INSECTA MADERENSIA. 189 



thoracisque vix longitudine, articulis primo et secundo (illo vix prsecipue) subglobosis robustis, 

 tertio secundo paulo breviore, quarto longiore, inde ad octaviim paulatim brevioribus latitudine 

 subfequalibus, reliquis clavam magnam laxam triarticulatam efficientibus (ultimo subquadrato- 

 ovato ad apicem oblique truncato). Labrum breve transversum, antice vix emarginatum. Man- 

 dibulte acutae incui-vae, apice vix denticulatse, intus membrana tenuissima ciliata auctse. Maxillie 

 lobo singula recto apice piloso instructfe. Palpi maxillares breves, articulo priuio minutissimo, 

 secundo majore crassiore, tertio magno subgloboso, ultimo minora subconico : labiales brevissimi, 

 articulo primo minutissimo brevissimo, secundo maximo crasso subgloboso, ultimo minutissimo 

 tenuissimo aciculari vix perspicuo, ad apicem ipsum setulis paucis munito. Mentum hexagonum, 

 antice angustatum. Ligula ampla lata, apice truncata Integra ciliata. Pedes subgraciles : tarsis 

 3-articulatis, articulo primo secundo breviore, ultimo elongato. 



The distinctions between the Lathridii and the Cort'icarice have been already 

 pointed out, — the flatter, usually less ovate, somewhat harder and more sculp- 

 tui'ed (though unpubescent) bodies of the former being at once sufficient, apart 

 from the minute characters to be gathered from the relative proportions of their 

 antenna! and tarsal joints, whereby to sej^arate them, even at first sight, from the 

 latter. As lately stated, they are more strictly subcortical in tliek habits than 

 the members of the previous genus : nevertheless both groups are usually more or 

 less abundant during the summer months (at which season the insects are in an 

 active state) amongst dense herbage and vegetation, — particularly in shady 

 localities beneath trees, and in waste spots adjoining cultivated grounds. 



152. Lathridius assimilis. 



L. parallelo-subovatus piceo-ferrugineus, capite prothoraceque subpunctato-rugosis, hoc ad latera 

 valde complanato, angulis auticis rotundato-ampliatis, elytris profunda punctato-striatis, intar- 

 stitiis altarnis elevatis, antennis pedibusque diluto-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. lin. 1. 



Lathridius assimilis, Maun. i?i Germ. Zeitsch. v. 98 (1844). 

 coUaris, Motschulsky, in litt. 



Habitat prope urbem Maderae Funchalensem, hinc inda, rarior. 



I». elongata-subovate, rather mora parallel than either of the following species, and more or less picao- 

 ferruginous, or pale rusty-piceous. Head and prothorax rugosely punctured and wrinkled, — thf 

 punctures being large, a good deal confluent and ill-defined : \h^ former almost unchannelad : the 

 latter tolerably large, and narrowed behind ; the sides much flattened, and with the anterior angles 

 considerably expanded, or rounded, outwards ; with an obscure impression (or wide abbreviated 

 channel) on the fore part of the disk, and transversely impressed behind. Elytra rather parallel 

 at the sides ; deeply punctate-striated, — the punctures being very large, distinct, and regular ; 

 the interstices convex, and the alternate ones elevated. Antenna and legs a little palar than the 

 rest of the insect, — being dull rusty-testaceous. 



The present Lathridius may be at once known from the L. mimittis by its rather 



