Pldoeopora.'] staphvlinid.t5. 43 



and elliptical, and tlie protliorax is nearly as large as the meso- and meta-thorax 

 together; the first seven abdominal segments are of equal h'ngth, the eighth is 

 prolonged in a short and bluntly pointed process above the ninth, which bears a rather 

 thick and moderately long ambulatory anal appendage, which is bilobed at apex, and 

 two very short cerci : the sides of all the segments of tlie body are strongly setose. 



This larva lives in the galleries of species of Toniictts, and devours their larviE and 

 piip;ej it changes into a pupa in tliese galleries without any preparation: the pupa is 

 white and very soft, and presents no peculiarities that need be noticed. 



P. reptans, Grav. Kather long and narrow, dull black or pitchy, 

 Avitli the elytra red and the apex of hind body reddish testaceous ; 

 head not much narrower than thorax, antennse short, slightly thickened, 

 reddish testaceous, sometimes a little darker towards apex, second and 

 third joints of about equal length, 4-10 transverse, the latter strongly so, 

 last joint oval hardly as long as the two preceding; thorax scarcely 

 transverse, very finely and thickly punctured ; elytra longer than thorax, 

 and a little less finely and closely punctured, entirely red with the 

 scutellary region sometimes darker ; hind body parallel-sided with 

 segments 2-5 more or less strongly impressed horizontally, finely and 

 thickly punctured in front, less closely behind ; legs rather short, reddish 

 testaceous. L. 2| mm. 



Male characters indistinct. 



Under bark of various trees, especially pines and firs; widely distributed and not 

 uncommon in England and Wales and Scotlaud, and probably also in Ireland. 



P. corticalis, Grav. (transita, Muls. et Eey). Eesembles the 

 preceding, but is smaller, darker, and more shining, with the elytra entirely 

 -black or pitch-brown or red towards apex ; the thorax is a little more 

 narrowed towards base, so that it appears plainly narrower than the elytra; 

 the elytra are shorter in proportion to the thorax, and the hind body is 

 more uniformly coloured. L. 2j mm. 



Under bark, especially of pines ; scarce, but somewhat widely distributed ; Mickle- 

 ham, Shirley, Richmond Park, Dulwich, Weybridge, Hampstead, Addingtou (Cossiis 

 trees), The Holt (Fariiham); Holm Bush, Brighton; Hastings; Cannock Chase; 

 Need wood and Sherwood P'orests ; Tamworth ; Sutton Parkj Reptonj Chat Moss j 

 not recorded from the north of England or Scotland. 



V. transita, Muls. et Eey. This variety, considered by Eey to be a 

 distinct species, is in colour intermediate between P. re2)/ans and corticalis, 

 the elytra being for the most part red ; the elytra are a little longer than 

 in type specimens of P. corticalis, and the upper surface is a little 

 duller with rather closer pubescence ; it cannot, however, be considered a 

 distinct species. 



I have received an English specimen from M. Fauvel, but I do not 

 know its locality. 



OCAIiEA, Erichson. 



About twenty species are at present contained in this genus ; they are 

 all found in the European and Mediterranean region with the exception 



