Ilarpalits.] adephaga. 43 



often be seen running in the sun in spring and early summer. The 

 species of Ilarjiahis proper are extremely variable in size, colour, and 

 sculpture, even individual species (e.g. //. cenens) presenting an endless 

 variety of shades. The males have joints 1-4 of the anterior and inter- 

 mediate tarsi dilated, and furnished with squamaj beneath; three 

 species of Ophonus, however (as M. Bedel remarks, 1. c. p. 69), have the 

 tiirsi simple in both sexes; these are cordicollis^QVY^dermatodes^ohva.., 

 and Jemoralis Coq. 



The larva of Harpalus aeneus is figured by Schiiidte (iii., PI. xxii., Fig. 1). It is 

 depressed and cylindrical, gradually narrowed from the head, which is broader than 

 any of the other segments, to the ninth abdominal segment, which is narrow and bears 

 two short rather stout cerci ; the anal appendage also is short and thick ; the thorax is 

 convex with the scuta margined, but none of the other scuta arc margined ; the 

 colour is white, with the head, prothorax, and all the dorsal scuta yellow ; the 

 muscular impressions on the abdominal scuta are distinct ; claws slightly unequal : 

 the larva digs burrows in sandy ground. The larva of H. ruficornis difters from 

 that of n. cBneus in being half as large again, and rather more depressed, in the form 

 of the ninth abdominal segment, and in having the cerci thicker and less widely 

 separated. 



(Sub-Gen. i. Ophonus, Stephens.) 



I. Upper surface of elytra metallic, blue or green. 

 i. Length 10-13 mm. 



1. Sides of thorax rounded from apex to middle, 

 and thence obliquely contracted to basej pos- 

 terior angles blunt, but distinct 11. SabULICOLA, Panz. 



2. Sides of thorax rounded from apex to base ; 



posterior angles rounded, or nearly so. 



A. Sides of thorax slightly rounded; posterior 



angles somewhat app:irent. L. 13 mm. . . H. OBSCUEXJS, F. 



B. Sides of thorax strongly rounded ; posterior 

 angles completely rounded off. L. 11-12 



mm H. EOTUNDICOLLIS, Fainn. 



ii. Length 6-8 mm. 



1. Thorax with posterior angles right angles, 



without trace of basal border H. ruNCTATULUS, Buft. 



2. Thorax with postei'ior angles blunt, base 



lightly bordered H. azureus, F. * 



IT. Upper surface not metallic, brownish or reddish. 

 i. Thora.x very strongly contracted at base, apex of 

 posterior angles opposite the axis of the fifth 



stria of the elytra II. COKDATUS, D((/V. 



ii. Thorax not very strongly contracted at base, 

 apex of posterior angles opposite the axis of 

 the sixth stria of the elytra 

 1. Thorax not strongly transverse. 



A. Form more elongate ; thorax without trace 

 of ba<al border ; interstices of elytra more 



coarsely punctured H. IIUPICOLA, Sturm. 



B. Form broader; thorax often with basal 

 border ; interstices of elytra more finely 



punctured ' . H. tuncticgllis, Payk. 



* The Tar. similis of H. azureus is dark pitchy-red or brownish, scarcely, if at all, 

 metallic, and might be referred to the second section. 



