ACOCEPHALUS BIFASCIATUS. 13 



AcocEPHALUs BIFASCIATUS, Curt. Plate XL., fig. 5. 

 Curt. ; Flor ; Marsh. ; Kirschb. ; Sahib. ; Edw. pt. ii. 

 p. 20; Sign. p. 66, pt. 1, fig. 8. 



The synonyms of this species are numerous and 

 sufficiently intricate. Dr. Signoret's Essay may be 

 consulted for a full list, amongst which may be men- 

 tioned : — 



Acocephalus trifasciatus, Sahl. and Fieb. 



,, dispar and nigrilis, Kirschb. 



,, tncinctus,QiWi:i. A. interruptiis,Fieh. 



Jassus siihrusticus , Germ. 

 PenthoUenia , Amyot ; Flor. 



Male. Ochreous-yellow or red-brown. Vertex ser- 

 rated in front, and less acuminate than in the foregoing- 

 species. Vertex mottled with brown. Pronotum yellow. 

 Elytra finely punctured, and marked with two distinct 

 fascia and a broken indication of a third across the 

 shoulders. The characters of these fasciae determine, 

 in great measure, the names of the above synonyms. 

 Legs ochreous, with the hind tibiae and tarsi dark 

 brown. Abdomen black. 



Female. Oblong. Vertex rounded. Colour yel- 

 lowish, passing into a greyer tone. Costa of the elytra 

 with marked brown spots. The whole upper side of 

 the insect more or less coarsely stippled with brown. 



My figure and the descriptions are taken from speci- 

 mens named by Mr. Douglas. It will be seen from the 

 above that the males are exceedingly like some of the 

 varieties of alhifrons. 



Size, 0*18 inch, or 4*7 millimetres. 



Signoret gives Europe and Edwards the north of 

 England as habitats. Not common. 



There is cause for regret that three species of 

 Acocephalus should have such like names as A. bifas- 

 ciahis, A. hrinmeo-hifasciatus, and A. trifasciatus. 



