NOTES ON TIIK JAPANESE SPECIES OF SlLPllA. 



The synonymy of this insect — if ever worked out — will pruluibly 

 include more names than those given in the Munich Catalogue. 



7. Silplia rugosa, Linn.; Fn. Suec. nr. 455. — This species is 

 laie in Japan. In 18G9 I obtained two specimens from Simabara, 

 and one at Yokohama ; and in 1880 I took three specimens on 

 the sand-hills at Hakodate. On each occasion it was associated 

 with sinuata, Fab. 



The outlines of the three following species are very similar : — 



8. Sil2)ha\t]ioracica,lAnu. ; Syst.Nat.,ii.,p. 57. — I bred this from 

 two pupse found under bark at Sapporo, and obtained two others 

 by beating foliage. The specimens in no way differ from British 

 examples, except in the interocular tubercle referred to below. 



9. SiLPHA suBRUFA, n. sp. — Breviter ovata; prrecedenti similis; 

 thorace rufo ; elytris punctatis obscuro-rufis. L. 18 mill. 



This species is very similar to S. thoracica, Linn. The elytra 

 are relatively shorter, more or less rufous, and punctured 

 throughout clearly and distinctly. There is no appearance of 

 the corrugation or rugosities which are well-marked characters 

 in thoracica, especially in the margins of the elytra. In subrufa 

 there is a small tubercle between the eyes, which is not very well 

 defined in the Japanese specimens of thoracica, but I have found 

 it in an English example of the latter. Taken at Chiuzenji, 

 Akita, and Sapporo. One specimen, bred from a pupa found in 

 a rotten birch in August. 



10. SiLPHA NiGROPUNCTATA, n. sp. — Brevitcr ovata; thorace 

 rufo, glabro, nigro-4 -punctata. L. 13-14 mill. 



This insect differs from the preceding in three important 

 characters : — The thorax is free from hair or pubescence ; with 

 four black spots on its disc, arranged thus .* *. ; and the elytra 

 are black, as in thoracica. Silpha tetraspilota, Hope, has similar 

 thoracic spots ; but Hope's species is altogether a difierent insect. 

 Five specimens taken at Nikko, Miyanoshita, and Samegai. 



11. Silpha atrata, Linn.; Fn. Suec. nr. 151. — Seven examples, 

 taken in S. Yezo ; the individuals are a little larger than English 

 specimens. 



Note. — Necrophorus placjiatus, Menet, 1854 ; Ptomascopiis 

 A-maculatus, Kraatz, 1877; P. davidis, Fairm., 1878; and 

 P. plagiatipennis, Lewis, 1879, are names of one species. Kraatz 



ENTOM. — JAN. 1888. C 



