STUDIES IN RHYNCHOPHORA. 



BY D. SHARP, M.A., P. U.S. 



2.— The BEITISH BAGOINI. 



As previously stated (ante, p. 27) Lacordaire mixed insects of two 

 divisions of Rhyncliophora under the name of Hydronomides. One of 

 these divisions I have already disc-ussed, and I here deal with the 

 British forms appertaining to the other. According to the views here 

 to be expressed, these weevils belong to a great group to be called 

 Lixidae, and consisting of the syntheses Cleonini, Lixini, Rhinocyllivi, 

 Larinini, Pai2xdesomvs and Bagoini. These insects differ from all 

 other Rhynclwpliora inasmuch as the elongate struts of the median 

 lobe are replaced by a pair of short callipers. 



Bagoini differ from the other groups of Lixidae ]»y possessing 

 filiform in place of lobed tarsi. They appear to form a natural 

 division, very easily defined by those two characters. The filiform 

 tarsi are extremely exceptional in Bliynclinphora. Outside the Bagoini 

 they reappear in the genus Parabagous of the Psevdf.bagoini ; but in 

 that genus the aedeagus is constructed as in normal Ciirculionidae. 



These particulars are sufficient for my present purpose, but I may 

 add that I have been for some time engaged on a memoir on the 

 classification of the Bhynclioplwra, which I hope to publish if I can 

 obtain a sufficient number of critical genera for dissection. 



The Eiiropean Bagoini were discussed by Henri Brisout de 

 Barneville in I860, in the Anuales de la Societe Entomologique de 

 France, pp. 491-524. Since then Thomson has described several 

 species supposed to be new, but which cannot be recognised from his 

 descriptions alone, the aid of his types being necessary. 



The species of Bagons are very difficult of recognition by mere 

 inspection, but the tarsi differ from species to species and do not vary, 

 while the aedeagus in nearly all cases affords a decisive criterion. Our 

 British forms fall into four genera. 



Probagous, gen. nov. 



Tarsi elongati ; aedeagus ttmonihus minutis incurvatis. 

 Type of the genus P. hea.^leri Newbery. 



This genus has the tarsi more elongate than any of ovir species of 

 Bagons, and the aedeagus is very distinct on account of the very 



