1912.] 247 



The species which L. ivaterhousei most closely resembles is 

 L. membranaceiis, from which, however, its larger size and longer tibial 

 spurs will distinguish it. Bedel separates the two by the differing form 

 of the "plaques surantennaires " ; this distinction, however, although 

 we believe it to exist, is very difficult to appreciate and in practice of 

 little value. 



From L. hallotse, the weaker punctuation, the more 

 translucent elytra, and the much lighter posterior femora, as well as 

 the larger size, readily distinguish it, and these are the only two British 

 species with which L. waterhousei could easily be confused. 



The food plant is midoubt^dly Mentha aquatica, from which plant 

 we have swept it rather commonly in the Cambridgeshire fens in 

 August. 



So far as we have any evidence its range appears to be 

 Southern. We have seen specimens from Wicken, Esher, and Chesham, 

 but none from the Midlands or North of England, Scotland, or Ireland. 



L. BALLOTS, Marsh. [Ent. Brit. I, p. 205] ; Foudr. [Mou., p. 191] ; 

 All. [Mon., p. 133] ; Weise [Nat. Ins. Deutschl. VI, p. 1003]. 



This is one of the few Longitarsi about which no substantial 

 difference of opinion appears to exist among authorities, and in the last 

 European catalogue the name appears without any synonym. 



Of a rather short and full oval form, apterous specimens being more 

 parallel-sided than winged. Head : ferruginous, sometimes pitchy, very finely 

 punctured between the eyes. Antennae : rather short, testaceous with last five 

 or six joints fuscous. Thorax : transverse, very finely bordered, visually con- 

 colorous with elytra but often rather dai'kei', distinctly alutaceoiis, punctuation 

 distinct, rather variable, but not strong. Elytra : very plainly alutaceous, dull 

 testaceous, with a more opaque appearance than in the allied species, and quite 

 free from the darker linear markings which are often seen in L. membranaceus, 

 punctixation moderate, distinct, and regular, usiially somewhat linear, sutiu-e 

 very narrowly rufescent ; apices only slightly rounded, with a few short cilia 

 just above the angle. Legs : pale testaceous, with the posterior femora varying 

 in colour from dark fuscoiis to black, and the bilobed joints of all the tarsi 

 fuscous, first anterior tarsal joints not enlarged in either sex ; posterior tibial 

 spurs long and slightly curved {"en forme de sahre" as Bedel expresses it). 

 Underside pitchy testaceous. Winged or apterous. Length, 1| — If mm. 



Superficially this species may be recognised by its peculiar dull 

 opaque look. Its uniform light colour, darker posterior femora, and 

 longer tibial spurs svifficiently separate it from L. membranaceus, and 

 its stronger, more regular punctuation from L. waterhousei. 



