Holcaspis ovatella Chaudoir, 1865, Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc., XXXVIII, 3, p. 105; Sharp, 1886, Trans. R. Dublin Soc. (2), III, p. 370 (Pterostichus); Broun, 1880, Man. New Zeal. Col., I, p. 39; loc. cit., V, 1893, p. 995 (Pterostichus).

Figs. 29, 79.

Length: 15–18 mm.

The posterior angles of the pronotum are completely rounded off and so are almost exactly similar to the anterior angles. The shoulders of the elytra are also rounded off and show no sign of a tooth. The striae are strongly impressed and closely punctured. There are three setiferous punctures on the third interval.

Localities: Canterbury; Mount Griffel, south of Lake Wanaka (C. E. Clarke); Invercargill (Lewis). 3 ♂ ♂, 2 ♀ ♀.

Holcaspis ovatella Chaud. subsp. perbonus (Broun, 1908) Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II, p. 418 (Pterostichus).

Length: 15–16 mm.

Differing from H. ovatella Chaud. only in having the intervals strongly convex and the striae unpunctured. The ♂ genitalia are so similar in the two forms that it is hardly possible to regard them as being specifically distinct.

Locality.: Otago (Lewis). 13 examples.

Holcaspis sternalis Broun, 1881, Man. New Zeal. Col., II, p. 658.

Cerabilia punctigerus Broun, 1882, New Zeal. Journ. Sci., I, p. 223, Man. New Zeal. Col., III, 1886, p. 753 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus oscillator Sharp, 1886, Trans, R. Dublin Soc. (2), III, p. 369 (Pterostichus) Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 995 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus perfidiosa Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 995 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus lepidulus Broun, 1908, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) II, p. 419 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus melanostolus Brookes, 1926, Trans, and Proc. New Zeal. Inst., LVI, p. 443 (n.syn.).

Figs. 30, 80.

Length: 12–13 mm.

Basal foveae of the pronotum deep and elongate, extending from the middle of the disc on each side. Elytral intervals flat; striae unpunctured; three setiferous punctures on the third interval.

Localities: Akaroa; Mt. Dick, Otago; Dunedin; Port Chalmers; Invercargill. The type locality of H. sternalis is given as Whangarei Harbour, but the specimen in the Broun collection is labelled “Maungatua.” In view of the fact that all the examples that I have seen have localities in the South Island, I consider the published type locality to be an error. 20 examples.

Holcaspis mordax Broun, 1886, Man. New Zeal. Col., IV, p. 938.

Pterostichus hunuensis Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 996 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus scitipennis Broun, 1893, loc. cit., p. 1396 (n.syn.).

Figs. 31, 81.

Length: 11–13 mm.

Very similar to Holcaspis sternalis, differing in having the elytral intervals convex instead of flat, and only one setiferous puncture on the third interval, situated at about one third of the length of the elytra from the apex; striae faintly punctured towards the base.

Localities: Munua, near Papakura; Mount Pirongia, Waikato; Titirangi; foot of Mount Egmont. 8 examples.

Holcaspis impiger Broun, 1886, Man. New Zeal. Col., IV, p. 879.

Pterostichus edax Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., VI, p. 1326 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus sculpturalis Broun, 1917, Bull. New Zeal. Inst., I, p. 362 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus fenwicki Broun, 1921, Bull. New Zeal. Inst., I, p. 599 (n.syn.).

Figs. 32, 82.

Length: 12–15 mm.

The pronotum has a small impression outside the normal basal impression on each side; the elytral striae are not deeply impressed and are irregular, except the 3rd, which is straight until it approaches the apex. The striae are faintly but regularly punctured and the intervals are without setiferous punctures.

Localities: Flagstaff Mountain, near Dunedin; Mt. Maungatua; Dusky Bay, Otago; Mt. Dick, Lake Wakatipu; Te Oneroa; Hump Ridge, near Invercargill. 10 examples.

Holcaspis algida n.sp.

Figs. 33, 83.

Length: 10 mm. Colour: black, with the palpi, fore tarsi and antennae reddish.

Head similar to that of H. angustula Chaudoir, but with the eyes more prominent. Pronotum: ratio breadth to length 1·2. Median line evenly impressed, not reaching apex or base; with two basal impressions on each side, the outer one reaching the base; sides contracted basally but hardly sinuate; basal angles rectangular, sharp; two seta on each side, one before the middle and one at the hind angle. Elytra: basal margin and shoulder prominent, the latter toothed; parallel sided, only slightly sinuate near the apex; striae faint, punctured; intervals almost flat; no setiferous punctures on the intervals. Microsculpture well developed, isodiametric. ♂ without a tooth in the middle of the posterior edge of the hind femur. The blade of the aedeagus has a sharper angle than that in H. angustula Chaudoir and the dorsal paramere is hooked instead of being pointed.

Locality: Mount Algidus, Canterbury, 5 ♂ ♂, 2 ♀ ♀. Type in the British Museum.

Holcaspis angustula Chaudoir, 1865, Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc, XXXVIII, 3, p. 101; Broun, 1880, Man. New Zeal. Col., I, p. 32.

Omaseus elongata Blanchard, 1853, Voyage Pôle, Sud, IV, p. 28, t. 2, f. 4 (non Duftschmidt).

Holcaspis thoracicus, Broun, 1881, Man. New Zeal. Col., II, p,. 657 (n.syn).

Holcaspis placidus Broun, 1881, loc. cit., p. 658 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus chalmeri Broun, 1908, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II,. p. 420 (n.syn.).

Figs. 34, 84.

Length: 12–15 mm. The pronotum has a small impression outside the normal basal fovea on each side; elytral striae regular, faintly puncture towards the base; intervals without setiferous punctures.

Localities: Akaroa; Moeraki; Port Chalmers; Dunedin; Taieri; Wedderburn. The type locality of H. thoracicus Broun like that of H. sternalis is given as Whangarei Harbour, but the unique example in the Broun Collection is labelled “Taieri,” and as I have seen no example from the North Island. I conclude that the published locality incorrect. 35 examples.

Holcaspis longiformis (Sharp, 1886), Trans. R. Dublin Soc. (2),. III, p. 369 (Pterostichus); Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 991.

Pterostichus disparalis Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., VI, p. 1324 (n.syn.).

Figs. 35, 85.

Length: 12 mm.

Very close to H. angustula and H. algida, but narrower and. more parallel sided. The pronotum is slightly longer in proportion to its breadth; with only the slightest trace of punctures on the striae, towards the base. The male genitalia differ considerably, the blade-of the aedeagus being rounded, without angles.

Localities: Christchurch; Moeraki. 9 examples.

Holcaspis catenulata Broun, 1882, New Zeal. Journ. Sci., I, p 222; Man. New Zeal. Col., III, 1886, p. 753.

Pterostichus insidiosus Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 999 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus inconstans Broun, 1893, loc. cit., p. 999 (n.syn).

Pterostichus philpotti Broun, 1908, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II,. p. 418 (n.syn.).

Figs. 36, 86.

Length: 15–17 mm.

The pronotum is contracted towards the base; posterior angles-very obtuse and rounded; the basal fovea on each side is a single, almost circular impression; shoulders of the elytra not prominent; striae moderately straight, but in some examples very irregular, often united laterally; striae faintly punctured; intervals flat, or in larger examples slightly convex; 2 or 3 setiferous punctures on the 3rd interval; recurved margin of the elytra extremely narrow.

Localities: Taieri; Invercargill; Te Oneroa. 9 examples.

Holcaspis brouniana (Sharp, 1886), Trans. R. Soc. Dublin (2), III, p. 367 (Pterostichus); Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 992.

Figs. 37, 87.

Length: 17–18 mm.

Similar to Holcaspis catenulata, but larger and with the pronotum more transverse; elytral striae faintly punctured; intervals slightly convex with a strong isodiametric miscrosculpture, and without setiferous punctures. The posterior femur in the ♂ has a strong tooth in the middle of the hind edge. The shoulders of the elytra are rounded and the basal margin is completely absent.

Localities: Picton; Clarence Bridge. 10 examples.

Holcaspis elongella (White, 1846), in Richardson and Gray, Voyage of Erebus and Terror, Ins., p. 4 (Cophosus); Chaudoir, 1865, Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc., XXXVIII, iii, p. 104; Broun, 1880, Man. New Zeal. Col., I, p. 39; Sharp, 1884, New Zeal. Journ. Sci., p. 298.

Pterostichus constrictellus Sharp, 1886, Trans. R. Dublin Soc. (2), III, p. 368; Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 994 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus detractus Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., p. 996 (n.syn.).

Figs. 38, 88.

Length: 12–14 mm.

Differs from H. brouniana Sharp mainly in being much smaller and in the fact that the basal margin of the elytra is present. Sharp (l.c., p. 368) states that H. elongella has three lateral thoracic setae, but examination of the type discloses the presence of four setae on each side of the thorax, so that it does not differ from P. constrictellus Sharp and P. detractus Broun.

Localities: Picton; Canterbury; Lyttelton, Mount Grey, Christchurch, Dyer's Pass. 24 examples.

Holcaspis egregialis (Broun, 1917), Bull. N.Z. Inst., I, p. 362 (Pterostichus).

Figs. 39, 89.

Length: 13 mm.

Pronotum with sides uniformly curved outwards from apex to base; basal foveae single, each side of pronotum with 4 setiferous punctures; raised margin and marginal groove of both pronotum and elytra extremely narrow, giving the body a very convex appearance. Elytra with shoulders dentate; basal margin well marked; striae marked only as rows of very faint punctures; intervals quite flat; two setiferous punctures in the apical half of the 3rd interval.

Locality: Staircase, 3,500 ft., at the south end of the Remarkables, east of Lake Wakatipu. A single ♂.

Holcaspis hudsoni n.sp.

Figs. 40, 90.

Length: 15–17 mm. Colour: aeneous-black.

Pronotum with sides moderately curved outwards, slightly sinuate in front of the posterior angles which are square; each side tearing 4 or 5 setiferous punctures; a small impression external to the normal basal fovea on each side; median line impressed not reaching apex or base. Elytra with basal margins well developed; shoulders not prominent, slightly dentate; striae faintly punctured, not deeply impressed and occasionally interrupted; intervals slightly convex, the 3rd with 3 or 4 setiferous punctures near the 3rd stria. Elytra rather sharply truncate behind the apical sinuation.

Localities: Hanmer (Lewis), 2 ♂ ♂; Canterbury, 1 ♂ from the Broun Collection, labelled “subaenea.” Type in the British Museum (Canterbury ex.).

Holcaspis suteri Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., VI, p. 1324.

Figs. 41, 91.

Length: 15—17 mm.

The sides of the pronotum have a long but slight sinuation in front of the posterior angles which are rectangular; each side bears 4 setiferous punctures; a double impression at the base on each side; elytral striae more strongly punctured towards the base; intervals slightly convex; the 3rd interval with 5 or 6 setiferous punctures.

Localities: Dyer's Pass, Port Hills, at 900 ft.; Mount Grey; Mount Robert, Canterbury, 3 ♂ ♂ 1 ♀.

Holcaspis dentifera (Broun, 1880), Man. New Zeal. Col., I, p. 36 (Trichosternus).

Pterostichus eruensis Hudson (Broun MS.), 1934, New Zealand Beetles, p. 37.

Figs. 42, 78, 92.

Length: 17–20 mm.

Pronotum with sides curved uniformly outwards from apex to base; basal foveae single, opening on to the base; each side of the pronotum with 5 setiferous punctures.

Elytra with intervals 3, 5 and 7 considerably wider and more convex than the others, uniting apically and enclosing intervals 4 and 6; striae unpunctured, or very faintly punctured; intervals without setiferous punctures; apical sinuation of the elytra very sharp. Isodiametric microsculpture strong, giving the elytra a matt surface. The middle of the hind edge of the posterior femur in the ♂ is bluntly pointed, but hardly dentate.

Localities: Parua, Whangarei Harbour; Maori Bush, Erua; Horopito; Ohakune; Egmont. 15 examples.

Holcaspis odontella (Broun, 1908), Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II, p. 410 (Pterostichus).

Figs. 43, 93.

Length.: 17 mm.

Sides of pronotum very convexly rounded, each bearing 4 setiferous punctures; not sinuate in front of the posterior angles, which

are pointed but very obtuse (ea. 120°); basal impression linear, double. Elytra with shoulders rounded and basal margin obsolete; striae with obsolete punctures; intervals convex, but without setiferous punctures. Apical sinuation of elytra abrupt. All femora are greatly expanded, the anterior and posterior being bulbous beneath, but this appears to be merely an aberration, in view of the wrinkled and broken surface. The posterior tibiae have a tooth in the middle of the inner margin.

Locality: Near Mount Egmont, Taranaki. A single ♂.

Holcaspis hispida (Broun, 1876), Trans. New Zeal. Inst., IX, p. 371 (Trichosternus).

Holcaspis hispidulus Broun, 1880, Man. New Zeal. Col., I, p. 40.

Holcaspis pellax Broun, 1881, op. cit., II, 1881, p. 656 (n.syn.).

Holcaspis hybridus Broun, 1886, op. cit., IV, p. 826 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus ithaginis Broun, 1893, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (6), XII, p. 162 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus obsoletus Broun, 1893, tom, cit., p. 163 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus vexatus Broun, 1908, op. cit., (8), II, p. 417 (n.syn.).

Figs. 44, 94.

Length: 14–17 mm.

Pronotum with sides uniformly curved outwards from apex almost to the base where there is a slight sinuation; each side bearing 4 setiferous punctures; basal impressions single. Elytra with basal margins obsolete, as is the basal end of the first stria; striae irregularly punctured; intervals slightly convex, without setiferous punctures.

Localities: Kikiwai, Whangarei Heads; Auckland; Ligar's Bush, Papakura; Hunua Range; Tuakau, Waikato; Te Aroha; Wellington. 17 examples.

Holcaspis oedicnema Bates, 1894, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), XIII, p. 243.

Holcaspis cribrale Broun, 1882, New Zeal. Journ. Sci., I, p. 222, Man. New Zeal. Col., III, 1886, p. 752; G. V. Hudson, 1934, New Zealand Beetles, p. 37 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus myrmidon Sharp, 1886, Trans. R. Dublin Soc. (2), III, p. 368, pl. 12, f. 8; Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., V, p. 993 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus rugifrons Sharp, 1886, Trans. R. Dublin Soc. (2), III, p. 451; Broun, 1893, Man. New Zeal. Col., VII, p. 1397 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus pastoricius Broun, 1893, op. cit., V, p. 994 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus egmontensis Broun, 1893, op. cit., V, p. 997 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus irregularis Broun, 1893, op. cit., V, p. 998 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus sculptipes Broun, 1893, op. cit., VI, p. 1325 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus lewisi Broun, 1894, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (6), XIV, p. 310; G. V. Hudson, 1934. New Zeal. Beetles, p. 37 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus setiventris Broun, 1903, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), XI, p. 606 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus antennalis Broun, 1908, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II, p. 412 (n.syn.).

Figs. 45, 95.

Length: 15–22 mm.

I have seen more than 50 examples of this species, and it appears

to vary rather more than others of the genus, but I do not hesitate to establish the above synonymy on account of the identity of the male genitalia of all the types, and because there are no external characters which are sufficiently constant to allow of separation. The characters given by Broun for distinguishing the species can only be regarded as individual variations.

The sides of the pronotum are curved outwards from apex to base; the basal angles are rather greater than rectangles, and the points project slightly. The basal impression on each side is double. There are four setiferous punctures on each side of the pronotum.

The elytral intervals are slightly convex and without setiferous punctures. The striae are very variable, with the puncturation obsolete, so that the striae appear to be broken at irregular intervals.

Localities: Waikato; Napier; Mount Egmont; Mount Holdsworth, Tararua Range; Makara; Wellington; Takuratahi; Pelorus Sound; Picton; Mount Arthur; Wangapeka Valley; Glenhope; Boatman's, near Reefton; Westport; Greymouth; Ratapihipihi.

Holcaspis mucronata Broun, 1886, Man. New Zeal. Col., p. 826.

Pterostichus oxymelus Broun, 1908, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), II, p. 415 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus burrowsi Broun, 1914, Bull. New Zeal. Inst., I, iii, p. 150 (n.syn.).

Pterostichus fieldi Broun, 1915, Bull. New Zeal. Inst., I, iv, p. 276 (n.syn.).

Figs. 46, 96.

Length: 14—18 mm.

Prone turn strongly contracted basally; the sides sinuate above the posterior angles, which are rectangular; each side bearing 4 or 5 setiferous punctures; basal impressions broad, single, opening on to the base. Elytra with shoulders rounded; basal margin complete; striae faintly punctured; intervals slightly convex, without setiferous punctures. In the ♂ the inner side of the apex of the posterior tibia is produced into a long point.

Localities: Waitakerei Range, Auckland; Opotiki; Manawatu Gorge; Mount Hutt, Canterbury. 6 examples.

Holcaspis delator (Broun, 1893), Man. New Zeal. Col., VII, p. 1397 (Pterostichus).

Figs. 47, 97.

Length: 16 mm.

Pronotum with sides very convexly rounded, contracted basally and sinuate in front of the posterior angles, which are rectangular; each side bearing 4 setiferous punctures; basal impressions small and shallow. Elytra with the basal margin extending in as far as the scutellar striole; striae with punctures almost obsolete, interrupted towards the apex; intervals slightly convex, without setiferous punctures.

Locality; Ashburton. A single ♂.