CURCULIONID^E. 



924. Thylacites ofoesulus. 

 Thylacites obesulus, Woll, Cat. Can. Col 374 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Lanz.\ rarissimus ; in aridis submaritimis 

 arenosis semel tantum deprehensus. 



A single example, which I took in Lanzarote of the Canarian 

 Group, is all that I have yet seen of this distinct Thylacites. It 

 was captured on a low sandy ridge, immediately behind the sea- 

 beach, about a mile to the south of Arrecife. 



Genus 277. HERPYSTICUS. 

 Germar, Ins. Spec. i. 413 (1824). 



925. Herpysticus eremita. 



Curculio eremita, Oliv., Ent. v. 85. 321, tab. 24. f. 383 (1807). 

 Herpysticus laesicollis, Germ., Ins. Spec. i. 413, tab. 2. f. 3 (1824). 



, Schon., Gen. et Spec. Cure. i. 556 (1833). 



eremita, Bntlte, in Webb et Berth. (Col.} 72 (1838). 

 l., Cat. Can. Col. 370 (1864'). 



Habitat Canarienses (Can., Ten., Gom., Palma), sub lapidibus in 

 aridis praecipue in inferioribus atquc in locis paululum elevatis 

 latens. 



A Canarian insect, which is the largest of all the Curculionidce 

 hitherto detected in these numerous Atlantic islands. It is likewise 

 extremely variable, not only in size but also in the greater or less 

 development of its pubescence which is for the most part barely 

 traceable (or even totally obsolete), though sometimes quite distinct, 

 and at others elongate and conspicuous, the three states however 

 (corresponding to the a, fi, and y of my diagnosis) passing into each 

 other, apparently, by imperceptible gradations. It is principally in 

 Grand Canary that its tendency to become clothed is most evident 

 even the comparatively bald examples in that island being seldom 

 entirely free from traces of a slight additional pile, whilst the indi- 

 viduals from certain sandy and calcareous spots are often densely 

 covered with erect hairs. 



Assuming therefore that none of these (more or less clothed) 

 states have any real claim for specific separation, I may add that 

 the H. eremita appears to be a common insect throughout the low 

 and intermediate altitudes of Grand Canary, Teneriffe, Gomera, and 

 Palma ; and we may be pretty sure that it must exist in Hierro 

 likewise, though as yet it does not happen to have been observed 

 there. 



