74 f^P'^^' 



Continental authorities = meJanocejihalus, de Gr. (see synonymic note 

 on that species). L. piciceps, Steph., is also undoubtedly L. melanoce- 

 phalus, de Gr., so that in any case L. senecionis holds good for the 

 species we are now considering, although, Rye's note (Ent. Ann., 1872, 

 p. 91) having been forgotten or ignored, it stands over the name of 

 L. piciceps, Steph., in most British collections at the present moment. 



In shape oblong-ovate, and depressed. Head black. Antennae : fuscous, 

 not black, with the first five or six joints testaceous. Thorax : transverse, 

 bordered, faintly alvitaceous and obsoletely punctured (the species in this respect 

 resembles L. sutiirellus, from which, however, its general shape and colour 

 abundantly distinguish it), in colour clear ferruginous, without any trace of 

 metallic reflection. Elytra : oblong, straw coloured, somewhat translucent, 

 confusedly and closely, but not very deeply punctured, the punctviation being 

 very obviously closer than in L. melanocephalus or L. suturalis ; the sutural 

 marking varies considerably, it is always dark and distinct with suffused edges, 

 usually thin and even, biit often abbreviated at base and widened out posteriorly, 

 and very occasionally almost obsolete. Legs : testaceous, with posterior femora 

 usually brown testaceous or pitchy, sometimes quite black above and rufescent 

 beneath ; first anterior tarsal joints not dilated at all in ? and only very 

 slightly in (?, a feature in which L. senecionis differs from every other member 

 of the section ; posterior tibial spvirs very short. Undex'side pitchy, coxae rufescent. 

 Bedel says that the last ventral segment of the S bears a strong transverse 

 impression at base, but we are not satisfied that this character is necessarily 

 specific. Wings present in every specimen we have been able to examine. 

 Length If— 2 mm. 



The oblong depressed form, the generally paler colour, and the 

 undilated first anterior tarsal joint will, without much difiiculty, dis- 

 tinguish the present species from others in this section. It is, however, 

 much more easily confused with the form of L. gracilis with a dark 

 sutural line (var. poweri) , especially as both occur on the same plant. 

 Superficially these two insects are very similar ; under the microscope, 

 however, its much denser and stronger elytral punctuation will readily 

 distinguish L. senecionis, and the posterior femora are nearly always 

 darker than in any form of L. gracilis. 



Food plants. — Appears to be attached to various species of 

 Senecio, and is generally to be beaten from S. jacohsea. It is generally, 

 if not very commonly, distributed over the kingdom, and we have 

 taken it as far north as Forres in Scotland. 



L. ATRiciLLUs, L. [Fn. Suec. p. 531] (D ; Steph. [Man. p. 296] ; All. 

 [Mon. p. 108]. 



(1) Bedel doubts whether the " Chvysomda atncilla " of liinnreiis lie really this insect, but all 

 other authors accept the Ijiunean diagnosis. 



