Aj>/iiHliina.] LAMELLICOKSIA. 15 



APHODIINA. 



Tho species belonging to this tribe are of small size, and of more or 

 less oblong and convex form ; the mouth organs (except in one genus, 

 in which the mandibles are visible from above) are concealed 

 the clypeus, as in the Coprina ; the antennae are 9-jointed with a 

 3-jointed club, and the posterior tibiae are furnished with two spurs ; 

 the tribe is well represented both in the European and the British 

 fauna, its members taking the place in colder and temperate climates of 

 the larger ScarabaeidaB of warm and tropical climates ; the genera found 

 in Britain may be distinguished as follows: 



J. Mandibles concealed beneath tbe clypeus. 

 i. Thorax without transverse furrows or costrp. 



1. Eyes with at least the anterior margins free. 



A. Elytra simply striated.* 



a. Elytra rounded at apex APHODIUS, ///. 



b. Elytra with the sutural angles produced into a 



small tooth at apex PLAGIOOONUS, Mult. 



B. Elytra more or less distinctly carinate. 



a. Thorax without longitudinal furrow at base . . HKPTAULACCS, Muls. 



b. Thorax with a broad longitudinal furrow at all 



events at base OXYOMUS, Lap. 



2. Eyes entirely concealed AMUCRCIUS, Mul<. 



ii. Thorax costate or furrowed transversely. 



1. Hind tarsi with elongate more or less cylindrical joints RHYSSEMUS, Mult. 



2. Hind tarsi with triangular joints PSAUMOBIUS, H eer. 



II. Mandibles visible beyond the clypeus; eyes covered . . .EQIALIA, Latr. 



APHODIUS, Illiger. 



This genus contains between three and four hundred species, and it is 

 very probable that the number will be largely increased ; a certain pro- 

 portion are found in tropical countries, but as a rule they are charac- 

 teristic of temperate and colder climates, in which they take the place of 

 the larger Scarabaeidae which are found in hotter regions ; they are 

 extremely useful scavengers, and during the spring, summer, and autumn 

 may be found abundantly in dung ; they may also be observed flying and 

 settling in swarms on roads and other places frequented by sheep, horses, 

 or cattle. I have seen Aphodiua punctato-wdcaius on the wing on the 

 Malvern Hills as early as January 16th. 



The larva of Aphodius fouor is described and figured by Chapuis et Candeze (Lea 

 Larves d<* Coleopteres, p. 124, Plate iv. fig. 3) 5 it is of a bluish-white colour with the 

 head brown, and the mandibles long, slender, and black ; the antennae are compara- 

 tively long, and are 5- jointed ; tbe anterior pair of legs are shorter than tbe inter- 

 mediate and posterior ; the abdominal segments are divided into transverse folds ; in 

 general form and appearance the larva does not differ materially from that of other 

 species of Aphodiu* and other allied genera. 



* A. pore"*, V., has the interstices of the elytra depressed, and therefore appears at 

 first sight to be an exception. 



