
OF THE FAMILY MELOLONTHIDA. 309 
under side clothed with short whitish-ochreous pubescence, the sides variegated with 
shining stripes more or less piceous ; apical joint of the abdomen shining and naked in 
the male. 
I have the pleasure of dedicating this fine insect to Dr. Francis Klug of Berlin, who 
was so obliging as to transmit to me one of three cocoons, from which, according to 
Pavon, this beetle was bred. The cocoon is ovate, hard, and somewhat like those of 
Trichiosoma Lucorum, Leach, in texture ; the operculum is semiorbicular, with a broad 
hinge and narrow rim: the shell of the pupa is similar to that of other Melolon- 
thide. 
The figure of the male beetle represented appears scarcely larger than some speci- 
mens that I have seen, but the females are generally considerably smaller: the 
latter sex is at first sight known by two dull spots at the base of the thorax, and by 
having all the claws bifid, whilst they are simple in the male excepting in the hinder 
pair of feet. It is difficult to imagine the use of the curious abdominal spine in the 
male, unless it be employed in sexual intercourse. 
For a beautiful series of this insect I am indebted to Mr. A. Mathews, A.L.S., who 
is at present engaged in collecting the plants and insects of Peru: they were found by 
him on the blossoms of a species of Mimosa in Huanuco, a warm valley on the eastern 
side of the Andes, where sugar-cane is cultivated, and the climate and vegetation of 
the tropics commence. 
PLATE XL. 
A. Ancistrosoma Kuvel, ¢. 
Fig. 1. Labrum. 
2. Mandible. 
3. Mazilla: p, palpus. 
4. Mentum: lI, labium: p, palpus. 
5. Antenna. 
6. Head of the male. 
7. Head and thorax of the female: h, clypeus: t, angle of the thorax: *, spine 
at the base of the thoraz. 
8. Abdomen and elytra of the male: a, disc of the last segment: b, junction 
with the thorax: s, basal spine peculiar to the male. 
VOL. I, 2T 
