Johnson and Halbert — A List of the Beetles of Ireland. 665 



S. palposus, Zett. 



S. palposus, Zett. 

 S. hiipMhalmus, Gryll- 

 S. carhonarius, Er. 

 S. argentellus, Thorns. 



Ulster. 



During the summer of 1900 we received from Mr. H. L. Orr a 

 numher of beetles from the Lough Neagh district for identification. 

 Amongst these was a peculiar Stenns, which did not agree with any of 

 the known British species. We sent this specimen to Dr. Sharp, and 

 he informs us that it agrees with the S. argentellus, Thoms., of his 

 collection, a species previously unknown ia the British Isles. Mr. 

 Orr says the collection, of which it formed part, was handed to him by 

 Mr. E. Patterson. The exact place of capture was not noted, but it 

 was certainly taken on the shore of Lough Neagh, between Toome and 

 the mouth of the Ballinderry Hiver. 



Stenus palposus belongs to section n. of the arrangement adopted by 

 Canon Fowler (91 !F. 1), i.e., those species having the penultimate 

 segment of the tarsi scarcely broader than the third segment, hind body 

 plainly margined at sides, and the elytra black. The following is a 

 short description of the L. ISTeagh specimen, which agrees with a type 

 of 8. palposus received from M. Fauvel : — 



The entire insect is dull black, covered with rather coarse white pubescence, 

 which, in certain lights, forms a noticeable spot near the apex of each elytron. 

 Head — including the eyes — broader than the thorax, with very shallow frontal 

 furrows, the intermediate space being but slightly raised, closely punctured. 

 Antennae short and stout, the three terminal segments forming a rather distinct 

 club. Thorax longer than broad, slightly rounded in front, and gradually narrowed 

 to base, very closely and deeply punctured. Elytra a little longer than thorax, 

 with the sides scarcely rounded, not narrowed in front, and covered with extremely 

 •confluent punctures. Hind body parallel sided, the basal segments being strongly 

 punctured and bearing four longitudinal keels. Length 4'6 mm. 



Stenus palposus may be distinguished from 8. huphthalmus, its 

 nearest British ally, through its larger size, stronger pubescence, 

 shorter and stouter antennse, and by being more closely and deeply 

 punctured throughout. Granglbauer records 8. palposus as rare in 

 northern and central Europe — on sandy river banks. It would seem 

 to be a rare species in France. 



3B2 



