376 STAPHTLiNiD^. [Oxytelus. 



OXYTSIiUS, Gravenhorst. 



This genus at present comprises about 160 species Avhich are very 

 widely distrib\ited throughout the world, ranging from the Arctic 

 Eegions, Noithern Europe and Asia to Southern Africa, Ceylon, South 

 America, and the Australian region ; they are, however, chiefly found 

 north of the equator ; they vary very much in size but liave a facies 

 almost peculiar to themselves, which is in great measure due to the shape 

 and sculpture of the thorax and elytra, the former being furnished with 

 three more or less large and distinct longitudinal furrows on disc, of Avhich 

 the outer ones are sometimes more or less obsolete, but are usually trace- 

 able ; the Oxyteli are sluggish in their movements and are usually found 

 in dung-heaps, vegetable refuse, at roots of grass, &c ; there are about 

 thirty European species, of which about half are found in Britain ; some 

 of these require considerable care in determination, and it is rather hard 

 to distinguish them by descriptions, although on comparison Avith air- 

 thentic types their differences are at once apparent. 



Several larvae of different species of OxyteJus have been described by different authors : 

 that of 0. scn/i'ttis is described and figured by Chapuis and Candeze (Cat. des Larves 

 des Coleopteres, p. HO, pi. ii. fig. 2) ; it is subcylindrical, rather stout, and linear, 

 covered with long soft yellow hairs; the colour is yellowish-white with the apex of the 

 mandibles, and the cerci, brown, and the dorsal scuta greenish-brown; the head is 

 rounded, a little wider than prothorax, which is longer than any of the succeeding seg- 

 ments ; the antennae and legs are short ; the last segment of the abdomen is termi- 

 nated by a short anal appendage and two cerci, of which the first joint is much longer 

 and stouter than the second. 



The other larvae of the genus that have been described appear to be very closely 

 related to the one just described, and to one another, and seem to differ chiefly in colour, 

 relative length of joints of cerci, and other minor points. 



I. Sides of thorax more or less notched or crenulate. 



i. Last joint of posterior tarsi much longer than the 

 two others united ; elytra and thorax thickly 

 and moderately strongly punctured. 



1. Ely tra usually black ; forehead depressed ; form 



broader O. EUGOSTis, F. 



2. Elytra bright red ; forehead not depressed ; 



form narrower, elongate 0. insecatus, Grav. 



ii. Last joint of posterior tarsi about equal to the 

 other two together ; thorax and elytra very 

 coarsely punctured ; upper surface shining black. 0. fultipes, Er. 



II. Sides of thorax not crenulate. 



i. Elytra furnished with an impressed stria on sides, 

 forming a raised ridge at the edge of upper 

 surface ; hind body with distinct outstanding 

 bristles; elytra red or reddish. 



1. Antennas elongate with penultimate joints not 



transverse ; eyes very prominent ; head tri- 

 angular O. scuiPTUS, Grav. 



2. Antennae rather short with penultimate joints 



transverse ; eyes not very prominent ; head 

 transverse in male, subtriangular in female. 

 A. Forehead with three longitudinal furrows 

 (sometimes not very distinctly marked) ; 



