202 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Fam. 17. DERMESTID^. 



Genus 70. DERMESTES. 

 Linnteus, Si/st. JS^at. ii. 501 (17G7). 



Corpus mediocre, oblongum, convexum : prothorace postice lato dytris arete applieato, necnon in 

 medio obtuse lobato : alls amplis. Antennte breves (capite paulo longiores) clavatse pilosse, 

 artieulo primo subovato crasso, secundo ad septimum paulatim miiuitioribus vix suba;qualibus, 

 octavo brcvi transverso subpatelliformi, reliquis elavam magnam ovatam triarticulatam efficientibus 

 (ultimo antecedente angustiore minore). Labrum transversum, antice emarginatum ciliatum. 

 Mandihulte validse eurtse crassa;, apice vix bidentataj, intus ad basin emarginatse ct membrana 

 pilosa aucta;. Maxilla bilobse : loho externa lato, apice valde pubesceuti : inferno ineurvo un- 

 cinato, intus ciliato. Palpi maxillares, artieulo primo minuto, secundo et tertio majoribus sub- 

 aequalibus, ultimo elongato subfusiforini apice truneato : labiules artieulo primo minuto, secundo 

 magno subclavato, ultimo majore subcylindrico. Mentum amplum, oblongum postice truncatum, 

 apice vix emarginatum. Ligula ampla lata cordata. Pedes gracdes retractUes : tibiis extus 

 setoso-spinulosis, anticis subrectis apice versus leviter dilatatis, posterioribus rectis : tarsis articulis 

 quatuor baseos subsequalibus. 



The common genus Dermestes may be kno^^^l by the thick, oblong forms of the 

 insects which compose it, and which are ahnost equally roimded at either extre- 

 mity, and are, most of them, more or less mottled with closely-set sericeous pUe. 

 The club of their antenna; is ovate and does )iot vary in the sexes, and the first 

 fom- joints of all then- tarsi are subcqual. The species are found principally in 

 skins, or amongst bones, furs, and other animal substances, — whether in a par- 

 tially dried state or prepared by art; as likewise about larders, and in houses 

 generally, where they often commit considerable damage. 



160. Dermestes vulpinus. 



D. oblongus niger subflavcscenti-cinereo-pubescens, prothorace ad latera densius pubescenti; subtus 

 niveo-villosus, segmento penultimo tuberculo medio rotundato picco instructo, et ultimo vitta 

 media nigra longitudinal! lata ornato necnon ad apieem (cum scutello) fulvo-pubescenti ; elytro 

 singulo ad apieem ipsum mucronato, antenuarum basi pedibusque picescentibus. 



Long. cOrp. lin. 3-45. 



Dermestes vulpinus, Fab. Spec. Ins. i. 6-1 (1781). 



, OUv. Ent. ii. 9. 8. pi. 1. fig. 6 (1790). 



, Gyll. 7«.s. Sure. i. 147 (1808). 



— , Steph. HI. Brit. Ent. iii. 123 (1830). 



Habitat in urbe Fuucbalensi, ex alienis introductus : specimen uuicum per acrem volitaus autumno 

 A.D. 1847 deprehensit Rev''"' Dom. Lowe. 



D. oblong, black, slightly shining, closely and minutely puuctulated all over, and clothed with a short 

 yellowish-cinereous, or somewhat griseous pubescence. Prothorax: with the pubescence towards 



