148 CLAVICORNIA. [Phalacrus. 



PKAXiACXIUS, Faykull. 



This genus contains about thirty or forty species which are widely 

 distributed, representatives occurring in North America, Cuba, South 

 America, India, Ceylon, New Caledonia, &c. ; it will probably be found 

 to comprise a much larger number of species than are at present known ; 

 there are about a dozen members of the genus found in Europe, of which 

 five o;cur in Britain; these are all shining black insects, bearing a close 

 resemblance to one another, and are mostly taken by sweeping herbage. 

 The species may be divided as follows, but the differences, as will be 

 seen, are mainly comparative, although obvious when the insects are 

 viewed side by side. 



I. Form ovate, more or less convex. 



i. Size larger; elytra with scarcely visible traces of 

 punctured strise; interstices very finely and closely 



punctured P. COBEUSCUS, Paylc. 



ii. Size smaller ; elytra with moderately distinct although 

 finely punctured striae ; interstices much less closely 

 punctured. 



1. Form rather depressed, not acuminate behind ; 



punctures of striae of elytra closer and less 

 distinct. 



A. Shorter oval ; punctures of strise more delicate 



and of interstices almost obsolete P. BRISOTTTI, Rye. 



B. Longer oval ; punctures of strise and interstices 



more distinct P. BBTJNNIPES, Sris. 



2. Form very convex, subglobose, acuminate behind ; 

 punctures of striae of elytra less close and more 



distinct P. STTBSTEIATTJS, Gy II. 



II. Form elliptical, upper surface rather depressed ; sculp- 



ture of elytra rather distinct P. CAEICIS, Sturm. 



P. corruscus, Payk. Oval, broad, convex, shining-black ; head 

 very finely punctured, anterior margin sinuate in male, truncate in 

 female ; antennae black, long and slender, with a slender but well- 

 marked club ; mandibles often projecting, terminating in a trifid point ; 

 thorax very finely punctured, slightly sinuate on each side near scutellum ; 

 elytra with a distinct sutural stria which is abbreviated in front, and 

 with very fine traces of other strise, interstices extremely closely and 

 finely punctured ; under-side black, clothed with short greyish hairs ; 

 legs black with the claws reddish-brown, sometimes entirely brownish, 

 intermediate femora terminating in an obtuse tooth at apex, posterior 

 femora rounded at apex ; size variable. L. l|-3 mm. 



In flowers, by sweeping, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the 

 London and southern districts, and ratber common in the Midlands ; rarer further 

 north; Durham district, South Shields; Scotland, local, Tweed and Solway 

 districts. 



V. Humlerti t Tourn. This variety differs from the type in the 

 somewhat stronger punctuation of the elytra and in the shape of tin- 



