70 HETEROMERA, [ Mordellistena. 
Emery, Mordellistena i. sp., and Tolida, Mulsant, have been adopted 
by some authors ; of our six British species, one, M. abdominalis, belongs 
to Mordellochroa, which appears to be chiefly distinguished by the 
absence of spurs at apex of intermediate tibie ; the remainder belong to 
Mordellistena proper; in several of these, however, the intermediate 
apical spurs appear to be very minute, or else to be easily broken off, as 
in several of my specimens I ean hardly, if at all, distinguish them. 
The larva ot M. pusilla is found in the stems of Marrubium vulgare (the common 
horehound) ; it is of a yellowish colour, with rudimentary legs, and covered with 
short black hairs; the apical segment is terminated by a short double black spine; 
it is found in winter feeding on the pith of the stems; it changes into a pupa in June, 
and the imago appears in July (Westwood, Classif. i. p. 294); the larva of M. 
pumila is remarkable for having strongly raised prominences on the front abdominal 
segments. 
I. Thorax wholly or in part yellowish, yellowish-brown or 
reddish. 
i. Elytra unicolorous black; thorax of male black with 
base brownish-yellow, of female bright red; abdomen 
red; intermediate tibial spurs obsolete and scarcely 
visible (s.g. Mordellochroa, Emery) he AURSCE 
ii. Elytra black with yellow patches at shoulders, often 
extended down the sides; dise of thorax at least dark ; 
abdomen Wlackis as le ga co ipelass fe ee oe eM OH UMMR ADIN eis 
v. lateralis, Ol. 
M. ABDOMINALIS, F’. 
iii, Upper surf ce entirely yellowish-brown, often obscurely 
darker towards apex of elytra; under surface con- 
colorous with the upper, or with the abdomen, in part 
atgleantydarker suri daar fable hey eg le ce . . M. BRUNNEA, F. 
II. Upper and under surface unicolorous black. 
i. Thorax with the basal margin strongly sinuate on each 
side, space between sinuation narrow and more strongly 
produced before scutellum. 
1. Process of pygidium long and sharp; posterior angles 
of thorax more acutely produced rR rca cero 
2. Process of pygidium short and blunt; posterior angles 
of thorax less acutely produced . SWeoticae on eo 
ii. Thorax with the basal margin slightly sinuate on each 
side, space between sinuation broad and less strongly 
produced before scutellum ; posterior angles of thorax 
almostobtuse. 1.6 sve» + «.* © « * + « -« Al PARVUDA Ogu 
v. inequalis, Muls. 
(pusilla, Redt.) 
M. abdominalis, F. (3 ventralis, F.; s. g. Mordellochroa, Emery). 
Elongate, clothed with fine silky pubescence, very closely and finely 
sculptured ; thorax broader than long, much narrowed in front, posterior 
angles obtuse ; scutellum triangular ; elytra gradually narrowed behind, 
somewhat longer in male than in female; anal process long and 
pointed, black with the base red; claws feebly denticulate. L. 33-43 
mm. 
Male black, including thorax, except base, with the mouth, base of 
antennae, tibial spurs and abdomen red or reddish-testaceous, the latter 
fuscous in the middle ; anterior femora and tibiz brownish or yellowish- 
M. pumitna, Gyll. 
M. BREVICAUDA, Boh. 
