XJLOMID^E. 419 



Genus 349. ALPHITOBIUS. 



Stephens, III. Brit. Ent. v. 11 (1832). 



1153. Alphitobius diaperinus. 



Tenebrio diaperinus, Kugel., in Panz. Fna Ins. Germ. 37. 16 (1797). 

 Uloma opatroides, Brulle, in Webb et Berth. (Col.} 70 (1838). 

 Alphitobius diaperinus, Wall., Ins. Mad. 498 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col 154 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 497 (1864). 



Crypticus opatroides ?, Hart., Oeolog. rerhaltn. Lanz. und Fuert. 142. 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.} et Canarienses (Can., Ten.}, in domibus 

 mercatorumque repositoriis ex alienis introductus. 



This widely diffused insect occurs sparingly, about houses and 

 stores, both in the Madeiran and Canarian Groups where it has 

 doubtless become established from more northern latitudes. It has 

 been taken in Madeira proper, as well as in Grand Canary and 

 Teneriffe. 



1154. Alphitobius piceus. 



Tenebrio mauritanicus, Fab. [nee Linn. 1767], Ent. Syst. i. 113 (1792). 

 Helops piceus, Oliv., Ent. iii. 58. 17. 22 (1795). 

 Tenebrio Fagi, Pnz., Fna Ins. Germ. 61. 3 (1799). 

 Alphitobius picipes, Steph., III. Brit. Ent. v. 11 (1833). 

 Heterophaga mauritanica, DeJ., Cat. (edit. 3), 220 (1837). 

 Alphitobius mauritanicus, Wall., Ann. Nat. Hist. i. 20 (1858). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.} et Can. (Ten.?), certe introductus; in 

 locis similibus ac prascedens. 



Found in just the same kind of places as the last species, and like 

 it clearly introduced (along with farinaceous and other substances) 

 through the medium of commerce. In Madeira proper it is more 

 frequently met with than the diaperinus, being often rather abun- 

 dant in the stores and warehouses of Funchal ; but at the Canaries 

 it seems the scarcer of the two. Indeed the only example of it which 

 I have yet seen from that Group has been communicated by De 

 Marseul with the label "Teneriffe" appended to it; but, although 

 it is far from unlikely (judging from the numerous mistakes of 

 Tiabitat in the same consignment) that this particular specimen is 

 not Teneriffan at all, yet I have no hesitation in citing it as Canarian 

 (and possibly from Teneriffe) ; for we may be pretty sure that it 

 would .be found in most of the towns, if searched for in the right 

 localities. It will be seen that its nomenclature has been much con- 

 fused, the insect having been published under four specific names, 

 and assigned to at least as many different genera. 



