Jt> 



6^- n9,f 



232. 

 MEZIUM SULCATUM. 



Order Coleoptera. Fam. Ptinidae Leach. Ptiniores hat. 



Type of the Genus Ptinus sulcatus Fab. 

 Mezium Leach MSS, Sam. — Ptinus Fab., Marsh., Gmel. 



Antennce inserted in the middle of the face, nearly as long as the 

 body, approximating, straight, robust nearly filiform and densely 

 clothed with depressed scales ; 11 -jointed, basal joint the longest 

 slightly clavate, the 9 following somewhat cup-shaped, slightly 

 tapering, the 1 1 th joint a little longer, acuminated obliquely (6). 

 Labrum transverse, slightly dilated at the base, anterior angles 

 rounded, deeply emarginate and densely ciliated (1). 

 Mandibles short, subtrigonate, acute at the apex, producing a 

 blunt tooth on the internal side (2). 



MaxillcB small producing 2 lobes densely clothed with hair, the 

 internal one larger than the external, which projects considerably 

 beyond it. Pa/pi short, 4-jointed, basal joint curved, 2nd and 

 3rd subtrapezoid, 4th long subovate, and terminated by a ve- 

 sicle (3). 



Mentum pilose trigonate, anterior angle truncated and produced 



over the Labium which is membranous and subovate, the margin 



thickened. Palpi inserted near the middle of the labium, short 



and robust, triarticulate, basal joint very slender, 2nd subglobose, 



3rd conical (4). 



Head very short, nearly concealed. Eyes extremely minute touching 



the Thorax which is cylindric, very pubescent and not broadest at the 



base. Scutellum none. Elytra connate, globose smooth and se7ni- 



transparent. Wings none. Legs rather long, densely covered with 



scales; thighs clavate; tibiae simple; tarsi composed of 5 short joints. 



Claws minute (5, afore leg). 



Sulcatum Fab. Ent. Syst. 1 . pars 1 . p. 24 1. n, 11 . Marsh. Ent. Brit. 

 91.32. 



Clothed with shining ochreous scales. Thorax with a deep chan- 

 nel in the middle and a shallower one on each side forming 2 

 elevated ridges down the back, producing longer scales ; the 

 posterior margin thickened like a cord. Elytra globular, cas- 

 taneous and polished, having a few ochreous bristles only at the 



base. 



In the Authofs and other Cabinets. 



