io ' ; * 
470 . 
HISTER QUADRIMACULATUS. 
The lunar-spotted Mimic-beetle. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Histeridae. 
Type of the Genus , Hister unicolor Linn. 
Hister Linn., Fab., Curt., &c. — Attelabus Geof. 
Antennae inserted close to the base of the mandibles, often con- 
tracted and concealed in a groove beneath the head, short, ge- 
niculate and capitate; 11 -jointed, basal joint long stout and 
clavate, 2nd a little longer than the following, somewhat cup- 
shaped, the 5 following more or less so and increasing in dia- 
meter, 8th broader, saucer-shaped, the remainder forming a sub- 
globose velvety club divided irregularly by sutures into three 
joints, the basal being the largest, the apical the smallest (6). 
Labrum somewhat semiorbicular- quadrate, ciliated, frequently 
not symmetrical (1). 
Mandibles porrected, slightly curved, sometimes sinuated on the 
inside or slightly denticulate, one being densely pubescent on 
the margin of the inside (2). 
Maxillae terminated by a long lobe, with an internal one below 
it, both densely pubescent. Palpi 4-jointed, basal joint the 
slenderest, 2nd subobconic, 3rd oblong, 4th the longest, some- 
what conical at the apex (3) . 
Mentum small, semicircular, notched at the middle. Palpi ra- 
ther long, attached to 2 scapes, triarticulate, basal joint minute, 
2nd a little longer than the scape, 3rd the longest subconical 
at the apex. Labium rather large and pilose producing a slen- 
der spreading lobe on each side thickly ciliated internally (4) . 
Head small immersed to the eyes. Thorax transverse, convex , semi- 
ovate, concave before. Scutellum minute. Elytra shorter than 
the body, subquadrate, rounded or truncated at the apex. Wings 
ample. Abdomen subtrigonate at the apex. Legs contractile, short 
flat and broad, the anterior pair approximating at their base, the 
others remote. Thighs with a groove beneath to receive the Tibiae 
which are elongate-trigonate, spined externally and spurred at the apex. 
Tarsi short compressed and received into a groove on the inside of 
the tibiae, 5- jointed , 4 first joints short , 5th longer and clavate. 
Claws small (5 f, hind leg) . 
Larva and Pupa figured in PaykuVs Mon. Hist. 
Quadrimaculatus Linn.- — Curt. Guide, Gen. 141. 1. — lunatus Fab . 
Oblong, black, shining : mandibles rather large and bidentate ; 
tips of antennae ferruginous : thorax not much narrowed before, 
with a stria on each side continued round the anterior margin, 
with another very short one outside, at the anterior angle : 
elytra with 3 curved striae on each side and a marginal one de- 
ficient at the base, also a longitudinal sanguineous lunule on 
each side : abdomen thickly punctured at the apex : tibiae di- 
lated, anterior trigonate with 1 small and 2 large teeth outside, 
the others spined externally. Obs. Sometimes the lunule on 
the elytra is divided and at others it entirely vanishes. 
In the Author s and other Cabinets. 
