22 Mr. H. Douisthorpe m 



cases found in ants' nests, mentioning that the larva closes 

 the case and turns round to pupate. He points out that 

 what they feed on, and why they occur in ants' nests, is 

 not known. 



Rosenhauer (Ueber die Entro. und Fortpf der C/fjlhra 

 and Cryptocc]}hahis, 1852) describes the larva, pupa, larval 

 case, and egg-case of ClyfJira quadri-punetata. He says the 

 case is made of excrement, although the earlier writers 

 have said it is made of earth. He points out that the larva 

 of Clythra quadri-jmnetata is only found with Formica mfa. 

 He records having found a closed case in the autumn, and 

 suggests that the larva closes the case against the cold, as 

 do snails. He found that the larva would not eat leaves 

 or dead ants, but that it ate a meal-worm, and he expects 

 they feed on the prey of the ants, but that it is very 

 desirable that their real food should be found out. Speak- 

 ing of species of Chjthra and Cryidoeephalus, he describes 

 how the $ covers the egg which she drops, or throws away 

 from her. He further states that when naked eoTfs occur, 

 they are dropped by the $ against her will, or that she 

 has not had food. 



Chapuis et Caudeze (Catalogue des Larves des Coleopt., 

 p. 278, 1853) describe and figure the larva and larval 

 case of Clythra quadriqnmdata. They mention that the ^ 

 covers the egg with excrement, and that the larva enlarges 

 the case by adding bits to it. They state that when it 

 changes its skin, the larva first fastens up the end of the 

 case. 



Gabriel Tappes (L'Abeille, vol. iv, p. Ixxxii) points out 

 that the $ $ of Crypioaphalns have a small cavity on the 

 last segments of the abdomen, and that they hold the egg 

 in this cavity when, like ClyfJira, they cover it with 

 excrement. He then describes how the $ carries out tliis 

 operation, making the finished article look like buds or 

 catkins. He mentions that the larva constructs another 

 case, and that the first falls off, leaving only a slight trace 

 at its lower end. He states that the larva is generally 

 found in ants' nests, Avhere it devours the twigs and 

 bits of dried leaves collected by the ants. He also points 

 out tliat the larval case is a protection against the ants. 

 He mentions that the larva plasters on its case its ex- 

 crement, which is seized by the legs, and that to pupate 

 it closes the case and turns round. He says that to emerge 

 the beetle cuts a cap off the bottom of the case. 



