viii INTRODUCTION. 



Epilachnce have been conservative, but in the evolution of their structure also, as 

 they belong to a plain generalized type, perhaps best adapted for living under 

 varying conditions with very little modification ; and, like the genus Stenotarsus, 

 Epilachna is distributed in almost every part of the world, below the sixty-fifth parallel 

 of North latitude. It is well known how this genus predominates in the Eastern 

 hemisphere, and how the species there are so little differentiated that it is very 

 difficult to distinguish or classify them. 



The higher forms of the family, from their black-and-red-spotted bodies, and from 

 having to seek their aphidean food on the surface of plants, must be peculiarly 

 attractive to their enemies. This brilliant livery seems retained and even developed 

 from their ancestry ; but it is compensated for by two very important facts — (1) a 

 secretion, distasteful, as it seems, to birds, or lizards and other reptiles; (2) a high 

 power of contractility, enabling them to drop on the slightest alarm. It is for this 

 last-mentioned purpose that the fossae, so usual on the basal segment of the abdomen, 

 seem to have been produced, the rudiments of which (now of no use) are visible in 

 the Erotylides and Languriides ; and though these rudiments are rarely seen in the 

 Endomychidse, it is a significant fact that in the genus Panomcea, which so remarkably 

 mimics various Coccinellidge, as nearly always to be taken for one even by Coleopterists, 

 the structure is retained, as well as the round and convex form and the type of 

 marking. 



An immense amount of material has passed through my hands during the publi- 

 cation of this volume, and I may especially call attention to the vast number of 

 specimens due to Mr. G. C. Champion's careful collecting, especially in the small 

 and obscure species usually neglected. 



There still remain a considerable number of minute and obscure insects unclassified, 

 some of which, without doubt, pertain to the group here treated, but it was thought 

 better to close the work. Many specimens of the genus Hapalips (Languriides) were 

 unfortunately mislaid, and cannot now be included, but must be described or noticed 

 elsewhere. It is obvious, however, that every collection of any extent will for some 

 time to come contain new species. 



Shirley Warren, Southampton. H. S. G. 



February 1899. 



