1911.] 247 



remainder dusky. Thorax: very tiuely puiu;tured. Elytra: more coarsely 

 punctured than thorax, but much less so than in tlie two preceding species ; 

 punctuation somewhat seriate near suture ; apical angles very slightly rounded. 

 Legs testaceous; posterior femora entirely black, anterior and intermediate 

 pairs occasionally somewhat infuscate. Underside black. Winged. Length, 

 U— 1^ mm. 



The clistiuftly finer and closer elytral punctuation will readily 

 separate this species from L. ohUtcratus, with which alone it could be 

 confused. 



Food plants. — According to AUard this species occurs on hornbeam 

 in Avoods, and one of us has beaten it abundantly from low trees in a 

 wood near Bally castle, Co. Antrim. 



It has been recorded from several localities in Ulster as doing con- 

 siderable damage to flax crops (see Journal of Dept. Agriculture 

 and Technical Instruction, Vol. II, pp. 138-140). It appears to be 

 widely distributed throiighout England, although nowhere common. 

 We require further evidence as to its real food-plant, but if AUard 

 should prove to be correct in associating it with hornbeam, this species 

 will be singular in being the only British member of the genus kiiowai 

 to feed on any kind of tree. 



Vars. — Allard mentions a form, " couleiir de poix bronzee avec 

 I'extremite des elytres plus claire," which, however, may be merely a 

 case of immaturity. V. concinnns, Weise, seems to be unknown in 

 this country. 



L. ABSiNTHii, Kuts. [Wien. Monat. 1862, p. 217]. 

 Syn. niger, Bach, Kaferf. iii, p. 149. 



Oblong ovate, rather elongate, more or less pitchy, but rarely quite black, 

 thorax distinctly lighter than elytra, the latter occasionally with indications of 

 lighter spots at apex and shoulders. Antennse : almost as long as in L. anchusse, 

 bvit more slender. Punctuation of thorax and elytra coarse and confused, bvit 

 that of the former less so than of the latter. Apices of elytra moderately 

 rounded. Legs variable in colour, reddish testaceous to pitchy, darker than in 

 the allied species, with femora concolorous. tarsi black. Underside black. 

 Wings absent or riKlimentary. Length, I4-I3 mm. 



The general coloration and concolorous posterior femora will 

 separate this species from L. anrhiisR', and its allies. 



Food plant. — Artemisia maritima. 



Local, and only recorded from South of England. 



V 2 



