292 sTAPiiTLiNiD^. [Nudohius. 



importance ; the forehead, moreover, has only two furrows ; there is 

 only one British species which occurs exclusively in Scotland under fir- 

 bark and is very rare. 



The larva of XanthoUniis (Nudobius) lenUis is described and figured by Schibdte 

 (ii. p. Ill, fig. X. 1) ; it calls for no special remark (being long and very linear, 

 with the bead and tborax simply subquadrate), except for the anal appendage, which 

 is furnished with four strong wart-like prominences, and the very short cerci, of which 

 the last joint is very slender and of about the same length as the first ; the pupa is 

 rather long and is characterized by the total absence of " styli motorii ;" the larva 

 is found under bark of pine and fir and devours the larvae of various wood-feeding 

 beetles ; the warty prominences at the end of the anal appendage, if strongly 

 magnified, are seen to be furnished with minute hooks and are used partly as organs 

 of progression, partly for enabling the insect to retain its hold in any position. 



"Si lentus, Er. Somewhat depressed, shining black, with the 

 elytra bright testaceous red ; head large^ rectangular, rather broader 

 than thorax, with large scattered punctures^ and the interstices very 

 finir'ly punctured ; antennae short, red, with the last joint often lighter, 

 joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; thorax oblong, narrowed behind, with two 

 dorsal series consisting of about eight fine punctures, and two lateral series 

 of six to seven less fine punctures somewhat irregularly placed ; elytra 

 longer tlian broad, about the length of thorax, with shallow and diffuse 

 punctuation on disc, which becomes more or less arranged in rows at 

 sides ; hind body finely and sparingly punctured ; legs reddish testaceous. 

 L. 6g-7| mm. 



Under bavk of Scotch fir ; very rare ; Scotland, Dee, and Moray districts (Braemar, 

 A.viemore, &c.), 



Z.EPTACZNUS, Erichson. 



About thirty species are comprised in this genus which is widely 

 distributed in both the Old and New World ; the species are dis- 

 tinguished from Xavtliolinus by the short narrow and subulate last joint 

 of the maxillary palpi. 



I. Dorsal series of thorax consisting of five large 

 punctures ; length 5-6 mm. ; elytra dark, or with 



apex and reflexed margins only lighter . . . . L. PAETTMPUNCTATUS, Oyll. 



II. Dorsal series of thoiax consisting of 12-14 

 fine punctures; length 4^-5 mm.; elytra with 

 apical half almost always lighter, the colour being, 



as a rule, rather sharply defined L, BATYCDEUS, Gyll. 



III. Dorsal series of thoiax consisting of 7-10 fine 

 punctures; length not exceeding 4 mm. 



i. Elytra black ; habitat in hotbeds, &c L. LINEAEIS, Orav. 



ii. Klytra with apical half testaceous; habitat in 



ants' nests L. roEMiCETOEUir, MaerU. 



Ji, parumpunctatus, Gyll. Elongate, linear, somewhat de- 

 pressed, shining black, with the apical angles of the elytra, and often a 

 considerable poition of reflexed margin, pale testaceous or reddish ; head 

 somewhat narrowed in front, as broad behind as thorax, strongly and 



