58 FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. 



appearance. The conspicuous features of colour are two yellow 

 oblique spots on each elytron — ^tliat is, four spots on the abdomen. 

 The antennae are a uniform brown colour. Legs black, with brown 

 coxse, — brown next the body and black next the femur, and the 

 remainder of the leg brown. The thorax has very strong lateral 

 spines. Length 15 to 22 mm. 



Family LAMIID^. 



From the systematic point of view, Fowler says, " The chief 

 distinctive character of this family is found in the fact that the 

 anterior tibiae are obliquely grooved on their inner side : as a rule the 

 palpi have the last joint cylindrical and pointed." 



Fowler divides the family into twelve genera, the majority of which 

 are associated with trees or timber, but two only may be considered — ■ 

 viz., Acantliocinus and Sapenht, the former because of its peculiar 

 appearance and structure, and the latter because of economic 

 importance. 



I. Femora distinctly clavate ; thorax with lateral spines or tubercles. 

 L Antennae much longer than the body ; upper surface smoother. 

 (1) Antennae in male four times as long as the body; 

 anterior coxae rather widely distant ; size large 



Acanthocinus, Steph. 

 h. AntenucB 11-jointed . . . Saperda, F. 



Acanthocinus yEDiLis (Linn.) 



The following description of this handsome insect is taken from 

 Eye's ' British Beetles ' : — 



"Astino7nus {Acantliocinus) (vdilis is conspicuous for the enormous 

 length of its antennae, especially in the male. This also occurs at 

 Eannoch, where it may be not uncommonly seen flying across the 

 glades of the Black Forest with its long appendages streaming behind. 

 It loves to settle on felled logs with its antennae spread out like com- 

 passes, from which habit it is termed by the Highlanders ' Timber- 

 man,' a name curiously enough applied to it in Lapland and Sweden, 

 where it is common. If two males come within range they inevit- 

 ably fight, for which reason, and also on account of their delicate 

 structure, it is difficult to obtain quite perfect specimens. 



