Apion."\ RHTNCHOPHOEA. 153 



A. radiolus, Kirby (aterrimum, Marsh, osurum, Kirby). This 

 species is found in company with the preceding which it much resembles 

 in shape, but may be easily distinguished by its more slaty-leaden 

 colour and much more evident pubescence, as well as by the absence of 

 a frontal fovea; the head and thorax are more finely punctured, and the 

 antenn?e are longer ; the scutellum has two small divergent carinae at 

 base ; the elytra are more strongly striated and the striae are evidently 

 punctured; the legs are moderately long and finely pubescent. L. 2|-3 

 mm. 



Male with the rostrum thicker and shorter and the anterior tibiae 

 slightly curved. 



On various species of mallows ; usually found in company with the preceding and 

 similarly distributed; it has occurred on Tanacetum vulgare and has also been found 

 on the holly. 



A. onopordi, Kirby (penetrans, Steph.). Black, with the elytra 

 blue- black, blue or greenish, more shining than the rest of the body ; 

 pubescence almost absent ; head small, coarsely punctured, striated 

 between eyes ; rostrum thick, gently curved, slightly dilated near the 

 insertion of the antennas ; antennae stout, black ; thorax longer than 

 broad, with the sides almost parallel, very strongly and coarsely punc- 

 tured, the punctuation being more or less confluent, and with a deep 

 furrow before scutellum which is very small ; elytra oval, moderately 

 convex, widened at sides, with strong punctured striae ; legs stout, 

 moderately long. L. 2| 3 mm. 



Male with the head broader than in the female, and with the rostrum 

 shorter and thicker and the eyes more prominent. 



On Onopordon acanthium and other species of thistles ; also on certain species of 

 C'nicus and Eumei ; the larva is said to undergo its transformations in the stems of 

 Centaurea nigra ; common and generally distributed in England and Scotland, and 

 probably in Ireland. 



GROUP 10. 



Post-rum very strongly dilated on each side at the insertion of the 



antettnce (on thistles). 



A. carduorum, Kirby (cyaneum, De G., gibbirostre, Gyll.). 

 Elongate, black, elytra slightly bluish or greenish, pubescence more or 

 less evident ; head finely striated between eyes, which are slightly 

 prominent ; rostrum longer than head and thorax, strongly curved, with 

 a large tooth on each side at the insertion of the antennae, finely punc- 

 tured and more shining at apex ; antennse stout ; thorax convex, sub- 

 parallel, slightly rounded at sides, moderately strongly punctured, with 

 a furrow before scutellum, which is small ; elytra with strongly marked 

 shoulders, scarcely rounded at sides which are not widened in middle, 

 with punctured striae and flat finely s-hagreened interstices ; legs black, 

 robust, more or less pubescent ; size extremely variable. L. 1-J- 3| mm. 



