126 COLEOPTERA 



231. B. micans, Sharp ; Trans. Entom. Soc., 1874, p. 497. 

 Rufescens, nitida, impunctata, setis elongatis erectis parce vestita ; capite 

 fronte depressa, vertice bifoveolato ; prothorace elongate, simplice ; elylris 

 stria suturali minus distincta, discoidali nulla. 



Long, corp., if mm. 



Mas. Antennis articulo 5 magno, intus acuminato, articulis 9-11 

 distortis \ metasterno medio impresso ; trochanteribus anterioribus 

 spina tenui ; abdomine segmento 2 ventrali ante apicem tuberculis 

 duobus, apice setiformibus subito recurvis. 



Fern, incog. 



$ Antenna rather stout, first joint elongate, quite as long as the 

 three following joints together, these scarcely differing from one another; 

 fifth joint elongate, inwardly projecting and angulate, joints nine, ten, 

 and eleven forming a distorted club ; the tenth joint is broader than 

 the ninth, but has its base cut away on one side, and its apical portion 

 projecting ; the eleventh joint is large, and it also is irregularly formed, 

 its base being broad and oblique, and the articulation not in the middle 

 but on one side. Head depressed in front, so that the antennal 

 tubercles are distinct, and between the eyes with two distinct foveae. 

 Thorax narrow and elongate, longer than broad, the sides prominent in 

 the middle, the base margined ; on each side, behind the projecting 

 part of the thorax, and obscured by it, there is a not very easily seen 

 fovea. Elytra longer than the thorax, with a fine sutural stria, but 

 otherwise without striae or depressions. The whole of the upper surface 

 is shining, and impunctate, but bears some long, sparing, fine hairs. 



Mr. Edwards has sent me two specimens of this species taken in 

 New Zealand, but with no indication of what part of the islands they 

 were found in. 



The female, I suspect, resembles the $ exactly in size, colour, and 

 facies, but differs therefrom in the absence of the spines on the tro- 

 chanters and abdomen, and by its unimpressed metasternum ; its head 

 is a little smaller, and the frontal depression less, and the vertical fovese 

 are much smaller. But the most striking character that distinguishes it 

 is that the antennae are eleven-jointed, the ninth joint being intermediate 

 in size between the eighth and tenth joints ; the tenth and eleventh 

 joints are smaller than in the male, and without any excavations. A com- 

 parison of the antennae of the two sexes renders it evident that it is the 

 ninth joint that has disappeared in the male sex, and, on examination, I 

 feel pretty clear that the disparity has arisen by the complete anchylosis 

 of the ninth and tenth joints of the male antennae. 



NOTE. The above reference to the female was added by Dr. Sharp 

 to his description of B. dispar. I found both sexes inhabiting ants' 

 nests, and examination proves his surmise to be correct. 



232. B. Clavatus, n.s. Allied to B. micans and impar, and about 

 intermediate in form between them ; the body of a dark shining red 

 colour, the legs, antennae, and elytra paler, nearly nude, but the 

 antennae and hind-body are pubescent. 



Head relatively large, about as wide as thorax, very slightly depressed 

 between the small, not at all prominent, rather distant, antennal tubercles, 



