368 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



wood in which it feeds. 0. eremicola, a slightly larger, smooth, dark-brown species, 

 has habits similar to those of O. scabra. Not far from Osmoderma in classification is 

 Inca, the species of which are found in tropical America, and are large and bronze 

 colored. 



In the species which belong to the old genns Cetonia, which is now subdivided 

 into numerous genera, the scutellum is visible, the mandibles are feeble and often 

 membranous, the epimera of the mesothorax is visible from above, and the anterior 

 coxa3 prominent. During flight the elytra of these beetles remain closed, the wings 

 extending out from beneath the base of the elytra. Some of the species eat honey, 

 others soft fruits, still others lick sap from wounds of trees. Thus the mandibles, having 

 no hard work to do, are feeble. Tropinota hirtetta, a small European species which is 

 black, somewhat marked with white, and densely pubescent with brownish hairs, 

 injures fruit-blossoms by eating away their anthers and styles. 



Euryomia inda is the most abundant species of cetonian in the northeastern 

 United States. It is about half an inch long, light brown, marked with irregular black 

 spots. Its thorax is covered with yellowish pubescence. This beetle 

 has been found feeding upon the kernels of young corn ; but it is doubt- 

 ful if the beetles, with their soft month-parts, are really guilty of attack- 

 ing the corn. It seems more probable that they only eat the juices of 

 kernels which have been already bitten into by birds or by other insects. 

 FIG. 426. Eury- These beetles are, however, known to eat into ripe peaches, and to feed 



omia inda. 



upon the sap from corn-stalks and from cotton-bolls. I have found the 

 same species very abundant, devouring sap which exuded from wounds in the bark of oak 

 trees ; and I presume that, in their reported attacks upon apple-tree bark, they are only 

 eating the sap flowing from wounds caused by other animals. This species is found in 

 early spring, before the snow is all melted from the ground, making as much noise as 

 bees and buzzing about in warm sunny spots. This beetle lias a peculiar acid odor, 

 resembling vinegar, when handled. This acid is probably readily volatile, as it does not 

 rust, to any great extent, the pins used in mounting these insects in collections. 

 Cetonia aurata, a common metallic-green European species, is also quite odorous. 

 The larva? of E. inda are not yet known. 



Allorhina nitida is nearly an inch long, velvety green usually with a yellowish 

 margin along the sides of the prothorax and elytra, and is abundant in the southern 

 part of the Atlantic slope of the United States. Its larva, according to Dr. C. V. 

 Riley, attacks strawberry roots ; and, because its curved body would cause it to travel 

 clumsily on its legs, it turns over 

 upon its back and moves along as 

 rapidly as an ordinary caterpillar. 



The cetonians attain their max- 

 imum size in the genus Goliathus 

 from western Africa. G. gigan- 

 teus measures about four inches in 

 length and two inches in width, 

 and is one of the largest beetles 

 known. This species is subject to considerable variation, and several varieties have 

 been described as species. It is usually chalky white, marked with velvety black, 

 prominent among the black parts being six black lines radiating from near the anterior 

 part of the prothorax towards its posterior part. These giant beetles live upon the 

 sap of trees. 



