NITIDULID.E. MICttOPEPLUS. 55 



Genus CXXXVII.— Micropeplus, Latreille. 



Antenna shorter than the thorax, received during repose in a groove on the 

 under side of the margin of the latter, the two basal joints larger than the 

 following, the first subovate, the second pear-shaped, the six following de- 

 creasing in length, the rest forming a large solid globose pubescent club. 

 Palpi, maxillary small, incrassated in the middle and attenuated to the apex; 

 labial minute : head subtrigonate, inserted up to the eyes, which are small, 

 into the thorax, the latter narrowed anteriorly, with the angles acute: elytra 

 quadrate, margined, very much abbreviated, with three elevated lines on each; 

 abdomen acuminated at the tip : legs slender; tibiae simple; tarsi four-jointed. 



The singular genus Micropeplus may be readily known from 

 the other genera of this family, by the abbreviated, longitudinally 

 porcate, elytra, and by the solid capitulum of the antennae; which 

 latter are placed during repose in a cavity on the under surface of 

 the sides of the thorax. 



Sp. 1. porcatus. Niger, obscurus, antennarum basi pedibusque rufo-testaceis, 



thoracis lateribus undulatis. (Long. corp. f — 1 lin.) 

 St. porcatus. Paykul.— Mi. porcatus. Steph. Caial. 82. No. 881. 



Dull black; minutely and thickly punctured: head depressed: thorax very unequal, 

 the sides flat and prominent, with a minute denticulation in the middle, the disc 

 deeply foveolated, with two larger impressions at the hinder angles : scutellura 

 punctulated: the elytra with the exterior angles obtusely rounded; the disc 

 convex, a little depressed near the tip ; each elytron with three elevated smooth 

 fines, exclusively of the suture and margin, the interstices thickly and deeply 

 punctate: abdomen above with transverse and longitudinal elevated lines, 

 giving it a latticed appearance, the interstices being somewhat deep : antennae 

 at the base and the legs rufo-testaceous, or ferruginous. 



Var. B. With thorax and elytra dusky reddish-brown. 



Found in various places within the metropolitan district; also in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, Devonshire, &c, from April to November, and 

 liybernates beneath moss. " Moss, Netley." — Rev. F. W. Hope. 

 " Hurne." — J. C. Dale, Esq. " Among grass on Crwmlyn Bur- 

 rows, not common." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. " Petworth, Sussex, 

 in August, and under hay placed on barked trunks of felled trees 

 in damp situations in Kensington Gardens, 20th May, 1830, in 

 company with Atomarise. Motion very slow." — Mr. Westicood. 



Sp. 2. staphyfinoides. — Plate xvi. f. 6. — Niger , subnitidus, antennis pedibusque 

 ntfo-ferrugineis, thoracis lateribus integris rujis. (Long. corp. f lin.) 



Mandibulata. Vol. III. 30th June, 1830. f 



