1912.] 29 



long and slender, gradually thickened towards extremity, about as long as the 

 three following together, 7tli, 8th, 9th and 10th joints transverse, but not 

 fonning a chib. Thorax black, transverse, as broad as elytra, sides not 

 bordered, parallel for anterior two-thirds, then sloping obliquely towards base ; 

 posterior angles completely effaced ; disc with a fine impressed line, shagreened, 

 puncturation very shallow and sparse ; each side with two long bristles. 

 Elytra longer than the thorax, a little longer than broad, moderately shining, 

 puncturation rather close, shallow and large, scarcely shagreened between the 

 punctures ; apical third sharply yellow, forming a broad transverse band ; 

 pubescence scanty, yellowish. Abdomen black (sometimes with the last two 

 segments reddish), moderately shining, alutaceous, sparingly punctiu-ed and 

 pubescent; posterior margin of 8th dorsal segment fiirnished with a narrow 

 white membrane. Sexual differences unkno^vn, Length 3 m.m. 



Attracted to light off the islaud of Dahlak in the Red Sea. 

 Types in my collection. 



January 12th, 1912. 



NOTES ON THE FIRST STAGES OF SITARIS MURALIS, Forst., AND 

 METCECUS PARADOXUS, L. 



BY T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.Z.S. 



Plates I — III. 



SiTARIS MURALIS, Forst. 



Westwood, in the " Introduction," gives a short account and figure 

 of the first stage larva of Sifaris miiralis, deriving hia information from 

 Audouin, who appears to have known a good deal of the life-history of 

 the species as early as 1835. It is, however, to Fabre that we owe a 

 fairly complete knowledge of the habits of the species in all its stages. 

 As this was published no less than 55 years ago, there may be no hann 

 in reverting to the subject, which Mr. Hamm's recent discovery of the 

 species in comparative abundance, at Oxford, has opened up to British 

 observers. My contribution of new matter is so trifling that I have 

 hesitated in saying anything about a batch of first stage larvae sent me 

 some three years ago by Commander Walker. I may refer also to an 

 accoimt of the life-history of Sitaris coUetis by the late Prof. Mayet 

 (Annales Ent. Soc. France, 1875, pp. 65-94, pi. 3). 



Fabre figures the young larva and describes it, in many respects, 

 minutely ; the structure of the jaws appears, however, to have escaped 

 his notice. 



