“ I feel almost confident are referable to tbe A. fasciculatus (which, is
usually known in collections as the coffem of Fabricius), though I have
thought it desirable to give a careful diagnosis of them, in the event,
perhaps, of their being identified hereafter with some cognate form.
The insect, however, is evidently a variable one ; and there are individuals
in the British Museum bearing tbe label ‘ coffeat’ which
seem in no way to differ from the pair now before me; whilst the
fact that the species (the larva of which appears to subsist within
various seeds and berries which are used as articles of food) lias
become naturalized, through the medium of commerce, in most of
the warmer countries of the civilized world, would go far to render
it probable that the St. Helena* one is the true fasciculatus, and has
been established in the island (as elsewhere) by indirect human
agency.”
SCB-FAM. NOT I OXEN ID E S.
Notioxenus, Woll.
Mr. Wollaston writes of this interesting genus, that “ in conjunction
with Microxylobius, Nesiotes, and Traclyphlmosoma, of the -
CurculionideB, it is amongst the most characteristic and truly indigenous
of the Coleopterous forms which have hitherto been detected at
St. Helena.”
*N. bewiekii, Woll.—A black Beetle, the largest of the species
yet known, about a quarter of an inch in length, taken from the
indigenous plants on the high land. A figure of this insect is given
in the Journal of Entomology for Dec. 1861, pi. xiv. fig. 1.
*N . r u f o p i c tu s , Woll.—A Beetle with a shiny black surface,
little more than half the size of the above, taken from similar
localities by the late Mr. Bewicke, and figured in the Journal of
Entomology for Dec. 1861, pi. xiv. fig. 2.
*N. dimidiatus, Woll.—A species little less than one-sixth of
an inch in length, and very glossy. Mr. Wollaston writes : “ This
species appears to be a little more ovate, and perhaps also (on the
average) a trifle’ smaller, than the N. rufopictus; and it is abundantly
distinguished by its greenish-brassy, shining, and coarsely but
sparingly pubescent surface,, by its greatly elevated and evidently
curved subbasal pro thoracic line, and by the striae and largely-
developed punctures becoming evanescent on the posterior half of
its elytra.”
*N . a lu t a c e u s , Woll.— A smaller species, found in similar
localities.
*N . f e r r u g in e u s , Woll.—Mr. Wollaston writes, compared with
the others, this species “ may immediately be known by its narrower
and more oblong outline and pale ferruginous hue, the elytra
only being obscurely decorated with a darker suture and a more or
less interrupted and anteriorly evanescent discal line, both of which
are sometimes barely traceable and, at others conspicuous.” All the
species inhabit the vegetation of the high land.
SUB -FAM . HOMCEODERTDES.
Homceodera, Woll.
Small black Beetles, taken from the vegetation on the high land,
and at first sight much resembling those last described as
Notioweni.
*H . r o t u n d ip e n n i s , Woll.—About one-twelfth of an inch in
length.
* H . a lu t a c e ic o l l i s , Woll.—Very common in the oak-leaf soil
about Oaklands and The Hermitage; altitude 2000 feet above
the sea.
* H . p y gm s e a , Woll.—A somewhat smaller, but very similar
species, and taken with the latter.
* H . c o r ia c e a , Woll.—A very minute species, taken with the
others.
Earn. Bruchidie.
Bruchus, Gfeoffr.
B . r u f o b r u n n e u s , Woll.—A small, square-shaped, thick Beetle,
about an eighth of an inch in length, and of a reddish-brown colour,
very commoD in houses on both high and low land, a n d , extremely
fond of getting into rice, with which it may probably have
been introduced into St. Helena. Mr. Wollaston remarks, that “ it
is peculiarly liable to accidental importation throughout the
civilized world, along with various seeds and fruits.
B . a d v e n a , Woll.—A very similar species to the other. • Mr,
Wollaston says: “ I feel it extremely likely that both of them are
natives of the same country (wheresoever that may be), and may
perhaps have become naturalized, through the medium of commerce,
in the stores and granaries of St. Helena.