FHomatloplia. | LAMELLICORNIA. 49 
especially at sides; scutellum dull black, rather large, sparingly 
punctured; elytra with rather irregularly punctured striz, interstices 
with large punctures, which are arranged more or less in rows in the 
first and third interstices; under-side pubescent, rather sparingly 
punctured; legs black, with tarsi ferruginous. L. 5-7 mm. 
Male with the pubescence of head and thorax black and the setz at 
sides of elytra thicker; female with the pubescence greyish and the sete 
at sides of elytra thinner. 
On flowers, &c. ; very local and, as arule, rare; Stephens records as its only locality 
near London a portion of the western margin of Darenth Wood, between the lane 
leading from the village and Dartford; Dr. Power has taken it in Darenth Wood 
very sparingly, and it has also occurred at Mickleham; Sandwich (Waterhouse), 
Dover (C. G. Hall) ; Box Hill, Surrey and Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire 
(W. A. Blatch); Newmarket Heath, Cambridge, Sussex, and Swaffham Bulbeck, 
Norfolk (Stephens). In the Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine for November, 1888, 
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, in recording the capture of Adrastus pusillus near Sandwich, 
writes, ‘‘One calm sunny morning, Homaloplia ruricola was flying about in numbers 
amongst the grass in one spot. By examining a great number, I succeeded in 
obtaining several examples of the black variety, a form which I had not previously 
met with;” the abundance of this usually rare species at a particular spot anda 
particular time is very interesting as proving how very difficult it is to regard any 
“rare” species as otherwise than local.* 
SERICA, McLeay. 
This is a large and extensive genus and contains considerably more 
than a hundred species, which are very widely distributed, but are 
chiefly inhabitants of tropical countries ; only eight oceur in Europe, of 
which one is found rather commonly in Britain. 
The larva of S. brunnea, apart from its size, bears a close resemblance to that of 
Melolontha vulgaris ; the body however is more thickly pubescent, and the apex of 
the abdomen is furnished with thicker and longer hairs ; the pupa is provided at the 
apex with a pair of strong horny points or spines which together form a crescent. 
S. brunnea, L. Oblong, more or less obovate, subcylindrical, of a 
bright brownish-red colour, dull, with a slight frosted appearance; head 
dark, rugose, with rather large eyes, antenne testaceous, 9-jointed, with the 
club composed of three lamelle; thorax very transverse, slightly narrowed 
in front, rather diffusely punctured ; elytra with nine rather deep striz on 
each, interstices narrow, rather strongly punctured; legs rather long, 
reddish-testaceous. L. 8mm. 
Male with the club of the antenne longer than the funiculus, the 
anterior angles of the thorax blunt and rounded, and the exterior claw of 
the anterior tarsi enlarged; female with the club of antenne shorter 
than the funiculus and the anterior angles of the thorax projecting. 
In sandy places; often on the wing ; sometimes on and about poplars or decaying 
birch trees ; often found dead in spiders’ webs ; somewhat local, but apparently very 
widely distributed throughout England and Wales, Ireland and the lowlands of 
* This species has been taken very recently (June 1889) at Cobham Park by Dr, 
Sharp and Mr, J, J. Walker. : 
VOL. IV. E 
