118 CANARIAN COLEOPTERA. 



Genus 81. RHIZOPHAGUS. 



Herbst, Kaf. v. 18. tab. i. f. 7-9 (1793). 



193. Rhizophagus pinetorum, n. sp. 



R. subconvexus, rufo-ferrugineus, nitidus ; capite sat dense punctu- 

 lato ; prothorace elongato-oblongo, ad latera subrecto, postice vix 

 angustiore, angulis antieis subporrcctis, profunde sod parce ob- 

 longe puuctato ; elytris fusiformi-parallelis, sat profunde punc- 

 tato-striatis. — Long. corp. lin. vix l|-2. 



Habitat in pinetis TenerifFte et Palmae, lignum antiquum Pini ca- 

 nariensis destruens. 



The present Rliizophagus is probably widely spread over the old 

 Finals of these islands ; for, having taken it in several positions both 

 in TenerifFe and Palma, I have but little doubt that it must occur in 

 the ancient pine -forests of Grand Canary also. At the Agua Mansa, 

 and in the lofty Pinal above Ycod el Alto, of Teneriffe it is occa- 

 sionally abundant, in the rotten wood of the Pinus canariensis ; as 

 also, in similar places, in the Banda, and in the Barranco above S*" 

 Cruz, of Palma. It may be known from the following species by being 

 a little larger, more convex, and shining (there being no appearance 

 of the ahitaceous sculpture whicli characterizes that insect) ; by its 

 prothorax being relatively somewhat longer, straighter at the sides, 

 more coarsely and sparingly punctured, less evidently (if indeed at 

 all) narrowed behind, and with the anterior angles more porrect ; 

 and by its elytra being more deeply punctate-striated. 



It is very closely allied to the European R, ferrugineus and per- 

 foratus, partalcing of the characters of them both without agreeing 

 exactly with either ; so that if it is to be regarded as a geographical 

 modification of some northern form, it might be referred with almost 

 equal propriety to either of those species. On this account I think it 

 better to retain it as distinct, more particularly since the remoteness of 

 its habitat and its exclusive attachment to the Pinus canariensis would 

 alike imply that such, in all probability, is really the case. From 

 the ferrugineus it diSers in being a little more depressed and less 

 cyUndric (its elytra being rather more fusiform, or less straight- 

 ened at the sides), in its prothorax being more narrowly margined 

 and (together with the head) not quite so coarsely punctured, in its 

 humeral angles being somewhat more porrect, and in the punctures 

 and strife of its elytra being less deep. From the pcrforatus, on the 

 other hand, it may be known by being on the average considerably 

 larger, by its prothorax being just perceptibly convexer, less remotely 



