THORNY-BREAST BEETLES. 



247 



by reference to the illustration, it is a very appropriate title. 

 They have six spines on the thorax — namely, four long spines 

 and two shorter — besides two small but bold spines on the 

 collar. They are all natives of South America. 



The fine insect which is here represented is an excellent 

 example of the grouj). In colour it is wholly black and orange, 

 the two hues being arranged so as to form a bold pattern, 

 as seen in the illustration. This pattern is rendered the bolder 

 from the fact that the orange portions are raised and slightly 

 rounded, while the black parts are depressed. The spines upon 

 the thorax are shining black. 



Though the vivid colours and well-defined marks of the 

 elytra render the insect a very conspicuous one, they fade into 



Fio. 116. — Lophoiioeerus barbicuiuis 

 (Black anil orange.) 



comparative insignificance before the extraordinary antennae. 

 The first four joints of these appendages are covered with thick 

 long hairs, pointing slightly forward, but radiating equally on 

 every side like the bristles of a bottle brush. They are black 

 at their bases and orange at their tips, so that they carry out the 

 colours of the elytra. The remaining joints are very slender 

 and of a pale yellow. Both scientific names of this insect refer 

 to the antennse. The generic name Lophonoccrus is formed from 

 two Greek words signifying "plume-horned," and the Latin word 

 harlicornis signifies "bearded horn." There are very many 

 species of the Sternacanthidaj, of which the present is certainly 

 the best example. 



