146 PTINID^. 



sometimes absent in M. spinosiis and Mr. Champion had already noted 

 this. The distribution of M. vidneratus, as far as at present known, is 

 as follows : France, Saxony, Austiia-Hungary, lloumania and Persia. 



PTINIDiE. 



PTINUS, Linne. 



P. pusillus, Sturm. (Faun, xii., p. 65, t. 25Ia; Boield., Ann. Soc. 

 Ent. Fr. 1856, 643). Oval, very elongate, nearly parallel, of a testaceous 

 red colour, pubescence yellow. Head large, decumbent, longitudinally 

 channelled, covered with yellow hairs. Antennae as long as the body, 

 with slender cylindrical and elongate joints. Thorax longer than broad, 

 very convex in form, depressed transversely and contracted behind, 

 with a feeble central furrow somewhat coarsely sculptured, but with the 

 disc more even than in the allied species, and with the prominences at 

 the posterior angles not strongly marked ; on the disc there are four 

 more or less distinct transvei'se prominences formed of stiff" and erect 

 yellow hairs; scutellum, as a rule, yellowish-white ; elytra with distinct 

 rows of punctures, the intervals smooth and furnished with rows of 

 erect hairs, shoulders not marked ; there are also two transverse rows 

 of spots formed of white hair, often more or less obsolete, one near the 

 shoulders and the other before apex; these are variable and easily rubbed; 

 underside with yellow hairs ; legs long and pubescent. L. 2-2^ mm. 



Inti'oduced by Mr. Donisthorpe (Ent. Eecord 1906, p. 45). Edmonton 

 (Pool and Donisthorpe); Reading ( Jo}') ; probably common in many 

 granaries; it is found plentifully in France and Germany. It is a very 

 active species, running much faster than others of the genus. 



The species may easily be known from its near allies by its small size, 

 parallel shape, and long antennse. 



M. Boieldieu described the species on a single specimen in M. 

 Chevrolat's collection from Brazil. It is one of the unsatisfactory 

 importations which gradually find a place in our British list. 



P. brunneus, Duft., var. testaceus, Boield. (Best. Tab. der 

 Europ. Col. 654, 16). According to some authorities P. testaceus, 

 Boield., is a distinct species, according to others it is synonymous with 

 P. hrnnneus, Duft., while in the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter and Weise 

 it is considered to be a variety. 



P. tectus, Boield. (Ann. S-.c. Ent. Fr. 1856, 552). Short and thick- 

 set, dark brown, with thick yellowish pubescence, which is easily rubbed ; 

 in some specimens it is whitish, especially on the scutellum ; head almost 

 as broad as thorax ; antennje thick and comparatively short ; thorax about 

 as long as broad, uneven, with longitudinal furrows and with strong pro- 

 minences at the posterior angles ; sculpture rather coarse, concealed by 

 the pubescence; elytra oblong, acute, and flatter in the male, rounded, 

 ovate, and very convex in the female, with strong and coarsely punctured 

 stri;«; legs rather long, ferruginous, more or less pubescent. L. 2|— 3 mm, 



London district, Strood, Edmonton, &c., in granaries ; a cosmo- 



1 



