94 SERRICORNIA. [ Megapenthes. 
In decaying timber, &c.; very rare; Highgate (Janson); Stockwell, Surrey 
(Montague); Mickleham (Marsh, oue example ou nettle bloom). 
M. tibialis, Lac. (Ampedus subcarinatus, Germ.). This species 
may at once be distinguished from the preceding by its much more 
shining appearance and the sculpture of the thorax; it is also more 
parallel-sided and less convex; colour black, rather shining, clothed 
with thin greyish pubescence; head rather thickly and strongly punc- 
tured, antenne feebly serrate, black or pitchy; thorax longer than 
broad, gradually rounded and narrowed in front, with posterior angles 
strongly projecting and carinate, central furrow rather distinct, punc- 
tuation distinct, more sparing on disc, thicker at sides; scutellum large ; 
elytra with rather strong punctured striw, interstices less coarsely 
sculptured than in the preceding species ; femora pitchy, tibie and tarsi 
ferruginous or reddish-testaceous ; under-side of abdomen clothed with 
yellowish pubescence. L. 6-8 mm. 
Male with the antenne considerably longer than in female. 
In decaying oaks; very rare; Richmond Park (Champion); Black Park, May 
24th, 1857 (Wallace) ; Tooting Common (Stevens); Wanstead (Janson) ; Windsor 
(Griesbach ). 
LUDIUS, Latreille. 
This genus contains about thirty species, which are very. widely 
distributed, representatives having been recorded from Alaska, Oregon, 
Texas, Mexico, Cayenne, and Chili, as well as from Central Asia, Ceylon, 
Java, Celebes, and the Australian region; three are found in Europe, of 
which one has been found in Britain ; it is one of the largest and finest 
of our Elaterids, and one of our rarest indigenous insects; it may be 
known by its large broad form and ferruginous colour, the very 
short and almost equal second and third joints of the antenne, and 
the fact that the margin of the front is not elevated behind the 
labrum. 
The larva of LZ. ferrugineus is described by Schiddte (Part v. p. 514); it much 
resembles those of certain species of Hlater, and occurs in decaying wood. 
L. ferrugineus, L. A very large broad and rather dull species ; 
head black, thorax rufo-ferruginous, with the base and angles black; 
elytra ferruginous; under-side entirely black; pubescence of upper 
surface fine but moderately close, yellowish, of under-side very fine and 
scanty, greyish ; head thickly and rather strongly punctured, antenn» 
black, short, rather strongly serrate from the fourth joint, second and 
third joints very short, about equal, last joint long and pointed; thorax 
broad, with sides gradually rounded and narrowed from base to apex, 
very thickly punctured, with slight traces of a central furrow, posterior 
angles long and sharply projecting, and strongly carinate, but not 
divaricate ; scutellum oblong, thickly punctured; elytra broadest about 
