328 STAPHYLiNiD^. \_Stenus. 



The larva of Stenus lipunctatus is described and beautifully figured by Scliiodte 

 (Part vii., p. 548, pi. xviii.) : it is elongate and fusiform, and bears a sort of resem- 

 blance to tbe perfect insect ; the colour is white with the head and dorsal scuta 

 fuscous, and the mouth-organs, ventral scuta, antennaa and cerci yellovvish ; head 

 narrower than prothorax, suborbicular, narrowed behind ocelli ; antennse and maxil- 

 lary palpi very long and slender; mandiljles slender, hooked, and furnished with 

 teeth ; prothorax longer than broad, meso- and raeta-tborax together considerably 

 longer than prothorax, all three segments very uneven and much impressed ; abdomen 

 long with the second segment broadest, and the rest gradually narrowed to apex, 

 contracted in front and behind so that the intersections are well marked, with strong 

 outstanding setaj ; last segment furnished with two long and rather stout cerci, of 

 which the second joint is narrower and shorter than the first,* and an anal appendage, 

 which is much dilated at ajiex aud termiuates in four wart-like prominences ; legs 

 very long and slender, the first pair considerably shorter than the others, claws rather 

 long and sharp. 



I. Legs quite black. 



i. Spots on elytra small ; first joint of palpi and base 



of second testaceous S. BiauTTATUS, L. 



ii. Spots on elytra larger ; first joint of palpi only tes- 

 taceous S. BIPUNCTATDS, Er. 



II. Legs variegated, partly testaceous. 



i. Hind body without a longitudinal keel at base of 



front segments ; size smaller, more slender , . . . S. GUTTtTLA, Mull. 



ii. Hind body with a longitudinal keel at base of front 



segments ; size larger, more robust S. bimactjlatus, Qyll. 



S. bigruttatus, L. Black, with a slight metallic tinge, clothed with 

 short silvery pubescence ; form rather slender ; head rather finely and 

 thickly punctured, hollowed in front, with a fine longitudinal elevated 

 keel ; antennae pitchy brown with the first joint and the club darker ; 

 thorax oblong, much narrower than elytra, with sides narrowed in front 

 and behind, somewhat cylindrical, rather strongly and thickly, and some- 

 what rugosely, punctured, with a somewhat indistinct dorsal furrow ; 

 elytra rather longer than thorax, moderately strongly, thickly, and rugosely 

 punctured, each with a rather small orange spot a little below middle ; 

 hind body with the basal segments strongly impressed longitudinally 

 at base, finely and thickly punctured ; legs black, rather shining, with 

 the trochanters pitchy-red, and apex of tarsi brownish. L. 4^-4| mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emarginate, 

 sixth broadly sinuate with a smooth transverse impression before sinuation, 

 fifth with a slight smooth impression at apex. 



Margins of ponds, streams, and rivers; not uncommon ; Darenth Wood, Lewisham, 

 Mlckleham (banks of Mole), Croydon, Woking, Hendon, Reigate, Charlton, &c. ; 

 Cambridge; Hastings; Devonshire; Dean Forest; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury; banks 

 of Dove, near Burton -on-Trent; Yorkshire; Preston, Lancashire; Manchester; 

 Liverpool; Northumberland, Durham, aud Cumberland; "South of Scotland," 

 Murray. 



* The cerci of the Staphylinidse usually terminate in a more or less long seta, 

 which by some authors is merely regarded as a seta, by others as a setiforra third 

 joint of the cerci ; this point must be noticed, or else confusion may arise. 



