-26 CLAVicoRNiA. \_Epurcea. 



sixteen occur in Britain ; many of the species are difficult to determine ; 

 some of them are very distinct, so much so that they have been held to 

 form separate genera ; two of these, Omosiphora and Micriirula, have 

 been adopted above, and with almost as much reason a third might be 

 introduced — Dadojwra, Thoms. — to include E, decemguttata and E. 

 diffusa ; other species, however, come exceedingly close to one another, 

 and it is almost impossible to distinguish them except by comparing 

 them with authentic types ; the table, therefore, given below must be 

 regarded as merely provisional ; all the species are more or less testaceous 

 or reddish in colour, and the males have a distinct extra abdominal seg- 

 ment ; in size aiid colour the same species is often very variable, and this 

 occasions much confusion ; the members of the genus live under bark, 

 at flowing sap, and in flowers, and to a certain extent they may be 

 separated by their habitat ; this point, however, must not be pressed too 

 far, as the flower-frequenting species (e.g. E. floreci) are occasionally 

 found at sap. 



The larva of IS. ohsoleta is described and figured by Ferris, Ann. Fr. 1862, 184, 

 t. 5, fF., 525-533, and by Bouche, Naturg. des Insekt, p. 188; it does not call for much 

 i-ciuMrlv, being linear and somewliat depressed with a roundish head and sliort 4-jointed 

 initetnise ; tlie last abdominal segment bears two diverging corneous cerci. 



I. Tibias widely dilated at apex ; intermediate coxre almost 



contiguous ; hind femora in male either furnished 



with a blunt tooth or thickened. (Dadopora, Thoms. ) 



i. Size larger (3|-4: mm.) ; spots on elytra usually well 



marked E. decemguttata, J^. 



ii. Size smaller (2^ mm.) ; spots on elytra more or less 



confluent E. difeusa, Br is. 



II. Tibia3 at most slightly dilated at apex, intermediate 



pair often sinuate in male ; intermediate coxae mode- 

 rately separate ; all the femora simple in both sexes. 

 {Epurcea, i. sp.) 

 i. Upper- and uuder-sides entirely testaceous or rufo- 



testaceous, unicolorous ; disc of thorax not darker 



than the margins. (Occasionally these species have 



a dark spot or two towards the apex of the elytra, 



but this is usually deceptive, being caused by the 



folding of the wings against the semi-transparent 



elytra.) 



1. Species more or less oval and convex ; anterior 



margin of thorax strongly emarginate. 



A. Autennai with the last joint broader than the 



penultimate E. iESTivA, L. 



B. Antenna} with the last joint narrower than the 



penultimate. 

 a. Size smaller (3 mm.); punctuation stronger . E. melina, Er. 

 h. Size larger (4 mm.) ; punctuation less strong E. silacea, JE'r. 



2. Species strongly oblong ; anterior margin of thorax 



almost straight or only feebly emarginate. 



A. Punctuation extremely fine, almost obsolete . E. oblonga, Herhst. 



B. Punctuation distinct. 



a. Clul) of antennna dark; form more elongate . E. longula, ii>. 



b. Club of antcuntc concolorous ; form shorter . E. florea, Er. 



