Augrust, 1916.] 169 



39. — Helojihorus angustatus Motscli. 

 " H. dejilanatus (Waltl in litt. ?) " teste Zaitzev Catalogue. 



This species, thovigh very variable in colour, is readily recognised by the 

 yellow, iinmetallic thorax, which is much narrowed behind and slightly sinuate, 

 so that the hind angles are minutely acute. The general shape and facies 

 remind one strongly of ovir H. diffi,nis. The legs are long and slender, very pale. 

 The head is brilliantly metallic in striking contrast with the colour elsewhere. 

 The under surface is sometimes entirely pallid, sometimes entirely black, except 

 at the margins. There is also variability as to size, length 3^-5 mm., and as to 

 the slenderness of the legs. In a specimen entirely pallid beneath, there is a 

 slight visibility of the flanks of the elytra on the under surface ; and it is 

 possible there may be more than one species as Motscliulsky supposed to be 

 the case. 



The aedeagus (fig. 51) is of the type of H. di finis witli long basal 

 piece ; the lateral lobes are sinuate externally, and the median lobe is 

 remarkablj short. This is apparently an Eastern species : Egypt, 

 Syria, Mesopotamia, Fao. i 



[ AUG 29 1910 



40. — Heloplior^is minutus Pabr. 



H. griseus Herbst, Cat. Zaitzev, p. 48. ^^slT'^SOklAN O^lS^* 



This very abi^ndant Helopliorus is a variable species, and others that are 

 very like it are frequently placed under the same name in collections. The 

 size is 2i-3^ mm. long, the ground colour of the elytra is always pallid, and 

 there are black marks on them, variable in number, sometimes redixced to one 

 on the svitiu-e, very rarely altogether wanting ; the palpi are moderately longj 

 pallid yellow, with the tip of the last segment of the maxillary pair feebly 

 blackened ; the thorax is metallic l>ut of variable colour, its lateral margin 

 definitely oiitstanding, this prominent part being always entirely pale yellow, 

 the yellow coloration extending more or less distinctly all alon^ the front 

 margin ; the sub-median groove is but feebly angulate, the sculpture is pre- 

 dominantly graniilar, and even on the median interval never assumes the 

 condition of a diffuse fine punctuation, though the most convex part of this 

 interval is frequently polished and free from sculpture. The elytra vary 

 considerably in elongation, there is never a definite post-basal depression, 

 though an indefinite one is frequent ; the coarseness of their scvilpture also 

 varies considerably, but is always moderate, and the interstices between the 

 rows of punctiires are never more than slightly c<mvex. 



The aedeagus (figs. 52-54)- — like the external characters — is desti- 

 tute of any striking peculiarity ; it has been examined in a large 

 number of examples, and after making all allowances for shrivelling, 

 immaturity, stretching, and differences in preparation, some variability 

 remains, which I have endeavoured to exhibit by three carefully pre- 

 pared drawings. Fig. 52 is taken from an English individual ; 53 and 



