heavy ; tibial spurs similar to each other or dissimilar ; cla.is cleft to base, smooth or pectinate on upper blade. Elytra entire, not overlapping on sutural margin basally. Wing fully develope-d. Abdomen with six visible sterna. Male genitalia of modified sheath type ; with or without hooks ; gonoforceps with-apical piece deeply cleft or'eirtire. aedeagus .2cl6 MOIIAMED SALI.SII MOIIAMEDSAID Systematic Treatments The clasification employed (Table r) il that of Selarder (1964 : roiT): The keys only tliot"'g"oir" and species known to o."o, in Sri fanka. Species iecour,ts include valid name, Jynony*y, description or diagnosis, taxonomic and bionomic notes (if appropriate), a list and map of locality records in Sri Lanka. qresented include Table 1 Systemetic position of the genera of Meloidae subfamih, for Sri Lmkr Eleti.iili,, Geaus Elctlra "ot'*ttlr,f'T;;, Gexns MYlofuit Ggnus Coryna Genus Sy6aris Gews Eykattta Subfamily Nemognathinac Tribe Horiioi Genus lIorio Tribe Nemog:rathini Genas Zonitoschcma KEY TO GENERA OF MELOIDAE OF SRI LANKA r. Upper blade of tarsal claws with two rows of pectinations Clawsnotpectinate.... 2. Red. Head trapezoidal. 3. Pronotum z ".,.... transverse. 4 .Horia Head subquadrate. Maxillary galea normal. U?p"t blade of tarsal claws with two rows of pectinations of neariy the same length. Maie sixth visible abdominal sternum emarginated . ... . . Sybaris Head triangular. Maxillary galea prolonged in front mandibles. Upper blade of tarsal claw with one row of pectinations shorter than the other. Male sixth visible abdominal stemum cleft ......Zonitoschema 5z) (fig. 4. Head with vertex strongly elevated. Maxillary palpi with apical segment short, . narrow. Antennae serrate. Pronotum transvene, impunctate, witho,ut pubescence. Elytra eostulate. , . . . .Eletica Not as above. 5 THE BLISTER S. 6. BEETT,ES (r'rrroroar) oF sRr f,ANxa black, Antennae clavate, curved. Head red. Antennae not clavate, straight. 207 Head 6 .. ...Epicauu Antennae eleven-segmented. Maxillary palpi with apical segment elongate. Hind tibial spurs similar, spiniform ... .. .Mylabris Anteffrae nine-segmented. Maxillary palpi with apical segment widely dilated. Hind tibial spurs dissimilar, the external one expanded and obliquely truncate at apex, the internal one spiniform. ....Coryna Subfamily Eleticinae Tribe Eleticini Genus Eleticalacordaire, 1859 ; Eletica Lacordaire : iTzlTypespecies: LyuarufaEabricius(: LyttabipustulaU fixed by subsequent designation ('W'ellman, rgrg Selander, tg66 : 477. Fabricius) Eletica (Mcteletica) Kaszab, by original designation]. rgij : rS [Type species : : 393]. Lytta Kaszab, rySS testaEed Olivier ; | 7. fixed Subgenus. This genus is represented in Sri Larrka by one species. Eletica (Meteletica) testacea (Olivier) Lytta testacea Olivier, rygS : 3. Eletica testacea, Haag-Rutenberg, z, pl. rr, Figs. 97, 98. t879 Selander, ry66 : 4tz- : Kaszab, Eletica testacea var. rufocincta Pic, rgr5 : Body length tS.z - z8.S mm rgjj : 18, Fig. z. pl. r, Figs. r, 477, Figs. zo, 70-72. 8. Kaszab, rgJJ : ro3. (N:3). Head 6.2 - 6.5 mm long, one arrd one-tentlr as wide as long, oval, slightly smaller than pronotum ; vertex strongly elevated, grooved medianly. Eyes large, approximate on upper side, reniform. Mandibles strongly curved, very robust. Maxillary palpi with apical segment short, narrow. Pronotum black, shiny, 4.5 - 4.8 mm long, one and three:tenths as wide as long ; strongly rounded, subparallel ; anterior margin curved ; posterior margin broadly rounded, strongly refexed ; median impressed line sharp ; surface impunctaie, without sides pubescence. 2O8 MOHAMED SALLEH'MOHAMEDSAID ' - , Elytra costulate, red, with black bairds af middle ; sides subparallel. Legs entirely ; hind tibiae with external spur three times as large as internal one, expanded, obliquely truncite at epex ; tarsi with browniSh pubescence on under side ; tarsal'claws strongly curved. black Ventral surface black, densely clothed with fine, yellowish pubescence. Antennae black, very thick, serrate. Sixth visible abdominal .rt gro* moderately deeply emarginate. Aedeagus without hooks, slightly curved at apex. Gonoforceps strongly sclerotized, rvith apical piece bifurcated and curved inward. Male : Remarks. There are no specimens of this species from Sri Lanka available for study. The description given above is based on specimens frorn Coimbatore, South Lrdia, in the [RBS]. The preience of this species irr Sri Lanka is based on specimens from Kandy, now in the collection of the British Museum'(I(aszab, 1955). Subfamily Meloinae Tribe Lyttini Genus Mylabris Fabricius Mylabris Fabricius, ITSS : z6r [Type species : Meloe cichorii Linnaeus, 1758 : 4r9 ; fixed by present designation]. Fabricius, r79z :87. Olivier, rSrr : 88. Billberg, r8r3 : z. Marseul, fi72 ; 365. Borchmann, rgr7 : 23. Pardo Alcaide, r95o : 3; 1954 : 56. Kuzin, ry54 : 346. . Black, with gpots or bands of red or yellow on elytra. Body robust. Pubescence on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of body. Head wider than pronoum, subquadrate, punctate. Eyes moderately large, lateral. La.brum sinuate medianly. Mandibles robust, moderately curved. Maxillary palpi srongly compressed, with apical segmert cylindrical or triangular. Antennae very thick, curved, clavate, similar in the sexes, first six segments shining, the rest opaque. Pronotum longer than wide to transverse, punctate. Elytra subparallel, conyex, punctate ; humeri elevated, angular. Legs heavy, densely covered with long, stiff hairs ; front tibiae with golden pubescence on under side ; tibial spurs similar td each other, spiniform ; tarsal claws with upper.and lower blades smooth. Male: Sixth visible abdominal sternum cmarginate. Aedeagus with two ventral hook. Gonoforceps with apical piece deeply cleft, the basal piece hooks and one dorsal broad. This, the largest genus in the tribe Lyttini, is limited in distribution to Old There are presently six species known to occur in Sri Lanka. 'World. THE BLrsrER nEETT.ES (unromas),oF snr LANKA zog It appears that there has been no previous valid description of typ*species of Mylabrii. Wellman (r9ro : 396) tentatively designated Meloefloralislallas as thi tyie-species. 'Kuzin (rgs+ t 3a6) and Pardo Alcaide (rqs+ , 6o) independently designated Urto;i quadripunctatc Linnaeus as thetype-species. However,neitheroflhesespecies was included irithe i.nu, ,, originally described,by Fabricius. According to the. lnternational Code of Zo"ological Nomenclature, Articie.69, subsequent authors must designate as the type-species of a genus one of the originally included ncminal species. Therefore, neither'fuellman, nor kuzin or Pardo Alcaide's, designation is acceptible. Kuzin designated one of the species originally including in Mylabris by Fabricius, cichorii Linnaeus, as the type-species Meloe of subgenus fiizonabiis Kuzin. Inasmuch as I am uow designating this species, as the type-species of Mylabris Fabricius, Euzonabris Kuzin is a unior synonym of Myla&ris Fabricius, and the subgenus Mylabris of Kuzin or Pardo Alcaide (based on qndripunctata) has no name. _ ln this study I have omitted the subgeneric classification of Mylabrk because of its state. Three authors have worked on subgeneric classification, each using difbrent criteria and each arriving. a1 d,rftr-ent classifications. For example, Pardo Alcalde (rgs4, 1958) placed M. callida(fallas), M. elegans Olivier and M. hemprichiklug in subgen"t tuti{obi* confused whereas.Ku'jn asigned th3m io subgeneraEn*ybb:!t, Ammabris,and-Clrysabrii, respeciively. Kaszab (1O.SA) assigned M. tifensis Billberg, which Pardo Alcaide (rsig) plrced in the subgenus Mylabris, to the subgenus Neabris Kaszab. ln additio:r, KEY TO r. Mesosternum as in Figs. zz, Mesosternum as in Figs. z. 2c., SPECIES 23; OF MYLABRIS anterior margin with semi-circular ridge. .....".2 2r, 24 ; anterior margin without senicircular ridgc. . . . 3 Elytral pattern yellow ; bands not strongly undulated. Antennae with segment III elongate, subcylindrical ; apical. segment narrowly accuminate. Aedeagus (ft. 3ac) with ventral hooks close to each ocher . . .. . .Mylabris phalerata Elytral pattem red ; bands sffongly undulated. Antemae with segrnent III rather short, globular ; apical segment broadly accuminate. Aedeagus (Fig. 35c) wirh venral hooks widely separated. ... ..Mylabris ptustulata 3. Pronotum transvcrsc. Elytral pattern as in Fig. 8..... ...Mylabris orientalis Fronotum longer than wide. Elytral pattern not as above. . .. . . . . ..4 4. Basal region of elytral pattem with triangular black band ; a black spot always present behind median black band. Aedeagus (Fig. 36c) with ventral hooks close to eich-other, the proximal one larger. Femalb-gonostyli.elongate_, narrow ...Mylabris thunberg:i Elytral pattern not as. above. Aedeagus with ventral hooks widely separated, tf,e proximal one smaller. Female gonostyli short, very broad. .. t.........j MOHAMED"S*LLEEI MOEAMEDSAID ?IA 5., " Elytra with small black dot in slanted to center. Elytra without black dot in not slented to centre... basal band ; median black band with anterior margin ......r.r.,ri...i ............. Mylabris balteata Meloe balteatu Pallas, r78z : r79z Mylabris punctu?tt Billberg, : 474:, baheata with anterior margin .....".'..'-.Mylabtis ceylonica' (Pallas) 88, Pl. F, Fig. E. Mylabris baheata, Marseul, r&72 Maloe pLtnctum Fabricius, ....Mylabris basal band; rnedian black band 14. pl. 5, Fig. ++. Borchmann, rgtT : 26. : 89. r8r3 : Zonabris punehlffi ver. lmttalamensis 15, Pl.z, Fig. Pic, tgtz Zonabris ptmctuffi vat. singularipennis 15. : 13. Pic, rgrz New synonyn. : t3' New synonym' This species is similar to M- ceylonica excePt as follows : with tempora very prominent. Eyes narrower, reni6rm. Maxillary -palpi with *od with very short.pubescence.. .Elytra broadened frcm basal "yUia.l.rl median "pi"A-r"g**t third to ,'p"* ; pa6ern as in Fig. 6 ; Lasrl yeliow band with a small black dot ; black band grado"lly constricted from lateral margin to sutural margin' Head : Sixth visible abdominal sternum mcderately deeply emarginate, -rounded *"d;;t Gonoforceps with basal piece widened, sinuate on-basal margin, the apical piece cLft for more than apical third. Male Female : sixth visible abdominal srernum feebly emarginate. Gonostyli short, very broad, pubescent. Remarks. There are no specimens of this species from Sri.Lanka available for study' [ndia, in the The description given above is based on specim-ens from Coimbatore, South lRBSl. t "Ceylon". According to Mrs. patricia Vairrie, rhe Pic collection in the Musdum National D'Histoire Naturelle specimen labelled does $ot contain ,p"cimers labelled as baheata. There is, however, one as Z. punctum, Io pic's description this species_is recorded from "Puttalam" and TrrD BLrsrER BEETLEs (urroroaa) oF sRr LANKA 2tI Mylabiis ceylonica (Pic), new combination Zonabris ceylonica Pic, 1916 Body length 8.6- r7.o mm : 18. (N:r9). Head r.z - 2.6 mm long, one and four-terrths as wide as long ; punctures moderately deep, dense ;. pubescence long, sparie, denser on poiterioi margin and fronJ. "g*rr9:. Mandibles broad at base, very narro* apically. Mrxillary palpi with aiical segrnenr subcylindricrl. Pronotum 14-2.6 rnm long,,o1e and one-tenth as long as wide, sfrongly conrrergent from apical third to apex, rounded from apical third to basE ; punctures ."oi pub"r.io"" as on hq,d. Elytra elongate ; Punctures rnoderatelF- colrse,. shallow, dense ; pubescence short, very dense.on blaclc are.a, sParse oa basal lel]o.rv and apicai tan or or"nge areas ; "lytri pattern as in Fig. 7 ; basal region with trilobed black band. Vcntral surface moderately coarsely prlnctare, shiny. Mesosternum as in Fig. zo ; anterior margin produced in middle ; posterior margin moderately convex pos"teriad. ' : Sixth visible abdominal sternum (Fig. z6) angularly ernarginare medianly ; middle. .Pygidium Geblf emirgiriate. 'Genitaiia as in Fig. 3z ; aedeagus with distal ventral hook far from apex, similir r,vidrh, widely r"p..rt.i {io* proxirnal,thedorsalhookmoderately large ; gonoforcep;short,nrrrowly'tapered toapex. Male basal margin,sinuate at Fernale : Sixth visible abdominal sternum Gebly emarginate. Gonosryli shorr, very broad, pubescent. Geographic Distribution. Throughout the coastal plain, see Fig. z. Presumably this to Sri Lanka. I have seen no published recotd ofim oo.orrence in India, species is endemic or ' elsewhere. Seasonal Distribution Abundant in March and June. Records. Hambantota Dktrict: Yala, Palatupana, 8-ro March rg7z, K. V. Krombein B. Karunaratne, r. loffno Distrkt: Mandativu Island, z3 Ocober 1969, Krombein P. and Karunaratne, and 3 ; 13 miles South of Poonery, near roo ft., 7 November 1976, G. F. Dietz IV, S. Karunaratne and D. \V. Balasooriya, 5. Mannar District: Occapu E. R. Hevel, ft., 18 March r97o, Davis and Rowe, 3. Moneragala District : 5 mi s.eE. r5o Wilpattu, Kaliu, April tg7r,P. and P. Spangler, r. Polonnaruwabi*rict.' zo mi N. W. Padiyatalawa, 4 ro Polonnaruwa, June r97J, S. L. Wood and J. L. Petty, 2 ; z5 mi S. E. Polonnaruwa, L. S: Wood andJ. L. Petyy, z. Puttalam District: Kala Oya, r August 1975, 1975, roJune 'r+alaise Y. Huang, E. L. Peyton, S. Karunaratne, and Mahinda, r ; W'ilpattu M. trap, Villu, rz-r4 June 1975, D. H. Messersmirh, G. L. Williams and P. B. Kalli National Park, r. Karunaratne, 34-16458 MOIIAMED SALLEII MOHAMEDSAID, 2T2 MYlabds orientalis Marseul Mylabris orientalis Marseul, t87z : 45t, pl. 4, Figs. 33. Fairmaire, 1896 : Jo' Borchmarur, tgrT i 47. Pardo Alcaide, rgSB : 3, Fig. za, b. Body length zl.+ min (N: r). Head 3.3 mm long, one and four-tenths as wide as long ; Ptrnctures. moderately coarse. d..i.i"ot. ; p"rrb"t""t ce moderately long, denser on posterior margin, sParse on {i;;;.' rj[r t""g"r ihir *id., reniform. Maxilliry palpi witli apical segment cylindrical. pronotum 4.6 nun loug, as long as wide ; sides strongly convergent from apical ,obp"rallel fro"m apical Ihird to base ; middle region withdepression along third 16 "p"*, hr" ; puncrures as on head ; pubescence long, dense. iirrpr.s.d *.ii* Elytra with moderately coarse, shallow, very dense punctures i pubescence short, ip"rse on yellow area ; elytral pattern as in Fig. 8. lr"ry dlrr" on black "rer, Ventral surface moderately coarsely punctate, shiny. Mesosternum as in Fig. zr ; anrerior margin produced at middle ; posterior margin sharply, broadly convex posteriad; surface smooth. Male : Sixth visible abdominal sternum {Fig. zi deeply emarginate ; basal margin convex anteriad at middle. Pygidium emarginite. Genitalia as in Fig. 33 ; aed-eagus from and larger than proximal one, *ith dirt"l venfial hook far fromipex, widely ieparated ^ ifr. a.rrrf mok as large as distal vintral hook ; gonoforceps short, vety nrriowly tapered to apex, cleft to uriddle. Female : Sixth visible abdominal sternum emarginate. Gonostyli moderately long, pubescent. This species is,widely distributed in South India but has not b".n ,""'ord"d previously from Sri Linka. Its occurrence on the island is established by a ,male collected'in thc aiid zone of Hambantota District. Geographic Distribution. Record. Hambatttota P. B. Karunaratne, r. District: Palatupan a, ro-r2 August rg7z, K. V' Krombein and Remarks. The Gmale characters given above are based on specimens frorn Kurumbagaram, South India, in the IRBSJ. Mylabris phalerata Meloe phalerata Pallas, r78z : 78, Pl. E, Fig. lb. Mylabrisphalerata,Marseal,tsTz Fig. toz, rti. (Pallas) : 446. Borchmarur,rgr1 Body length r8.o-25.r mm (N:38). : 45' Kuzin, ry54 " 358, TrrE BLrsrER BEETTES (unroroar) oF snr LANKA zr3 Head z.o-3.2 mm long, one and four-teitlu as wide as long ; prmctures moderately ; pubescence moderately long, dense. Eyes longei than wide, reniform. coarse, deep, dense Maxillary palpi with apical segment triangular Pronotum 3.o-4. r Inm long, one and as long as wfde ; strongly convergent -orre-tenth qpical_ third to apex, subparallel from apical third to base ; middle region irith depression along median impressed line ; punctures as on head ; pubescence long, densg, frora Elytra with moderately coarse, shallow punctures ; pubescence short, very dense on black area, sparse on yellow ; elytral pattern as in Fig. I ; basal region with wvo yellow spots, dorsally and laterally, rectanguiar in shape ; rnedian and apical yellow bands not strongly undulate. V"otr"l surface moderately coarsely punctate, shiny. Mesosternum as in Fig. zz ; anterior rnargin ernarginate medianly ; sernicircular ridge at rniddle not strongly elevate ; ridge not extended to lateral margins ; posterior margin srrongiy acutely convex posteriad. Male: Sixth visible abdominal sternum (Fig. z8) shallowly emarginate; basal 'Ginitalia margin produced at middle. Pygidium entire. as ir: Fig. 34 ; fedeagus with distal ventral hook near apex, smaller than proximal one, the dorsal hook moderately large ; gonoforceps short, tapered to apex. Female Sixth visible abdominal steruuin ,vidr apex entire. Gonostyli short, : pubescent. Ceographic Distribution. This species is recorded here from Sri Lanka for the 6rst has been found comrnonly in dry and wet zones, see Fig. 3, but none of rhe specimens is frorn arid zone. Elsewhere this species is known ftom lndia, China, urdJava. time. It Seasonal Distribution. Abundant in April and June. Records. Anuradhapura District; Anuradhapura Sacred City, z5o ft., zo March rg7o, Davis and Rowe, z ; Balaya W'ewa, near Padaviya, rjo ft., 4-S November r97o, O. S. Flint, Jr., r ; Cheddikulam, Malaratu Oya, 15-16 June 1975, D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Williams, and P. B. Karunarattle, z ; Irrigation Bungalow, Padaviya, r8c ft., z7 February9 March r97o, Davis and Rowe, 6 ; Padaviya, r8o ft., z - 8 November rg7o, O. S. Flint, Jr., r. Kandy District: Hasaiaka Circuit Bungalow, 3o-3r May rg7S,D. H. Messersmith, Gurulupota Oya, zoco ft., r April 1973, Bauman G. L. Wiiliarns, and P. B. Karunaratne, r mi N. W. Mahiyalgana, 3o March-g April r97r, P. and P. Spangler, 13. anC Cross, r ; ; i Matale Dktrict: Sigiriya, 17 June rgTS, D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Williams, and P. B. Karunaratne, 2. Moneragala Disirict : Bibile, T }une 1975, S. L. Wood andJ. L. Petty, 5 i 16 km N. E. Buttala, 5 June rg7i, S. L. W'ood and J. L. Petty, z. Ratuayura District : Uggalkalkota, 5oo ft., ro-r4 October rg7o, O. S. Flint, Jr. t Trilrcomalee District : Trin- conralee, Chim Bey, 7 May 1974, Gans and Biionomtics. This species, together by feeding on silk and milky grains Prasanna, r. with M. pustulata, causes exteirsive damage to cora (Sharma et al., ry64) MOI{AMED SALLEII MOIIAMEDS{D " Mylabris pustulata (Thunberg) Meloe pustulams Thr:lr,.berg, rTgr : rr3, Fig. 13. Olivier, r7g5 :4, pl. r, Fig.',: pl. z, Fig. rob' Billberg, r8r3 : 9, pl. r,Fig.6. Marseul, r87z z 449,p1.4,Fig.32. Borchmann,rgrT | 47. Blair, rgzr:28r. Kuzin, 1954 : 358. Mylabris pustulata, Mylabris humualis 'Walker, 1858 := 285. Body length 15.4-32.8 mm (N:446) Head r.5-4.o mm long, one and three-tenths as wide as long i punctures coarse or moderately io, deep, dense-; pubescence long, dense. Eyes renifot n. Maxillary palpi with apical segment strongly compressed, triangular. Pronotum 2.5-6.r mm long, one and one-tenth as long as wide ; sides strongly convergent from apical third to apex, subparallel from apical third to base ; middle region with depression aGng median imiressed- line ; punctures and pubescence as on head. Elytra with moderarely coarse, moderately deep, very derrse puncrures ; pubescence short, very dense on black-area, sparse on red ar"a;" elytral pattern as in Fig. ro; basal region wiih two red spots, dorsally and laterally, rectangular in shape ; median and apical red bands strongly undulate. Ventral surface moderately coarsely punctaie, opaque. Mesr:sternum as in Fig. z3 ; anterior margin emarginate medianly ; semicircular ridge at middle strongly elevate ; ridge extending nearly to lateral margins ; posterior rnargin strongly acutely convex posteriad. ' Male: Sixth visible abdorninal sternum (Fig. z9) with emargination moderately deep, rounded. Pygidium rounded at apex. beiitalla as in Fig. is ; aedeagus with distal ventral hook near apex, widely sepaiated from proximal, the dorsal hook very small ; gonoforceps elongate, tapered to apex. : Female : Sixth visible abdominal steroqm entire elongate, narrow, pubescent. Geographic or feebly emarginate. G,:nostyli Distribution. Throughout thc island, with grcatest abundance iu regions of rain6ll annually, see Fig. 4. Occur also in lndia. receiving between Jo-roo inches China, and Java. Distributiotr. Year round, with peaks of abundance irr April,June, and August. In India, according to Rao (tssq), adults are most abundan! in the monsoon months ofJuly, August, and September. Seasonal rHE BLI$TBR aEErtEs (y-rroroap) gr sRr LANKA 215 Rccords. Anuradhagura District : Balaya 'Wertra, near Padaviya, r5o ft., 4=5 November rg7o, O. 5. rFlint, Jr., ro ; Padaviya, 18o ft., a-8 Noyemter rg1o, O. S. Flint, Jr., T ; Uhaqa,'g September rgZS,D. M. D4viqs, S. Kqrunaratrre and D. W. Balasooriya, S. Badulla District: EIla, z9 Septemler \925, Q. M. Davies, S. Karunaratne, ar'ld D.W. Balasooriya, 2. Colombo District: Labugama, 4oo ft., z4 August rg73, G. Ekis, r ; Labugama, 4-24 Jur-re 1975, S. L WoodandJ. I..'Petty, r i Malawarra, sealevel, zz August 1973, G. Ekis, at black light, z. Hambqntota District: Badagiriya Tank, 6.5 mi N. Hambantata, zV October t97o,O. S. Flint,Jr., J ; Palatupalra, ro-rz August rg7)., K. V. Krombein and P. B. Karunarltne, zz ; Palatqpala, ro ft., zz-25 Octobet rg7o, Q. S. Flint, Jr., 8 I Palatupana, \MLNP Society Bungalow, z-6 February rg7s, K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karuna- ratne, P. Fetrundo, and E. G. Dabrera, pala, 3 I r-rJ r; Ruhunu National Park, ro-rr November 3. Kandy Dktriu : Kandy, zr February rgTr,Piyadasa and SomaMarch ry7r, Piyadasa and Somapala, 7 ; Kandy, r8oo ft., Peak View t965, E. L. Mockford, Motel, 7-r4 Janyary tg7o, Davis and Rowe, r ; Kandy, Udawattakele, r-3 Octoher rg13, K.V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratne, and P. Fernando, at black light, r ; Panwila, "W. z8 August rg71, D. M. Davies, S. Karunaratne, and D. Balasooriya, 3 ; Hasalaka "W'illiams, and P. B. KarunaCircuit Bungalow, 3o-3r May rg71, I). H. Messersmith, G. L. ratne, r. Mannar Distrct: Occapu Kallu, Wilpattu, r5o ft., 18 March rgTo, Davis and Rowe, r. Mattale Distrkt: Sigiriya, 17 Jwe rgZS,D. H. Messersmith, G. L. \Milliams aud P. B. Karunaratne, 3, r8Jure ry7S,D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Williams nad P. B. Karunarat.ne" 'lVood r97j, S. L. r ; rz rni E. Naula, 14 June and J. L. Petty, 4. Moneragala District : 'Wood r97J, L. Petty,63; S.L. andJ. Bibile, TJune 6 knr N, E. Buttah, 5Juue \975,1. Di*rict: zo mi Polonnaruwa, N.W. roJune r97J, S. L. W'ood and J. L. Polonnarurua Perry, r. PuttalamDktrict; Kaln Oya, r Augurt'rOZSl y. ivt.-guang, E.L.Peytdn, S. Karunaratne, and Mahirida, malaise trap, r. Ratnapar.a Di*rict: Bulutota Pass, 3ooo ft., r8-i9 April 1973, Bauman and Cross, at black light, ro5 ; Embilipitiya, zoo ft., 3oJuly rg73, G.Ekis, 72, r August rg73, G.Ekis, 39 ; Udawalawe, 5=6 Jtrne rg75, D. H. Messer'Williems, and P. B. Karunaratne, 8 ; Udawalawe, 3oo ft., r Augu-st 1973, smitb, G. L. G. Ekis, JZ ; Singharaja Forest, 5oo ft., 5 August rg13, G. Ekis, r ; on triai to Wavqlpane Cave, zooo ft., z3 October t976, C. F. Hevel, R. E.Dietz IV, S. Karunaratne, and D. W. Balasooriya, 3. Trincon'talee Di*rict.' Trincomalee, China Bay, T May rg74, Gans and Prasanna, z. Remarks. This is the most cornmonly collected species of Meloidae in Sri lanka. k is also common in India. [t is generally'easy to ,ecJgrrize by its elytral color pattetn' Howeyer, there are three specimens that slightly.deviate from the basic pattern, see Figs' roa, b, c, d, e. Almost all the specimens examined represext types roa or rob. Figules roc and rod are of specimens from Embilipitiya, Ratnapura District, whereas Fig. roe is of a specimen from Paclaviya, Anuradhapura District. In addition, there are nine specimens which have the basic elytral pattern but yellow, ngt red. No explanation is possible at present. The shape of male sixth visible abdominal sternum is fairly consistent. The gonofor* with respect to the form of the basal piece and the depth of ceps vary greatly, particularly the cleft of the apical piece MOHAMED SATLETI MOHAMEDSA.ID 216 There is a rendency for dimorphism in body size. In Sri Lanka two classes of body lensth are distinquishabie, oo" rrooid r j.o mrn and the other about 32.o mm. According ;; fl;; irssa) tliere is marked seasonal variation in body size, in lndia, specimens found in ,.iny se"son ofren being double the size of those found in hot months of April and May. Another character meriting attention is the number of setae on the empodium. This ,ro*L"r rrries from 6-zz and is po-sitively correlated with.body.lenglh. That is, th.e lolS-e1 the bodv rhe grearer the number if s"rr..- From Fig. 5 it is evident that there is a threshold ;fJorl; 24o"mm beyond which the number of serae increase sharply with body length. and z5'z mm, M.* ,o*b", of ,"t". and mcan body lcngth of specimens smdies are rzKuzin (r9-5a) in by be-en used excensively h.r t.rri i**"*au. Thc number of empodial of in number variation the the grert but ;;;iblt;*"; a subgeneric classification of Mylabris, use bf this character. in the ;;;;;;i;h"" the p"resent species suggests caution .Kuzin.placed i ,holu*o, tosith", wiih tw. pultilata, in the subgenus Euzonabris, characterized as hryiqg ;;i; ;r"aial"serae. But as a matter of fact, in 38 specimens of M. phalerata available to *" thi number of setae is consistently five. stages were srudied by Verbeek (rglz). According. to Deobhalcta taying begin, *#h rhe onser ofrains'inJuly and continues to the end of September. Bionontics. trqsr, "gg All lift in cavities at about haif an inch.deep in loose damp garden soil. Fifid"r laid an averaqe of l-4 batches of eggs, each containing zoo-3oo eggs. Postembryonic development-was studied by Deobhakta (1953, 1954, rg57)' E;J;;?;iriJi"n U"lr"les Accordinq to Roepke GgrZ) the eggs of two species of grasshoppers, Colemania sphenailoides and Cirtacanthrls nigricozlrs Buimeister, are preyed by M- pustulata' . of some economic importance as a source of canthariclin, adult beetles .""r. rp".rdi. d";;;" to cultivated^plants. tn India they damage conr by. .feeding "tro on silk and milky grainslSharmtetal., 1964) and are also a serious pest of'cucurbttaceous crops and soybeans (Singh et al., 1968). Besides being of food plants as follows: Graminae (sorghum uulgare, e"n"""". (Cana indica) ; Rosaceae. (Rosg sp.) ; italica); r"rniutii-ffioideum, srirri, Rao (ro<a) listed zs species Cajaius indicus, Croialaria.iuncga, Dolichos lablab, Phaseolus I*n*irot"i'(Arachis'hypoyaea, -rriiitnti"tl: ' Malvaceae (Gottyp;i* neglectum, Hibiscus cannabinus, H. esculentus); . Cacta(Ipomoea ;;;;'(op;;iio iittrniil; Apo.y',, ceal (Theuetia neriifolia) ; convolvulaceaeprostrata) (Ruellia (Lantaia Acanthacete Tictona grandis); ; ,L*oro, spo.) : Verbenaceae -iiil*Uir*" acutangala, L. Lufl:a uulgaris, Lagenaria ae (Beninisa h.isyidy, Curcurbita aegyptiacQ ; Xefo, Compositee (Tridax proaunbens)' ' Mylabris thunbergi Billberg -, r8r3 Mylgbris thunbergi Billberg, -Bl"it, a5. n'ot.h*"rrrr, ,9i7 t s+. Mylabris aherna Walker, r8J8 : : 3.. Marseul, r87z; SZ!.d. J, Fig. Pardo Alcaide, 1958 : 4, Fig' 3' 18, pl. z, F18. tgzr f z8t. 285 (preoccupied name) THE BrrsrER, BEETLES Mylrtris hanilyana Pic, r9r5 (urromar) oF snr LANtrA ?17 : 18. New synonym. Bocly length ro.5- Ti.3 mm (N:62). Head r.4.-.2.2 rnm long, one and four-tenths as rvide as long; punctures coarse or moderately so. Maxillary palpi with apical segment moderately compressed, cylindrical. Pronotum r.& - 2.6 mm lo:rg, one ancl nne-tenth as long as wide ; sides strongly rounded; middle region with depression along median impressed line; punctures moderately coarse, deep, dense i pubescence long, dense. Elytra with moderately coarse, deep, dense punctures ; pubescence short, dense ; elytral pattenl as in Fig. rr, basal and subapical bands yellow or orenge, with trianeular black band on basal region ; median blaclc band constricted to center ; apical black band lunated laterally ; a black spot alrvays present at suture behind median band. Ventrai surface with punctures coarse on thoracic sternunr, moderately coarse on abdominal sternum i pubescence long, sti{ derrse. Mesosternurn as in Fig. z4 ; anterior margin produced at middle ; posterior margin corvex posteriad ; lateral arms narrowed" Male : Sixth visible abdominal sternum (Fig. 3o) shallowly emarginate; basal margin sinuate at middle. Pygidium siraiiow.ly emarginate. Genimlia as in Fig. 36; aedeigus with distal ventral hook far from apex, similar with, close to proxirnal, the dorsal hook as large as ventrals ; gonoforceps short, with apical piece cleft for nearly apical hal{ tapered to aPex. Female long, : Sixth visible abdominal sternum feebly emarginate. Gonostyli moclerately pubescent. Geographie Distribation. Distributed throughout the country, see Fig. 13. Occuru also in India. Seasonal Distributiorr. Ycar round : ; abundant in March and June. Inginiyagala z5o ft., Samudra Gardens, zz-.23 November S. Karunaratne, and D. W. Balasooriya, r. Aruradhdpura District: Anuradhapura, 16 Septembet r9TS, D. M. Davies, S. Karunaratne, and D. W. Balasooriya, z; Cheddikulam, Malaratu Oya, 15-16June rg7s,D. H. Messer* smith, G. L. Williams, and P. B. Karun aratne, 4 ; Padaviya, r8o ft., z - 8 Ncvember r97o, O. S. Flint,Jr., r ; WildliG Society Bungalow, Hunuwilagarna, Wilprttu, 2oo ft., ro - 19 March r97o, Davis and Rowe, l. Badulla District; Hasalaka,2oo ft., 15 August 1973, G. Ekis, z; Mahiyangana, z75o ft., z3 November r97o, O. S. Flint, Jr., r. Colonbo r9--zr Juruary District: Negombo, 1899, 'W. Horn, [FMNH], f ; Ratmalura airport, 'Weragoda, j ; r, rgTS,K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratne, P, Fernando, and N. Y. T. A. February rgZS,K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratne, P. Fernando, ahd S. K, Karunaratne, Records. Amparai District 1976, G. F. Hevel, R. E. Dietz IV, 2r8 MOHAMED SALLE}I MOHAMBDSAID Rarmalana, 50 ft., near airport, z8 November 1976, G. F. Hevel, R. E. Dietz IV, P. B. arrd S. Karunaratne, and D. *. Balasooriya, r. Hambantota Distriet: Hambantote, 24 [IRCSAA], I ; Kandy Distrht -: November 1976,M. E. lrwin, on soybean (Bragg variety) -Hrsalaka, r; roco ft', 30-3r March Aropol". zz-zg October tg7z,P. B. Katuott"1r",4; r Kandy. r attlacklight, i-[\uq, ; ,-Mehiyangana, 3o-March,;i, B;;an and Cross, p. District: $urunegala, neat_Elephant t<.r1ryS;11 Sg3ry]er, and P,_ y. . i'iiil rg7r, r97i, P. Fernando and N. V' T. P. Karunrratne, BKrombein, V. ir"i, rTjanuary'Mamcar K. z4 Mrrch r97o, Davis and ft., 15 S. E. Mannar, mi District: 4 W.rrgod'^, ,. Davis and Rowe, 5. Matale 18 r97o, r5o ft., March noW"IZ ;' Occapu Kallu, Wilpattu, P. B. Karunaratne, and L. Wjlliams H. Messersmith, i*irrln'r Sigiriya, 18June rg7_5,b. _G: Petty, W'ocd 1975, S. 3 ; Inginiyagala, .L. TdJ !: f,.-' txonuogilo bxt iri t Bibile, 7Jun9 r. Puttalan B. Karunaratne, P. L. and )-aIoo"|szs,D. H. Messersmith, G. Williams and Karixraratne, Peyton, S. E. L. b*iiii- ii^li'Oyr, r August tg7s, Y.M. Huang, L..Petty, andJ' S.L. Wood Mahinda, malaise ir^p,, ; 1l mi S. E. Puttalam, rSJune 1975, ;;-T;bil*a, rB O'ctobter re'/!1M. and_B. Robins6:r, z. Rahmpura District: . Thimbulketiva. roo ft.. 3r fuly 1973, G. Ekis, on fallen timber, r ; Uggalkalkota, IrriSation Bungai"*l jS" ft.,'31 j*torty-8 February_rg7o, Davis and Rowe, r. Trincomalee District: iri"."*"f.", Clrii" nay Ridg" Bungalow, o-ro) ft., t3't7 Mzy 1976,-$, V'..Krombein' p,B. Krr*rr"tor, S. Karunalratrre arrd D. W. Brlasooriya, 3. Unspecifed locality: Staudinger and Brng-Haas residual Coleoptera collection [FMNH], r. Remarks. The elytral patteril of this species varies geographically. - With regard to large spot (typical the development of the sutuial black spot, three classes are recognizeC ;-. of these frequency distribution 14 the Figure represents spctless. and ,pot, ilt. ,-^rll to northern the are coafined forms form-and.smrll spct the.typical .i"rr.r g.ograpiically. o"it of"thJ"o'oorry, principJly in tht arid and dry ,orrrr. The spotless form is confiired to southiro pirt of the country, in wet anJ dry zorles. With respect to elytral ih" "nd ""ot.rl ,*o classes are rec6gaized ; yellow (typ-ical fonn) and orange. Figure rJ rePresents "olor, ih" distributioa of rhe;" c-irrs.s. Th: yellow-form is concentrated in the northern part of whereas th: orange-fo:m iscoefire.l to the scutherir prrt. The.arid.zone is ,h" "oootry, o."upi.d by rhe typical yellow iorm in the norch but not in the south. Possibly it is the ..rrrol hilly region thar bar.s southern dispersal of the typicel form into the southern arid zone. The spotless, orange form was named asa_species Zonabris_kanltana-bV Pic (1916 : r8). ma.y, in.future, be pic's rype ipecimen, whi"h I have examined [NM!-], is from Kqdy. -It, or"f,rl'io ricognize rwo races of M. thunbergi. Hcwever, pending further studies, PartiZ. kandyana is regarded as a strict synonym of ttt. cularly sexual-and feeding behaviour, thunbergi. Genus CorYna Billberg CorynaBillberg, r8r3 : 73 [TyPe species : Mylabris argentata Fabricius, r79z : 85 ; fixed by monotypyl. Marseul, r87z : 595. Peringuey, rgog : 234. Borchmam, ,grz , i6. Pardo Ataide, tgso : 3,2r. Kuzin, ry54 i 367, 368. Kaszab, 1969 : 243, oI THE BrrsrER. BEETLEs (ramoroar) sRr LANKA 2t9 irr all works cited abovc rhe Coryna is characterized by'having only nine anrennal ;segme1:1.. .corynaisusedhere,how;vcr,as.defi;redbypardoAlcaide ("i95o': 5,1954:6r) nominal strbgenus Gorrizia, whiJh was larer *I.""i"d rc !.ii.rt .u.rk ii eslabtisjring ther95q.1 64)..I; his r9i4 paper, pardo Alc-aide admitted ,hZ, C;;y;;-';; {fardg.Alcaide, oldest name available for this taxoir bur aitempted to justify his use qf the nnmi Gouiri, 'the on the basis of previous difficulties of authors in defining C*i* and Decatoma. io*.r"r, the Intertrational Code of .Zoological Nomenclature, Article 23, clearly establishes thai Coryna is the valid name for rhe taxon. This genus is represented in Sri Lanka by one species. Coryna rouxi (Castclnau), new combination . I)ecatoma rouxi Castelnau, r84o : 268. Marseul, r87a Decapotoma rouxi, Borcih.mam, tgrT : Decapotoma recognita, : 5gz, pl. 4, Fig. 16. 62. Blair, igzr : zgr. Mylabris (Gonizia) rouxi, Pardo Alcaide, 1958 Mylabris recognita'W'alker, 1858 : : rz, Figs. 7, g. a59. Blair, rgzr : z8r. Decatoma ceylonica ver. andrewesi Borchmann, Coryna ceylonica Borchmann, rg4o : r94o : 6oo. 596, Fig. 36. Body length 9.8-13.2 mm (N:23). Head r.3 - r.8 mm long, one ancl two-tenths as wide as long ; punctures moderately coarse, deep, dense i - pubescence !o_18, dense. Eyes small, longer ihan wide, renitorm. I-abrum sinuate medianly. Mandibles moderately curved, ac-ute at apex. Maxillary palpi with apical segmeng slrongly compressed, very wide at apex, twiie as wide as its base ; pubescence sparse, short on II, III, absent on IV. Pronoturn r.8 - 2.3 mm long, ?."g 1"d t\ /o-tenths as long as wide, strongly convergenr from apical ttlird to ape&.subparallel from apical third to_base ; medianlmpressed-line sharp ; middle region with small depression along the rnedian impressed line ; posrerior rnargin sinuate, moderately reflexed ; punctures rnoderately coarse, dense ; p,ib"r""n"" long, yellowish, dense. Elytra wiil:r than pronotum, parallel-sided, co-nvex, shiny ; humeri moderately shallow, dense ; ; surface with punctures, moderately coarse to fine, pubescence short, dense ; elyral pattern as in Fig. rz ; basal black band continuous or discontinuous; a?ical black band with or without yellow area in middle. Legs with femora black or reddish-black, rnoderately coarsely punctate ; dbiae and tarsi yeiiowish; - elevate, rounded 35-16458 22O MOHAMED SAIIEIT MOIIAMEDSAID finely punctate ; front and middle tibiae with external spur wider, fingerlike, the internat one nerrow, spiniform ; hind tibial spur smaller, the external one expanded, obliquely tnurcate at aPex, the internal one rrery small, spiniform ; front Gmorac and tibiae with yellow pubescence.. Tarsi strongly curved ; upper blade larger than lower, 'closely appressed ; tarsal pads brownish in all segments on front tarsi, black on the first segment of middle and hind tarsi. Ventral surface black, finely punctate ; pubescence very long, very dense, golden yellow on thorax, black on abdomen. Mesosternum as in Fig. z5 ; anterior margin slightly convex anteriad at middlc ; semicircular ridge rnoderately elevated, not extending to lateral margins ; posterior margin strongly acutely convex posteriad ; surface sparsely clothed with long hairs. Male : Antennae thick, curved, clavate, the last three segments firsed. Sixth visible abdominal sternum fig. 3r) deeply emarginate, rounded medianly. Pygidium slightly enrarginate. Genitalii as in Fig. 3z ; aedeagus wrth two ventral hooks which are widely separated, the dorsal hook as large as distal ventral hook; gonoforceps tapered to apex, with apical piece cleft to middle. Female : Sixth visible abdominal sternum narrowed to apex, entire. Gonostyli moderately long, pubescent. Geographical Seasonal Distribution. Throughout coastal plain, see Fig. 16. Distribution. Marcn, May and June. Recoils. Antradhapura District: Cheddikulam, Malaratu Oya, 15-16 June 1975, 'Williams and P. B. Karunaratne, 4. Marinar District: Occapu D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Kallu, Wilpattu, r5o ft., 18 March r97o, Davis and Rowe, rz. Moneragala Dktrict: Ingi'lVilliams and P. B. Karunaratne, r. niyagala, r-j Ju$e rg7s, D. H. Messersmith,-G, L. 'Wood andJ. L. Petty, Polontaruwa'District : zo mi N. W. Polorrnaruwa, roJune r97i, S. L. -ft., t3-t7 2. Trincomalee District.' Trincomalee, China nay rudge Bungalow, o-roo Mey ry76, K. V. Krornbein, P. B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne and D. W. Balasooriya, r. 'Unspecifed locality: Staudinger and Bang-Haas residual Colcoptera collection [FMNH], 3. Reinrks.' I arn following Pardo Aicaide, (1958 : rz) in placing and Coryna ceylonka in the iy.rory*y of C.'ioixi. Decatoma ceylonica Four of zz specimens studied have ten distinct entennal segrrents. The elyuai pattern varies considerably, as shown in Fig. rz. Genus Syharis Stephens Sybaris Stephens, rgz : 7o [Type species : by monotypyl. Borchmann, tgr7 :, S. Sybaris immunis Stephens, r83z Blair,. rgzr : zlz. ; fixed \ THB BLrsrER aEBTLES (rr,ruromln) or sRr LANKA z2r. slender. Pubescence on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of body. .,^^P::H. Podypronorum, subquadrate,*r9",r than. punctare. Eyes moderatery large to smail, medianly. Mandib[es robusr,.rtiongly curved. tvta"xillary palpi --piJrro,r* with apical segment compressed, tiiangular. Antennae Llack, t'"ig, r"Uniifor.rr €rlonflate', campanulifoffn, .plrncrate. llytra sub-parallel; elongite, convex. Legs long, slender, denselv clothed with long, stiff hairs ; fiont and rnidile tibiae wirh apilal spurs similar to .""h orher, spiriform ;"' n*a tibiae with ;t; i*g.,'."p""a.a, ""i."rrr; "ii..l obliquely truncate .t 'trrs"l it"*r #ith tdo .o*, the internal zone small, spiniform "p6*, blade of pectinations on upper ; lower blade of-claws thin, smooth. l{"rd, lateral. Labrum sinuate Male : Sixth visible abdominal sternum emargirare. Aedeagus with one venrral hook ; dorsal hook larger, more strongly curved "rhrn ve.,.rral Jne. This genus has never been revised. Tire type specimen of the type-species was reportedly.collected in England. At present rhcre aie th^ree specier knowri io oicur in Sri Lanka, including a new species described hcreirr. The cwo pieviously known ,p..i., 1lro occur in India, as indicared by.Fabricius (r7gz : 85) and^Fairmaiie (rs96 :'53). The bionomics of the genus are toially unknown. KEY TO SPECIES OF r. 2. brown. Head black. Ventral surface Head brown. At Head with srnall or moderately . . . . . Sybaris nigrifinis of abdominal srernum least rniddle small, with interocular region STB,,{RIS coarse punctures fro* oo* *d ; black. rempora strongly o""-h"if to ,#." testacea. Head "r *ra"'rl ........2 inflated. Eyes . . . sybirit "1rrt. large punctures; tempora barely inflated. Eyes moderately large, with in-with terocular region as wide as eyes. . . . . . Sybaris yakkala, new species Sybaris nigrifinis (Walker) Epicausta [sic) nigrifnis Walker, 1858 : 285. Lyua nigrifils Borchmann, tgrT Sybaris nigrifnis : 96. Blair, rgzr : z8r. Cantharis usta Fairmaire, 1896 : Lytta usta Borchmann, rgr7 : Zonitis ceylonica Pic, rg4r : 4. 54. gg. New synonyn. Body length to.Z-:4.r mm (N:5). MOIIAMED SAIITH MOIIAMEDSAID Head r.3-r.6 mm long, one and four-tenths as wide as long, cephalic outline as in Fig, 38; punctures coatrse, deep, dense i pubescerrce short,,denser on posterior margin, Eies modeiately large, with interocular region as wide as eyes. Pronotum r.8-2,5 mm long, one and three-tenths as long as wide, strongly convergent frorn rniddle to apex ; posterior margin sinuate medianly, srongly reflexed ; Punctures moderately coarse, sparse ; pubescence short, dense. Elytra brown, with black band at apex ; pubescence short, very dense. - Legs black except for basal part of femora ; front tibiae with golden pubescence on under side. Ventral surface brown, densely clothed with short pubescence. : ar) with spical segment one and sixth-tenths as long as III. sternum broadly, moderately deeply emarginate. Pygidium Sixth visible abdominal as in Fig. 46 ;' aedeagus wiih vential hook far from apix, not {lattened at apex. Genitalia strongly curved ; gonoforceps with apical piece tapered to apex, cleft for apical one-third. Male Antennae (Fig. Female : Antennae (Fig. +l) witb segment III cylindrical ; XI one and seven-tenths as long as III. Sixth visible abdominal sternum feebly emarginate. Geographic also Distribution" Occurs in the cenrral part of the country, see Fig. in India. Seasonal Distributibn. March and October. rg73, M. and B. Robinson, 4. [NMP], 7. (Vaurie, in litt.) . Polonnaruwd Sigiriya, 3 March rg7z, K. V. Krombein and P. B. Karunaratne, r. Records. Galle Monerugala District Disnict; 17. Occurs : Hiniduma, zz Actober Dktrict: 'W ellayaw a, r8gz, Mitschke Remarks. The descrip tion of Zonitis ceylonicaPic fits this species 'well, and Mrs. Patricia Vaurie has verified that the type specimen [NMP] is'not a Zonitis btrt a Sybaris. I am. tlrerefore reducing Z. ceylonica to synonymy under S. nigrifinis. Sybaris tcstacea (Fabricius) : 85. Borchmann, Cantharis testacea, Fairmaire, 1896 : 53. Sybark testacea, Blair, tgzt : z8z. Lytta testacea Fabricius, tTgz rgrT : gg. Body length 8.2-16.6 mm (N:5). Head. o.9-2.2 rnm long, one and four-tenths as wide as long ; cephalic outline' as in Fig. 19 ; punctures moderately coarse, deep, denser on front and posterior margin ; pubescence short, dense. Eyes small, with interocular region one and one-half to twice as wide as eyes. THE BLIsTER BEETLES (rtmrohrar) or snr LANKA 22i/ Pronotum 1.4-z.r mm long, one and rwo-t'enths as long as wide; strongly convergent from apical third to apex ; anterior margin strongly curved ; posterior margin sinuate medianly, strongly reflexed ; punctures moderately coarse, deep, dense ; pubescence Elytra brown, with black band at apex; pubescence short, brownish on brown area, black on'black area, very dense. tegs entirely black. Ventral surface black, cxcept the last two ab.Iominal segmencs, densely clothc with short pubescence. Male : .Anrennae (Fig. +z) with apical segment twice as long as III. Sixth visible abdominal sternum deeply enrarginate, rourded medianly. Pygidium narrowly to'apex. Genitalia as in Fig. 47 i aedsagus with ventral hook near to apex ; gonoforceps elongate; tapered to apex with apical piece cleft for more than one-half apical. .. Female m. see : Antennae as in Fig. 44 ; apical segment Sixth visible abdominal sternum feebly with one ancl sixth-tenths Geographic Distriburion; Occurs in southern and northern arid Fig. 17. This is a new record for Sri Lanka. Seasonal as long as emarginate. zones of thc country, Distribution..' February, Marchn and November. Records. Hambantota District; Angunakolapelessa, a3 November 1976, M. E. Irwin, on soybean var. BP-r [IRCSAA], i ; Palatupana Tank, 3 February 'Lg7S, at black light, r. Mannar District,' Mannar Island, z mi W. Pesalai, roft., z4 March rg7o, Davis ind Rowe, 3. Sybaris yakkala, new species Body length ro.3-r3.7 rnm (N:3). - r.6 mm long, one and one-half as wide as long ; cephalic outliue as in punctures coarse, deep, moderately dense i pubescence short, sparse, denser on and pcsterior margirr. Eyes moderately large, with interocular region as wide as Hcad r.5 Fig. +o front ; eyes. Pronotum t6-z.4mm long, one and two-tenths as long as wide ; strongly convergent ftom apical third to apex; posterior margin sinuate, medianly, strongly refexed ; punctures coarse, deep, moderately dense ; pubescence short, dense. Elytra brown, with black band at apex ; pubescence short, brownish on brown area, black on black area, very dense. Legs ill black'except basal part of femora ; trochanters reddish-black ; front tibiae with golden pubescence on under side. 22,4 MOHAMBD S^LI"EII MOIIAMEDSAID Ventral surface brown, with black area at middle of abdominal sternum excspr on last two segments ; pubescence short, dense. : : Antennae (mutilated). Sixth visible abdominal sternum moderately d".ply ; lateral lobes moderately produced, angular. Pygidium narrowed to apex, flattened. Genitalia as in Fig. 48 ; aedeagus with ventral hook far from apex, strongly curved ; gonoforceps short, tapered to apex, with apical. piece cleft for apical one-third. Male emarginate, rounded medianly : Antennae (Fig. +s) with apical segment twice feebly emarginate. it"rnom abdominal Female as long as tII. Sixth visible Holotype, male, from Yakkala, Kirikithamula, Anuradhapura 1968, August District, 27 "K. P." [FMNH]. Type designation: Female, fiom Uggalkalkota, Irrigation Bungalow, 35o District, 3r January-8 February r97o, Davis and Rowe, r. Allotype; ft., Ratnapura Paratype: Female, from Parayanalankulam, Irrigation Canal, z5 mi N. W. Medachchiya, roo ft., Vavuniya District, zo-25 March r97o, Davis and Rowe, r. Geographic Seasonal Distribution. Found in dry and wet zones, see Fig. 17. Distribution: January and March. Genus Epicauta Dejean EpicautaDejean, fi33: zz4 [Typ" species : Lytta erythrocephala Pallas; fixed by subse quent designation (W-erner, ry45: 425)). Borchmann, rgrT: 69. Kaszab, $52:574. This genus is represented in Sri Larrka by one species. Epicauta haematocephala (Haag-Rutenberg) Lytta haematocephala Haag-Rutenberg, E7icauta haematocephala, Borchmawr, r88o tgrT : 86. : 76. Kaszab, There are no specimens of this species available for as follows study. ry52 : 576. The original description is : "Elongate, nigra, parum nitida, pube grisea partim vestita ; capite rufo, disperse ;- subtus sat Iong albido-villosa, Gmoribus posteribus lanuginosis [male1, tibiis inticis fortiter spinosis.-Long. 13, lat. 14 mill. Ceylon, Coll. Haag." punctato Remarks. This species may be distinguished from other species by means iof the key presented by Kaszab (rgSz) in his revisionof Epicauta in the Oriental aud Ethiopian regions. THE BLrsrER BEETLEs (urrornaE)" or sm LANKA 225 Tribe Horiini Genus HoriaEabricius, 1787 : _164 Horia Fabricius [Type species : Horia testdcea Fabricius, tZ}?; fixed by rgro : 392)]. Gahan, r9o8 : rrg-2o4. Borchmann, subsequent designation (Wellman, tgr7 : rZ3. Betrem, rg2g : XXVII ; : r93z 88. Red. Body robust, Head smaller than pronotum, punctate, pubescent ; cephalic outline trapezoid. Eyes moderately large, close to each other on under side. Labrum not very distinct. _ Mandibles very robust, strongly curved. Maxillary palpi with apical segment moderately compressed, sub-cylindrical. Autennae black, thick,laiically moriliform, with the shape similar in both sexes. Pronotum wider than long, smooth or finely punctate, pubescent or glabrous. Elytra subparallel, elongate, punctate or impuncrate, pubescent or glabrous. Legs black except femora, heavy, rnoderately densely clotlied with short pubescence ; tibiae with apical spurs similar to each other, spiniform ; tarsal claws with upper blade pectinate, the lower one smooth. Male : llind fernora modified, greatly enlarged, rvith two or four spines at apex" Sixth visible abdominal sternum cleft, nearly to base. Aedeagus without hooks, strongly curved. Gonoforceps with apical piece entire, not cleft. ,l This genus is represented in Sri Lanka by two spccies, one of rvhich is reported for the first tirre. Both species are known to occur also in South India. KEY TO SPECIES OF HORIA Pronotum with anterior margin broadly curved. Eiytra punctate, pubescent, rather ..Horia debyi dull. Male hind femur with four spines at apex. . ..:. . . Pronotum with anterior margin angularly emarginate. Elytra impunctate, without pubescence, shiny. Male hind femur with two spiues at apex. ..., .Horia fabriciana Horia debyi Cissites debyi Faitmaire, 1885 Horia debyi Gahan, r9o8 1932 | gr- (Fairmaire) : CXI. : 2o3. Borchmann, rgr7 : rZ3. Betrern, Lgzg : XXV[; Body length z5.r-263 mrn (N-4). Head 2.5-3.0 mm long, one and four-tenths interocular region. as wide as long. Eyes broadened toward MOHAMED SALLEH MOIIAMSDSAID ??6 pronotum denser oo 4.o-j,r mm long, one and three-tentlu as wide as long ; - Punctures fine, iegion, laterilly ; pubescence fine, sParse. Legs with tarsi strongly "ot"rio, compressed. : Ventral sudace densely clothed with moderately long pubescence. Hind Gmora greatly erlarged, nearly-three times.as wide as in female ; each "Fifrlrvisible"abdomirial s-tellum shallowly*emarginate' *it1rf";; spines ar apex. ,,Sixth ;iriilf"-.Ua.iminal steinum clef,t, with each lateral half qiangular. Pygidium shallowly l.d"rgo, strongty curved, broadly lobed at base. Gonoforceps with basal "*r*i""r". piece-widened, narrowed to aPex' Male : Female: Antennae sparsely pubescent. Abdominal sternum reddish-black; sixth visible abdominal ur.rrruri emarfinate, strongly sclerotized. ,' . Geographic Seasonal Dktribution. Found in dry and wet zones, see Fig. 18. Distribution. March and November' Records. Anuradhapura Districtl Padaviya, l8o ft., ^z-B November r97o, O. S' ffi"t.ii.. i. Kandy Oistr;ct: lJdawatte Kele,'Kandy, zoo ft., zg March 1978, Bauman and Cr"tr, i. Unspeiified locality.' r9r5, F. C' Wellman, z' Bionomics. The life history of this species was first described ly_B,ugnion (r9ro), who misiJentified it as Cksites t ttoirrt Fabricius. Green (r9oz) _found all life stages in a dead ii"" t*r".lled by wiid bees (Xylocopa tenuiscapa Westwood)' Horia fabriciana Betrem Horia testacea Fabricius, t787 Horia aJricana Gahan r9o8 : t64' zo3' Horia Jabriciana Bettem, 1929 Body length 2o.o mm " : XXVI[ ; r93z : 89' (N: r)' . ,, Head 3,o mm long, one and two-tenths as wide as long. Eyes narrowed toward interocular region. pronotum 4.2 rnm long, one and three-tenths as wide as shiny. kgs with tarsi weakly compressed' long; surface smooth, Ventral surface with long pubescence, which is denser on thorax than on abdomen. THE BLTSTER Arrrr,rS,:(UrromAE) oF sRT LANtrA 227 . Male : Hind femora enlarged; each with two spines at apex. Fifth visible abdominal sternum.deeply emarginite. Sixth visible abdorninil sternurnlwith lrterrli:half nartowlv produced, ?ygidium narr6w, rounded at apex. Aedeagus very sronglyicurved. Gono'-. Female : Sixth visible abdominal sternum emarginate. Geographic Di*ribution. This is a new record for Sri Lanka. Found in the dr;r zonc; sce Fig. 18. Seasonal Distribution. June. Record. Puttalam D. H. District: W'ilpattu Nationai Park, Kali Villu, n-r4 Jwrc ryi5 L. Williams and P. B. Karunaratne, r. Messersmith, G. Remarks. I have seen only one specimen, a female from. Sri Lanka. Betrem (rgrg, r93z) mentioned that the distribution of the species includes South.lndia. The male characters given above are based on a specimen from Coimbatore, South India [RBS]. 'Iribe Nemognathini Genus Zonitoschema Pering'.rey Zonitoides Fairmaire, 1883 by monotypy]. Zonitoschema : 3r [Type species : Peringuey, tgcg : 274 [Typ. Zonitoides megalops species included species are cocccinea Fabricius, eborina Fahr., Peringuey]. Kaszab, ry69 : 244. Zonitopsis Wellman, in rgro : 39S : saga Fairmaire; fixed undesignated; originally Peringuey and posticalis [Newname for Zonitoides Fairrnaire, r883, preoccupied Mollusca]. This genus has not been recorded previously from Sri Lanka. It is represented there b;r the following nev!' species. Zonitoschema krombeini, new species Body length 7.8-4.7 mm (N:zz). Fread, r.z-z.o mm long, one and two-tenths as wide as long ; cephalic outlirre as in Fig. a9; punctures moderately coarse, moderately dense ; pubescence short, moderately dense. Eyes moderateiy large, subcontiguous on under side ; interocular region less than or as wide as eyes ; anterior margin deeply enrarginated. Clypeus narrow to apex. Labrum wider than length, sinuated. Mandibles narrow to apex, moderately curved. Maxillary palpi(Fig. 5r) long, narrow, slender, with apical segment cylindrical ; pubescence short, moderately dense. Maxiliary galea prolonged in front mandibles. Labium (Fig. So) deeply emargin-ate ; mentum longer than wide ; labial palpi long, with apical segment wider than before. 36-16458 228 MOIIAMED SALLEII MOXAMEDSAID r Prorrtitum L!1215 mm long, one and one-tqnth as long a.s :wide, campanuliform, shiny ; sides from apical half to apex convergent, subparallel from apical half to base ; anterior margin curved ; posterior margin sinuate medianly, flared, reflexed ; punctures moderately coarse, dense ; pubescence short, dense Elytra wider than pronotum, sutparallel, convex, elongate, sulface densely covered with small punctures and short pubescence. Legs long, slender ; tibiae with spurs similar to each othir, spiniform ; tarsil claws with upper blade thick, with two rows of pectinations, one row shorter than the other ; lower blade thin, smooth. Ventral surfa.ce yellow or brown, finely punctate, densely clothed with short pubescence, shiny. Male : Antennae very long, filiform, the intermediate segments arcuate ; apical segment one and eight-tenths as long as III. Sixth visible abdominal stemum (Fig. sz) cleft nearly to base ;- lateral halves triangular. Pygidium broadly emarginate. Gcnitalia as in Fig.-s3 ; aedeagus without hookibarely cuived ; gonoforceps short, with apical piece feebly cleft, strongly curved ventrad. : with segment XI one and four-tenths abdominal sternum emarginated. Gonostyli very short. Female Antennae as iong as IIL Sixth visible from Kandy, r8oo ft., Kandy District, 7-r4 r97o, Davis and Rowe January [USNM]. Type No. 7fir5. Type designation: Holorype, male, Paratyytes : Twenty Geographic . Seasonal speciurens cired. Records section below. Distribution. Occurs in the central part of the country, see Fig. r9. Distribution. September to November, January. Records. Badulla District: Duhinda, 3o September 1975, black light trap, D. M. .W. Balasooriya, r ; Ella, z8 September 1975, black light Davies, S. Karunaratne and D. trap, D. M. Davies, S. Karunaratne and D. W. Balasooriya, r.Kandy District.' Hasalaka, Flint,Jr., ro; Hasalaka Circuit Bungalow, 3o-3r 5ooft., zz-25 November r97o, O. S. 'Williams and P. B. Karunaratne, r ; Hasalaka, Dam May 1975, D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Spillway, 3oo ft., z3 November tg7o, O. S. Flint, Jr., t ; Kandy, r8oo ft., Peak Vie-w Motel, 7-r4 Janu*y rg7o, Davis and Rowe, 3 ; Peradeniya, Hantana Hill, zooo ft., zg March r97, at blick light, Bauman and Cross, r. Moneragala District; Inginiyagala, z-3Jtrne rgT1, at light, D. H. Messersmith, G. L.'W'illiams and P. B. Karunaratne, r, -Panamure, latiapura Di*rict: 5oo ft., r5-rz October r97o, O. S. Flint, J.., , ; Udawalawa, 5-6 June rgZS, D. H. Messersmith, G. L. Williams and P. B. Karunaratne, r ; Uggalkalkota, fso ,Rc'we, r. ft., Irrigation Bungalow, 3r January-8 February rg7o, Davis and Remarks. There are some specimens with antennal segments palpi, and part of the tarsal segment black. III-XI, the maxillari rrrE Br.rsTFR BEETLEs (ui:roroir): or sRr 'r.ANKA z29 DISCUSSION D i *ribut ional Relati o n shi ps The meloid fauna-of Sri Lanka (Table z) is similar ro that of India, from which it wes undoubtedly derived, but is not lcalll, so rich in terms of either genera or species. There some 92 sPecies of Meioidae, represenring 18 genfra, recordLd from India ?re.Presently (Table 3). ln-contrast, Sri Lanka has only r5lpecies, iepres6nting seven genera. All of the genera and 12 of the species ociurring in Sri-Lanka ari also prJsent in lirdia. Further, of the- three species_ that are ap-parendy endemic to Sri Lanka,'one (Myldbrk eeylonica) ii very similar.plr.enetically to an Indian species (M. babeata) and anothei (Sybaris yikhala) has its presumed nearest relative in S. ti*acia, which occurs in both Sri Lanka and india. 'The relationslrips of the third endemic spbcies, Zotitoschema krombeini, are not clear at present and are unlikely to be determined satisfactorily until the genus Zoniioschema is revised. The fact tbat the Sri Lankan meloid fauna is essenrialiy a subsct of that of India is in with geological evidencc that Sri Lanka was derived in relatively recent times (late.Pleistocene) lom continenial India and the results of biogeographical studies involving a wide variety of organisms (Meni, 1974). The depaup.rat" iatur. of the Sri Lanka[ meloid 6una.is presumably attributable in part to the physical isolarion and in parr to the small size of the island._ In particular, one notes that the aiid areas, which in gen&al supporr the greatest variety of meloids, are decidedly of limited exrenr in Sri ranka. concordaucc Perhaps the most sriking difference between the meloid fauna of Sri Lanka and that of India is the near absence in the former of the subsribe Epicautina (Denierella, Epicauta and Psalydolytta). Denierella,.an!, Psalydolytta, reprcsented in-India by'four and eight species, respectively, several of which occur on Peninsular India, are absenifrom Sri Lan[a. Eipicauta has zo Indian species, ninc of which occur in the peninsular portion of the counrry. One of these, E haematocephala, was recorded from Sri Lanka nearl-y a cenrruy ago (Haig-Ruthen' berg, r88o). Subsequently, there have been no addidonal published recor?s. Fur-thermore, no species of Epica.uta has been found in Sri Lanka during the period of more than seven years that_entomologists associated with the SriLankalnsect Piojec of the U.S. Nationrl Museum have collected on the island. Tanr,r 2 List of Meloidae of Sri Lanlse Elctica testacea (Olivicr) Mylabri s balteata (P allts) M. M, ceylotrica (Pic), new combination orienialis Marseul M. phalerata (Pal7as) M. pusnlata (Thunberg) M. thunbergi Billbcrg Coryna rouxi (Castelnau), new combination Sybarb nigrifinis ('tValker) S. testaeea (Fabriciu$ S. yakkala, new species Epicauta haematocephal a (Haag-Rutenberg) Hoia debyi (Fairmaire) H, Jabridana Bettem Zonitoschema krombeini, new species MOITAMBD SALLEII MOTIAT{BDSAID 230 Trrr! 3 Numcrical comparisoa of mcloid flrrne sf India end Sri ' Nuuber Gencre kale of, rpccier Sri Lroka Elcticirrre glctita . rMeloinae : . Coryna 1 Clan;colytta 3 Cllin&ortonx 5 Dari*clle ''Eolyilus Eplc*ta N 1 2 Meloc . 1 '3 1 Lyua '' I Mllabris Ps6tyilotyaa 21 5 ,..Syeanir 6 8 3 l!.Icmognathinee Hoia ' . 1 Nemognalha 2 Synhoria I Zonith Zonitamorpha 1 Zonitoschema I '1 Since Epicautina, in contrasr to most meloids, are parasitoids of grasshoppers, rather than bees; the question arises as to $rhether host selection is involved in the near or complete cxclusion of tliis subtribe frorn the Sri Lankan fairna. However, many of the species of lvfylabris,ncltrding M.pustulata.which is the commonest meloid in Sri Lanka,-are also associated with grasshoppers, and thiS genus is relatively well represented in Sri Lanka. Zonal Distribution o.f Sri Lankan Meloidae Table 4 presents a summary of the,distribution of the Meloidae of Sri Lanka in terms of climitic zcnes (wet, dry, and arid). The geographic distribution of these zones is shown in Fig. r. As shown, most of the species occur in at least two zones, and three species of Mylabrk occur in all three zones. Excluding from consideration species recorded from a single iocality, the only species that seems to be:confined to a single climate zone is Sybaris tesiacea, which has been recordcd in the arid zone on both north and south coasts of the island. The wet zone occupies about ll% otthe area of Sri Lanka, the dry zone 57%, and the ari.d zone ro/o. Nine (6of) of the species of the island are iecorded from the wet zone and the same number from the'dry zoni. Only seven (+z%) of the species are recorded from the arid zone, but in terms of species per rurit area, this zone is by the richest of the tlrree. f* aHE Br.rsrER,BEETI"Es (urroroer) .oJ snr ' :::.''.'.;trrrra 231 LANEA . Distdbution of the Mcloi&c of Sri Lrnta by cliraatic roncr 'W'et Dry Arid N Bccotd' Speciq Elelicalatacca Mylabds baltute M,ccyloniu oricntalis M. phalercu M. M.pustulata . . M.thunberyi Coryna rcuxi Sybaris nigrifnis S. testccea S. ykkald Epkaut a hacmat o cephal a Hoila debyi H. tabriciana Zonitosclrema t :.x x X x 0 9 X x x x x x X X X 1 l3 x x 34 28 X 5 x 3 x x x x x 3 3 0 2 X krombeini x 1 x 9 tRecordl from specific localities. , Seasonal Distribution As might be expected in a strictly tropical- setting, adult Meloidae may be found throughout-the year il1 Sri Lanka. In 6ct, it would appear that at least a ferry of the spegigl are r+resented by the adult stage year-long. :, ,:"i. In the case of four species of Mylabris the collection data are sufflcient for-a preliminary investigation of posible specific differences in seasonal distribution of the adult stage (Table J): TEe data sriggest thir at least three of the four species have no distinct generations. Further, it wouldlppear that the adulr populations of all four specieq reach rrraximu-rl in rpring, H.orilver, the fact that tteri has been no collecting_bymembers of the Sri Lanka Lisect Project in the month of December indicates'tLat the data are biased. size clearcur seasonal difference among species is indicated in Table '5, although pe-rhaps M. pu*ulata maintains relqtively large p-"pulation size later in the year than do the No other species. Frequency distribution (by paired months) of records of four species of Mylabrk Patnro M.oxtns Species Jan-Feb M. Mar-Apr May-Jun . N Jul-Aug .. PGcolD Sep-Oct ,8,' tcyloniea 0 J 2 1 1 M. phaleruu 1 3 6 0 1 M. pustulata 3 3 10 7 6 3 32 ,., M. thubbergi 4 5 5 3 3 5 24 1 13 ili MOI{AMED' SALTEH MOTIAMT,DSAID ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this ,opportunity to expresl my appreciation to the following for assistance during the course of'this study: persons and their institutions Dr. Richard B. Selander, Department of Genetics and D-evelopment, LJniversity of Illinois, Lfrbana, who suggested rrry undertaking this study and whoie guidance, criticism, and interest have been invaluable' Dr. Karl V. Krombein, Principal Investigator of the Smithsonian Project, "Biosystematic Studies of the Insects of Sri Lanka", and Mr. Gary F. Hevel IUSNM] ; Dr. Henry S. Dybas IFMNH]; Mr. Joh" J. Bouseman [IRCSAA]; and Dr. A. Descarpentries INMPJ, for the loan of specimens. Mrs. Patricia Vaurie for her verification of the Pic type-species [NMP]. Mrs. Alice Prickett for preparing Figs. 5-rz. I am indebted to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, for financial assistance during two years of study at the University of lllinois at Urbana-Champaign. REFERENCES Brrnau, J, G. 1929-Notes orr Horiini. Tijtlscr. Elt.,72 BErtrBM, J. G. 1932-Beitrage zur Kennmis des Butresnc, G. liibus !. l\l3-Monogtaphia Mylabriiliun. Brern,K.G, 1921.-Typesof 69, Heteromerd der : XXVI-XXIX. Horiini der Familie dcr Meloidae (Col,). Tra$ia, 11 , 83-700. Holmiae. dcscdbedbyF.Walkernowinthe British Museum. Trms,Ent.Soc. Lonilon. 26V283. DorcnrvraNx, F, 1917.-Pars 69 : Meloidae, Cephaloidae. Ir Junk, W., and S. Schenklitg, Coleopterorum alalogus, Berlin. Boncnrrurx, F; 1940.-Neue Meloiden-Arten (Col.). Mirt- Mii,cll,/ ct Ent. Gcs., 30, 592'621, DucmoN, E, 1910.*Ir Cissites testaceus Fabricius des Indes et de Ceylen. Bull. Soc. Roy. Ent. Egyptc, Z: 182-201, 3 pk" C,rsrrrxau, L. l84O.-Ilsroire naturellc iles insects, Colloptbtes, vol. 2. Paris. Dr;nax. L8l3--Catalogue des Colbopl bes, Patis. Droau,rxr.r, S. R. l953.-Preliminary notes on the carly cmbryonic development of Mylab* pustrlara (Thunberg) (Coleoptelc,. Agra Univ. Joar. Rer. (Sri.)' 2, 125-134. f)noaxaxra, S. R: 1954.-Eerly embryonic development of Myhbrk pustulata (Thunberg). Part II. Chaages leadiag to the formation of the germ band. AgraUniu.Jour..Res. (Sic.), 3, 441454. Dsorgaxra,S.R, l957,-EmbryonicdevelopmentotMylabrispustulala(Thunberg), AgaUniv.Jour.Res.(Sci.),6,97-172. FADilcrus, FAnnrctus, F,rnntcrus, J, H. 1775'-Slstc,rtd Ettornologide, Vol. 1. Hafniae. J. H. l787,-Mantissa insectorufi. Vol' 1, Hafniec. J. H. fin.-Etttomologia systeffidli.d, VoI. 1, Part 2. Hafniae, L. 1883.-Essai sur les Col6opt&res de I'erchipel de le nouvelle-bretzgne. Ann. Soc. Ent, Belgique.27,l-58. Farnuaos. L. 1885.*Comptes-Rendus des seances. Ann. Soc. Eat. Belgiquc, 29. CXI-CXII. F,uura,trnr, L. 1896.-Heteromeres de l'hrde, r{m. Soc. Ent. Belgique, 40. 642. 1908.-Notes on the coleopteroys ge1e1a-Iloria Fabricius and Cjssitas Letteille and a list of the described species. GeraN,' C.J. - ,*n, Mag. Nat. IIis!., ser. 8, 2, 119'2M. Gnrrr, E. E. 1902"-Ou some parasites of Xylocopa tatuixapa Wcstwood: Ettl. Mon. Mag., set. 2, 13, 232-233. He.rc-Rurrxsgnc. 7879.--Zsr Synonymie det Heteromeren. Deutschc Ent' Zcitsch,, 2X, 4ll4l2. Ha.rc-Rurrxrrnc, l88Q.-Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Canthariden, Deutsche Ent. Zeitsch., U. L7-19. K.rsz.rr, Z. 1952.-Die palaartischen uud orientelischcn Arten der Meloidcn-Gtttt&E Epicdutc Redtenbecher. ,*ta Biol. .. . Acdt. Sci. Hungaticae,3, 573-599. F;1a161,nr, THE BLrsrER BEBTLE$ KAszar, (rauomar) oF sRr LANKA 23t Z. l955.-Revision det Mtloiden-Gay1nq&letya !,acordailc (Colcopterl Hetcromcn). Am. Mus. Roy. Congo Belgc, Teriiren, ser. 8 (Sci. 7.ool.), 4l : 1-121, 11 pb. Kuztx, V. S. 1954.-K posnanyjr'.s ystemy narybnikov (Coleoptere, Meloidae) Trudy ht. Obsh.,41 : 336-379 [In Rusrieo.l L.tcor.o.unr, M. 1859.-.Elistoire naturelle.ilcs l{I.sfrts. Cenera iles Coleopteres, vol. 5. Paric. Lu*xreus, C. 1758.-systemd fldturde, Vol. 1, ed. 10. Holmiae. MaNI, M. S. (ed.) 1974.-Ecology arrd Biogeogaphy in India. Monogr. Biol., 23, 1:773. Mansarrr, M. S. A. l872.-Monographie des Mylabrides. Mem. Soc. Roy. Liege. 363-662, 6 pls, Ouvrn, M. 7795.-Entomologie ou histoire naturelle des insects, Coleogttetes, vol. 3. Parir. Orrvrrn, M. 1811.-Encyclopeilie methodique, histohe ndturelle insetts, vol.8. Paris. Parras, P, S. .7782.--Ircnu insutoim, ytrcesertim Rossiae Sibraeque peculiarum qnae collegit et description illustruvit. Erlange. PAnoo Arcamr. A. 1950.-Los.Mylabrini de la Peninsula lb6rica. Min. Agr. Inst. Nac. Inuet. Agron., Est. Fitopai. Agr, Mailrid, Trabajos (Ser. 6topatologia) No, 214, l-22 pp. Pe,noo Arcaroa, A. 1954.-Les Mylabrini du Maroco et du Sahara occidental Espagnol (Coleoptera : Meloidae). Bull. Soc. Nat. Phys. Maroc, 34, 5538. : Peroo Ar-c,rmr, A. 1958.-Etudes sur les Meloidae (Coleoptera). IX (1). Observations sur quelques Mylabris (s. 1.) dct r6gicns thiopienne et oriertale. Bull. Inst, Roy. Scf. Nat. Belgique, 34, 1-39. P.rroo Arcaror, A. 1968.-Etudes sur les Meloidae (Coleoptera). XX. Sur le genre Corrizia Pardo ey r:le nouvelle. du groupe dt brunnipses (Klug), l909.-Descriptive catalogue of thc Coleoptera of South ltfricr. Trans, Roy. Soc, South AJrka, 1, 765-297 Ptc, M. 1912.-Col6opt6res exdtiques nouveau)r ou peu conllrs. L'&hange, 28, 13-16. Prc, M. 1915.-Nouveautei rentrxnt dans diverse familles. Melanges Exot. Ent. part 14, Ptc, M. 1916,-Diagnoses gin6riques et sp6cifiques. Melanges Exot. Ent., part. 18, Prc, M. 1941.-L'Echange, Num6ro spbcial, II, 16 pp. Reo, S. N. 1954.-Food habits of the comnon blister beetle, Mylabris pustulatr (Thunberg), Inilian Jour. Ent., 16, 41H19" Roarxr, IV. 1917.-Eioige opmekingen over twee Javaanschc Canthariden t Mylabris pustuldta (Thunberg) en Epicauta esp&ce Soudanaise Prnwcurn L,. rufceps llliger. Tijdschr. Ent., 60,252-267. Snr.urom, R. B. 1964.-Sexual behavior in behavior in blister beetles (Coleoptera Ent.,96, : Meloidae) I. T'he genus Py.rota, Canailiaa 1037-1A82. Snrauotn,R.B.1966.--Aclassi{icationofthegeneraandhighertaxaofthemeloidsubfarilyEleticinae (Coieoptera). Caradian Ent., 98, 449481, Snarua, P. L., S. C, Acanwar axo O. P. Bruua. 1964.-New record of damage to silk and milky grains of maize by blistcr beetles. Indian Jour. Ent., 26, 238-239, Sncn, D. S., P. S. Anup lxn R. L.rr. 1968.-Relativc toxiciry of some important pesticides to the adults of blister beetle, Mylabis pustulata (Thurrberg) (Meloidae : Coleoptera). Inilian Jou7, Ent., 30, 309-311. StrnnrNs, J. F. 1832. Illustrations of Britkh entomology. Matdibulata, vol. 5. London. TauNnrnc, C. P. l7gl.-Dissertatio enlomologka. Inseetorum nouae species, part 6. Upsaliae. Vrnnrer, F. A. 1932.-De ontwikkelings-stadia val Mylabris enEpkauta in de troper. Tijdscfu.Ent.,75,763-169. 'Werxrn, F. 1858.*Characters of some apparently undescribed Ceylon Insects. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hkl, Ser. 3, 2, 285. Werxrn, F. 1859. Characters of some apparently undescribed Ceylon Insects. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 3, 3, 258-259, Wer,rxaN, F. C. 1909.-On the Meloidae of Angola. Prcc. Acail, Nal. Sci. Phildilelphia, 600-624 pp. -W'rnuaN, F. C. 1910.-The generic and subgeneric types of the Lyttidae (Meloidae S. Cantharidae Auctt.), (Coleopters). Carailiar Ent., 42, 389 : 396, Wrnxen, F. G. 1945.-A tevision of the genus Epicauta in America north of Mexico (Coleoptera, Mcloidae). Bul!. Mus. Comp, Zool.,95 : 427-517. (MS, teceived 12,7,77') MOIIAMED SALLEH MOIIAMEDSAID 134 [:] orid. m l ...F Fig. 1. Clirnatic zones of Sri Lanka based on precipitatioa. -:q1<q. , iil ." .:':'r:. _i "' 2, 3,-t64i58 Geogrephic distribution of Mytabis eeyloilca. :irlr : I ,:::,, :?trS .:. ,,: .i'i' .:'.l _ ' :29,6 MOHAMED SALLEII MOHAMEDSATD Fig.' 3. Geographic diistribution of Mylabds phaleruta. j _ :-:1iii.Tql r: :', ri rrrB susrgR rrrrr^ns.{rra$oroar) 4. of sBt:tANKri. Gsogaphic distribution of Mylabris pustaldtl. 2r7 : +- -]. ' - E \ \,s a E |.U t8 16 sc t4 q, s I \ q, a F * 12 to .l 6l 4l 5 Fig, 5.. "., Body Length (mnr) Relationship betweeh body length (mm) and the number of empodial setae in Mytabris |ustutau. . 1 TrrE BLrsrBR Figs. 6-10. Right elytra. * 6, Mylebris brerrss (urmroer) oF sRr LANKA balteata. 7, M. ceyloniea. 8. M. orientalis. 9. M.phaluata. 239 10. M. pu*uhta. 210 MOEAMBD SALLEH MOHAMEDSAID Figs. 11-12, Right elytra. - 11, Mylabrb thufiergi. 12. Cotytu rouxi. .I TrrB Busm..'Brmrr,$. (r,rrroroe*) tot,,sRr LANxA .-..-'(:::.\ ;)'l \ ....,' i \ tl .{ 4,,"' ,"'" ""\. Lt! rf !l. l i"jr' i f I ",i\ i.-"^"'\iii r....i I t'*.t i $. frr--''t r.-'.'...r d i."-1 ! \ :i-".-i -;'/ .ji\o i <..^, i \ .../ \ i i--::,1 ,'{ .-.a.. I ?,' \' i--"L. 13, t\.. -;-=-..--, Geographic distiibution of Mylabiis tfurtergi. 24r MOH.AMED SAf,LEI{ MOIIAAMDSAID, 2.42 Fig. 14. Geogrephic variation a o lorge spot smoll spot o no spot in clyttal color pattern of Mylabris thunbagi' TrrE BiiSttR BEETLEsi(rvrnroioer) a o Fig. 15, 38.*!6458 Geographic variation 'or sRr LaNtrA oronge :yelf ow in elytral color of Mylabrk thanbergi. 243 r&*4 "io .-:. r,rS*oSAtt&::SAtIStr Fd@l${@,S}tB; I _:i, . rHE Br.rsiER BFrrtES (nanromar) o o I Fig. lz.!', Geographic'distributioo of or sRr LANKA Syboris leslocea S. yokkolo 5. nigrifinis Sybarii ilgi:ifrnk, S, teitacea ,ii:s. yolkofu. z4S ?,4$ MPIIA.UEP SAIIEI{,MOII4MEPSIID THE Busrxn BEBrf,Es (urromaa) or sRr LANNA I. ,i r'.,r'"\ t*-... \-, i\ ,l 't"-... tr'} i .r"o ,''i Y- i i *'\r./r*{ ui\ i \ L-^:'\i.r.- .\"-'r 1...- \::j ',r' '\ i ,-*,-i.-.q}';: ;r"l i I"i;^'' 'i\ ''-, ..--.,jt,' \ it',J -i \.,--o\."-u .1.. r-r-.*{./ Fig. 19. Gco-Braphic disttibution of Zoniloschema ktombeial. 247 t, :r: : ' ]. M.OTIAMED 5ATf,,BII I MOIIAMEDSATP, .i ' $€ sE h F l,e\a VG' \ l\, t/ VE \ J \,_, ;x .d *N N is *s E.: n* xx.{ si R Eg bs SG EE eE si Fi .s *E t= 'tEi' o.3 s:S ds .a cr ds sgu xi'ii ,s I E.q .: ?.i .b .d d'l .}ii . 6U R..*=: I E'3= *t R !e E i.T< io *e -E; a c.l E ;; JJ N6 V= NC{ "t; .9 r;q. .go THB BLrsrBn BEETLTS {unromer) oF sRr LANxA q=--]-\, s st i. (s*-r{--l' r,-o --*--\, <__-_-)-\,-____/' .: s e' ,< ci (i (i -__ @ d )a --=-lL_*_/ Eo o i t$ eE 'ts ?t b.q !"t'r{ ti s0 8S o. ao\i !< o E$ 't. ?s 8s- r3 ^.* ..4\i o ES €. EI AE EoS q! 9\ B.. 'i< 56) t st .:c =.9 .=o 60> -9 <o F 6 T (t 60 lt MOIIAMBD 250 S.TTf,,I,8H MOIIAMEDSAJD' 1 .jt .G. q C h B. t4 v; I I 6c ot, I E! 6 k oi 60 .9 o>6 90 & ' 'S *r de Etr J.- i ..O %i t ac I. ss -ta.o :;gisS <r .o v)€> CUF . u H.9 3EE> Str s.6 f$";tE.,9 3 +.dB.6 -.+6i d . .d ::8. ': G. B,$F:$EE .9! r qitr .r-Q 'E .: 'E 5-$ ErBf* 'E 14 >* :6 'i -.: t >(a B* - arlt€ l! 5 i d 6 d gai:.ss ,, gE Es'E: *i Hg , 'ooEo lqt H? i Bo"i > fi >+ iltl dduiod ;;46 b00a@oo EEII.I& .. -._::T . '. rrn Blilf!. rrsrr,as (uEromen) orrsnr LANtrr, 25r o o a.l h ri o CI E o tt lld o lr ! x o E; -5 ci r^8o! t ;s :=U € & FO. 60 q .-o EO ,EI tpo Flq o oB ho \i? oo €i .c 'o t& o 8€ '69 8.5 a- bo !cr o9 '= l, '6t **s Yl! .{ -g s-- E' .s E N dt T + 6 E E 39-14458