monograph: of the laboulbeniace^;. 



311 



On Brachinus crepitans L., B. scolopeta F., B. explodens Duft., Europe. 



The above description is quoted from Peyritsch (1. c.), although it is quite useless for pur- 

 poses of identification. The figures given by Robin appear at first sight to be good, and to 

 furnish a means of identifying the species ; but some of them arc almost certainly incorrect in 

 their anatomical details, and it is doubtful whether any of them are to be depended upon, either 

 as exact reproductions of the originals or as exhibiting the essential characters of the species. I 

 have examined specimens of a Labouibcnia from B. explodens, taken in Germany, but in all cases 

 they correspond to the rather well marked type which I have called L. europcea (Plate XVI, fig. 

 15), a form which is known to occur on several other hosts. 



In a previous paper (1. c.) I have doubtfully referred to this species a form found growing 

 densely crowded on the legs of Platynus cincticollis in this country ; but a comparison of almost 

 unlimited material of the various forms which I have placed together under L. elongata makes 

 it clear that our form cannot be considered to be the species of Robin, unless, perhaps, the whole 

 " flagellata" series should be united under his name. Whether L. Rougetii, which is unfortu- 

 nately the type of the genus, is really distinct from either L. elongala, L. flagellata, L. anceps, or 

 L. europcea must remain uncertain until sufficient material of the European forms on Brachinus 

 has been examined to make clear what is really intended by Robin's name. It should be men- 

 tioned, however, that I have never seen a specimen of L. flagellata on any of the very numerous 

 specimens of American Brachinus examined, even from situations where species of Platynus 

 infested by L. elongata were common. The forms of L. Brachini (Plate XX, fig. 2), which at 

 first sight seem identical with some of the varieties of L. elongata, cannot be confused, on care- 

 ful comparison, either with this species or with L. Europcea. 



A few old specimens of L. europcea in my possession, from European material of Brachinus, 

 in which the appendages have been broken and have produced a few abnormal branches at the 

 base, bear, it must be admitted, a distinct resemblance to the dark brown figure of Robin's 

 Plate X. 



Laboulbenia europcea Thaxter. Plate XVI, figs. 15-17. 



Amber-brown. Perithecium darker amber-colored, rather narrow, but sometimes inflated, its 

 tip nearly straight, broad, black except the edges of the coarse lips, which are turned slightly 

 outward, an olive shade extending below the blackened portion. Outer appendage hyaline, 

 suffused below with olive-brown, deeply colored externally near the base, simple or more com- 

 monly consisting of a basal and a sub-basal cell which bears two long slender tapering branches ; 

 more rarely the basal cell bears two branches directly, the inner simple, the outer bearing two 

 branches from its basal cell. Inner appendage consisting of a basal cell which may bear two 

 branches directly, or more commonly is followed by a sub-basal cell bearing a long, simple, ster- 

 ile branch and a shorter fertile branch, producing several antheridia and one or two sterile 

 divisions, which sometimes become elongate. Receptacle normal, a very slight olive suffusion on 

 the external surface of cell IV. Spores, 55-59 x 4-4.5 fi. Perithecia, 130-140 x 55 /u,. Append- 

 ages (longest), 250 /*. Total length to tip of perithecium, 250-300 fi. 



On Chlcenius ceneocephalus Dej., C. chrysocephalus Rossi, Callistus lunatus Fabr., Aptinus 

 mutilatus Fabr., Brachinus explodens Duft., Europe. 



