Mr. J. O. Westwood on the Genus Upis. 
157 
XXX. Observations upon the Economy of a South /Jmeri- 
can Species of the Coleopterous Genus Upis, with a few 
Remarks upon Carpophagous Insects in general. By J. O. 
Westwood, F.L.S. 
[Read 7th March, 1836.] 
At the February meeting of this Society, the Rev. F. W. Hope 
exhibited a large seed from the banks of the river Amazon, the 
interior of which had been consumed, but was still occupied, by a 
Coleopterous insect belonging to the genus Upis. This gentleman 
having had the kindness to place the subject in my hands with a 
view to bring it before the Society in a more detailed manner at 
a future meeting, I beg leave to offer the following account of it 
to the members, premising that it was necessary, in order to arrive 
at the most satisfactory method of attempting the investigation, to 
examine into the modes of proceeding adopted by other fruit- 
devouring insects, — a short summary of which will form a useful 
and not uninteresting introduction to the more immediate object 
of the present communication. 
Of all our insect enemies none are more annoying than those 
which attack fruit and grain in its ripened state. To say nothing 
of that minor misery of human life, the cracking of nuts, or the 
biting of fruit, and having the mouth fdled with a quantity of 
powder-like matter, which we know to be nothing else than the 
excrement of an insect which is at the same time, in all probability, 
writhing beneath our teeth, there is nothing more discouraging 
than to find that, after the careful watching of the flowering sea- 
son and the setting of the fruit, the latter, even after attaining its 
full growth, is rendered unfit for use by the presence of some of 
these tormenting objects. Here they grow to their full size with- 
out their presence being even suspected, and the consequence is, 
that the harvest of the fruiterer is often rendered abortive at the 
very moment when he was looking for the gathering of his crop. 
But even here w f e find a beautiful connection of cause and effect. 
These insects, in their early state, are so tender in their constitu- 
tion, that unless protected from the action of the air or the heat of 
the sun by such a covering as is afforded by the substance of 
fruits, they w'ould inevitably perish ; indeed it is impossible not at 
once to perceive that these very insects have been destined by an 
All -wise Creator to be participators with ourselves of the rich re- 
pasts of the fruit garden. Some fruit, as apples, pears, &c. arrive 
