596 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



logs of wood in the dampest spots, and runs with the most prodigious velocity. I 

 have taken it at the edges of the Levada of the Riheiro Frio in May, at the Cru- 

 zinhas and the Fanal dui-iag July, and at the Feijaa de C6rte early in August. 



(Subf. 5. STENIDES.) 

 Genus 207. STENUS. 



Latreille, Precis des Caract. gtn. des Ins. 11 (1796) 



Corpus sat parvum subcylindrico-elongatum, plus luinusve dense et rugose punctatum : capite pro- 

 thorace paulo latiore, porrecto, ad basin truncato ; oculis permagnis rotundatis valde prominen- 

 tibus: prothurace immarginato, plus minusve subcylindrico et postice leviter attenuate : alis vel 

 pamm amplis vel obsoletis : abdomine niarginato aut immarginato, modo lineari, modo apicem 

 versus leviter attenuate ; segmento sexto in maribus subtus plerumque inciso (necnon etiam seg- 

 mentis ventralibus interdum vel emarginatis vel impressis), in foeminis integro. Antenna in 

 fronte inter oculos insertie, graciles clavatse, articulis primo ct secundo leviter robustis, nono, 

 decimo et undecimo distincte incrassatis, elavam elongatam laxani eflScientibus. Labrum sub- 

 semicirculare, margine integro. Mandibulee infra apicem fortiter unidentata;, valde incurvee 

 acutse. Maxilla bilobce : lobo externa corneo, apice membranaceo barbato : interna corneo, per 

 marginem internum membranaceo et dense pubescente. Palpi maxillares longissimi, articulis 

 tribus baseos elongatis (longitudine paulatim crescentibus), ultimo subtilissimo, vis (oculo etiam 

 fortiter armato) observando : labiates articulo primo tenui subarcuato, secundo paulo breviore 

 sed multo crassiore subovato, ultimo tenui subulate. Mcnfuiu triangularc. Ligula biloba, lobis 

 minimis ovatis ; paraglossis membrauaceis rotundato-ampliatis, ligula majoribus. Pedes elongati 

 graciles, valde cursorii ; coxis anticis minutis : tarsis 5-articulatis, articulis quatuor baseos longi- 

 tudine decrescentibus (quarto vel integro vel bilobo). 



The Steni possess so many peculiarities, both externally and in then* oral organs, 

 that it is impossible to confound them with the members of any other genus of the 

 Brachelytra. Suffice it therefore to remark, that in their closely and rouglily 

 punctured bodies (which are more or less cylindi-ical, and almost invariably black, 

 — any tendency to metallic tints being exceedingly rare, though a few of the 

 species arc brightly ■ maculated with yellowish or reddish spots), in their enor- 

 mously developed and prominent eyes, as well as in theii- nearly obsolete scutella, 

 slender limbs and clavated antennae, they offer points of distraction sufficient at 

 once to characterize them. In the details of their trophi, however, they are 

 even better defined stUl, — their semicii-cidar, untoothed upper lip and triangular 

 nientum, in conjunction with tlie elongated basal, and almost evanescent terminal, 

 articulation of then- (greatly lengthened) maxillary palpi, and the singular struc- 

 tm-e of their ligula (which is so lightly attached to the mentum that it is apt, 

 wlulst the insect is dying, to l)e protruded, along witli tlie anterior portion of tlie 

 alimentary canal, to an immense distance in front*), displaying additional featm-es 



• This pecxiliarity of the lower lip of the Steni is thus accounted for by Erichson : " Singulariter in 



