203 



18S6.] 



NOTES ON THE BEITISH SPECIES OF THE aENUS ^^^^^^^l 

 INCLUDma A DESCRIPTION OF E. NUBIGENA, REITTER, A 

 SPECIES NEW TO BRITAIN. 



BT W. a. BLA.TCH. 



In writing the following notes, my aim has been to mate the 

 determination of our species of E^^plecti as easy as possible to 

 Coleopterists, and with that view I have been led to classify them 

 under a somewhat different arrangement than usual. My plan may 

 not be the best possible one, but, at least, it has the merit (so it ap- 

 pears to me) of grouping the species much more naturally than any 

 other I have seen, and also (a matter of no little practical importance) 

 of simplifying the work of naming specimens. Of most ot the 

 species I have examined a large number of examples, not only in my 

 own collection, which is considerable, but in several others, the 

 owners of which have kindly placed them at my service. I am much 

 indebted to Mr. P. B. Mason for his kindness in allowing me the tree 

 use of the collections formed by Mr. Eye and Mr. Wilkinson, also to 

 the Eev. W. W. Fowler, Dr. Power, and others. 



My arst idea (having been very successful in hunting up these 

 interesting little beetles) was simply to record my own captures, with 

 notes of localities and stray observations on points of difference m 

 certain species ; but, in working up the matter, my jottings multiphed 

 and grew until they assumed the form in which I now present them 

 to my co-workers, the readers of the Ent. Mo. Mag., to whom I trust 

 they will prove of some use. 



I. Abdomen with a more or less sharply deHned depressed area, in middle of base 

 of arst two dorsal abdominal segments ; dorsal striae on eljtra d.stmct, 

 and reaching more or less nearly to middle. 

 A. Species lighter, red or reddish-yellow. 

 a. Head with s distinct basal fovea. 

 1 E KrKZEl, Anbe, Sturm, Col., 1841, p. 49 ; Ann. Soc. Ent. Er., 184^ p. 143 ; 

 G. B. Waterhonse, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1861. E. bru^uem, Grimmer ; 

 E. Eeitter, Best. Tab. Eur. Col., v, 524. 

 Long 2 mm. This species maybe recognised, Mer alia, by its large sizie, 

 reddish colour, the superior size and squarish form of its head, with its basal fovea, 

 the rather deep depressed area on the first two segments of the abdomen, the sides 

 of which depressions are divergent, and also by the characters of the S . In that 

 sex the 6th ventral segment of the abdomen has an oblong impression m middle of 

 base,the 6th segment is widely emarginate at the ape., and bears on each Bide a 

 tubercle tufted with long whitish hairs . the sides of the abdomen underneath are 

 also clothed with rather long hairs. 



