PLATYRHINUS LATIROSTRIS, F., NEAR BRISTOL. 157 
Platyrhinus latirostris, F., near Bristol; and a description of its 
larva (previously unknown). (With plate IV.). 
By H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 
On June 7th last I went down to Bristol, and my friend Mr. G. T. 
Gimingham very kindly conducted me to a wood in that district where 
he had previously taken the rare Anthribid beetle Platyrhinus lati- 
rostris, F. Suitable old ash trees were scarce, and the fungus Daldinia 
(=Spheria) concentrica affected by the beetle, still scarcer. ‘The tree on 
which was the most fungus, and where Gimingham had recently 
captured a specimen, having drawn blank, we tried further on in the 
wood, and eventually I found two specimens of the Platyrhinus which 
were sheltering under the bark of an old ash, on which was some of 
the fungus. A third specimen occurred sitting on a patch of fungus 
high up on a tree, but where it could be distinctly seen from the 
ground below. My companion was so obliging as to climb the tree for 
me, to obtain the beetle. A day or two later I took one more speci- 
men; again under bark. 
Fowler gives the following localities for this rare beetle :— 
Cheltenham ; Salford Priors; near Chudleigh; Swansea; Scotland, 
Tay district, extremely rare ; and he remarks: “I know of no captures 
of recent years.’’ In the supplement we add Porlock. The Rey. T. 
Wood took it there in 1898. 
In lumps of the funeus)a number of whitish larve (superficially 
like small Scarabaeidae larvee) were found to be present; some very 
small, others larger, and one which I should judge to be about half 
grown. 
As it was certain that this was the larva of Platyrhinus (no other 
beetle large enough feeding in this fungus), I took this specimen home 
with me. I find the larva of Platyrhinus is unknown (this being also 
the case with nearly all the Anéhribidae), and therefore it seems 
important to describe and figure it. The only other insects found in 
and about the fungus were Diphylus lunatus and Mycetophagus atomartus 
in abundance ; Cryptophayus ruficornis, very rare; anda Bracon, which 
might be parasitic on any of these, but was perhaps too small to be a 
parasite of Platyrhinus. 
The following is a careful description of the larva. I dissected out 
the mouth parts; and am indebted to Miss Tassart for the drawings. 
Superficially like a small Scarabaeid larva; mandibles dark brown, apical 
marge of frontale of head brown gradually becoming yellow, rest of head lighter 
yellow. Prothorax and last two joints of legs light yellow; rest of body and legs 
dirty white. Body very elastic and deeply creased; usual position bent double. 
Head strongly chitinous, rounded and fiat on dorsal surface ; frontale rugously 
wrinkled, divided triangularly from parietale by a fine suture ; parietale divided by 
a deeper straight suture; frontale and sides of parietale furnished with a few 
scattered hairs; labrwn transverse, anterior margin unevenly rounded, with 
rounded apical angles, somewhat narrowed posteriorly, furnished with long bristle- 
like hairs ; clypews broader than labrum, transverse, with rounded sides and apical 
angles, broadest at posterior border, anterior border emarginate; mandibles 
massive, very hard, with three teeth, the two apical ones long and pointed, smooth 
at apex, longitudinally rugose at base, the basal tooth short, blunt, rounded and 
smooth; maaillae: cardo short and narrow, stipites long, broadest anteriorly, 
furnished with many bristles, lacinia sharp, chitinous, longitudinally striate, 
maxillary palpi three jointed, basal joint (‘‘ palpiger’’) broadest, apical joint 
narrowest, pointed; labial palpi small, three jointed, similar in shape to maxillary 
SePpremMBer, 1920. 
