104 LAMELLICORN-BEETLES. 



white scales. The insect looks polished and a little metallic, and 

 has only the thorax covered with fine hairs, barely visible except 

 in certain lights. It is not nearly so numerous, but otherwise has 

 similar habits as R. inda. Tt is most frequently found in flow- 

 ers. In the South, where it is much more common, it is often 

 found about the holes made by the boll-worms in cotton-bolls, 

 evidently enjoying- the exuding sap. The beetle looks similar 

 to the one illustrated in Fig. 107, but is also illustrated in 

 Fier. no. 



Fig. 110. — Euphoriame- Fig. 111. — Osmoderma Fig. 112. — Osmoderma sca- 

 lancholica, Gory. -After eremicola, Knoch. -After bra, Beauv. — After Harris. 



Saunders. Harris. 



A number of other species of this interesting genus of 

 beekles occur only in the nests of ants. It is difficult to account 

 for their presence, but it is believed that their larvae are beneficial 

 to the colony of ants by cutting up the wood and roots found in the 

 lower parts of the nest. They may, perhaps, also secrete some 

 sweet liquid, used by the ants as food. At least some closely 

 allied beetles, belonging also to the flower-beetles, to the genus 

 Cremastochilus, are known to furnish food to the ants, hence are 

 protected by them. 



THE HERMIT FLOWER-BEETLES. 



(Osmoderma eremicola Knoch). 



This and the closely allied Rough Flower-beetle (0. 

 scabra Beauv.), are rather large insects measuring an inch or more 

 in length, the former species being the largest. Both species are 



