16 HRTEROMEKA. [Alphtiophagus, 



ALPHITOPHAGUS, Stephens. (Phyldus, Redtenbacher.) 



Three species are mentioned in the Munich catalogue as belonging to 

 this genus ; they are distinguished from the preceding genera belonging 

 to the tribe by having the upper surface finely, but plainly, pubescent ; 

 they are small oval and convex insects, with the last six joints of the 

 antennae thickened ; the thorax is slightly emarginate at apex ; the legs 

 are slender, and the first joint of the posterior tarsi is elongate ; one 

 species only occurs in Europe, and the other two in Xorth America and 

 Ceylon respectively. 



The larva and pupa of A. quadripustulutus are described and figured by Schiodte 

 (I.e. pp. 555, 586, pi. ix. figs. 17, 25) ; the larva is very long and linear, twelve 

 times longer than broad, of a pale ferruginous colour above and pale beneath ; the 

 anteunae have the second joint much broader than the penultimate; the head is as 

 broad as the protborax, which is nearly as long as the two succeeding segments 

 together; the anal segment is conical, and terminated by two very minute processes; 

 the segments are furnished on each side with long and fine setao ; the legs are short ; 

 the pnpa is comparatively broad without setae, except at sides and on the cephalic 

 region ; the insect in all its stages is found in meal, fragments of bread, &c. , and has 

 probably been imported into our country by commerce. 



A. quadripustulatus, Steph. (populi, Redt. ; pictus, Men.). A 

 small, subovate species, not very convex, moderately shining, very 

 finely pubescent, of a rufo-ferruginous colour, with the suture of the 

 elytra and two fasciae black, one about middle, and one behind, some- 

 what variable in extent ; head and thorax very finely punctured, the 

 latter not strongly transverse, slightly emarginate in front, with the 

 posterior angles right angles ; elytra with distinct punctured striae, inter- 

 stices finely but distinctly punctured ; antennae and legs rufo-testaceous ; 

 the thorax is sometimes more or less pitchy. L. 2|-3 mm. 



In old flour, &c. ; a cosmopolitan species; not common in Britain, but occasionally 

 found in some numbers ; London ; Birdbrook and Maldon, Essex ; Cambridge ; it 

 prob ibly occurs, however, in many other localities, as it has been evidently imported 

 on one or two occasions when it has been found. 



TENEBRIONINA. 



Ten European genera belong to this tribe, of which one only is found 

 in Britain, from which, as being the most representative genus of the 

 group, the whole family derives its name ; the body is oblong and 

 parallel-sided and rather depressed, the head prolonged and scarcely 

 narrowed behind, and the front dilated at the sides and covering the 

 base of the mandibles ; the clypeus is truncate or very slightly and 

 feebly emarginate ; the eyes are free, not reaching the margin of thorax, 

 and are transverse, emarginate and moderately finely granulated ; the 

 scutellum is transverse and truncate at apex ; the elytra are entire, and 

 the epipleurse are narrow ; the anterior coxae are rounded, and the middle 

 coxce are furnished with a distinct trochantin ; the legs are long with 



