162 Mr. D. Sharp on 



Asemum larva. The description and figures given by 

 Schiodte (Naturalist. Tidskr. (3) x, Plate xiv, pp. 443) are 

 correct so far as they go, but he has given of the whole 

 larva, and in his figure of the head has omitted all details 

 of sculpture and clothing. We have not been able to find 

 any other drawing of Asemum larva, and have therefore 

 given a figure (Plate IX, fig. 6). Beyond the character 

 we have already mentioned, drawn from the spines, there 

 are only very slight marks of distinction from the larva of 

 Criocephalus ; Asemum larva has the surface slightly more 

 shining, the upper-surface of the head is conspicuously 

 shining, its colour is paler, and the whole head is less 

 robust and powerful than it is in Criocephalus. 



Criocephalus ferus larva (Plate IX, fig. 5). Larva of 

 Criocephalus has been described by Schiodte, and some 

 of its parts figured by him, t. c, Plate xiii, figs. 11-19. 

 His species he considered to be C. rusticus, and, notwith- 

 standing the confusion that has existed for so many years 

 as to C. ferus and C. rusticus, there is little doubt that he 

 was correct in his determination. The larva of C. ferus, 

 as found in the New Forest, agrees very closely with 

 Schiodte's description of C. rusticus. If actual com- 

 parison could be made of the two larvae some distinc- 

 tions would probably be found. The head of C. ferus 

 larva appears to be shorter than Schiodte's figure, the 

 part behind the clypeus especially shorter, and destitute 

 of the peculiar lobe-like marks shown in Schiodte's 

 figure. 



The larvae of Asemum striatum (fig. 6) and of Cricoce- 

 phalvs ferus (fig. 5) resemble one another extremely. C. 

 ferus larva is much larger when full-grown ; it attains a 

 length of 30 mm. or more, and a width across the thorax 

 of 9 or 10 mm.; the terminal segments are more ample; 

 the mandibles and margin of the head are black ; the 

 chitinized patches — darker in colour — are more definite 

 and conspicuous ; the under-side of the head is rough 

 and pubescent, and darker in colour than in Asemum ; 

 the antennae are shorter in comparison; the two short 

 spines placed at a little distance from one another (Plate 

 IX, fig. 7) at the extremity of the body are, as already 

 pointed out, diagnostic. The spiracles of the Criocephalus 

 larva are more elongate (less circular) than they are in 

 Asemum. There is a good deal of ditference in the way 

 these two larvae distend their segments for the purpose of 



