4o8 



Marvels of Insect Life* 



Photo by] [E. Step, F.L.S. 



The Cobbler. 



This wood-boring beetle is common in the pine-growing 

 districts of the Continent, and is occasionally found in this 

 country. The photograph is that of a male, and shows the 

 actual size. 



The Timberman. 



We have already described several 

 species of long-horned beetles (see page 193), 

 and remarked upon the general characters 

 and habits of the family. It is a noteworthy 

 fact that all these beetles, whose relationship 

 can be established at a glance bv reason of 

 the great length of their antennae, should 

 agree so closely in habit in their grub stage. 

 At this period they all obtain their food by 

 boring into timber, cutting cylindrical tun- 

 nels from the exterior towards the heartwood 

 of the tree, and eating all that they cut away. 

 The grubs are all much alike in form, though 

 differing, of course, in size, according to the 

 dimensions attained by the respective species 

 when they come to full beetle-hood. They 

 are white and soft, somewhat flattened above 

 and below, and are widest just behind the 

 head. 



The species to which we desire to refer 

 now is rare as a British beetle, restricted 

 to the north of these islands, and its chief locality certain woods at Rannoch, where 

 the males may be seen flying with their extraordinarily long antennae extended 



backwards. It is known locally as the 

 timberman, 1 and it is interesting to note 

 that equivalent terms in other tongues 

 are applied to it in Sweden and Lapland, 

 where it occurs also. It is said that the 

 reason for this name is to be found in its 

 usual trick of carrying its antennae so 

 spread that they resemble the arms of a pair 

 of compasses, with which it appears to 

 be making measurements. The females are 

 not so well endowed with these ornaments 

 as the males, in accordance with the 

 rule prevailing among beetles respecting 

 such adornments. It may be surmised 

 that in this matter the females have 

 little cause for complaint as their antennae 

 are usually twice the length of the body ; 

 but it is no unusual circumstance for 

 those of the male to be four times the 

 length of his body. We ought perhaps to 



Acanthociniis redilis. 



Plwto by] 



Ring-horned 



[E. Step, F.L.S. 



Palimna. 



The palimna is a common wood-boring beetle of Malaya. I ts 

 uniform mottling of black and grey gives it a pretty appear- 

 ance, which is rendered more graceful by the length of tlie 

 antenna?, which are of the same colours as the body but 

 disposed in rings. Natural size. 



