270 INSECTS ABROAD. 



maxillary palpi, i.e. those feelers which are attached to the 

 maxillse, or inner jaws. In all the Erotylidce they are terminated 

 by a large flattened joint, but in the typical genus this joint is 

 boldy crescentic in its shape. 



That the exotic Erotylides are fungus-eaters like our British 

 species, is evident from the observations made upon the larva 

 of Erotylus surinamensis. The -perfect insects are always to be 

 found about boleti, and within these fungi the larvae are taken. 

 They are rather large, white, flat-bodied grubs, with short, sharp, 

 sturdy jaws supported on a black head, which can be withdrawn 

 into a cavity in the front of the thorax. It is smooth, but on 

 the first segment of the body there is a soft, fleshy tubercle, 

 from which issues a pale, scented liquid, the object of which is 

 quite unknown. 



Mr. Westwood, to whom I am indebted for the above account, 

 gives, in his " Introduction to Entomology," a figure of the larva 

 of an allied species, which in many respects is very much like 

 that of our English Erotylidse, save that it is much larger. 



The exact position of the family of the Languriidae, and its 

 relationship to the other families, are matters respecting which 



Fig. 134.— Fatua Weidmannii. 

 (Yellow and black.) 



there has been much doubt. As, however, they are placed next 

 to the ErotylidiB in the British Museum, we will accept that 

 arrangement. 



This species, Fatua Weidmannii, comes from China. The legs 

 are very long, especially the first pair, wliich have the thighs 

 much elongated and slightly bent, and tlie tilna; of moderate 

 dimensions and rather boldly curved. The antennae are also 

 long, and liave little tufts of stiff hair at each joint. 



The colour of the head and thorax is yellowish and partly 



