CANARIAN COLEOPTERA. 



555 



Genus 308. OLIGOTA. 



Mcannerlieim, Brachcl. 72 (1831). 



840. Oligota castanea, n. sp. 



0. linearis, rufo- vel fusco-castanea, elytris abdominisque apice fere 

 rufo-testaceis, abdomine ad basin nigrescentiore ; antennis ad basin 

 pedibusque rufo-testaceis, illarum articulis 4 vel 5 ultimis sensim 

 crassioribus.— Long. corp. lin. vix |. 



Habitat in sylvaticis Teneriffoe, Gomerte et Palmae, sub foliis dejec- 

 tis, rarior. 



The rather large size, for an Oligota, of this (nevertheless minute) 

 insect, combined -wdth its reddish-castaneous hue (the elytra and 

 apex of the abdomen being, however, generally of a more or less 

 clear rufo-testaccous), its pale limbs, and the four or five apical 

 joints of its antennae being perceptibly incrassated, will sufficiently 

 distinguish it. It appears to occur at intermediate elevations, prin- 

 cipally within the sylvan districts, where, however, it is rare. I have 

 taken it, from beneath fallen leaves, at the Agua Garcia, Taganana, 

 Las Mercedes, and on the mountains above S*" Cruz, in Teneriffe, as 

 well as in the Barranco de Galga of Palma ; and a single specimen 

 is now before me which was captured by Dr. Crotch m Gomera (I 

 believe, above Hermigua). 



841. Oligota inflata. 



0. minor, linearis, fusco- vel nigro-picea, abdomine nigro ad apicem 

 ^-ix chlutiore ; antennis brevioribus, ad basin pedibusque testaceo- 

 pieeis, illarum articulis 4 ultimis sensim crassioribus. — Long. corp. 

 lin. vix -|. 



Microcera inflata, Mann., Brachcl. 72 (1831). 



Oligota subtilis, Erich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 180 (1839). 



inflata, Woll, Ins. Mad. 562 (1854). 



, Id, Cat. Mad. Col. 184 (1857). 



Habitat Lanzarotam, Teneriffam et Gomeram, sub quisquiliis fo- 

 liisque dejectis hinc inde hand infrcquens. 



I think that the brownish-piceous hue and the distinctly quadri- 

 articulate antennal club of this diminutive Oligota, combined with 

 the shape of its prothorax (which is appreciably narrower before 

 than behind, with the posterior angles tolerably expressed), will 

 assign it to the Em-opean 0. inflata, rather than to the pusillinia. 

 It occurs beneath vegetable detritus at low and intermediate eleva- 

 tions. I have captured it abundantly, from under the refuse around 

 the base of corn -stacks, at Haria in the north of Lanzarote, and 

 more sparingly above the Puerto Orotava in Teneriffe ; and a single 



