184 INSECTS AT HOME. 



very pretty when viewed through a lens. The colour i^ pitchy- 

 black, the head and thorax being thickly granulated. The 

 elytra are striated and punctated, and are variegated by a few 

 whitish patches. The under surface of the body is clothed with 

 white down. As its specific name implies, it is to be found 

 upon the oak. 



Our next example of this family is Orobites cijaneus. The 

 genus is known by its globular and polished body, and the 

 short groove on the chest. The insect which is figured is the 

 only British species of its genus, and is by no means common. 

 Vetches are good localities for it, and it has been found on 

 willows and in hedgerows. Its colour is very dark-blue, and 

 it has a curious way of avoiding observation if alarmed. As 

 the reader may see by reference to the illustration, its legs are 

 rather long in proportion to its body ; yet, it possesses the 

 power of packing them so tightly under its body, that it looks 

 more like a dry polished seed than an insect, and, in order to 

 assist the deception, it is instinctively taught to remain per- 

 fectly still as long as any sign of danger remains. The generic 

 name Orobites is Greek, and signifies ' vetch-eating,' and the 

 specific name cyaneus signifies ' dark-blue,' so that both titles 

 are perfectly appropriate. 



Omitting of necessity several genera of these insects, we 

 come to one which is among the most destructive of the group. 

 This is the Kice Weevil {Sitojohilus oiyzoe), which is shown 

 on Woodcut XIX. Fig. 5. The generic name of Sitophilus 

 signifies ' grain-lover,' and is given to the insect on account of 

 the terrible havoc which it makes in corn-stores. It belongs 

 to the family Calandridse, of which there is only one British 

 genus, that which has just been mentioned. In this family the 

 antennae have eight joints, the last joint being large and 

 rounded. The body is rather flat, and the elytra, which are 

 boldly striated, do not quite cover the end of the abdomen. 

 There is another species, the Corn Weevil {Sitophilus grana- 

 Hus), wliich feeds upon corn as the present species does on 

 rice. The Rice Weevil is distinguished by having four red 

 spots on the elftra, the Corn Weevil being altogether dusky- 

 red. 



