132 INSECTS AT HOME. 



the female being very remarkable in ibis respect. Red, however, 

 is tlie leading colour, and tlie average hues of the insect may 

 be described as follows : — The liead is black and deeply pinic- 

 turcd, and the thorax has a deep furrow along the centre, 

 and a transverse pit or 'impression' a little beliind the middle. 

 Its colour is brick-red, and in many specimens there is a black 

 spot on the centre, while in others tlie same ])art is brown. 

 Tlie elytra are rather more convex in the femab^ than in the 

 opposite sex, and are covered with striic and punctures. Their 

 colour is somewhat the same as that of the thorax, but rather 

 ])aler, though in many examples, especially among the fem;i,les, 

 tJie whole elytra are yellowish-brown except the margin, which 

 retains the ordinary brick-red colour. 



The insect is a plentiful one, especially in certain years. It 

 is best taken by means of the sweep-net, which sliould be used 

 along the sides of hedges, in copses, and similar localities. It 

 is the only British example of its genus. 



