STAl'HYLINID.E. VELLEIUS, 201 



Genus DI. — Velleius, Leach. 



Antennae rather longer than the head^ attenuated at the base and apex, 

 11-jomted, basal joint long, clavate, second short, obconic, third elongate, 

 also obconic, the following very short, coarctate, each produced within into 

 an acute process, producing a serrated edge, the terminal one narrower, 

 ovate, subacuminate. Palpi filiform ; maxillary with the terminal joint 

 slender: mandibles moderate, curved, acute, irregularly dentate within: 

 head rounded-ovate, narrower than the thorax; the latter suborbiculate, 

 deeply emarginate in front, with the lateral and posterior margins rounded, 

 and immarginate : elytra depressed, with the apex obliquely truncate : 

 abdomen convex, margined, with four hirsute styles : legs stout, pubescent; 

 tibice setose ; tarsi, anterior, considerably dilated in both sexes. 



The serrated antennae of Velleius at once serve to distinguish it 

 from all the other genera of Brachelytra, and its broad dilated sub- 

 orbiculate thorax, as well as the structure of its palpi, obliquely 

 truncate elytra, &c., also point out its generic distinctions. The 

 only species known appears to differ slightly in its habits from the 

 other insects of the family, by preying upon the larvae of the com- 

 mon hornet (Ve?pa crabro). 



Sp. 1. dilatatus. Plate xxvi. f. 6. — Niger, nitidus, thorace wneo-micante, 



elytris pubescente-obscuris. (Long. corp. 9 lin.) 

 St. dilatatus. Paykull. — St. concolor. Sower. B. M. i. pi. 54. — Ve. dilatatus. 



Steph. Catal. 274. No. 2887. 



Black, head and thorax shining, the latter with the sides dilated, rounded, 

 and tinged with a golden or brassy hue, the disc convex, smooth, with about 

 three large impressions in front, and a series of the same near the lateral 

 margins : elytra opaque, depressed, with an obscure pubescence, and the 

 humeral angle dull ferruginous: abdomen slightly pubescent : legs black; 

 the anterior tarsi considerably dilated and ferruginous beneath : antennae 

 dusky-black, with the last joint dull testaceous. 



Of this very rare insect, I believe my own specimen to be the 

 only example hitherto captured in England : it was found by acci- 

 dent by a lady, and given to the late Mr. Marsham, from whose 

 collection I obtained it. I beheve it was found near Winchmore- 

 hiU, or in that vicinity. 



