Plafydema.] HETEROMERA. 15 



former lighter at base and apex; upper surface thickly and minutely 

 punctured ; head with a transverse impression at the base of the clypeus, 

 much narrower than thorax ; antennae not reaching to the base of thorax, 

 with the second joint the smallest, and joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; 

 thorax strongly transverse, base slightly produced before scutellum, 

 posterior angles right angles; elytra somewhat acuminate at apex, with 

 distinct rows of punctures, interstices minutely and rather sparingly 

 punctured ; legs moderate, tarsi with the first joint elongate. L. 6 mm. 



Under bark ; very rare ; it lias only occurred in the New Forest, where it has been 

 taken by Dale, Stephens, Janson, Power, Turner, and others. 



SCAPHIDEMA, Redtenbacher. 



Two European species and one from North America have been de- 

 scribed as belonging to this genus ; they are ovate and moderately convex 

 insects, considerably narrowed in front and behind ; the thorax is deeply 

 emarginate at apex, and has the anterior angles acutely produced, and 

 the sides very strongly margined ; the posterior coxae are widely distant; 

 the tibiie and tarsi are slender, and the first joint of the posterior pair of 

 the latter is elongate ; the process of the prosternum is deplanate behind 

 the coxae and rounded at apex. 



The larva of S. metallicum is described and figured by Schiodte (I.e. p. 552, pi. ix. 

 fig. 10) ; it is much broader than any of those that have been previously described 

 as belonging to the fairily, being only four times as long as broad ; its colour is 

 ferruginous above and pale beneath, with the hinder portions of the upper side of the 

 segments paler ; the head is broad with very short antennae ; the thorax is much 

 longer than the succeeding segments ; the abdomen is gradually narrowed behind, 

 the last segment being very small and narrow, and furnished with two minute 

 sharp-pointed processes ; the legs are short ; the larva is found in dead trunks of 

 alder, &c, 



S. metallicum, F. (aweum, Payk.). Ovate, convex, glabrous, 

 very shining, upper side brassy or fuscous-brassy, under-side more or less 

 ferruginous ; head ferruginous, forehead flat, antennae stout, thickened 

 towards apex, pitchy-black or ferruginous, lighter at base and apex; 

 thorax transverse, with sides gradually narrowed and rounded in front, 

 and with strong ferruginous margins, anterior margin emarginate, with 

 the angles projecting, punctuation fine and not close ; elytra broader at 

 base than thorax, somewhat acuminate at apex, with regular rows of 

 rather strong punctures, interstices diffusely punctured ; legs rather long, 

 slender, clear red. L. 3-4| mm. 



In decaying branches and old stumps of trees ; often by beating dead hedges ; 

 occasionally in flood refuse; local, but not uncommon in many districts; Croydon, 

 Richmond. Ripley, Darenth Wood, Abbey Wood, Lee, Bexley, Wimbledon, Highgate, 

 Horsell, Hainault Forest, &c. ; Whitstable, &c. ; Hastings ; Netley ; Alverstoke ; 

 Bath ; Weston-super-Mare ; Llangollen ; Birmingham district ; Salford Priors ; 

 Lichfield ; Repton ; Riseholme Park, Lincoln; Nocton, near Lincoln ; Halifax; Leeds; 

 Northumberland and Durham district, rare, Hartlcpool, near Ax well Park, and 

 Ryhope Dene ; not recorded from Scotland or Ireland. 



