THE ANTENN.K OF A BEETLE. 



13 



(/>•) Capitate or lioad-likc, when the outer joints are suddenly 

 laru'er. forniiuu' a couipact i'ouud('(l club. 



a 



Fig. 4. 1-10, Forms of clavato antennae; 11, capillary and verticillato; 12, muniliform; 13, 14, 

 15, lamellate; 16, irregular. (After LeConte and Horn.) 



(?) Lawctlate, a form of clavate antenna' in which the outer 

 joints are leaf -like plates which may be l)roni'ht closely in contact, 

 thus forming- a transverse or rarely rounded club, supported at one 

 side by the stem of the antenna^. 



The antenna^ are said to be qenicatnte or elbowed when the sec- 

 ond joint is attached to the first in such a way as to make an obtuse 

 angle, the joints after the second following in the same line as the 

 latter. In this form the first or basal joint is usually much longer 

 and is called the scape. When the antenna is both geniculate and 

 capitate, the joints between the scape and clul) are together called 

 the fioiiclc. 



The antoitial grooves are concave, usually elongate and narrow 

 areas on the under side of the head or prosternum. in which the an- 

 tenna^ are concealed or i)laced in repose. When on the under side 

 of the head they usually are close to the eye and converge on the 

 gula. 



The antenna' of lieetles are supposed to lie primarily organs of 

 smell, but also bear nerves of touch. In a number of species they 

 are put to other uses ; it being said that certain Cerambycids in 

 walking along a slender twig use them as a rope-walker does his 

 balancing pole ; while those of certain aquatic forms are used in 

 connection with respiration, and those of the male Meloe as clasping 

 organs. 



