(EDEMERID.E. — SITARIS — ISCHNOMERA. 53 



Genus CCCCLVIII.— Sitaris, Latreille. 



Antennce filiform^ longest in the males, rather stout, with subcylindric joints, 

 the first most robust, the second minute, thrice as short as the third, which 

 is slightly elongate, and, with the remainder, obconic-cylindric, the terminal 

 one being ovate. Palpi filiform, subequal, maxiUary with the terminal joint 

 subovate, labial with the same joint subobconic: labrum transverse, semi- 

 orbicular: mandibles stout, acute, with the apex elongate : ■mentum oblong : 

 head inflexed : eyes lunate : thorax orbiculate-quadrate ; scutellum large : 

 elytra shorter than the body, very much attenuated towards the apex, and 

 gaping : wings ample : abdomen short : legs stoutish : tibice slender, simple, 

 posterior with very short spurs ; the apex truncate : tarsi simple. 



The undivided mandibles and simple tarsi of Sitaris, combined 

 with the diversity in the form of the antennse, palpi, &c., as well as 

 the abbreviated, subulated, divaricating, elytra, and ample wings, 

 well distinguish it from the other genera of this family. One British 

 species only is known, which is supposed to reside in its early state 

 in the nests of solitary bees, the imago occurring in that of 

 Anthophora retusa. 



Sp. 1. humeralis. Nigra, elytris basi Jlavescentibus, ab humeris attenuatis, 



suhulatis. (Long. corp. 5 — 6§ lin.) 

 Ne. humeralis. Fabricius.- — Si. humeralis. Steph. Catal. 250. No. 2490. 



— Curtis, viii. pi. 340. 



Black, coarsely punctured: elytra finely punctured, of a dusky violaceous- 

 black, with the base yellowish, attenuated from the shoulders, and subulated. 



This insect must be esteemed rare in this country : it is however 

 pretty generally distributed throughout the south of England ; 

 having been taken in Devonshire, the New Forest, near London 

 (in comparative plenty by Mr. Badger, under a water-butt in a 

 garden, two seasons back, at Chelsea), in Warwickshire, near Oxford, 

 and in Kent. 



Genus CCCCLIX. — Ischnomera* mihi. 



Antenna filiform, rarely setaceous, 1 1 or 12 jointed, the articulations elongate, 

 somewhat thickened towards the apex, the third and fourth joints longest, 

 the second shortest, the remainder of nearly equal length, the apical one 

 being suddenly attenuated, and ending in a point. Palpi maxillary with the 



* liJxvoQ, gracilis, Mr/poc, femur. 



