NOTES ON THE SUFFOLK LIST OF COLEOPTERA: 2-LATHRIDIIDAE DAVID R.
NASH
The Lathridiidae form a clearly defined family, easily recognisable by their 3-segmented tarsi, small size (1-3 mm long), and elongate-oval shape. They all probably feed on moulds and are popularly known as Plaster Beetles on account of their frequent occurrence in new houses where they are associated with mould on new plaster. The various species may turn up, however, in any Situation where moulds have had an opportunity to develop e.g. under bark, in old straw, on fungi, in old damp cupboards or sheds. Some of the Corticariinae occur most frequently in moss or at the roots of plants. The Lathridiinae have been radically revised by Walkley (cited in Tozer, 1972) and the 5 species previously standing on our list under Lathridius are now assigned to other genera, whilst two of our former Enicmus species— minutus (L.) and consimilis Mannh—are transferred to Lathridius. Although I have not seen Walkley's papers which were published in a Washington journal, she was responsible for checking the Lathridiidae fascicle of Arnett (1962), and the generic key and Classification therein are plainly based on her work. Some Continental authors appear to have adopted a more traditional approach to the Classification of the family and seem unwilling to accept Walkley's proposals, involving as they do inter-generic transference of species previously thought to be correctly placed within long-established genera. This paper brings forward 10 species which, for reasons outlined below, should feature as additions to the species of Suffolk in the relevant part of the index to these Transactions. Additional data are also provided for the scarce but previously recorded E. testaceus. Unless noted in the text, the records presented for each species are, as far as I know, the first for the county and are my own unless otherwise stated. Nomenclature follows Kloet and Hincks (1977).
Lithostygnus serripennis Broun Originally described from New Zealand in 1914, this distinctive and rarely encountered species was first found in this country in a cellar at Reigate, Surrey by C. E. Stott (Stott, 1928) where it was probably developing on moulds growing on straw bottle-envelopes. Since that time, it has been recorded indoors from a few other localities in England, as well as from Scotland and Ireland (Kevan, 1945; Aubrook, 1949; Edwards, 1965). Although the species is usually found inside or very near buildings, it has recently been discovered in the open in a hollow Lime trunk in Renfrewshire (Crowson, 1962), under raked, presumably dead, weeds beside a Kent hop field (Bannister, 1971), and in dry organic matter in recesses under sandstone cliffs in Dunbartonshire (Crowson, 1971). The beetle was also found out-ofTrans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 18 part 2.