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XIV. Sexual dimorphism in Buprestis sanguinea, Fabr., a 

 species occurring in Spain, and neiu to the European 

 list. By George Charles Champion, F.Z.S. 



[Read October 2nd, 1901.] 



Plate XIII. 



During a recent visit to Aragon, July 27th — Aug. 8th, 

 Dr. Chapman and I made various excursions to the low 

 hills which extend along the base of the northern slope of 

 the Sierra de Albarracin, between the towns of Albarracin 

 and Gea, chiefly in search of the numerous interesting 

 Satyrid-butterflies that abound there. In such localities 

 there is a scattered growth of the cypress-like " savin " 

 (Juniperus sabina), which here attains the dimension of a 

 good-sized tree, and amongst these are many shrubs. On 

 one of the latter, Ephedra nebrodensis* of the family 

 Gnetacese (joint-firs), old plants of which have a stem 

 nearly two inches in diameter, two very dissimilarly- 

 coloured conspicuous Buprestids were to be seen, and as 

 specimens of each of these occurred over and over again in 

 close proximity on the same kind of plant, we took a good 

 deal of interest in them, plant and insects alike being new 

 to us. We very soon ascertained that all the examples of 

 one form of the Buprestid were male and all the other 

 female, the sexes being in about equal numbers, and there 

 cannot, therefore, be the slightest doubt that they belong 

 to the same species, though none were actually observed in 

 copula. In the early morning the beetles were quite 

 sluggish and easily captured with the fingers, being at 

 rest, usually head downwards, on a bit of the woody stem, 

 where the green twigs were thickly placed ; but during 

 the heat of the day they were more active, and a few were 

 then taken on the wing, mostly males. The present species 

 has not, so far as I am aware, been recorded from the 

 continent of Europe, though I have a specimen of the male 

 from the vicinity of Gibraltar, sent me years ago by Mr. J. 

 J. Walker. No such sexual difference has been noticed or 



* I am indebted to Mr. W. B. Hemsley, F.R.S., of Kew Gardens, 

 for the determination of this plant. The specific name appears to 

 have been taken from that of a district in Sicily. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1901. — PART IV. (DEC.) 26 



