.] LAMKLLICOIINIA. 41) 



especially at sides; scutellum thill black, rather large, sparingly 

 punctured; elytra with rather irregularly punctured striae, interstices 

 with lanjo punctures, which are arranged more or less in rows in the 

 first and third, interstices; under-side pubescent, rather sparingly 

 punctured; legs black, with tarsi ferruginous. L. 5-7 mm. 



Male with the pubescence of head and thorax black and the setae at 

 sides of elytra thicker; female with the pubescence greyish and the setae 

 at sides of elytra thinner. 



On flowers, Ac. ; very local and, as a rule, rare ; Stephens records as its only locality 

 near London a portion of the western margin. of Darenth Wood, between the lane 

 leading from the village and Uartford ; Dr. Power has taken it in Darenth Wood 

 very sparingly, and it has also occurred at Mickleham ; Sandwich (Waterhouse), 

 Dover (C. G. Hall) ; Box Hill, Surrey and Ko<l borough Common, Gloucestershire 

 (W. A. Blatch) ; Newmarket Heath, Cambridge, Sussex, and Swaffham Bulberk, 

 Norfolk (Stephens). In the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine for November, 1888, 

 Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, in recording the capture of Adrastus pusillus near Sandwich, 

 writes, "One calm sunny morning, Homaloplia turicola was flying about in numbers 

 amongst the grass in one spot. By examining a great number, I succeeded in 

 obtaining several examples of the black variety, a form which I had not previously 

 met with;" the abundance of this usually rare species at a particular spot and a 

 particular time is very interesting as proving how very difficult it is to regard any 

 " rare" species as otherwise than local.* 



SERICA, McLeay. 



This is a large and extensive genus and contains considerably more 

 than a hundred species, which are very widely distributed, but are 

 chiefly inhabitants of tropical countries ;-only eight occur in Europe, of 

 which one is found rather commonly in Britain. 



The Inrva of S. brvnnea, apart from its size, bears a close resemblance to that of 

 Melolontha vulgari* ; the body however is more thickly pubescent, and the apex of 

 the abdomen is furnished with thicker and longer hairs ; the pupa is provided at the 

 apex with a pair of strong hoi ny points or spines which together form a crescent. 



S. brunnea, L. Oblong, more or less obovate, subcylindrical, of a 

 bright brownish-red colour, dull, with a slight frosted appearance; head 

 dark, rugose, with rather large eyes, antennae testaceous, 9-jointed, with the 

 club composed of three lamellae; thorax very transverse, slightly narrowed 

 in front, rather diffusely punctured; elytra with nine rather deep striae on 

 each, interstices narrow, rather strongly punctured; legs rather long, 

 reddish-testaceous. L. 8 mm. 



Male with the club of the antennae longer than the funiculus, the 

 anterior angles of the thorax blunt and rounded, and the exterior claw of 

 the anterior tarsi enlarged ; female with the club of antennae shorter 

 than the funiculus and the anterior angles of the thorax projecting. 



In sandy places ; often on the wing ; sometimes on and about poplars or decaying 

 birch trees; often found dead in spiders' wt-b* ; somewhat local, but apparently very 

 widely distributed throughout England and Wales, Ireland and the lowlands of 



* This specie* has been taken very recently (Jane 1889) at Cohham Park by Dr. 

 Sliarp and Mr. J. J. Walker. 



Vol.. IV. E 



