INTRODUCTION. 



LAMELLICORNIA. 



The LamellicorQia form one of the best defined and most readily 

 recognisable of the primary divisions of Coleoptera. No 

 transitional forms linking them with any other group are known, 

 so that, although their precise origin and relationships are obscure, 

 their limits and chax'acteristies can be fixed with precision. 

 They are found in every part of the world and about 15,000 species 

 have been named and described, of which about 1300 belong 

 to the Indian fauna. No systematic collecting has ever been 

 undertaken in this enormous and diversified area, and the above 

 number must in time be very largely increased. 



The beetles of this superfamily are of a primitively fossorial 

 type, L e. their fundamental structure has been determined by 

 burrowing habits which to a greater or less extent still persist in 

 the majority. They are generally very compact, with great 

 muscular power, but without much agility, or grace of form or 

 movement. In some groups this deficiency is counterbalanced by 

 very brilliant or striking coloration, while the muscular development 

 of the head and thorax and their appendages, and the remarkable 

 outgrowths which often occur upon these parts of the body, 

 produce some of the most strange and bizarre forms to be found 

 in the Animal Kingdom. 



Structure. 



The chief distinctive feature of the Lamellicornia, as that name 

 implies, is found in the structure of the antenna, which is short 

 and consists noi^mally of ten joints, of which the terminal joints, 

 commonly three, but often more, in number, are flattened and 

 elongated transversely so that a large part of their surfaces is 

 contiguous. These lamellate joints are articulated together at 

 one end and fitting closely in the resting position form au 

 organ like a closed fan. The apposed faces of the fan-leaves 

 are furnished with minute sensory pits and hairs which are freely 

 exposed to the air by the slight separation of the leaves when the 

 beetle is active, and protected when it is at rest by the closing of 

 the organ. This structure gives a much larger proportionate 

 sensory area than in simpler types of antennae, and probably a 

 higher decree of sensitiveness has accompanied the withdrawal of 

 these delicate surfaces from the risk of contact with anything 



