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XIII. On the Larva of Micropeplus Staphylinoides. 

 By Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S., V.P.L.S., 

 V.P. and late Pres. Ent. Soc. 



[Eead 6tli July, 1868.] 



Whilst looking for Thysanura I have several times, 

 though not often, met with the curious little Coleopterous 

 larva, which is figured in the accompanying plate (Plate 

 XIII.) 



As it appeared to difii'er from any larva of which I 

 could find a description, I endeavoured to breed it, and 

 at the commencement of March, a specimen, which I 

 had found in January, came to maturity, and turned out 

 to be a Micropeplus. The true position of this genus 

 being a matter of some doubt, and the larva therefore of 

 considerable interest, I forwarded the specimen to my 

 friend Mr. Janson, in order that I might be sure about 

 the species, and he has favoured me with the following 

 letter. 



" The little beetle pertains to the genus Micropeplus 

 of Latreille, and is I believe the M. Staphylinoides of 

 Marsham [Nitidula. Staphylinoides, Marsh. Ent. Brit. 137) . 

 The earlier stages of Micropeplus appear to be entirely 

 unknown. Prior to Erichson, great diversity of opinion 

 existed as to its afiinities, some authors referring it to the 

 Nitidididce, and others to the Brachelytra. Erichson, how- 

 ever, located it in his eleventh group, Proteinini, of the 

 Staphylinini, remarking (Gen. et Spec. Staph. 911) 

 ' Corporis habitus singularis, sculptura singulari, prjeterea 

 antennis capitulatis, receptis, et pedibus intermediis late 

 distantibus ; insigne hoc genus, a multis auctoribus per- 

 parum Nitididis adscriptum,' and I believe all subsequent 

 systematic writers have accepted his views. Lacordaire 

 (Genera des Coleop. ii. 150) observes, 'Genre ambigu, 

 tenant manifestement par son fades et ses antennes aux 

 I^itidulaires, 23armilesquelsIIerbst, Latreille, Dejean, etc.. 

 Font place ; mais ses organes buccaux, construits exacte- 

 ment sur le meme plan que ceux des Omalides, demon- 

 trentqu^il appartient a la famille actuelle [Sfaphylimens'\ 

 comme Font pense la majorite des entomologistes depuis 

 Fabricius inclusivement jusqu' a Erichson.^ Under 

 these circumstances, a knowledge of the earlier state 

 of your little beetle would be especially valuable." 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1868. PART III. (SEPTEMBER). U 



