248 FAMILY CANTHARIDAE 



I think it is quite possible that the insect may pass through two generations 

 during the monsoon, the insects occurring in late September and October 

 resulting from eggs laid in July by the beetles first appearing. This point 

 I have not, however, proved definitely, as I have not been able to rear the 

 larvae. The eggs are laid in bunches on the leaves of shrubs and grass 

 stems near the ground. 



To get rid of the beetles in the garden or nursery I have found the best 

 wa}' is to put on boys to collect them by hand and pay them so much for 

 every hundred caught. Each boy should be given a kerosene tin with a 

 little kerosene and water in it. All the beetles collected are thrown into 

 this and counted afterwards. 



Cantharis. 



Cantharis (Epicauta) antennalis, Mars. 



Habitat.— North-West Himalaya. 



Tree Attacked. — Loniccra aiigiistifolia and L. quinqnclocularis. Jaunsar. 



Beetle. — Elongate, narrow, brilliantly coloured. Head, basal joint of heavy prominent 

 antenna, anterior half of prothorax, and legs brilliant shining metallic green with a yellow 



reflexion. The basal half of prothorax and a narrow longitudinal 

 Description. band along elytral suture a dark blue green or purple with a 



green reflexion ; rest of elytra and remaining joints of antennae 

 a rich dull chrome yellow. Head ace-of-clul)s-shaped, irregularly punctate, the basal and 

 apical joints of antennae much thickened. I'rothorax narrower than head, sides produced 

 into a point medianly ; finely punctate anteriorly. Elytra narrow, sides parallel, apices 

 separately rounded, do not meet accurately along suture ; closely and densely reticulate. 

 Under-surface brilliant metallic green. Length (without the long, heavily jointed antennae), 

 24 mm. to 30 mm. 



This beetle was first reported as defoliating species of Loniccra by the 

 Director of the Imperial Forest School, Dehra Dun. 



Life History. The insects were taken on 16 June 1893, and sent to 



the Indian Museum, Calcutta. 



I have taken the insect on several occasions in the same month 

 in the Western Himalaya at elevations of between 7,000 and 8,500 ft., 

 and have found it feeding on the leaves of various shrubs forming the 

 undergrowth of the deodar, spruce, and silver-fir forests of this region. 

 The beetles have the curious habit of keeping together in swarms, at 

 any rate for a time after first emergence on the wing. It is also 

 apparent that a brood of the insects must mature at the same time 

 without a very considerable overlapping of generations. It is a curious 

 experience suddenly to find a swarm of these brilliantly-coloured and 

 handsome insects settling on the path and undergrowth around one, 

 glistening in the sunlight like so many gorgeous jewels. The insects couple 

 towards the end of June. I have not found the larvae. 



