INSECTA MADERENSIA. 499 



of its near resemblance to a closely allied species*, I have given its synonymy 

 somewhat more at length than I should have been otherwise inclined to have 

 done. In addition to Eiu'opean ones, I possess specimens from Egypt and Algeria ; 

 as also an extensive series (recently communicated by T. S. Leacock, Esq., of Fun- 

 chal) from Mazagan, immediately opposite to Madeira, on the western coast of 

 Africa. 



Fam. 47. OPATRID^. 



Genus 170. OPATRUM. (Tab, XI. fig. l et 3.) 



Fabricius, Si/sf. Ent. 76 (1775). 



Corpus mediocre, oblongum : fronte ad latera leviter elevata, ad apicem profunde biloba : prothorace 

 transverso : metaslerno postice bifido : alls plerumque (ut in speciebus nostris) amplis. Antenna 

 capitis protboracisque longitudine, apicem versus vix incrassatoe, articulo primo leviter robusto 

 breviusculo, secundo brevi, tertio elongate, reliquis longitudine subsequalibus. Labrum (XI. I a) 

 coriaceum transverso-subquadratum, apice leviter bdobum ciliatum. Mandibula validse comese 

 latse, intus in medio fisso-sinuatre coriacese. Maxilla (XL I b) bilobae : lobo externo pubescente 

 setoso : inferno apice acuto, simplice vel biuncinato, intus plus minusve pectinato-setoso. Paljii 

 maxillares articulo primo parvo extus sinuato, secundo elongate clavato, tertio breviore, ultimo 

 magno securiformi : labiales (XI. 1 c) articulo primo parvo, secundo majore crassiore, ultimo 

 subovato. Mentum subquadratum basi angustatum, apice integrum. Ligula robusta, apice vix 

 emarginata. Pedes validiusculi : tibiis miuutissime setulosis ; anticis plus minusve dilatatis : 

 tarsis heteromeris ; posterioribiis (sed prsesertim posiicis) articulo primo longiusculo {iniermediis 

 in maribus interdum articulo primo subtus retrorsum pectinato-setoso). 



The Opatra, though more especially abundant in temperate latitudes, are widely 

 distributed over the world : unlike the Tenebrionidce, however, they are almost 

 exclusively inhabitants of the open country, — occurring principally in maritime 

 districts, and at low elevations. They are particularly partial to sandy and 

 gravelly spots ; and are usually to be found either beneath stones and marine 

 rejectamenta, or crawling at the roots of grass on the hot, dry ground. The 

 typical species are generally nearly apterous ; but the subgenus Gonocepliahmi (into 



* This species, which in England is the more abundant of the Wo, occurs for the most part imder 

 similar circiunstances as the A. diaperinus. It is the Tenelrio maiiritanicus of rabricius {Ent. Syst. 

 A.D. 1792), — though not (as erroneously supposed by him) of Lirmseus, which is the Trogosita maurita- 

 nica of modem collections. It is, likewise, the Tenelrio Fagi of Shu-m (DewfscJi. Fna, a.d. 1807) ; and, 

 more recently, the Alpliifohius picipes of Stephens, — who applied the name of mauritanicus to the va-ong 

 insect, namely the larger of the two now imder consideration. The true mauritatiicus, which I have not 

 hitherto observed in the Madeira Islands, is uniformly smaller than the diaperinus ; its prothorax also is 

 proportionably wider in the middle (being roimded at the sides), its elytra are rather more obsciu-ely 

 striated, and its tibiae are not quite so spinidose. It is perhaps more completely naturalized throughout 

 Europe than the diaperinus, heiag found occasionally in the open country. It is recorded by Stephens as 

 having been captured beneath turf iu the neighboiu-hood of London ; and by M. Lucas as beiug common 

 under stones iu Algeria, — which may perhaps have been onfe of its original areas of diffusion. 



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