September, 1905. J X97 



QUEDWS VARIABILIS, Heeb : AN ADDITION TO THE 

 BRITISH LIST OF COLEOPTERA. 



BY E. A. NEWBERT. 



Among some insects recently sent to me for examination by 

 Mr. Kidson-Taylor was a specimen of a Quedius unknown to me. 

 I was, however, able to refer it without difficulty to Q. variabilis, 

 Heer (teste Muls et Eey). 



The moderate-sized eyes and bilobed labrum place the insect 

 in the second section of the genus (Quedius verus). The black elytra 

 will prevent its being mistaken for any British species in the section, 

 except mesomelinus, Marsh., and nigrocoeruleus, Key. From these it 

 may be separated thus : — 



A. Thorax with two or more accessory punctures, placed obliquely on each side of 

 disc, in addition to the usual rows, 

 a. Elytra blue-black ; thorax with three or four accessory punctures ; first 

 joint of posterior tarsi subequal to last ; size larger... 



Q. nigrocoeruleus, Rey. 

 aa. Elytra black without bluish tint ; thorax with two accessory punctures ; 

 first joint of posterior tarsi shorter than last ; size smaller... 



Q. variabilis, Heer. 

 AA. Thorax without accessory punctures (elytra almost invariably pitchy, paler at 

 suture and apex) Q. mesomelinus. Marsh. 



The following is a translation of Key's diagnosis (Brevipennes, 

 Staphyliniens, 505) : — 



" Elongate, little convex, scantily pubescent, shining black, with the apex of 

 palpi and the tarsi more or less reddish. Head scarcely shagreened or punctured. 

 Thorax shining, suborbicular, rather narrowed in front. Scutellura smooth. 

 Elytra moderately, strongly and densely, abdomen a little more finely, punctured. 

 The first joint of the posterior tarsi a little less long than the last." 



" Obs. — It is of the form of mesomelinus, from which it differs in its palpi, its 

 antennae, its darker legs and ventral abdominal segments, the dorsal segments being 

 less iridescent, and especially by the thorax having two punctures on the sides of 

 disc, and the temples punctured at the base." 



Uanon Fowler refers to this insect as possibly mixed with 

 mesomelinus in collections (Brit. Col., II, 234). In the last European 

 Catalogue (1891) the insect is given as a var. of Q. ochripennis, Men., 

 =puncticollis, Th. ; but in Mr. Kidson-Taylor's specimen, apart from 

 colour, the antennal joints are much less transverse than those of 

 Q. ochripennis. The punctuation of the elytra is very different to 

 that of Q. mesomelinus, being much closer and deeper. Q. variabilis 

 certainly appears to be as good a species as some others in the 

 section. 



