HEL0P1D.E.— HELOPS. 2£f 



Genus CCCCXL. — Helops, Fohricius. 



Antennae as long as the thoraxj with the basal joints elongate-conic^ or conic- 

 cylindric, the terminal shorter^ rounded or subglobose, with the last gene- 

 rally ovate or oval. Palpi maxillary witJi the apical joint large^ securiform, 

 compressed; labial with the terminal joint capitate-truncate: mandibles 

 depressed, bilid at the apex : nnentum transverse-quadrate, with a carina in 

 the middle : head narrower than the thorax ; the latter transverse, cordate- 

 quadrate, or qviadrate : scutellum distinct : body oblong-ovate : elytra gene- 

 rally elongate, sometimes acuminated at the apex : wings rudimentary or 

 short : legs rather long ; tibioe slender ; tarsi heteromerous, with the joints 

 entire; the anterior and intermediate sometimes dilated and pilose in one 

 sex : claws simple. 



The two first species of this genus at first sight resemble the insects 

 of the preceding family, but from them they may be at once known 

 by having the elytra free, and not inflected over the sides of the 

 abdomen, exclusively of other differences ; and from the other genera 

 of this family, their simple, unarmed claws, at once distinguish 

 them. They reside either beneath the bark of decaying trees, 

 especially in sandy situations, or are found beneath stones, &c. : the 

 genus evidently requires division. 



Sp. 1. caeruleus. Supra nigro-cceruleus, infra niger, capite thoraceque confer-m 

 iissime putictatis, elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis punctatis. (Long. corp. 

 8—10 lin.) 



He. caeruleus. Fahricius. — Steph. Catal. 24<4i. N'o. 2438.— He. violaceus. 

 Samouelle, pi. iv. f. 4. 



Above blue-black, or violet, shining; beneath black: head rugose-punctate: 

 thorax abruptly narrowed behind, the disc very thickly punctured, and the 

 margins elevated : elytra obtuse at the apex, the disc punctate-striate, with 

 the interstices thickly, but rather finely, punctured : legs black ; with the 

 tarsi beneath and apex of the antennse piceous ; the former simple in both 

 sexes : wings rudimentary only. 



Not very common within the metropolitan district, where, however, 

 it sometimes occurs in some plenty ; I have taken it in my own gar- 

 den at the Hermitage, and also at Darenth and in Epping Forest. 

 " Not common (near Swansea)." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. " Bristol." 

 — G. Waring^ Esq. »" Canal reservoir, Carlisle."" — T. C. Heysham, 

 Esq. " Aldborough, Suffolk."— T7. C. Hewitson, Esq. 



Sp. 2. lanipes. Supra nigro-wneus, punctulatus, infra niger, elytris punctatO" 



striaiis, ajncibus jiroductis, tarsis lute villosis. (Long. corp. 7 — 9 lin.) 

 Tc. lanipes. Linnc. — He. lanipes. Sieph. Catal. 244. No. 2439. 



