148 INSECTS AT H0:ME. 



the thorax, and they are crossed with four black belts, as shown 

 in the figure. 



These beautiful little insects live in boleti and rotten wood. 

 Of another species, Orchesia Tnicans, Mr. Curtis writes as 

 follows : — ' I once found this insect in abundance beneath 

 moist boleti attached to the trunks cf elm-trees in Norfolk, in 

 the month of June ; and, dropping as soon as the boletus was 

 touched, it became necessary to hold a net beneath, in which 

 they fell and skipped about like shrimps.' It is probable that 

 the very long spines of the hinder tibios afford the means by 

 which these insects leap. The third, and last British species of 

 this genus is Orchesia minor. 



Our nest example, Melandrya caraboides, is drawn on 

 Woodcut X.V. Fig. 4. In this genus the spines of the hinder 

 tibiae are not lengthened as in Orchesia; the body is long, 

 rather flattened, and slightly narrowed in front. The maxillary 

 palpi have the last joint large and egg-shaped, horny on the 

 outside and fleshy on the inside. The antenna is shown at 



The colour of this insect is shining blackish-blue, and the 

 body is very flat. The larva, which is shown at Fig. h, burrows 

 in old willow-trees, and, by breaking them up, both the larva 

 and perfect Beetle can be obtained at the proper time of year. 

 It is scarcely possible to secure the insect without breaking up 

 the stump, as it visually lives in the burrows made by the larvae, 

 and retreats into them at the least indication of danger. 

 Sometimes, however, it can be obtained by suddenly tearing off 

 the bark, taking care to place under it a net or sheet of paper, 

 as the Beetles have a habit of tucking up their legs and falling 

 to the ground, when they have no burrows into which they can 

 run. They are winged, and can fly well. 



These are not plentiful insects, but the present species is 

 tolerably common, and can be found from March to June. 

 There are only two British species of this genus. 



The family of the Pyrochroidce is rendered familiar to us by 

 means of the well-known Cardinal Beetle {Pyrochroa coo- 

 cined), so called on account of its beautiful scarlet colour. 

 The insect is represented on Woodcut XVI. Fig. 1. 



