332 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



years for its metamorphoses. The beetles frequent the leaves of oaks, ajipeariug 

 diirino- June in France. 



To the genus Callklium., in its less restricted sense, belong liattened species of 

 longieorns with ]irothorax and elytra spineless, with eyes not embracing the base of 

 the antenna?, and having the femora usually much thickenecl. Some of the s|iecies of 

 this genus are very variable ; ('. >Hiriabtli', :\ s])ecies common lioth in Europe and 

 America, has over twenty well-deiined varieties. It is often entirely brownish yellow, 

 sometimes the ])rothorax only is brownish or reddislt yellow, while the rest of the 

 beetle is deep blue. Its larva feeds in oak. C. nnteimatum, of the United States, 

 and C. violaceum, of Eurojie, are both entirely of n very deeji metallic-blue color. 



Ijotli feed, as larvie, n])on 

 conifers. 



Hylotrupes bajulns is 

 similar in form to Callid- 

 iimi, but has a broader ])ro- 

 sternum. Its prothorax is 

 nearly round. Tlie entire 

 Iteetle is usually black, 

 (d<_illied in jilaces, esjiecially 

 on the jinithorax and elytra, 

 with .■ishy jnibescence, but 

 sometimes the elytra are 

 brownish yellow. Its length 

 is about (t.Tft ot an inch. 

 The larvie eat the wood nf 

 conifers, and, according to 

 Kirbv and Spence, have d(me much damage to rafters and roofs in London ; when the 

 beetles arrive at maturity they even pierce sheets of lead to escape from the wood. 

 This species is found near the coast in North and South America, where it lias been 

 introduced from Eui-ope. Asemuni mrcstvm, an American species, is similar in form 

 to H. bajuhis, but is somewhat smaller 

 and of a dull, dark brown color. Its larv:i 

 bores in pine wood. 



The last sub-family of the longieorns, 

 the Prionime, which have a margined 

 ]irothorax, are mostly insects of consider- 

 able size, with strong jaws. In some 

 species, of which Macrotomu htliif<r is 

 an example, the males are eight or ten 

 times mure numerous than the females, 

 and liglit among themselves for the )ios- 

 session of the females. In these lights 

 the males liite off one another's antenna' 

 and legs. In PHonus sexual activity 

 is very great, the male being attracted to 



the female by lier odoi', and apparently, im the other hand, the males are attractive 

 to the females by the same means. CV>pulation, as observed in P. coriaru/s, lasts 

 scarcely two minutes. 



Fig. 371. — n, CiUhlinm riolacctmi; b, C \'ariabile; c, lli/lotrapcs hujalus. 



Fig. 372. — Prioims Inticollin auil |.iira. 



