OM i:n cantharis larv mi:d vixganlag 255 



1907. Hhvmons, R. — Die verschicdemn Formen der In-ekten- 

 metamorpliose und ihre Bedeiitung im Vergleich zur Mctamor- 

 phose anderer Artliroj)oden. — Krgebiiisse und Fortschritte d. 

 Zoologie. Bd. 1. H. i. — Jena. 



Suinniary. 



After a brief review of the hitherto recorded cases of prothe- 

 tely the author describes a new case of this abnormity which occu- 

 red in a Ca/it/iaris-\^xvi\. The larva was 17 nmi. long, 4 mm. wide 

 and quite typical with the single exception that small rudimentary 

 wings occured on meso- and nietathorax in exactly the same place 

 as where the wings make their appearance in the adult beetle. 

 Contrary to the larva of Tenebris molitor, where the same abnor- 

 mity has repeatedly been observed, the wings are quite strongly 

 chitinized, the hind ones even ha\ing a pattern consisting of a 

 S-curved däck line and a crescent-shapcd dark spöt at the ti]). 

 Their surface is more or less corrugated and the edge serrated. 

 For the shape of them compare figs. i, 2 and 3. After a review 

 of the difterent explanations of the abnormity, of the habits of the 

 Ca«///rtm-larva and the circumstances under which the present larva 

 was captured, the author suggests that also in this case the abnor- 

 mity is the result of the abnormal conditions in which the larva 

 apparently lived. The larva was found in the archipelago of Väs- 

 tervik on a small rock 4,4 km. from the nearest island and 7,6 km. 

 from the coast. The rock was only 4 m. high, and about 150 

 square metres, with exceedingly scarce vegetation in the crevices, 

 of Seduin, Spergularia. The fauna consisted of mites, some spiders, 

 a coccide, collembola, oligochaitge and a small fly. 



Although the fauna of a considerable number of small rocks 

 was explored, all along the eastcoast of Sweden as far north as 

 to Hernösand, this was the only specimen of a Cant/iar/s-\a.x\a. 

 which was captured, but adult beetles of several species were often 

 found far from the coast. The author concludes that it is very 

 improbable that these two circumstances coincide only by a mera 

 chanze, and is inclined to believe that the larva has developed on 

 the rock, from an egg deposited by a stray female and that the 

 abnormal conditions it has experienzed during its growth in some 

 way has caused the protlietely. 



