Volume 8, Plate V / Entomology (Insects)

Brachelytra

1. Staphy­linus eryth­rurus. About an inch and a half long, black, rather smooth and glossy, with the two last abdominal segments rust-red and very large toothed mandibles, the large square head joined to the thorax by a short neck. The thorax is half an oval and narrower than head and elytra, the latter thickly punctured with a ridge beside the suture, the under side and legs black; the figured individual came from North America.
2. Xantho­linus fulgidus. A linear insect of frequent occurrence in Britain and the north of France, the oblong-ovate head glossy black and punctured at the sides with a transverse series of punctures between the eyes. The thorax is similarly coloured with scattered punctures, the elytra deep red, shining, punctured and clothed with short hairs, the abdomen black with pitch-red tip, and the legs, antennae, and mouthparts light red.
3. Boli­tobius atrica­pillus. Three to four lines long, glossy black on the head with reddish mouth and palpi, the glossy red thorax punctured only at the sides, the elytra bright bluish black bearing a pale crescent mark at each base and three faint punctured lines. The abdomen is shining red with the last two segments black, the legs and lower antennal joints pale red; feeding on mushrooms and boleti, it inhabits Britain, France, and northern and middle Europe.
4. Ziro­phorus exaratus. About nine lines long, uniform black, very smooth and shining except the brown tarsi and the brown hairs on antennae and legs, the mandibles curved upward at the tip and furnished with large angular teeth. The short wide head has a deeply impressed central line meeting a transverse one, the thorax and elytra of equal width and flat, the narrow abdomen fringed with brown hairs; it inhabits Brazil, occurring not unfrequently.