182 RHYNCHOPHORA. | Trachyphleus. 
TRACHYPHLG@US, Germar. 
This is a very obscure and difficult genus, containing about fifty 
species, which are chiefly found in Europe and Northern and Southern 
Africa; the genus is also represented in North America; its members 
are short and stout, brown, grey or sandy-coloured insects, which live on 
and at the roots of low plants; they are often coated with a crusted 
covering, which in colour just resembles the ground they are found on, 
so that they easily escape observation ; they are chiefly found in sandy 
places near the coast : the following are their most important distinguish- 
ing characters:—form short, obovate, antennz short and thick with a 
stout scape, inserted near apex of rostrum, scrobes rarely visible from 
above; thorax strongly transverse, constricted in front; elytra oval or 
subglobose, usually with erect scale-like sete; legs short and robust, 
femora simple, tarsi short. 
About one-third of the European species occur in Britain: it is very 
hard to tabulate them satisfactorily as some of the characters are not 
very evident, and it really requires a comparison with authentic speci- 
mens to name them with any accuracy ; their differences are very easily 
seen if the insects are placed side by side. 
I. Anterior tibize without special spines and not 
digitate or produced at apex. 
i, Second ventral segment of abdomen longer than 
the next two united; elytra with well marked 
pou ene or almost impunctate strie . . . T. MYRMECOPHILUS, Seidl, 
. Second ventral segment of abdomen shorter than 
or equal to the next two united; elytra with the 
strize more or less distinctly punctured. 
1. Sides of thorax obtusely angled; raised scale- 
like hairs of elytra very coarse; second ventral 
segment shorter than the next two united . . T. ArisTatus, (yll. 
2. Sides of thorax rounded; raised scale-like hairs 
of elytra comparatively fine ; second ventral 
segment equal to the next two united. . . . T. SQUAMULATUS, Ol. 
IJ. Anterior tibize with spines at or near apex or pro- 
duced and digitate at apex. 
i. Size larger; scrobes plainly visible from above . TT. SCcABER, L. 
ii. Size smaller; scrobes scarcely, if at all, visible 
from above. 
1. Strie of elytra distinct. 
A. Rostrum furrowed ; thorax with a more or 
less distinct central ak sometimes ob- 
solete. . . mes dace) ol aeeeurtsl) AUR OCA BRITO UUS Sih 
wee Rostrum and thorax (Gig Ame T, LaricoLttis, Boh. 
. Striee of elytra very faint; upper surface with 
a close crusted covering. 
A. Elytra with a scanty series of small clubbed 
scale-like sete on each interstice ; anterior 
tibie with three pointed teeth, the central one 
forked at apex. . . Tl’. SPINIMANUS, Germ. 
B. Elytra with a series of clubbed scale- like setie 
