Phytobius.] RHYXCHOPHORA. 375 



Coleopteres, p. 219); they live on the leaves of their food plants and 

 protect themselves with a covering partly formed of excrement and 

 partly of a viscous fluid secreted from the terminal segment ; when about 

 to change to the pupa state the insect retires to a fold of a leaf and 

 there spins over itself a cocoon ; the transformation to the perfect state 

 does not occupy more than eight or ten days, at the end of which period 

 the beetle makes its exit through an irregular opening in the cocoon. 



I. Tarsal claws simple (Phytolius, i. sp.). 



i. Anterior margiu of thorax without distinct tuber- 

 cles or little teeth ; elytra very distinctly marked 

 with marbled grey scales (in fresh specimens) . P. COMABI, Herbst. 



ii. Anterior margin of thorax with two small tubercles 

 or little teeth. 



1. Rostrum longer, three times as long as broad ; 



thorax without central furrow P. WALTOXI, Boh. 



2. Rostrum shorter, twice as long as broad ; thorax 



with a more or less distinct central furrow. 



A. Lateral interstices of elytra s.igbtly asperate ; 

 suture witlibut a dark velvety patch behind 



scnteilum P. QTTADRITUBEBCULATUS, F. 



B. Lateral interstices of elytra not asperate ; 

 suture with a dark velvety patch behind scu- 



tellum P. CAXALICULATD3, Fdhr. 



II. Tarsal claws appendiculate on their inner side 

 (Pachyrrhinug, Steph.). 



i. Thorax without central furrow ; anterior margin of 



thorax furnished with two tooth-like tubercles the 



interval between which is as broad as the forehead P. QUADBICORNIS, Gyll. 

 ii. Thorax with central furrow ; anterior margin of 



thorax furnished with two tooth-like tubercles the 



interval between which forms a small incised angle P. QUADBIXODOSUS, Gyll. 



P. cotnari, Herbst. (s.g. Pelenomus, Thorns.). Short ovate, black, 

 under surface and sides of thorax closely covered with white scales, 

 which also form more or less distinct scattered spots on the elytra ; in 

 quite fresh specimens the elytra are very prettily variegated and there 

 is a large patch of scales towards scutellum and another behind middle ; 

 scape of antennae, tibiae, except apex, and most of tarsi reddish yellow ; 

 thorax rather long, gradually narrowed in front, but not constricted, 

 with a feeble central furrow, and with two lateral tubercles, but with- 

 out distinct tubercles on anterior margin ; elytra with deep, rather 

 indistinctly punctured, striae, interstices not muricate ; legs long. 

 L. 2 mm. 



Male with the intermediate tibiae armed with a rather large hook and 

 the fifth abdominal segment slightly impressed. 



Marshy places ; on aquatic plants ; local and not common ; Barnes, Shirley, 

 Esher ; Dagenham. Essex ; Woodbastwick ; Arundel ; New Forest ; Bristol ; Norfolk ; 

 Huntingdonshire; Wickeu Fen ; Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire; Askham Bog, York; 

 Liverpool district, rare ; Stretford, near Manchester ; Hale Moss ; Northumberland 

 district, rare, on Comarum paluslre, Prestwick Carr j Scotland, local, Solway district. 



