7- n^o 



331. 



TENEBRIO OBSCURUS. 



The Flour-beetle. 



Order Coleoptera. Fam. Tenebrionidae hat. 

 Type of the Genus, Tenebrio Molitor Linn. 

 Tenebrio Linn. &c. 



AntenncE inserted under the margin of the head, before the eyes, 

 not longer than the thorax, filiform, naked and 1 1 -jointed, basal 

 joint oval, 2nd rather the smallest, 3rd a little the longest, 4th 

 somewhat longer than the 5th and 6th which are subpyriform 

 and truncated, the remainder cup-shaped, excepting the terminal 

 joint which is subglobose (6). 



Labrum inserted under the clypeus, transverse semiovate, slightly 

 emarginate in the centre and thickly ciliated (1). 

 Mandibles short, subtrigonate, circular outside, acute but emar- 

 ginate at the apex, with a quadrate notch on the inside and a 

 subcoriaceous margin (2). 



MaxillcE small, bilobed, internal lobe lanceolate, producing a claw 

 at the apex, pubescent and ciliated ; external lobe longer, broader 

 and very pilose. Palpi rather long 4-jointed, basal joint slender 

 and short, 2nd longer pyriform, 3rd not so long, 4th as long as 

 the 2nd, slightly hatchet-shaped (3). 



Mentum obtrigonate-truncate, anterior angles rounded and ci- 

 liated, anterior margin subcoriaceous. Labium not so broad, sub- 

 cordate, pilose on the upper side near the fore part. Palpi rather 

 short, attached to 2 small scapes at the base of the lip, triarticu- 

 late, basal joint the slenderest, 2nd obovate, furnished with strong 

 bristles, 3rd longer, elongate-ovate, truncate (4). 

 Head suborbicular. Eyes narrow vertical and emarginate on the inside. 

 Thorax subquadrate or slightly transverse, somewhat narrowed before, 

 nearly or quite as broad as the elytra at the base. Scutellum trun- 

 cated at the apex. Elytra elliptical. Wings ample. Legs rather 

 strong and short. Thighs ; anterior incrassated. Tibiae ; anterior 

 curved, all having very short spurs at the apex. Tarsi short rather 

 pilose, anterior and middle pair b-jointed, basal joint short, d follow- 

 ing somewhat cup-shaped, 5 th long clavute, notched at the apex to 

 receive the C\a.ws which are simple, posterior pair (of) 4-jointed, 

 basal joint as long as the terminal (5, afore leg). 



Obscvrvs Fab. E. S. l.pars \.p. 1 11.5. — Curtis's Guide, Gen. 253.2. 

 Dull black, minutely and thickly punctured. Antennae and palpi 

 castaneous, especially the 4 terminal joints of the latter. Thorax 

 as long as it is broad, convex, ovate-truncate, broadest at the 

 base, posterior angles slightly acuminated, a transverse channel 

 at the base, terminated on each side, before the apex, by a 

 short impressed line. Elytra elliptical, with a faintly punctured 

 and abbreviated stria next the scutellum, and 8 others con- 

 tinued to the apex, the interstices with an obscure row of tuber- 

 cles down the middle of each. Legs and underside subcastaneous, 

 the tarsi brighter. Larva shining pale brown. 



Li the Author's and other Cabinets. 



