220 



MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



Abundant occasionally near London, frequenting the sandy dis- 

 tricts of Hampstead, Woolwich, Richmond, &c. ; and its remains 

 are very frequently to be observed in spiders' webs during the month 

 of August. " Rare in Cambs. — I have seen very few specimens." — 

 Rev. L. Jenyns. " Sandfield, Cumb." — T. C.Heysham, Esq. " Sea 

 banks, Tynemouth; Newcastle, Keswick, &c. common : I have dug 

 the pupa up in grassy places on the Magnesian limestone, about 

 three or four inches beneath the surface." — G. Wailes, Esq. " On 

 Sketty Burrows (near Swansea)." — L. W. Dittzoyn, Esq. 



Genus CCIV. — Omaloplia, Koppe. 



Antennas ten-jointed; the basal joint somewhat robust, subclavate, slightly 

 pilose; second subglobose; third and fourth a little elongate, slender; three 

 following transverse, cup-shaped, slightly dentate within, the remainder form- 

 ing a short triphyllous capitulum. Palpi, maxillary with tbe terminal joint 

 subtruncate; labial obtuse: head suborbiculate ; clypeus rounded, entire: 

 thorax rounded at the sides, sublobate posteriorly : body pilose, short, convex : 

 elytra rounded at the apex, as long as the abdomen : legs rather short : tarsi 

 very slender, elongate: claws small, uniform, bifid. 



From Serica this genus differs in having the palpi obtuse, and 

 the terminal joint of the maxillary ones truncate; the body short 

 and stout, the antennae abbreviated, with the capitulum ovate, the 

 legs but moderately elongated, &c. 



Sp. .1. Ruricola. Ater sericeus, elytris riifis aut testaceis, margine suturaque 

 nigris, aut cyaneo rvfoque versicoloribus. (Long. corp. 3| — 4 lin.) 



Me. Ruricola. Fabricius. — Sc. Ruricola. Bon. xi. pi. 378. — Om. Ruricola. 

 Steph. Catal. 115. No. 1187. 



Black, with a satiny gloss : clypeus slightly punctate: thorax finely punctured, 

 immaculate, and with the head sparingly clothed with black hairs : elytra 

 testaceous-red, simply striated, with the interstices punctured, the suture and 

 margin black: legs piceous, with rufescent tarsi. 



Var. /3. Steph. Catal I. c. — With the disc of the elytra dusky rufous, glossed 

 with changeable blue tinges. 



The elytra are sometimes entirely of a blue black, and the width of the dark 

 margin in the testaceous variety differs considerably : the legs and thorax are 

 sometimes rufo-testaceous, the probable effect of immaturity. 



The only locality I am acquainted with for this insect near 

 London is a portion of the western margin of Darenth-wood, be- 

 tween the lane leading" from the village and Dartford : it has been 



