144 RHTNCHOPHORA. \_Apion. 



in front than behind, very finely and closely punctured ; elytra not very 

 convex, crenate-striate, with narrow, somewhat raised, interstices ; legs 

 robust; the species may be known by its shape and by having the 

 rostrum nearly straight and much longer in the female than in the male. 

 L. 2|-3i mm. 



On Rumen acetosella ; according to M. C. Brisout the larva forms a gall at the 

 roots of the plant ; also on Teucrium scorodonia: in sandy places ; rare ; Reig.ite 

 (Champion) ; Esher (in some numbers (Champion) ) ; VVeybrid^e on Atjrimnnia 

 cupntoria (Power); Horsell (Power); Barrnouth (Blatch); London and Yorkshire 

 (Stephens). 



GROUP 5. 



Upper surface black ; legs wholly or in part red ; pubescence distinct 

 at all events on under-side in male, 



A. pallipes, Kirby (geniculatum, Germ.). Oblong, sub-parallel, 

 dull black, clothed with distinct and very evident whitish pubescence, 

 which is, however, easily abraded ; head short and broad, rather strongly 

 punctured, with one stria between the eyes, which is, however, often 

 obsolete, eyes prominent ; rostrum scarcely as long as head and thorax, 

 curved, a little thickened at base, finely punctured ; antennae inserted 

 near base, reddish-testaceous, with the club usually darker ; thorax 

 scarcely longer than broad, slightly constricted in front, with the sides 

 sub-parallel, finely and closely punctured ; scutellum rather large, sub- 

 cordiform ; elytra oblong-oval, with large punctured striae, interstices 

 scarcely broader than the striae, base of the third a little dilated and 

 thickly pubescent ; legs testaceous with the tarsi and trochanters, and 

 usually the apex of tibiae, and the knees, dark. L. 2-2| mm. 



Male with the rostrum stouter and duller, pubescent, and more 

 evidently punctured; in the female the rostrum is longer and smoother 

 and more plainly curved. 



On Mercurialis perennis and Allium, especially in chalky districts ; very local, but 

 not uncommon where it occurs; London district, not uncommon, Caterham, Mickle- 



hatn, Birch Wood, Sevenoaks, St. Mary Cray, Dorking, Shirley, Birdbrook (Essex) ; 



Ditchingbam, Suffolk; Birchiugton ; St. Leonards Forest; Arundel ; B:ith ; 



Eobius Wood, Eepton ; Yorkshire ; Bowden, near Manchester ; Northumberland and 

 Durham district, rare; Scotland, very local, on Allium, Forth district; abundant at 



Eskbank, May 18, 1865 (Sharp). 



A. semivittatum, Gyll. (German, Walt.). Closely allied to the 

 preceding, but more convex, with thicker and whiter pubescence, and 

 usually with a distinct bronze reflection ; the rostrum is shorter and the 

 thorax is more rounded at the sides ; the elytra are proportionally 

 broader, with the shoulders more marked, and there is often a denuded 

 fascia on their disc ; the club of the antennae is rarely inf uscate, and the 

 insect may easily be distinguished by having the tarsi and trochanters 

 red. L. lf-2^ mm. 



On Mercurialis annua in September and October; the larva livc.s in the knots of 



