INSECTA MADERENSIA. 287 



the cliaracters of the present family, and to a certain extent even of the previous 

 one also, with the outward fades of the Tomicidce. Like it, however, its tendency 

 would appear to he towards the last of these ; and, in spite therefore of the many 

 points of discrepancy Avhich it displays with the incipient Pseudoietramera, we are 

 compelled to place it here, as, upon the whole, the best position which we can 

 assign to it : — and which is rendered the more natural from the consideration that 

 both it and Ptilimis are perhaps nearer akin to Apate than to anything else (a group 

 which leads us very gradually on, particularly tlu'ough the medium of its accom- 

 panying links, in the dkection of the Tomicl). Thus, for instance, the 10-jointed 

 antennoe of Rhyzopertha, with its perfoliated club, in connection with its distinctly 

 developed upper lip and slender legs, would go far to establish its afl&nity with 

 Cis, and its farinaceous and store-infesting habits might indicate some relation 

 even mtli the PtiuklcB ; yet, on the other hand, in its extremely cylindrical form, its 

 anteriorly roughened and produced prothorax, the obliquely subtruncated apex of 

 its elytra, and in its serrated tibiee, it offers so strong a prima facie resemblance 

 to Tomicus, that, were it not for its loosely-connected clava, it might be almost 

 mistaken at first sight for a species of that genus, — from which, consequently, it 

 Avould seem desirable that it sliould not be further removed than is necessary. It 

 occurs usually in and about houses ; and since, like many of the typical Ptinidce, 

 it attaches itself to different kinds of provisions and articles of commerce, it is 

 liable to become diffused, in various ways, throughout the civilized world. 



219. Rhyzopertha pusilla. 

 R. cylindrica ferruginea, prothorace convexo valde scabroso uecnon antice niucrouibus asperato, elytris 



nitidis profunde substriato-punctatis (punctis magnis), ad apicem oblique subtruncatis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1 ~. 



Si/nodendron pusilkim. Fab. Hut. Si/sf. v. (Siq^jil.) 156 (1798). 

 Ptimis Jissicornis et piceus, Mslim, Hut. Brit. i. 82 et 88 (1802). 

 Bhyzopertha inisilla, Steph. III. Brit. Ent. iii. 354 (1830). 

 , Lucas, Col. de VAlgerie, 468 (1849). 



Habitat in domibus mercatorumque repositoriis Maderse, prsesertim in urbe ipsa Funchalensi, — in 

 insulam ex alienis farinariis et radicibus invecta. 



R. elongated and cylindrical, bright ferruginous, and nearly free from pubescence. Prothorax ex- 

 ceedingly convex, roughly scabrous or granulated, and with coarser tubercles or points (which 

 have a tendency to arrange themselves in concentric folds) densely scattered over its anterior 

 region, — which is slightly narrowed, produced and rounded (but not at all acuminated), and has 

 its extreme margin roughened and slightly reflexed ; and without any appearance of a dorsal 

 channel. Elytra shining, very distinctly and regularly substriate-punctate (the punctures being 

 exceedingly large and deep, but the striae excessively shallow) ; and with a slight tendency to be 

 obliquely truncated at their extremity. Antenna a little paler, and the le^s usually a trifle darker, 

 than the rest of the surface. 



