14 HETEROMERA. [ Diaperis. 
times longer than broad) and has the last segment simple, and the prominences at 
the sides of the abdominal segments without sete ; the prothorax also is transverse ; 
the pupa is broad, the length being only about twice as great as the breadth, and is 
covered with rather strong setose tubercles; the cerci are very small and are curved ; 
the insect in ail its stages is found in boleti. 
DP. boleti, L. Ovate, very convex, glabrous, shining black, elytra 
with two waved yellow bands, one at base, and another behind middle, in-* 
terrupted at suture, and with the apex also yellow; head much narrower 
than thorax, antenne as above described; head and thorax finely and not 
very thickly punctured, the latter transverse, gradually narrowed in 
front, sinuate at base and slightly produced before scutellum; elytra with 
nine distinct rows of punctures on each, interstices minutely and sparingly 
punctured ; legs moderately long, fourth joint of anterior tarsi very small, 
so that the tarsi appear to be 4-jointed. L. 6 mm. 
Male with the last joint of the maxillary palpi oblong-oval and the 
thorax slightly emarginate in middle of anterior margin. 
Female with the last joint of the maxillary palpi oval and the thorax 
not emarginate at apex. 
In boleti, especially on birch; found in May and June; once taken in profusion 
at Barham, Suffolk, by the Rev. W. Kirby; Stephens also records it from near 
Hastings, and from Dalston Wood, Cumberland ; I have always been under the im- 
pression that it has occurred in the New Forest, but cannot tind any record; the 
species has not been found for many years, but it is quite possible that it may again 
he discovered, 
PLATYDEMA, Laporte. 
The members of this genus are distinguished from the preceding by 
the longer first joint of the tarsi, especially of the posterior pair, and 
also by having the prosternum deplanate between the coxze; the last 
eight joints of the antennz are thickened. 
The larva of P. dytiscoides (violaceum) is described and figured by 
Schiddte (lc. p. 550, pl. vin. fig. 25); it differs considerably from that 
of Diaperis in having no projections at the sides of the abdominal seg- 
ments, so that it rather resembles the larve of Opatrum and Heliopathes ; 
it gradually and gently tapers to the apex, which is mucronate and 
furnished at each side with a small prominence; the colour is fuscous 
with the abdomen pale fuscous, and the head and apex of abdomen 
pitchy ; it is found under the bark of oak. The genus contains about 
eighty species, which are chiefly found in tropical countries, only four 
occurring in Europe; a considerable number are found in Brazil, 
Cayenne, &c., and representatives have been described from North and 
Central America, Cuba, Japan, Ceylon, Madagascar, and the Australian 
region; our single British species is extremely rare, and has only been 
found in the New Forest; it much resembles a Chrysomela. 
P. dytiscoides, Rossi (violacewm, F.). Oblong oval, slightly con- 
vex, glabrous, shining, violaceous with the antenne and legs pitchy, the 
