Spharidium.] nvDRornii.in.T-:. 253 



The ]arva of SphtBridium scarahcBoides is figured by Schiiidt'o (i., PI. vi., Fiir. 1) : its 

 shape is much like that of the maggot of the ordinary flosli-tly, the licud being very 

 narrow and the hinder poi-tion of the body very broad in proportion; the coKnir is 

 a dirty white with the mandibles blaekisli and the corneous parts f usco-testaceons ; 

 the thoracic scuta are complete, that of the prothorax bearing four round foveae two 

 on each side besides oblique impressions, and those of the nieso- and meta-thorax (which 

 are very short) being strongly and coarsely punctured ; the eighth segment bears 

 four exserted conical appendages, and has a broad cjuadridenticulate apex ; the larva is 

 virtually legless, but Schiodte considers the small projections on the under surface to 

 be rudimentary legs wanting the tarsi. 



I. Margins of thorax and elytra not lighter ; legs black ; 



elytra dark with apex broadly testaceous; length 5.V-6J mm. S. SCARAB.E0IDE5, F. 



II. Margins of thorax and elytra -more or less narrowly 



testaceous ; legs testaceous ; length 4-5^ mm. 

 i. Each elytron with a red spot more or less distinct at 



apex S. BirrsTULAxrM, F. 



ii. Elytra without spots at apex var. mabgixatum, F. 



S. scarabaeoides, F. xVimost round, apparently truncate beliind, 

 ■whole npper surface very thickly and finely punctured, shining black ; 

 antennie and palpi black, apex of last joint of maxillary palpi red ; 

 thorax with sides rounded and margined, base bisinuate, posterior angles 

 slightly produced, almost right angles ; elytra as broad as thorax, with 

 base and margins bordered, "with an obscure, sometimes obsolete spot 

 towards shoulder, and a transverse irregular testaceous 1)and at apex, 

 interrupted by the suture, which is always black ; sutural stria distinct 

 from apex to beyond middle, effaced in f lont ; legs black or pitchy some- 

 times with reddish spots. L. 6-6-0- mm. 



Common and widely distributed throughout the kingdom. 



S. bipustulatum, Fab. Shorter than the preceding and more 

 depressed, shining black, upper surface densely and linely punctureil ; 

 thorax and elytra with margins more or less narrowly testaceous, the 

 former with sides rounded and plainly bordered, posterior angles pro- 

 duced and sliarp ; elytra as broad as thorax with an obscure reddish spot 

 towards slioulder, which is often obsolete, and a common irregular red- 

 dish or reddish-testaceous spot at apex, which is not interrupted by 

 suture ; sometimes the whole elytra is of a reddish colour with extreme 

 margins lighter, in which cast; all the spots are indistinct ; legs testa- 

 ceous, femora usually with dark markings. L. A.-b\ mm. 



The V. marr/inafuiii, F., has the upjier surface entirely black with the 

 margins of the thorax and elytra sometimes rather broadly, sometimes 

 very narrowly testaceous. 



The V. f>t')itis(riafinn, Cast., has tlic elytra furnislied with more or less 

 distinct punctured strite or rows of punctures. 



Kathcr common, and widely distributed throughout the kingdom. 



CCRCVOZf, Leach. 

 This genus, according to the Munich Catalogue, contains about seventy 



