1908.] 89 



MELIGETHES VIDUATUS, Sturm, var. MSTIMABILIS, Reitt., AN 

 ADDITION TO THE BRITISH LIST OF COLEOPTERA. 



BY E. A. NEWBERY. 



This very distinct variety was originally brought forward as a 

 species by Reitter (Berl. Ent. Zeitschr., 1872, p. 133; . Seidlitz 

 (Fauna Transsylvanica, Ed. TT, 1S91) reduced it to a variety of M. 

 viduatus, Sturm, Ganglbauer and the authors of the last European 

 Catalogue (190G) taking the same view. It seems almost a pity that 

 the insect was not permitted to retain specific rank, as its nearest ally 

 is evidently M. tropicus, Reitt., next to which it was placed in the 

 first edition of the European Catalogue. 



The following is Reitter's diagnosis: — 



Statura M. difficilis sed bland ulus ; ovalis,fusro-niger, nitidus, dense 

 subtil iter punctatus, subtilissime griseo-pubescens ; interstitiis punctorum pro- 

 thoracis Icevi'nts ; elytris supra subtilissime transversim strigulosis ; antennis 

 pedibusgue rujis ; tibiis anticis apicem versus dilatatis, subtilissime minus 

 dense serratis, apice foriiter bi- vel tri-denticulatis. Long., 1'7 mm. 



The insect may be distinguished from the type-form by its mucQ 

 more finely punctured elytra, which are distinctly cross-striated over 

 the whole surface (and therefore rather duller than those of the type), 

 the basal half of the scutellum being similarly sculptured. The apex 

 of the elytra in M. viduatus is sometimes faintly cross-striate, but at 

 least the basal two-thirds are smooth and shining. With the exception 

 of M. bidens, Bris., M. lugubris, Sturm, and the purplish M. sympltyti, 

 Heer, we have, I believe, no other British Meligethes with a smooth 

 thorax and cross-striated elytra. 



I have only seen four examples of M. cestimabilis, all taken in 

 Cumberland by Mr. F. H. Day of Carlisle, to whose acute eye we owe 

 its introduction to the list. Capt. Sainte Claire Deville, who very 

 kindly corroborated the insect for me, tells me that it is taken rarely 

 in the north of France, where it is much less common than M. morosus. 



12, Churchill Road, Dartmouth Park : 

 February 11th, 1908. 



Fresh-water Mollusca disseminated by loater -beetles. — Mr. J. R. le B. Tomlin's 

 interesting note in Ent. Mo. Mag. for February last induces me to place on record 

 the capture, some years ago in Cheshire, of a specimen of Dytiscus marginalis, L., 

 flying with a small specimen of the bivalve Cyclas cornea closed over one of its hind 

 legs. — Willoughby Gardner, Deganwy, North Wales : March 8th, 1908. 



