674 
RHYNCHOTA, 
distinct nuisance in the rains. As they are otherwise but seldom seen 
and are not found unless looked for, few species are recorded as 
general. 
The most remarkable form is Stibaropus molginus, Schi., a moderate¬ 
ly large dark brown insect, with a very close resemblance to a Melolon- 
thid beetle and remarkable legs. The femora and tibiae are swollen, 
very much so in the hind legs, and suggest the burrowing legs of the 
Coprid beetles, with the difference that the maximum development 
lies in the hind legs, which are very thick and truncate. The 
remarkable white nymphs of this insect were found by C. A. Barber at 
the roots of a palm in S. India at a considerable depth below the 
surface. They have the same burrowing legs as the adult. This 
insect is less common than the smaller S. callidus, Schi., found 
in the plains of Bengal; the adult insect flies at night and is 
also found among the roots of plants ; it is typically a burrowing 
insect. We have found it extraordinarily abundant on the Ferry 
Steamers on the Ganges attracted by the electric lights and it 
appears to be most common near large rivers in loamy soil (Plate 
LXXIII, fig. 2). Cydnus includes the common black “geranium 
bugs” or “ gundies ” which are so great a nuisance (Plate LXXIII, 
fig. 3). C. indicus , Westw., and C. varians, Fabr., appear to be the 
usual species found. Their normal habitat is on or in the soil, but at 
certain seasons in the rainy months, they come out in great 
abundance possibly because they are flooded out by excess of rain, 
possibly because this is their normal habit. 
Geotomus pygmceus, Dali., is a smaller species, less commonly found, 
but still likely to be generally distributed. The only other common 
Cydnid is Brachypelta aterrima, Forst., larger than Cydnus , coal black 
in colour and found in the fields especially in the early months of the 
year (Plate LXXIII, fig. 1). 
Chilocoris nitidus, Mayr., is one of the smallest of the group, a 
black insect measuring only Jth inch in length. The flat head is set 
round the margin with spines and suggests that of a Coprid beetle ; it is 
found in soil, under stones or among decaying vegetation. Apparently 
it breeds normally at the roots of grasses, the nymphs having been 
extensively found there. 
