322 The Life History of '' Wireworms' 



region somewhat excavate and the cephalic plate truncated behind. 

 Eyes black. Four setiferous follicles in a line on each epicranial plate, 

 as in Athous haemorrhoidalis, but the setae are fairly long. Mandibles 

 short and broad, incurved, brown at the apex, with a penicillus at the 

 base on the inner side. A strong tooth (retinaculum) of brownish colour 

 is situated on the inner margin nearer the apex than the base. It is 

 scarcely recurved but in position is inclined somewhat towards the apex. 

 Hypostome wider in front than behind, with outer margins nearly parallel. 

 There is an indication of a siib-galea at the base of the triangular lacinia, 

 separated from the paljjiger by a more or less distinct suture. Nasale 

 or clypeal process composed of a single triangular tooth, rather long and 

 pointed. Sub-nasal process apparently absent. 



Prothorax as long as meso- and meta-thorax together, sparsely punc- 

 tured with shallow punctures and having a few irregular furrows. Meso- 

 and meta-thorax with muscular impressions as on abdominal segments, 

 but shortened, the transverse branch reaching only half way to the 

 median suture and the lateral even more reduced. Coxae somewhat 

 similar to those of Athous haemorrhoidalis, with a similar oblique row of 

 short spines arising from a Hnear cleft a little anterior and ventral to them. 



Surface of abdominal tergites 1-8 sparingly but deeply punctured, 

 chiefly in front. Punctures and rugae increase in tiumber successively 

 on each segment. Anterior setae consist of two short ones, one on either 

 side of the median suture; the posterior row of five longer ones on either 

 side of the median suture, arranged transversely. Muscular impressions 

 brown, raised above the surface of the tergite, and together forming 

 nearly a right angle ; transverse branch somewhat sinuate and not quite 

 reaching the median suture; lateral branch not quite reaching the pos- 

 terior row of setae. 



Pleurites elongate, narrowed in front and behind. Each bears two 

 contiguous setae, a long and a short one, in line with the posterior row 

 of tergal setae. Ventral to these and situated within the membranous 

 part of the pleura (hypopleurite?) is another seta of medium length. 

 Sternites quadrangular, almost smooth, bearing a longitudinal row of 

 three setae along the lateral margin on each side. A single shorter seta 

 is placed between the most posterior of these and the medio- ventral line. 



Spiracles rather short, almost pyriform, broader in front than behind; 

 situated within the membrane between tergite and pleurite. Their 

 margins are brown, as also is the transverse scar placed almost imme- 

 diately anterior to each. The cuticle anterior to the spiracle is corneous 

 for a short distance only. 



