Aphthona. } PHYTOPHAGA, 371 
towards apex, interstices almost smooth ; legs testaceous, posterior femora 
infuscate. L. 13-15 mm. 
By sweeping herbage ; often found in hay-stack refuse, moss, &c. ; according to 
Weise, it occurs on species of Huphorbia, especially E. esula, a plant that is probably 
not indigenous to Britain, but which has established itself in a few localities on the 
banks of the Tweed, and in a few localities in Southern Scotland ; locally common ; 
London district, generally distributed ; Hastings; Dorchester; Hayling Island ; 
Bristol; Llangollen; Wicken Fen; Hertford; Knowle, near Birmingham; 
Northumberland and Durham district, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Wallington, &e. ; 
Scotland, Solway district. 
A. virescens, Foudr. (hilaris, Steph. ? euphorbie, Schrank, Gyll., 
teste Weise). Oblong oval, upper surface eneous-green, rarely bluish, 
shining, under-side black ; head finely wrinkled transversely, antenne 
fuscous testaceous towards base; thorax broader than long, slightly 
dilated in the middle of sides, with fine and close punctuation which is 
plainer at sides than on disc ; elytra with the shoulders very prominent, 
much broader at base than thorax, a little dilated behind, and separately 
rounded at apex, with rather distinct punctuation, interstices smooth; 
legs testaceous, posterior femora dark. L, 13-2 mm. 
Marshy places ; by sweeping low plants; local, but not uncommon where it occurs ; 
Mickleham, Birdbrook, Maidstone; Ditchingham, Suffolk; Deal; Folkestone; 
Hastings ; Seaton Down, Devon; Leigh Woods, Bristol ; Cotswold Hills ; Wicken 
Fen, Cambridge ; Hunstanton, Norfolk ; Matlock ; Ireland, near Waterford (Power): 
according to Weise, it occurs on Ewphorbia cyparissias, Beta vulgaris, and Linum 
usitatissimum, and extends in range from North Africa to Siberia. 
There is some doubt as to the name that ought to be applied to this 
insect ; it does not answer to Stephens’ description (Ill. iv. 316), 
who describes his insect as “very black;” I have provisionally 
adopted Foudras’ name, which is a description in itself, and avoids 
confusion, as there is considerable doubt also as regards what is the true 
A. euphorbie. 
A. atratula, All. Oblong-ovate, rather narrow, black, shining ; 
head rather broad, smooth ; antennz with the first six joints and the base 
of the seventh reddish-yellow, and the rest black; the fifth to the tenth 
joints are somewhat dilated at apex; thorax distinctly transverse, mode- 
rately convex, with the sides slightly rounded, finely and rather closely 
punctured; elytra scarcely broader at base than thorax, with the shoulders 
rounded, strongly and rather closely punctured, separately rounded at apex; 
legs ferrnginous testaceous, posterior femora black ; the upper surface 
appears often to have a slight metallic reflection. L. 13-13 mm. 
Chalky places; by sweeping Zeucrium, Helianthemum, &c.; very local; London 
district, common, Caterham, Mickleham, Croydon, Reigate, Warlingham, Sevenoaks, 
Chatham ; Margate; Dover; Swanage ; Ireland, Rathkurby near Waterford (Power). 
A. herbigrada, Curt. (campanule, Redt.). Oblong-ovate, rather nar- 
row and elongate, of an #neous-green colour, more rarely bluish or bronze, 
Bb 2 
