Platydema.} HETEROMERA. 15 
former lighter at base and apex; upper surface thickly and minutely 
punctured ; head with a transverse impression at the base of the clypeus, 
much narrower than thorax ; antennz not reaching to the base of thorax, 
with the second joint the smallest, and joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; 
thorax strongly transverse, base slightly produced before scutellum, 
posterior angles right angles; elytra somewhat acuminate at apex, with 
distinct rows of punctures, interstices minutely and rather sparingly 
punctured ; legs moderate, tarsi with the first joint elongate. L.6 mm. 
Under bark ; very rare; it has only occurred in the New Forest, where it has been 
taken by Dale, Stephens, Janson, Power, Turner, and others, 
SCAPHIDEMA, Redtenbacher. 
Two European species and one from North America have been de- 
scribed as belonging to this genus; they are ovate and moderately convex 
insects, considerably narrowed in front and behind ; the thorax is deeply 
emarginate at apex, and has the anterior angles acutely produced, and 
the sides very strongly margined ; the posterior coxe are widely distant; 
the tibiz and tarsi are slender, and the first joint of the posterior pair of 
the latter is elongate ; the process of the prosternum is deplanate behind 
the cox and rounded at apex. 
The larva of S. metallicum is described and figured by Schiddte (l.c. p. 552, pl. ix. 
fig. 10); it is much broader than any of those that have been previously described 
as belonging to the family, being only four times as long as broad ; its colour is 
ferruginous above and pale beneath, with the hinder portions of the upper side of the 
segments paler; the head is broad with very short antenna; the thorax is much 
longer than the succeeding segments ; the abdomen is gradually narrowed behind, 
the last segment being very small and narrow, and furnished with two minute 
sharp-pointed processes ; the legs are short; the larva is found in dead trunks of 
alder, &c. 
S. metallicum, F. (enewm, Payk.). Ovate, convex, glabrous, 
very shining, upper side brassy or fuscous-brassy, under-side more or less 
ferruginous; head ferruginous, forehead flat, antenne stout, thickened 
towards apex, pitchy-black or ferruginous, lighter at base and apex; 
thorax transverse, with sides gradually narrowed and rounded in front, 
and with strong ferruginous margins, anterior margin emarginate, with 
the angles projecting, punctuation fine and not close; elytra broader at 
base than thorax, somewhat acuminate at apex, with regular rows of 
rather strong punctures, interstices diffusely punctured ; legs rather long, 
slender, clear red. L. 3-45 mm. 
In decaying branches and old stumps of trees; often by beating dead hedges ; 
occasionally in flood refuse ; local, but not uncommon in many districts; Croydon, 
Richmond, Ripley, Darenth Wood, Abbey Wood, Lee, Bexley, Wimbledon, Highgate, 
Horsell, Hainault Forest, &c.; Whitstable, &c.; Hastings; Netley; Alverstoke ; 
Bath; Weston-super-Mare; Llangollen; Birmingham district; Salford Priors ; 
Lichfield ; Repton; Riseholme Park, Lincoln; Nocton, near Lincoln; Halifax; Leeds ; 
Northumberland and Durham district, rare, Hartlepool, near Axwell Park, and 
Ryhope Dene; not recorded from Scotland or Ireland. 
