THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



No. 13.] APRIL, MDCCCLXV. [Price 6d. 



Notes on the Genera Malthinus and Malthodes. 

 By G. R. Crotch, Esq. 



These two genera, so distinct from any others by their 

 abbreviated elytra and the frequently bright yellow apex, are 

 difficult, at first, to separate from each other. The form of 

 the head and insertion of the antennae will generally facilitate 

 this. In Malthodes the antennae are contiguous to the eyes, 

 while in Malthinus they are remote, and the head is more 

 contracted posteriorly. The species of Malthinus are few in 

 number and very easily recognized. 



Elytra long, unicolorous. . . . M. frontalis. 

 Elytra with the apex sulphureous. 



Punctate-striate M. fasciatus. 



Obsoletely punctured. . . M. flaveolus. 



M. fasciatus was originally divided by Kiesenwetter into 

 two, but he has since united them. Thomson, on the other 

 hand, has again separated them, his JNl. facialis being dis- 

 tinguished by having the face pale in the female, and the 

 second joint of the antennae not longer than the third. I 

 have not seen any specimens answering this description. 

 Two other species are known as European, both of which 

 may occur here. 



M, glabellus, Kiesiv., resembles fasciatus, but has the head 

 and thorax smooth, and the elytra irregularly and obsoletely 

 punctate-striate. 



M. biguttuliis, Payk., is a large species, near flaveolus, 

 from which it may be known by its dark legs, antennae and 

 thorax. 



The species of Malthodes are much more numerous, thir- 

 teen being recorded for Sweden alone, and about thirty-six 

 for Europe. The discrimination of species is attended with 

 difficulty, as the only good distinctions are afforded by the 



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