OASE-MzVKIXG COLEOPTEROUS LARViE. 

 BY T. D. A. COCKERELL, F.Z S. 



On April 23rd, 1890, at West Cliff, I came across numerous little 

 earthy cases, cylindrical, rounded posteriorly, and subcarinate dorsally, 

 in the nest of an ant, apparently Formica fusca. Each of these con- 

 tained a fleshy Coleopterous larva, with rugose head ; in colour pale 

 orange, with the head and tarsi red-brown. 



I at once sent one of these to Dr. John Hamilton, who wrote on 

 April 28th that they were " very probably the larvae of Goscmoptera 

 vittigera, which is found in Colorado. The larvse of G. dominica 

 construct such cases, and hibernate as larva? under stones, &c. I 

 thought all the species of Glijthrini and Gldamydini were leaf-eaters 

 (ph3'tophagi), but I find G. dominica lives on the ground and eats dead 

 leaves, and likely this larva does the same. I have the one you sent 

 me in a tin box with an old leaf in it, and it appears to be eating quite 

 lively ; possibly I may raise it. Observe whether its being with ants 

 was an accident (as I think) or whether from its nature. Professor 

 Eiley, Missouri Rep. 0, figures the eggs, larvae, case, and imago of 

 C dominica, also the case of Ghlamys plicata, e\\^ev oi which would 

 do, as to shape, but the details are a little different." 



So I made further search, and as a result found a second species, 

 living on the same bank, but doubtless distinct. This latter did not 

 live with ants. The two larvae may be distinguished by the following 

 table : — 



COSCINOPTEEA No. 1. CoSCINOPTEEA No. 2. 



Lives in ants' nests. Lives under rocks, but not in nests. 



Case, 71 mm. long ; greyish, carinate Case, 4 mm. long ; blackisli with no 

 dorsally, and with more rudimen- indication of carinoe. 



tary lateral carinsB. 



Larva pale orange ; head, tarsi, and Larva white, with a strong pinkish- 

 thoracic shield red-brown. yellow tinge ; head and legs black ; 



thoracic shield dark brown. 



Structurally, both species seem gencrically identical ; they also 

 walk in the same way. 



I have found Goscinoptera vittigera and G. axiliaris in the perfect 

 state in the neighbourhood of West Cliff. Bahia quadrigiittata, Say.,* 

 I found on Yucca angustifolia, Pursh, at the same locality as that of 

 the larvae ; may my larva No. 2 have been this ? 



I believe, myself, that larva No. 1 lives normally with ants (since 



* C. vittigera was kindly identified for me by Mr. L. O. Howard, from a. specimen found by 

 Swift Creek ; the other two species were identified by Dr. Hamilton. 



