112 



A Canarian Meligethes, detected hitherto in Teneriffe and Gomera, 

 where it is more particularly partial to the fragrant blossoms of the 

 Messerschmidtia fruticosa. 



315. Meligethes varicollis. 



Meligethes varicollis, WoU., Ins. Mad. 126 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 41 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 112 (1864). 



erythropa, Hart, [nee Mshrn], Geol. Verhaltn. Lanz. und Fuert^ 140. 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.) et Canarienses (Lanz., Fuert., Ten.), ad 

 flores rarior. 



A large Meligethes which appears to be widely spread over these 

 Atlantic islands, though exceedingly local. In Madeira proper 

 (where its prothorax has a curious tendency to become pallid at the 

 edges) it is decidedly rare, occurring in the sylvan districts of inter- 

 mediate altitudes ; whilst at the Canaries it is comparatively common 

 in certain parts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, but scarce in 

 Teneriffe. 



Genus 101. XENOSTRONGYLUS. 

 Wollaston, Ins. Mad. 127 (1854). 



316. Xenostrongylus histrio. 



Xenostrongylus histrio et canariensis, Wott., Ins. Mad. 127,128 (1854). 

 , Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 41 (1857). 



arcuatus, Kiesw., in JBerl. Zeit. 57 (1859). 



histrio, WoU., Cat. Can. Col. 114 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad., P to S to , Des.) et Canarienses (ins. omnes), 

 praecipue in herbidis intermediis vulgaris. 



This most variable insect, which occurs sparingly in the south of 

 Europe, may be regarded as quite universal throughout these Atlantic 

 islands ; for although it does not happen to have been observed on 

 the (almost inaccessible) northern and southern Desertas, of the 

 Madeiran Group, yet its presence on the central island would render 

 it probable that sooner or later it will certainly be met with on them 

 likewise. In Madeira proper, Porto Santo, and the Deserta Grande 

 it is often abundant attaching itself to various plants (particularly 

 those of the Sinapis-tnbe), or hibernating amongst lichen in the 

 crevices of the weather-beaten rocks. Whilst at the Canaries, I 

 have myself captured it in the whole seven islands of the archipelago, 

 where perhaps it is more especially common within the sylvan 

 districts of intermediate altitudes. 



