THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



183 



NOTES ON COLEOPTERA, 

 FOR BEGINNERS. 



By Dr. J. W. Ellis and Mr. Smedley, 

 Liverpool. 

 ANCHOMENUS. 



. The species of the genus Anchomenus have 

 been artificially divided (in the analytical 

 table of genera, on p.p. 87 and 88), into four 

 groups ; but as this division has been based 

 upon a character (colour), which cannot 

 always be depended on in this genus, it has 

 been thought best to first, give the names 

 of the species which fall into these groups, 

 and then to append a short description of 

 each species, without any further tabulation. 



Group I. consists of those Geodephaga 

 which have the three basal joints of the 

 anterior tarsi of the male dilated ; the 

 elytra brilliant green or coppery ; with the 

 posterior angles of the thorax rounded .... 

 Anchomenm marginatus, A. sex-punctatus^ 

 and A ericeti 



Group II. — Tarsi as above; elytra bronze, 

 greenish bronze (or black with a greenish 

 reflection) . . . .A paj^um-punctatuSy A graci- 

 lipes, A. /^-punctatuSy A vidnus, A vernutus, 

 A. micans, amd A scitulu%. 



Group III. — Tarsias above; elytra red at 

 the base with a bluish-green patch on the 

 posterior two-thirds A. prasinns. 



Group IV. — Tarsi as above ; elytra black 

 or brown, with the legs slender, the hinder 

 tarsi not furrowed, and the apical joint of 



the palpi cylindrical A. Jitnceus, A. 



livem, A albipes, A. ollonguSy A. atratus, 

 A. piceuSy A. gracilis, A. fuUginosus, A. 

 Thoreyiy and A puellus (also the var. moes- 

 ius, of A vidims) 



A, Junceus — Shini7ig black ; antennae and 

 legs pitchy ; thorax narrowed behind, the 

 sides somewhat wavy, and the posterior 

 atigles sharp right angles. Size, 5 to 6 lines. 

 This species, which is common and gen- 



erally distributed — occurring often at the 

 roots of trees, and often turning up at sugar 

 — is the largest of the genus, and is easily 

 recognised by its large size and shining 

 black colour. 



A liveus. — Brownish-black ; antennae and 

 legs reddish ; thorax somewhat narrowed 

 behind, but rvith the sides nearly straighty 

 and the posterior angles somewhat rounded. 

 Size about 4 lines. Rare. 



A prasinus (dorsalis). — Blue-green; base 

 of the antennae and legs yellow ; elytra red- 

 dishy with a blue-green patch on tlie hinder 

 half or two-thirds. Size \ inch. One of the 

 most abundant beetles. 



A. albipes — Nearly black ; the legs and 

 antennce very pale yellow. Size about 3^ 

 lines. Very common in wet places, and re- 

 cognised at once by its pale (nearly white) 

 legs and antennae. 



A. oblongus. — Brown ; antennae and legs 

 yellow ; thorax very much narrowed behind, 

 with the hinder angles sharp. Size, s'ightly 

 under 3 lines. Moderately common. 



A marginatus — Green, greenish bronze, 

 or coppery ; antennae and legs brownish ; 

 elytra with a pale yellow margin. Size 5 

 lines. Very common in damp places, and 

 recognised at once by the pale margin to the 

 elytra. 



A. sexpunctatus. — Head and thorax bril- 

 liant green ; elytra bright coppar, with six 

 or seven impressions in the third interstice. 

 Size 4 lines. A local species, easily recog- 

 nised by its brilliant colouring. It used to 

 occur (and may do so still) on Wimbledon 

 Common, and specimens have been cap- 

 tured in the court-yard of the British 

 Museum. 



A. ericeti — Heady thorax, and elytra bright 

 coppery ; elytra with six or seven impres- 

 sions in the third interstice. Size about 3 

 lines (:J^inch;. Local, on mosses and heaths. 

 Distinguished from the preceeding species 

 by the^ head and thorax being the same 



