190 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



larger and more parallel outline, by its paler and more rusty hue, Ijy its somewhat 

 longer prothorax (which has the anterior angles more distinctly expanded, or 

 rounded, outwards), and by the raised alternate interstices of its more deeply and 

 regularly punctate-striated elytra. It is apparently scarce in Madcii-a, the only 

 district in which I have hitherto taken it being the Weinity of Funchal, — where it 

 may possibly have been accidentally introduced from more northern latitudes. It 

 is not an imcommon insect throughout Eiu'ope, being recorded in Finland, Russia, 

 Germany, Poland, and Switzerland ; it is however far less abimdant than either of 

 the following species. 



153. Lathridius minutus. 

 I*, ovatus nigro-piceus, capite prothoraceque (vix subpunctato-) rugosis, hoc ad latera complanato, 



angulis anticis minus rotundato-ampliatis, elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis convexis, anten- 



narum basi pedibusque diluto-testaceis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. |-|. 



Tenebrio minutus, LLim. Syst. Nat. ii. 675 (17C7). 

 Ips minuta, Oliv. Ent. ii. 18. 22 (1790). 

 Corticaria puUa, Mslim, Ent. Brit. i. Ill (1802). 

 Lairidius porcatus, Steph. III. Brit. Ent. iii. 113 (1830). 

 Lathridius minutus, Mann, in Germ. Zeitsch. v. 96 (1844). 



Habitat Maderam, usque ad 4000' s. m. ubique \Tilgaris. 



L. shorter and more ovate than the L. assimilis, and dark piceous-black. Head and prothorax ahnost 

 as rugose as in that insect, but with the punctures even more irregular, being scarcely at all 

 defined : the former with a distinct longitudinal channel down the centre : the latter rather short, 

 and naiTowed behind; the sides flattened, and with the anterior angles expanded, or rounded, 

 outwards, — though much less so than in the L. assimilis ; usually with a very obscure impression 

 (or abbreviated channel) on the fore part of the disk, and transversely impressed behind. Elytra 

 rounded at the sides, the widest part being about the middle ; punctate-sti-iated, — the punctures 

 being smaller and much less distinct than those of the last species ; the interstices rather convex, 

 but the alternate ones not more elevated than the remainder. Anteniue and legs diluted-testa- 

 ceous; the former with their club often a little infuscated. 



Distinguished from the i. ossimilis, as alroadv stated, bv its smaller, more 

 ovate, and darker body, by its more deeply channeled forehead and less anteriorly- 

 dUated prothorax, and by the sculpture of its el}i:ra, — which arc not only more 

 obscurely pimctured than in that insect, but want Hke^ise the elevated alternate 

 interstices which are there so apparent. It is by far the most abundant of the 

 Madeiran Lothridii, occiu'ring in profusion in nearly aU parts of the island below 

 the altitude of about 1000 feet. In the llibciro de Santa Luzia, near Funchal ; 

 in the chestnut-woods of Santa AixavL ; throughout the region of the Kibeiro Frio ; 

 and at the Lombo dos Pecegueiros I have captured it commonly, dm'ing the spring 



