The Bionoiuics of South African Insects. 519 



The same species is sometimes repeated two or even 

 three times ia the Plate in order to show common varia- 

 tions in the pattern. 



All the species of Cantharidfe in this group are abundant 

 in Salisbury, some of them occurring in such numbers as 

 to form a serious pest in the local flower-gardens. All 

 those mentioned feed on flowers exclusively, except M. 

 holosericccc which seems to be more attached to grasses. 

 In every case they emit a quantity of vesicating yellow 

 juice from the antenna? and joints of the legs when 

 handled, and also eject a liquid from their mouths ; their 

 flight is heavy and noisy, and they are most conspicuous 

 insects in every way. Ccroplesis cciffcr is probably the 

 commonest Lon^icorn in South Africa, attackincj dead 

 wood of almost any description, but particularly frequent- 

 ing acacias. It has a slow conspicuous flight, and has been 

 proved by experiment to possess distasteful qualities, 

 though I have not noticed that it gives off any smell. 



The Longicorn Cymatura hifasciata is specially attached 

 to a species of Lantana, which grows to a fair-sized bush, 

 and the insects occasionally may be found on it in some 

 numbers. It is certainly a Mllllerian mimic, as it has a 

 strong smell, is very sluggish, and feigns death persistently 

 when captured. It was refused with evident dislike 

 by baboons. Anuhis vicllyi does not occur at Salisbury, 

 but is fairly common at Umtali, further east, where it 

 frequents the flowers of low plants. It is a brightly- 

 coloured insect, and emits the strong characteristic smell 

 of the diurnal Cerambycidse. 



/3. Intermediate Groiq) connecting the Cantliarid and 

 CoccineUoid Grou/ps (Represented on Plate XIX). 



C'antharidas Actenodia chrysomeliua (figs. 7, 8, 11). 



^ Melitonoma sp. nov. (fig. 18) ; M. trnn- 

 catifroiis (fig. 19) ; M. litigiosa (fig. 

 21); M. epistomalis (fig. 23); Anti- 

 pus nifus (figs. 22, 25) ; Clythra lac- 

 oidairei (fig. 24) ; Aulacophora festiva 

 (fig. 26) ; Cryptoeephalus 5-plagiatus 

 (fig. 27) ; C. varioplagiatus (fig. 28) ; 

 ^ Syagrus mar.shalli (fig. 29). 



This group merges very gradually into the Mylabroid 

 group on one hand, especially in those species where the 

 rows of spots coalesce into transverse bands, and at the 



CoLEOPTERA \ Phytophacja 



