26 NEW ZEALAND ENTOMOLOGY. 



may be noticed flying in all directions along the coast 

 immediately after sundown. Another genus {Xantholinus) 

 includes a number of interesting beetles found in old weevil 

 burrows, and probably feeding on their inmates. 



Group Lamellicornes. 



Family LuCANID.i:. 



Dorcas punctulatus (Plate I., fig. 7). 



An abundant species chiefly attached to the red pine 

 tree or rimu, where it may be found concealed beneath 

 the scaly bark, in the angles of the trunk near the roots. 

 When disturbed, it folds up its legs and antennae on its 

 breast, and, extending its powerful jaws, awaits the approach 

 of the enemy, ready to bite anything coming within its 

 reach. These, however, are purely defensive measures, the 

 insect being quite harmless when left alone. The larva is 

 at present unknown to me. Another species, D. reti- 

 culatus, is a much handsomer insect than the preceding ; 

 it may be at once recognized by four deep impressions in 

 the thorax, filled in with light-brown scales ; the margins 

 of the elytra are similarly scaled, as well as four spots on 

 each elytron, the remainder of the beetle being dark-brown 

 and shining. It is generally found in totara bark, but is 

 much scarcer than the last species. One small specimen 

 I possess, remarkable for its brilliant appearance, was taken 

 under the bark of a stunted black birch tree, over two 

 thousand feet above the sea-level. 



Family MELOLONTHID.-E. 

 Stethaspis suturalis (Plate I., fig. 8, 8a larva). 



This conspicuous insect occurs abundantly in all open 

 situations. Its larva (Fig. 8a) inhabits the earth, feeding 

 on the roots of various plants, and is especially abundant 



