RELATED CANE BEETLES AND THEIR ALLIES. 63 



MIMADORETUS. 



Two species are known to ns, M. niveosquamosus Lea and M. 

 favomacuUitus Macleay, both occurring sparingly in the scrub lands at 

 Babinda and Innisfail, where they are usually attracted to light. In 

 appearance they are not typical of the ]Melolonthid group (Lepidiota^ 

 llaplonijclia), resembling more the Rntelides {Anoplocinathus, &c.). 

 Flavomaculatus is a striking little beetle with its semi-clothing of bright- 

 yellow hairs. These two insects are of interest, since they are very 

 closely related to the notorious Green Japanese Beetle (Popilia japonica) 

 of the eastern United States. 



STETHASPIS SQUAMOSUS LEA. 



Of the general aspect of MimadorctHs but of larger dimensions, this 

 is a rare and recently descrilied scrub form; our specimens are from 

 Babinda and Kuranda. 



This is the last of the ^Mclolonthid group, and we now come to 

 the brightly coloured beetles of the Rutelid group {Anoplognatlius, 

 Calloodes, &c.). 



ANOPLOGNATHUS BOISDUVALI B0I8DUVAL. 



The Cliristmas Beetle, as it is commonly called, has been recognised 

 as one of the cane-beetles for many years. We have come upon references 

 to it as far back as 1896 (23), under its synonymic name of A. lineatus. 

 It appears to be widely distributed, and is the mo.st common member of 

 the genus in the Cairns district. Girault and Dodd (66) recorded the 

 larvie as far south as the Clarence River in New South Wales. 



Emergence aud Hahifs of BectJes. — The adults emerge with the tirst 

 rains, as soon as Lepidoderma alhohirtuni is on the wing. In 1918, 

 following two nights' rain, beetles were noticed for the tirst time on 

 24th November, and they were plentiful on the same trees on 10th 

 January. They were abundant on their feeding-trees on 15th January, 



1920, a very late season. Odd ones flew to lights at Babinda on 3()th 

 October, 1920 ; and emergence took place at Gordonvale about 27th 

 November, following soaking rains at intervals since 12th November. 

 Yet, strange to say, when digging a trench at Greenhills on 5th January, 



1921, a living adult was found in its pupal cell at a depth of 10 inches. 

 By the end of January it was scarcely possible to secure the beetles. 



The general habit of Rutelides, as opposed to the Melolonthids 

 (L. alhoMrtum is an exception in the latter group), is to remain on the 

 feeding-trees during the day, and the Christmas beetle is typical of its 

 tribe. They remain exposed on the leaves, even in the bright sunlight, 

 throughout the day ; in this situation the male can often be seen perched 

 on the back of his mate, though it is very doubtful if copulation occurs 

 before dusk. A sharp jar u.sually causes them to drop to the ground 

 and hide, but sometimes, more especially if the afternoon be waning 

 or the day be dull, they will take flight for a considerable distance to 

 another tree. 



Five food plants are known in the Gordonvale area, all Eucalypts, 

 namely, the blue gum {E. tereticornis), poplar gum {E. plat y pit ylla), 

 jMoreton Bay ash {E. tesselaris), bloodwood {E. corymbosa), and box 

 {E. leptophleha) . Of these the first two are the most important; the 

 poplar gum grows throughout the lower-lying or swampy forest land,. 



