2G0 [April, 



THE NITIDULIBJE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



BY EEV. W. W. FOWLEE, M.A., F.L.S. 



(Continued from p . 219) . 



2. Colour greenish or greenish-blue, sometimes purple, with strong metallic 

 lustre. 



a. Punctuation close, and comparatiyely "weak. 



M. ceneus, Fabr. — Oblong or oblong-ovate, shining, greenish or greenish-bronze, 

 •with rather thick and fine greyish pubescence ; antennae and legs piceous, anterior 

 tibiae lighter, very finely serrated ; punctuation rather close, with fine reticulation 

 between punctures. Length, 5 — li lin. 



var. cceruJeus (31. coeriileus, Steph.). — Colour blue or purple, with elytra some- 

 times brownish ; pubescence very scanty. Length, 1 lin. 



"Very common and generally distributed on different flowers ; 

 abundant on Mammculacece in spring ; the variety is rather rare, and 

 is often regarded as a different species by collectors. 



This species is very variable, and often gives rise to mistakes. 

 M. Brisout says concerning it (Synopse du genre Meligethes, p. 10), 

 " In the south of Europe, in Algeria, and in Syria it usually occurs 

 with greyer and rather longer pubescence ; the posterior angles of the 

 thorax are, as a rule, right angles, but it is not uncommon to meet 

 with examples in Algeria and in Spain which have these angles obtuse 

 or even rounded." These remarks are worth quoting, as showing the 

 diiflculties that the genus presents, even in its leading characters, and 

 as tending to prove that probably several of the generally received 

 species may be with reason considered varieties or races of some other 

 species. 



The life history of this species, with figures of eggs, larvse, &c., 

 is given by Miss Ormerod in Yol. XI of this Magazine, pp. 46—52. 



I. Punctuation more diffuse, and rather strong. 

 M. viridescens, Fabr. — Rather long, oval, shining, greenish-blue, sometimes en- 

 tirely green, rarely blackish ; legs red ; antennae red, with club darker ; anterior 

 tibiae very finely serrated ; punctuation rather strong, with fine reticulation between 

 punctures, plainer on thorax than on elytra. Length, ^ — \\ lin. 



Very common and generally distributed ; usually found in com- 

 pany with the preceding, from which its rather longer and more oval 

 shape, lighter legs, and stronger punctuation at once distinguish it. 



ii. Anterior tibiae very finely toothed from a little below base to beyond middle, 

 with two or more conspicuously stronger teeth at or close to apex. 



1. Upper surface without cross striation or reticulation between punctures. 



A. Very shining, black, or with dark brown reflection ; punctuation 

 strong, especially on elytra. 



