94 



Dr. C. B. LongstafF on some Inonoinic jioints 



serrate, dentate aud mucronate tibiae is met with, because 

 the species of IFojylocncmis, in which the development has 

 become ahnost a monstrosity, do not feed on flowers, or at 

 least have not been observed doing so. Their habits seem 

 to be more those of certain Dynastinw, and I suspect them 

 to live, while in the larval state, in the excrement deposits 

 of the subterranean white ant, IlodoUrmcs viator, Latr." * 



Mr. Peringuey, I am bound to say, fails to convince me, 

 and I venture upon yet another explanation. 



Many of the species of Dichelus and Hctcrochelus burrow 



Diagram of posterior legs of Heterochelus, i . 



The body of the beetle is buried in the florets of a 



composite flower (x 5 diam.). 



into the disks of composite flowers, eating out the ovaries. 

 When so engaged the whole of the body of the insect may 

 disappear from view, or the extremity of the abdomen 

 may alone protrude, but in either case the hind-legs extend 

 beyond the florets, widely separated and closely resembling 

 the open jaws of an ant-lion. While picking one out of a 

 flower I was startled by receiving a very respectable pinch, 

 or bite, inflicted by the formidable teeth above referred to. 

 Now the suggestion that I have to offer is this : while 

 probably in the first instance adapted to assist the male 

 insect in grasping its mate, these huge hind-legs are now 

 of great advantage to the otherwise helpless beetle when 



* Transactions of tlie South African Philosophical Society, vol. 

 xii, pp. 625, 626. Descriptive Catalogue of the Coleojjtera of South 

 Africa, Hoplimee, by L. Peringuey, F.E.S. 



