118 SEttRicoRNiA. [Dascillus. 



and is rounded in a semicircle and terminated by two points ; this 

 larva appears to live underground at the roots of plants, especially 

 Orchidaceae. 



D. cervinus, L. (cinereus, F.). Elongate oblong-oval, convex, 

 completely clothed with very thick and fine greyish pubescence, and 

 very thickly and finely punctured ; head moderately large, depressed 

 between eyes, antennae long, filiform, with the first and second joints 

 short, and the third joint very long ; thorax broader than long, narrowed 

 in front, with sides slightly rounded, base feebly sinuate, posterior 

 angles almost right angles ; scutellum semicircular or slightly cordiform ; 

 elytra broader than thorax, subparallel, rounded at apex, with irregular 

 rows of larger punctures and traces of raised lines ; legs rather long and 

 stout, tarsi broad, tibire with distinct spurs. L. 8-10 mm. 



Male smaller and narrower, with the thorax less convex and the elytra 

 more acuminate at apex, and the legs shorter, with stronger tibial spurs ; 

 the last ventral segment also is subacuminate ; this sex may easily be 

 known by its colour, which is unicolorous black or dark pitchy brown, 

 with the apex of abdomen lighter ; the female is broader than the male, 

 and usually has the head and thorax brown, and the under-side black 

 brown, and the elytra, apex of abdomen, antennae, and legs more or less 

 obscurely testaceous ; rarely the female is coloured as the male. 



On flowers, especially Umbelliferee, also on alders, brumbies, &c. ; local, and in 

 some chalky districts not uncommon; London district, Chatham, Box Hill, Leith, 

 Hill, Croydon, Mickleham, Caterham ; Dover; Brighton, on thistles; Devonshire, 

 Drewsteignton, Dartmoor, Barnstaple ; Dean Forest; Swansea; Llungolleu ; Bar- 

 mouth ; Llanberis ; Matlock ; Scarborough ; Northumberland and Durham district ; 

 Scotland, local, in old pasture lands, Solway, Clyde, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts ; 

 Ireland, near Belfast, and Carlingford Mountain on heather (Johnson). 



CYPHONINA. 



This tribe contains about twenty genera, which are found in almost 

 all parts of the world ; they are, as a rule, very fragile and so ft- bodied 

 insects, and have very little in common with the Dascillina as far as 

 outward appearance is concerned ; with the exception of Eucinetus all 

 the European genera are represented in Britain ; they may be divided 

 as follows : 



I. Prosternum indistinct before and between the coxaj ; 

 penultimate joint of tarsi bilobed ; elytra without 



engraved lines, 

 i. Posterior legs not formed for leaping ; tibial spurs 



small or obsolete. 

 1. Mandibles curved and acuminate ; punctuation 



distinct, more or less coarse. 

 A. Antennae filiform in both sexes. 



a. Antennao with the third joint very small, 



transverse HELODES, Lair. 



b. Antennas with the third joint larger, not 



transverse. 



