H-o 



244. 

 MEGATOMA SERRA. 



Order Coleoptera. Fam. Dermestidae Leach, Laf. 



Type of the Genus Dermestes undatus Linn. 



Megatoma Herb., Lat., Leach. — Attagenus Lat. — Dermestes Linn., 

 Fab., Oliv., Gijll. 



AntenncB inserted before the eyes at the base of the mandibles, 

 clavate and pilose ; 1 1 -jointed, 1st and 2nd joints robust, oval, 

 2nd smaller, 5 following slender, subovate, 8th and 9th cup- 

 shaped, the latter larger, the remainder forming a perfoliated, 

 pubescent club larger in the male than female, the penultimate 

 joint being the shortest, and the terminal one elongate-ovate in 

 the male ; subconic in the female (6). 



Labrum transverse-oval, coriaceous, the margin transparent and 

 clothed with rather long bristles (1). 



Mandibles short, subtrigonate, obtuse, emarginate at the apex, 

 externally pilose (2). 



Maxilla slender, simple and pubescent, especially at the apex. 

 Palpi robust producing a few bristles, 4-jointed, basal joint mi- 

 nute, 2nd and 3rd short but broader, 4th large, ovate-truncate 

 (3). 



Mentum transverse, narrowed at the base and attenuated to the 

 anterior margin, which is indented and produces a few strong 

 bristles. Labium large subquadrate, ciliated at the apex ; the 

 Palpi inserted near the base, remote, short, robust, slightly pi- 

 lose, triarticulate, basal joint minute, 2nd larger somewhat ob- 

 ovate, 3rd as large as the other two, subconic-truncate (4). 

 Males smaller than the females. Head small nutant, the nasus rather 

 produced. Eyes globose remote, with an Ocellus between them. 

 Thorax transverse broadest at the base which is slightly produced in 

 the middle, the angles acute, anterior margin rounded. Antepectus 

 or Sternum produced over the mouth like a neckcloth. Scutellum 

 minute. Elytra oval broader than the thorax. Wings ample. Legs 

 rather short and slender. Tibiae nearly linear and simple. Tarsi 

 5 -jointed, \st joint oblong, 3 following very short and oblique, 5 th 

 long. Claws simple (5, afore leg). 



Sekra Fab. Ent. Syst. 1. pars \.p. 234. n. AQ.— Gyll. 1. p. 153. 10. 

 Black inclining to castaneous, especially the sides of the thorax, 

 shining, rather thickly punctured and clothed with short pube- 

 scence. Antennae and legs ferruginous ochre, the former with 

 the club serrated (especially in the males), the 9th joint obtri- 

 gonate, longer than the 1 0th which is transverse and produced 

 on the internal side, the 1 1 th subconic. 



In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



