174 f. January, 



AJEPOPHILUS BONNAIRII, SIGNORET. 

 BX JAMES H. KEYS. 



On the 7th of November I found a larva of this Hemipteroua 

 insect on the shore here, when hunting for the Coleopterous Aepiis 

 marinus, but I regret to say that I cannot give any particulars likely 

 to throw light on the insect's life-history. It was taken in the act of 

 crawling about the under-side of a flattish stone, about 10 inches 

 square by 2 inches thick. There were no sea-weeds attached to the 

 stone, nor any growing within eight inches of it ; and beneath it there 

 was the usual composition of beaches in this neighbourhood, con- 

 sisting of sand, gravel, stones of various sizes, and a sprinkling of 

 limpet and other shells. The beach is very rocky, some of the rocks 

 running into the sea much beyond loAv-water mark, and others ter- 

 minating at different points above it ; the beach is, moreover, strewn 

 with large stones and boulders, some of which could not be moved 

 without the aid of a lever. Speaking generally, the stones and rocks 

 are densely clothed with the common Fucus. The situation of the 

 stone under which I found the larval Aepophilus, was about 37 feet 

 from dead low-water mark, as nearly as I can calculate. 



Whilst ascertaining this fact, on the 4th inst. I busied myself with 

 further search for Aepophilus, as did also my brother, who accompanied 

 me, and his diligence was rewarded by turning up a mature specimen. 

 This one was found about a dozen feet further up the beach than the 

 first example, but under precisely similar circumstances, excepting 

 that the stone under which it was found was nearer to the sea-weed- 

 covered rocks, the lowermost plants resting on the stone. 



I purpose continuing my attention to the habitat of AepojjJiilus, 

 und trust to be able to obtain more definite information I'especting its 

 habits. I did not observe any Aepus iinder the stones with either 

 specimen of Aepopliihis, although examples of the former were fre- 

 quent in the immediate neighbourhood. 



8, Princess Street, Plymouth : 

 December 5ih, 1887. 



[The foregoing information, coupled with that afforded by the 

 experience of Mr. E. D. Marquand, who found matured Aepophilus 

 on a star-fish (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxiii, 169), tends, I think, to show that 

 the insect feeds on sub-marine animal matter. Besides the elucidation 

 of this subject, great interest will attach to the discovery of the way 

 in which respiration in this insect of a terrestrial exterior form is 

 carried on during the long portion of its existence when submerged. 

 Observation of living examples in an aquarium might possibly deter- 

 mine both questions. — J. W. D.] 



