390 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Anemophilus siihtesselhttus, — ^"ith wliicli (wliilst thoy recede from it in all the 

 above-mentioned particulars) they have a greater affinity than with either of the 

 other members of the preceding group. 



298. Lichenophagns fritillus, Woll. (Tab. VIII. fig. 1.) 



L, elongato-ovatus fusco-nigerj squamis infuscato-cinereis densissime variegatus, prothorace profunde 

 punctato, elytris punctato-striatis ad apicem sub-abrupte terminatis, interstitiis alternis Isete 

 squamoso-tessellatis, antennis fusco-piceis, tarsis diluto-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. lin. 2. 



Habitat in rupium fissnris Portus Sancti, inter lichenes ibidem crescentes, tempore hiberno et vernali, 

 non infrequens : in moute Pico d'Anna Ferreira dicto prtecipue abundat, quu Decembri mense 

 A.D. 1848 copiose observavi. 



Ij. elougate-ovatc, brownish-, or rusty-black, and exceedingly densely clothed with flat, pai'tially over- 

 la])ping, closely set, pale brownish, or brownish-cinereous scales. Rostrum wide, but almost 

 parallel, being scarcely at all attenuated towards the apex. Prothorax with the sides rounded, 

 being widest just behind the middle ; rather produced anteriorly ; deeply punctured, and more 

 or less variegated with ashy and brown scales. Elytra somewhat convex (and usually a little 

 widened) behind the middle, being rather suddenly shortened towards their apex ; punctate- 

 striated ; the alternate interstices generally very distinctly and prettily tessellated with paler and 

 dai'ker patches of the scales. Antennte with their scape dull brownish-piceous ; their funiculus 

 and club being usually a little brighter. Lei/s more or less brownish-piceous, with the tarsi 

 testaceous. 



Apart from aU other characters (which nevertheless have been pointed out), the 

 present insect and the following one may be at once recognised from the a\ hole of 

 the other Cyclomides, wliich we have as yet considered, by their densely scaly 

 (instead of pubescent) sm-faces, in which respect they coincide with ScoUocerus and 

 Tracliyphlosiis, as well as with certain members, such as Acalles and Ti/cMiis, of 

 the 3Iecorlujnchi, — the fu-st of the two great divisions of the Gonatocerous Curcu- 

 lionidce. The L. fritillus tliffers from the L. Hcumiiiatiis in its comparatively ovate 

 outline, and in its paler, more deeply sculptured, and generally prettily tessellated 

 surface, — on wliich moreover there is scarcely the slightest indication, except under 

 a very high magnifjang power, of the erect additional seta3 so conspicuous on that 

 species. It is, apparently, peculiar to Porto Santo, where however, dui-ing the 

 ^\inter and early spring, it is tolerably common in particular spots, amongst lichen 

 ill the fissures of the exposed weather-beaten rocks. On the ascent of the Pico 

 d'Anna Ferreira from the east I have taken it abundantly, in company with 

 other insects of similar habits, — though more especially at only a short distance 

 1)elow the extreme summit of the mountain. Although of a very gregarious 

 nature, it is exceedingly partial in its distribution, since on many of the moun- 

 tains which offered precisely similar conditions for its existence I could detect no 

 traces of it whatsoever. 



