222 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



surgentes, articulo primo longiusculo sat robusto, secundo paulo minore, tertio (primo vix breviore) 

 subovato. Mentiim amplum subquadratum, pilis longissiinis munitum, antice leviter bilobum. 

 Ligula mento fere occultataj tenuissimo-membranacea biloba ciliata. Pedes validi subretractiles : 

 tibiis anticis dilatatis cxtus fortitcr tridentatis, posterioribus spinulosis : tarsis filiformibus, articulis 

 secundo, tertio et quarto longitudine subzequalibus, primo in anticis saepius brevi, in posterioribus 

 elongato. 



Theii- diing-infesting propensities and biuTOwing nature, in conjunction with 

 their somewhat cylindrical and more or less maculated bodies, have rendered the 

 species of the present group familiar to almost every observer. In northern and 

 temperate regions, Avhere they supply the place of the larger Lamellicorns of 

 warmer latitudes, and have the same office to perform, they are especially abmi- 

 dant ; and hence it is that in Europe the Aphod'u are connected with our earliest 

 associations, — making then* appearance at particular times in such vast multitudes 

 as even to have attracted the attention of naturalists in recording the simultaneous 

 development of animals and plants at stated seasons of the year. Well known as 

 they are however from their habits and general outward aspect, they present 

 structurally far greater pecuUarities, which will serve additionally to separate 

 them, in common with the rest of the family to which they belong, from the 

 members of the other genera of this department of the Coleoptera. Thus, theii' 

 extremely thin, membranous mandibles and upper lip, both of which are concealed 

 beneath their (in Aphodlus proper usually tubercled and unemarginated) clypcus, 

 added to their powerfully tridentated anterior tibite, and the lamellated club of 

 theii- 9-joiuted antennae, Avill more than suffice, apart from the obscurer featm-es 

 of then- organization, to distinguish them from the whole of the other insects with 

 which we have here to do. 



173. Aphodius Hydrochaeris. 



A. diluto-tcstaceus, clypeo (subruguloso), scutello (profunde punctate) et pedibus paulo rufcscen- 



tioribus, prothorace breviusculo antice marginato, sat crebre insequaliter punctulato, in disco 



antico late nigrescenti necnon latera versus nebula obscura conspurcato, elytrorum interstitiis 



minutissime punctulatis et sutura anguste nigrescenti. 



Mas subnitidus, tuberculo frontali medio valde distincto, prothorace paulo latiore subtibus 



punctulato. 



Foem. subopacus, tuberculo frontali medio minus cxstanti (lateralibus vix majore), prothorace paulo 



angustiore fortius et crebrius punctulato. 



Long. Corp. lin. 3-4J. 



Scarahceus ITi/droeJiaris, Fab. Eiit. Sj/st. Siipj)!. 23 (1798). 

 ApJiodiiis Ili/drocha'ris, Illig. Mag.fiir Ins. ii. 103 (1S03). 



, Heer, Fna Col. Relv. i. 522 (18il). 



, Muls. LamelL de France, 217 (1842). 



Habitat in stereore bovino Maderfc Portusque Sancti, sat vulgaris, — ab autunmo usque ad ver 

 primum prxdominans. 



