Our last example of this group is represented on Woodcut XIV. Figs. 5 and a, the latter showing the profile of the insect, whose name is Mezium sulcatum. There are three insects very closely resembling each other, belonging respectively to the genera Mezium, Gibbium, and Mptus, each being the sole British representative of its genus. The two former are almost exactly alike, but can be distinguished by looking at the thorax with a lens, the difference being that in Gibbium the thorax is smooth, whereas in Mezium it is covered with longitudinal furrows, whence the name sulcatum, or ‘ furrowed.’

To my mind, these are the oddest-looking Beetles that we have in England, and, indeed, at first sight they much more resemble spiders than Beetles. Their bodies are globular, and covered with pale golden down of a silky or satiny lustre. When the insect is placed under a moderate microscopic power —say about thirty diameters— it is seen to be clothed with a double set of hairs, i.e. a thin, soft down lying flat to the body with the points of the hairs directed backwards, and mixed with a quantity of stiff and rather curved bristles, set in regular rows over the surface. In those places where the Beetle has been roughly handled, both the down and the bristles fall off shomng the ground colour of the elytra beneath, which is a dark chocolate-brown. These Beetles have no wings, and the head 18 quite under the thorax, which, being globular and apparently bearing the antennae, is often mistaken for the head

itself. The relative position of the head and thorax can be seen by reference to Fig. a. There are no wings.

The Mezium can generally be found in the cupboards and other recesses of old houses, and, indeed, all three Beetles may be captured on the same premises. A very good trap for them is a deep and steep-sided basin, with a little moist sugar at the bottom, and a stick or two laid against the sides by way of a ladder. Tlie Mezium is very fond of sugar, gets up the ladder, lets itself tumble into the sugar, and then cannot get out again, not being able to cling to the polished sides of the basin. It is thought by many entomologists, that neither of these Beetles is indigenous, but that all three have been imported from abroad.

CHAPTER X.

eeteromeea.

This is a veiy importaiit section of the Coleoptera, embracing many of our most familiar Beetles, though in England the number of Heteromerous Beetles is very small when "compared with the list of exotic insects. The name Heteromera is compounded of two Greek words, signifying ‘ unequal-jointed,’ and is applied to these Beetles because they all have five joints in the tarsi of the first and intermediate pairs of legs, and only four joints in those of the hinder pair. As has been mentioned in connection with other four-jointed tarsi, the full number of five joints is in reality present, but the basal joint is very long, and in it is merged the missing joint; so that the joint is in reality not absent, but so small as to servation. escape ordinary ob-

The reader may object that many other Beetles are possessed of ttis characteristic. So they are, but, nevertheless, the distinction IS a good one. In the first place, the missing joint in other Beetles is merged in the last and not in the basal joint; in the next place, the true Heteromera have the eyes kidney-shaped, and not projecting far from the head ; the str tring, r^d^th™" and the mandibles are notched at their tips.

The first family of this section is named Blaptid^, and its members are known by the ‘securiform,' or hatchet-shaped la!t legs °Th femora of tL hind ‘I** me soldered together & . In iTp T T England we only have one genus of this familv ontainmg three species. That which we lill take as on “y^ itod or“t “ -p- Eiir d Vi 1 +1, • ’ antenna being shown at >■■8. d, below the insect. All the species belongfng to thi!

are— to use a word wliich I do not like to apply to genus are dull, dead-black in colour, are woninsects— ugly. They crawling slowly as if afflicted with rheumderfully slugg'ish, frequenting damp, dark, and dismal places. atism, and always in the murkiest crannies of cellars, they have Being often found and appropriate title of Cellar Beetle.s.i gained the popular

ir: ^ a

Blapsmortisaga. 2. Diaperis boleti. larva. J

h. Orcbesia, antenna.

£«“r4^=3}.33.i.,s of a very nauseous odom, sug^es

possessed

among the graves. Yet, unpleasant as these Beetles may be, we are informed that an Egyptian species, Blaps sulcata, is employed as a remedy for ear-ache, and a cure for tlie sting of the scorpion ; while the women are in the habit of seeking and eating it, in order to produce the fatness which is thought in tlie East to be an essential point in female beauty.

This Beetle is singularly tenacious of life, having been kno-wn to revive after having been immersed in spirits of wine for a whole night. However, it cannot withstand boiling water, and instantaneously dies when immersed in it. The Beetle-hunter will always find that boiling water affords the j most merciful way of killing the larger Beetles. As all the nervous system runs along the under side of the body, tlie Beetle should be plunged into the water with its legs downwards, and the consequence is that the action of the heat instantly destroys both sensation and life. Care must, however, be taken that the water is absolutely boiling, and the eetle must not be allowed to remain in it, or it will fall to pieces. The best way is to seize the insect by a pair of forceps, to plunp It quickly into the water, and then to withdraw it.

The larva of the Blaps is represented on Woodcut XV. Fiff. a, and is very much like the common meal-worm.

Passing over several families, we come to the Diaperidm which are smooth, shining, and brightly-coloured. In general orm and colour they very much resemble the ChrysoLlidm fished fiom them by the tarsi of the first pair of le^s havino-

*ort, whereas it is long in the other genera. The pkL mtle at hig. e. This is a boldly-coloured insect L .i

it changes into the perfect form it possessing no eyes. Before and then lines it with silk, so as to form scoops for itself a cell, a cocoon. This is one of the very rarest British insects, it into and is the only species of its genus.

of the Tenebrionidie only contains one genus,

The family genus but two British species. These Beetles possess and that capable of flight, the elytra not being large wings, and are as is the case with the Blaptidse. The thorax soldered together and its base is as wide as the base of the elytra. _ is squared, XV. Fig. 3 is drawn the typical British species,

On Woodcut at Fig. /on the same woodcut is one of Tenehno molitor, and colour of this Beetle is shining blackishthe antennjB. The body is rather flat and very thickly punctmed. brown, and the stria next to the • of the elytra has one very short Each to the apex. lives in and eight others reaching scutellum, and similar localities, a corn-mills, flour-stores, bakehouses, the Floub Beetle. The creamconsequence is often called in is shown on the same illustration, coloured larva of this insect known by the name of Meal-worm, Fio-. c. It is popularly to bird-fanciers, w o which title it is largely supplied under pets will not live find that many of their feathered food, such as is afforded by the a constant supply of insect have • which, in consequence of the Meal-worm, From April to June is, throughout the year. its home, breeds time to And the perfect insect. however, the best ohscurus, i^s quite as

The second species, TenehHo that the two are gene y and so much resembles its congener, can, however, be (ks- The latter insect confounded together.

ot cream cuiuui. j

brown instead but y of these insects is indigenous,

that neither of corn or flour. in cargoes

both introduced

the thorax nearly to the eyes, so that it cannot be seen from

above.

Our first example of this family is Orchesia undulata, ■which

is sho'vvn on Woodcut XV. Fig. 5. This genus can be known

by the extraordinaiy length of the spines of the hinder tibiae,

and the antennae gradually thickening to the tip, as is seen at

Sitaris humeralis. 2. Clerus apiarius. 3. Driliis flavescens, female. 4. Drilus flavescens, male. S. Ehipiphorus paradoxus, a. Balaninus nuciim, head. S. Ehipiphoms, larva. c. Ehipiphorus, antenna, male, d. Ehipiphorus, antenna, female. e. Meloe young larva, magnified.

Fig. h. The word Orchesia signifies ‘jumper,’ and is applied to these Beetles because they possess the power of leaping, a power w ich IS exercised in rather a ludicrous way when they are turned out of their homes, skipping and popping about like so many sandhoppers. The head and thorax of this species are rust-red and on the thorax are two black arches, under each of which is a black dot. The colour of the elytra is yellower than that of

are crossed with four black belts, as shown the thorax, and they in the figure. , . , j little insects live in holeti and rotten wood. These beautiful micans, Mr. Curtis writes as Of another species, Orchesia found this insect in abundance beneath follows:— ‘I once to the trunks of elm-trees in Norfolk, in moist boleti attached dropping as soon as the boletus was the month of June ; and, to hold a net beneath, in which touched, it became necessary like shrimps.’ It is probable that they fell and skipped about tibiae afford the means by the very long spines of the hinder _ The third, and last British species of which these insects leap. this genus is Orchesia minor.

caraboides, is dra^ on

Our next example, Melandrya In this genus the spines of the_ hinder Woodcut XV. Fig. 4. as in Orchesia ; the body is long, tibiae are not lengthened narrowed In front. The flattened, and slightly rather horny on the the last joint large and egg-shaped, palpi have is shown at fleshy on the inside. The antenna Lteide and colour of this insect is shining blackish-blue, and the ^‘Ihe’ is shown at Fig. &, burrow

is very flat. The larva, which body them up, both the larva and, by breaking L old willL-trees, at the proper time of year. Beetle can be obtained and perfect up to secure the insect without breaking It is scarcely possible made by the larvre, usually lives in the burrows tL stump, al it of danger, them at the least indication and retrrats into by suddenly teming off however, it can be obtained alettes, under it a net or sheet of paper,

V. Ir taking care to place of tucking up their legs Is the BMtles have a habit into which they they have no burrows to tL ground, when insects, but the present species is "“rhe^e are not pLtiful March to June, j ! and can be found from , tollaHy — of this genus. ale only two British species

Thtre rendered familiar to us by ; -1 f +V.A Pvrochroida3 is iPyrockroa CO. cLm«L Buktub wL!k!C

cinea), so caiiea ou yvt FiV scarlet 1 colour. account of its beautiful 1 called L Frg. 1. on Woodcut XVI.

Page 29 of 117