A. W. Rymer Roberts 815 



to have been few and no larvae were reared beyond the first instar. 

 There appear, however, to be no other records of any part of the hfe 

 history of this insect apart from the adult stage, so that it seems desirable 

 to add what little information is available while dealing with other 

 members of the genus. 



In Britain this species is a southern and midland one even more than 

 the last and though generally fairly common in places where it occurs, 

 it is local in its distribution. Abroad it is known over the greater part 

 of the continent of Europe, extending to the Western Caucasus (du 

 Buysson). 



The adult is generally referred to as frequenting woody places and 

 flowers, especially those of Umbelliferae. Though the beetles are com- 

 monly taken in fields and on roadsides away from woods, it is possible 

 that their proper breeding habitat may be in woods, £C possibihty which 

 has some slight confirmation in the fact that none have yet been bred 

 by the writer from larvae taken in agricultural land. 



Ovum. 



Outline figures of the ova have already been given (Pt. I, Text-figs. 

 1 and 2). According to the small amount of material examined, their 

 shape is very variable, but they appear to show a somewhat greater 

 tendency to be pointed at one end than do the ova of A. ohscurus 

 or A. sputafor. Average dimensions of six ova -56 x -44 mm., the largest 

 measuring -61 x -47 mm. In general ovoid, white and somewhat shining, 

 though under the microscope the shell may be seen to be minutely pitted. 



Ova were found on the 9th, 10th and 13th July at a depth of f to 

 1^ inch below the surface of the soil. The first larva hatched on the 

 10th August, so that the incubation period is probably at least a month. 



First Larval Instar, 



On hatching the larva is from 2-5-3-0 mm. in length, semi-trans- 

 parent, milky white to slightly huffish in colour, with the mouth parts 

 conspicuously yellow. Very soon after hatching the gut of larvae con- 

 fined in a tube with moss was found to be coloured green, indicating that 

 they had eaten the green parts of the moss. In general the larva re- 

 sembles those of other members of the genus already described, but is 

 more rugose. Other points which may be noted are as follows : 



Head about equally long and broad, measured as for other species; 

 longer than meso- or meta-thorax. 



