142 RHYNCHOPHORA. [Apion. 
latter there are two smooth and glabrous dentate bands which appear 
dark against the white pubescence ; head broad, vertex slightly de- 
pressed, rostrum rather long, dilated at base, antenne reddish with 
club darker ; thorax subquadrate, scarcely narrowed in front, not very 
closely punctured, with a variable impression or stria before scutellum; 
elytra convex, broader at base than thorax, with the shoulders well 
marked, and with distinct punctured strizw, interstices rather convex ; 
underside clothed with rather thick white pubescence ; legs red, tarsi 
and base of femora more or less infuseate. L. 2-2} mm. 
Male smaller, with the rostrum shorter, thicker and evidently more 
pubescent than in female. 
On Urtica dioica (the common stinging nettle); also on U. wrens ; the larve live 
in the stems of the nettles ; very local, but sometimes common where it occurs ; 
Darenth, Gravesend, Caterham, Ripley, Dartford, Sheerness, Belvedere, Southend, 
Woking, Sittingbourne; Deal; Hastings; Isle of Wight; Swanage; Glanvilles 
Wootton; Swansea; I know of no localities further north. 
Group 4. 
Colour entirely blood-red or yellowish scarlet (chiefly on Rumez). 
A. miniatum, Germ. (f/rumentarium, Herbst. nec Payk.). One of 
the largest and most conspicuous species of the genus ; colour blood- 
red, pubescence very scanty; head long, coarsely punctured on both 
its upper and under side, eyes black, very prominent ; rostrum com- 
paratively short, curved, very stout, punctured at base, rather shining 
and more finely punctured towards apex, apex dark ; thorax subcylin- 
drical, dilated and rounded about middle, rather strongly constrieted 
in front, slightly narrowed at base, thickly and coarsely punctured, 
with a stria before scutellum, which is small and furrowed; elytra 
obovate, convex, with deep strongly punctured striz, interstices convex 
scarcely as broad as the striz ; legs rather stout, apex of tibize and claws 
and sometimes femora towards base pitchy. L. 34-4} mm. 
Male with the head broader and the rostrum shorter and more 
plainly punctured. 
On species of Rumez, especially R. obtusifolius and R. nemorosus; the larva has 
been observed in the stalks of R. hydrolapathum; according to Perris, however, it 
forms a gall on the leaves of the two first mentioned species in which it undergoes 
its metamorphoses *; generally distributed and common from the Midlands south- 
wards, but rarer further north; according to Murray it is occasional throughout 
Scotland; it is apparently rare in the Northumberland and Durham districts. 
Ireland, near Dublin and Waterford. 
A. cruentatum, Walton. This species may easily be distinguished 
from the preceding by its smaller size, less deep red colour, and the 
shape of the eyes which are much larger and less prominent ; the thorax 
* Bedel (I. ¢., p. 383) is of opinion that the species referred to by Perris may be 
either A. cruentatum or A. hamatodes and not A. minialum. 
