George Lewis: A new species of Copris from Japan. 17 



On a new species of Copris from Japan. 



By George Lewis. 

 Copris pecuarius, n. sp. 



G. lunari afßnis^ sed major. Niger, nitidus, elytris punctato- 

 striatis, interstitiis ^ibtiliter alutaceis ; pygidio sat dense 'punctato, 

 in medio linea longitudinali laevi suhelevata. Long. 23 mm. 



This species is closely alliecl to Copris lunaris L. but be- 

 sides the size it has several well-marked cbaracters to distin- 

 guish it. The hörn in the (5 is one third longer and without any 

 noteh at the base ; the thorax has the elevations more deci- 

 dey separated and formed as in acutidens Motsch. but less 

 acute. In both sexes the sculpture of the elytral interstices 

 gives an appearance of opacity; the pygidium is somewhat 

 closely punctured and down the centre of it is a smooth 

 well-defined line which is slightly elevated. 



I found this species very abundantly in the neighbour- 

 hood of Nikko , both in the broader thoroughfares of the 

 village as well as in the elevated mountain-paths where the 

 traffic is entirely carried on with small bullocks. I also found 

 it on the Nakasendo at several places. 



In about 60 specimens I have examined there is little 

 Variation in size and probably this is owing to the nature of 

 the soll in which my specimens happen to have been found. 

 The soll about Nikko is loamy and somewhat clayey and 

 as such retains moisture much longer than the lighter soils of 

 more sandy districts. I possess a series of Gatharsius ochu» 

 Motsch. from Shimabara, which is situated on a dry sandy 

 area without subsoil, and in these examples the armature of 

 the males is scarcely more conspicuous than in the females, 

 and the specimens are not above two thirds of the bulk of 

 ordinary examples bred in more favorable places. A light 

 porous soil can never long retain much moisture therefore the 

 food for the larvae, even though stored by the parents in 

 cylindrieal holes 10 or 12 inches below the surface, soon 

 becomes dry in it, giving the larvae too short a period to 

 accumulate sufficient tissue for füll developement, before the 

 stercoraceous element becomes dry and unfit for easy assimi- 

 lation, and thus the larvae are half-starved. I do not say the 

 dry food is the sole cause of this diminutiveness because 



., Wiener Entomologische Zeitung" Iir. (lO. Jan. 1884). Heftl. 



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