INSECTA MADERENSIA. ^^^ 



(Subf. 2. BRUCHIDES.) 



Genus 136. BRUCHUS. (Tab. VIII. fig. 9.) 



Geoffrey, Hist. Abr. des Ins. de Farts, i. 163 (1762). 



Corpus parvum, plus minusve pubescenti-variegatum : capite exserto subinflexo, leviter producto (sed 

 vix rostrato) ; oculis lunatis prominulis : prothorace postice lato sinuato, elytris arete applicato : 

 scutello plerumque distincto et subquadrato : elytris oblougo-subquadratis, postice abbreviatis 

 (pygidium baud tegentibus), necnon ad apieem ipsum plerumque siugulatim rotundatis : alis 

 amplis. Antennm longiusculfe validse, juxta sinum oculorum insertfe, apieem versus erassiores et 

 intus plerumque serratse. Lahrum luuulatum. Mandibula validae triangulares, intus in medio 

 membrane angusta auets. Maa:illa bilobse graciles, valde ciliatae. Palpi articulo ultimo sub- 

 fusiformi. Mentum transversum, antice in medio emargiuatum, lobis lateralibus rotundatis. 

 Ligula ampla elongata, apice vlx sinuata. Pedes vaUdi, jaos^ici paulo longiores ; femoribus posticis 

 subincrassatis et infra dente minuto sspius instruetis ; tibiis posticis (interdum posterioribus) ad 

 apieem internum spina parv^ acuta munitis ; tarsis posticis articulo primo elongato cui-vato. 



The :Bruchi are insects of a very wide geographical range, nearly 250 species 

 (about 70 of which have been recorded as European) being described in Schon- 

 herr's great work on the Bhyncophom. They are more numerous in tropical than 

 in northern latitudes; and, from the seed-infesting habits of theii- larvse, are con- 

 stantly Hable to transmission throughout the civiHzed world: and hence the 

 original centres of diffusion of some of them are now not very easily to be ascer- 

 tained. They may be known, amongst other features, by their apicaUy-abbre\iated 

 and more or less subquadrate elytra, by their exserted (though subinflexed) head 

 and lunate eyes, by the sinuated hinder margm of their prothorax, by their 

 graduaUy thickened and subserrated antennae, and by their robust posterior legs, 

 —the femora of which are usuaUy furnished with a smaU spine beneath. Out of 

 the thi-ee representatives hitherto detected vn the Madeii-a Islands, two have in aU 

 probabiUty been naturaHzed from other countries ; whilst the remaioing one is of a 

 remarkably iadigenous nature,— being confined to higher altitudes, and harbouring 

 amongst the lichen of the exposed moimtain-summits. 



§ I. Scutellum distinctum, suhquadratum. 



322. Bruchus rufimanus. 

 B. oblongo-ovatus niger, pube fulvescenti parce variegatus, prothorace ad latera in medio subangulato, 

 elytris subcrenato-striatis et maculis plurimis parvis (prsesertim in media parte) albidioribus 

 adspersis, antennarum basi pedibusque anticis rufo-testaceis, femoribus posticis obsolete et obtuse 

 dentatis. 



Long. corp. lin. 2i. 



3h2 



