Plate XV. 



Fig. 126. PiEDERUS FUSCIPES, Curtis. [F. Pfficlerldje. G. Piederas, Grav.'\ 



Elongate, sub-cylindrical. Head black, nearly as wide as the thorax, sub-orbiculate, smooth 

 in front, coarsely and sparsely punctate at the sides and posteriorly, with a transverse punctate 

 impression between the eyes, and an elongate fovea on each side in front of them ; mandibles and 

 maxillary palpi reddish yellow, the latter with the apex of the third joint fuscous, labial palpi 

 dusky, antennaj black, three basal joints reddish yellow. Thorax oblong, convex, much narrower 

 than the elytra, sides nearly straight, red, smooth, with a few irregularly disposed punctures and 

 long black hairs at the sides. Scutellum black. Elytra half as long again as the thorax, blue, 

 with a spai'se silvery-grey pubescence, thickly and coarsely punctate. Abdomen with the sides 

 parallel, narrowly margined, finely and sparsely punctate, red, the two apical segments black. 

 Breast black. Legs reddish yellow, apex of thighs black, tibiae and tarsi fuscous. Length, 3 lines. 



Rare. New Forest ; near Ventnor, Isle of Wight ; &c. 



Fig. 137. STENUS GUTTULA, Mall. [_F. Stenidse. G. Stenus, Latr.l S. Kirbii, 

 Curtis.) 



Elongate, sub-cylindrical, black, with a dense short silvery-grey pubescence. Head transverse, 

 much wider than the thorax, thickly and coarsely punctate, deeply impressed in front, with a broad, 

 deep, longitudinal furrow on each side between the eyes, the intermediate space convex, smooth ; 

 palpi testaceous, the third joint dusky at the apex ; antenuEE pitchy, basal joint black. Thorax 

 elongate, sub-cylindrical ; sides rounded anteriorly, slightly sinuate behind ; thickly and coarsely 

 punctate, interstices uneven, the disc with two small, elongate, raised, smooth spaces. Elytra a 

 trifle longer than the thorax, thickly, deeply, and coarsely punctate, each with a reddish-yellow 

 circular spot a little behind the middle. Abdomen narrowed from the base to the apex, narrowly 

 margined, rather thickly and finely punctate. Legs long, slender, pale yellow, apical half of 

 femora black, base and apex of tibia; pitchy black ; tarsi elongate. Length, 2-2| lines. 



Rare. Tottenham, Essex ; Charlton, Kent ; Isle of Wight ; Bristol ; &c. 



Fig. 138. STILICUS FRAGILIS, Grav. \_F. Pjederidae. G. Stilicus, Latr.l (Rugilus 

 fragilis, Curtis.^ 



Elongate, black, thorax, scutellum, and anterior legs red. Head orbiculate, much wider than 

 the thorax, convex, black, very thickly, finely, and ruggedly punctate, opaque ; palpi and antenna; 

 pitchy black, apex of the latter ferruginous. Thorax oblong, attenuated in front, narrowed behind, 

 sides rounded, convex, blood red, very thickly and finely punctate, with a central longitudinal 

 slightly elevated, smooth space. Scutellum red. Elytra of the width of the head, a little longer 

 than the thorax, black, with the apex narrowly testaceous, slightly shining, thickly and finely 

 punctate, with a dense short yellowish-grey pubescence. Abdomen margined, gradually wulened 

 from the base to the fourth segment, thence narrowed to the apex, black, very finely and thickly 

 punctate, with a similar pubescence to that on the elytra. Anterior legs red, intermediate pitchy 

 red, posterior pitchy black. Length, 3 lines. 



Rare, although very widely distributed. Found beneath dead leaves, in the refuse of hay and 

 faggot stacks, and in moss in damp, shady places. 



Fig. 139. FALAGRIA TMORACICA, StepL, Curtis. [F. Aleocharidse. G. Falagria, 

 Leach.'\ 



Elongate, reddish brown, shining. Head transverse, sub-orbiculate, very nearly as wide as the 

 thorax, pitchy red, very faintly punctate, with a shallow depression on the forehead ; anteima; pitchy 

 red, the basal joints ferruginous. Thorax as broad as long, narrowed behind ; sides rounded in 

 front, slightly sinuate posteriorly ; red, indistinctly punctate, with a deep central longitudinal 

 channel, terminating behind in a triangular fovea. Scutellum very finely and thickly puuctate. 

 Elytra oblong cpiadrate, a little longer than the thorax, redchsh brown, very finely and thickly 

 punctate, and clothed with a thin grey pubescence. Abdomen slightly dilated posteriorly, reddish 

 brown, as finely but less thickly punctate than the elytra. Legs ferruginous. Length, \\ lines. 



Not common, although very widely distributed. Found in moss, at roots of grass, and beneath 

 dead leaves, often in the company of ants, especially of Formica flava and Myrmica rubra. 



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