1913.] 219 



B. DisTiNCTUs, Cbaucloir = securiuek, Denny, nee Reich. 



So long ago as 1882 Reitter (Naturg. Ins. Deutschl. Ill, 2, p. 82), 

 pointed out that B. securiger, Denny, was really B. distmctus, Chaiid., 

 and not the same as B. securiger, Eeich. ; but although he says that the 

 latter is found in England, native specimens do not appear to be in our 

 collections. Mr. Champion has been good enough to lend me a male 

 and female of continental securiger, true to definition ; but he has no 

 British example of the species, nor can I hear of any. In the male of 

 our insect, B. disti7ictns, the second joint of the antenna} is sub-quad- 

 rate, produced inwardly into a knife-like edge, the inner basal angle 

 rounded oif , the inner apit-al angle acute but little produced ; the last 

 joint of the palpi is very plump, in the widest aspect oblong, oblique at 

 the base, broadly rounded at the apex, about twice as long as wide, with 

 a rounded prominence near the apical third on the upper side; the 

 antennal joints 3-8 are inoniliform ; there is no apical spur to the hind 

 tibiae, and the elytra have a well-developed humeral prominence ; in the 

 female the last joint of the palpi is about twice as long as wide, oblique 

 at the base, the sides gradually converging to the narrow apex, the inner 

 straight, the outer a little curved ; the antennal joints 3-8 are monili- 

 forin and the second is sub-equal in length to the inner edge of the first. 

 Of eleven males which I have examined, five have the second joint of 

 the antenuse typical, though varying somewhat, and six have it quite 

 simple. 



In the male of the real B. securiger, Eeich., the second joint of the 

 male antenna) is distinctly longer than wide, produced inwardly into a 

 knife-like edge which is considerably longer than the outer edge, and 

 the distal edge is oblique, so that the inner apical angle forms a broad 

 triangular projection, the inner basal angle acute but scarcely produced ; 

 the last joint of the palpi is very plump, in the widest aspect elongate- 

 triangular, oblique at the base, about twice as long as wide, with a 

 rounded prominence near the apical third of the upper side ; the 

 antennal joints 3-8 are rectangular and transverse ; the hind tibiae 

 have a fine apical spur, and there is no marked humeral prominence to 

 the elytra : in the female the last joint of the palpi is oljlong, oblique 

 at the base, broadly rounded at the apex, more than twice as long as 

 wide ; the antennal joints 3-8 are rectangular and transverse, and the 

 second joint is rather shorter than the inner edge of the first. 



Dr. Joy has found B. distinctus in mole's nests and by evening 



sweeping at Bradfield and elsewhere. Mr. J. F. Dutton sends me a 



male with simple antennae taken by himself at Alvanley, Cheshire ; and 



T 2 



