INSECTA MADERENSIA. 409 



straightcjied (instead of elbowed, as iu the Curcnlionid(B,—i\\e first joint being 

 only slightly elongated), and inserted either near to the base or else towards the 

 middle of their (nsually slender, arcuated, cylindrical and porrected) rostrum. 

 They are insects which are princiioally attached to the smaller plants, on the softer 

 portions of which they subsist, — comparatively few being connected with the 

 foliage of trees. So abundant are some of the commoner forms, in certain places 

 and seasons, as to commit considerable damage amongst various kinds of veffetables 

 in agricultm-al districts. Nearly 130 species are recorded as Em-opean, — more 

 than 70 of which are found m the British Islands. When the southern position 

 of Madeira and its limited area are taken into account, the group may be con- 

 sidered to be well represented in our Coleopterous fauna : nevertheless, out of the 

 seven members described below, three may perhaps have been originally introduced 

 from more northern countries, — whilst the remaining fom* are of remarkaljly 

 indigenous habits, occurring at higher altitudes, and in spots for the most part 

 altogether removed from any traces of cultivation. 



§ I. Antenncd ante basin rostri inserted. 



313. Apion vemale. 



A. subgracile piceo-fuscum subopacum, squamis albidis, fusco-albidis et subnigresceutibus Isete varie- 

 gatum, rostro breviusculo minus arcuato, prothorace ruguloso-punctato, ad basin sinuato et in 

 disco postico distincte foveolato, elytris elongato-subovatis crenato-striatis, ad apicem ipsum sub- 

 acuminato-constrictis necnon singulatim rotundatis et debiscentibus, fascia postmedia maxima 

 valde arcuata commimi albida (antice et postice plaga obscuriore subnuda terminata) ornatis, 

 antennis pedibusque infuscato-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. hu. 1-1^. 



Attelabus vermlis, Pab. I^nt. Sy^t. i. ii. 392 (1792). 

 Curculio eoncinnus, Mslim, Ent. Brit. i. 248 (1802). 

 Apion vemale, Gyll. Ins. Suec. iii. 33 (1813). 

 , Sehon. Gen. et Spec. Cure. i. 273 (1833). 



Habitat in graminosis Maderse australis, tempore vernab, non infrequens. 



A. ratber slender, piceous-brown, subopake, and densely variegated witb white and brownish-white 

 scales, — with a few darker ones intermixed. Rostrum rather short, and but very slightly arcuated ; 

 thickened behind the insertion of the antennae (which are placed at a short distance in front of 

 its extreme base) ; sculptured, and densely clothed with scales, in the male ; but shining, 

 glabrous and rufo-piceous, from the insertion of the antennae to the apex, in the female. P?-o- 

 thorax subconical, and with its posterior margin considerably sinuated; closely and roughly 

 punctured ; with a deep, distinct and somewhat rounded fovea in the centre of its hinder disk ; 

 and usually densely beset with white scales at its sides. Elytra elongate-subovate and crenate- 

 striated ; rather produced and constricted at their extreme apex,— where each of them is separately 



3g 



