Mimetic Coleoptera 243 
The genus Calopteron belonging to this family is not 
phosphorescent. In some of the species, as in C. basalis 
(Klug), the wing-covers are widened out behind in a peculiar 
manner. ‘This and other species of Calopteron are not only 
imitated in their colour and markings by other families of 
beetles, but also in this peculiar widening of the elytra. 
Besides this, the Calopteron when walking on a leaf raises 
and depresses its wing cases, and I observed exactly the same 
movement in a longicorn beetle (Evander nobilis, Bates), 
which is evidently a mimetic form of this genus. In addition 
to being mimicked by other families of beetles, Calopteron 
is closely resembled by a species of moth (Pzonza lycotdes, 
Walker). This moth varies itself in colour; in one of the 
varieties it has a central black band across the wings, when 
it resembles Calopteron vicinum (Deyrolle), in another this 
black band is wanting, when it resembles C. basalis. Pro- 
fessor Westwood has also pointed out to me that the resem- 
blance to the beetle is still further increased in the moth by 
raised lines of scales running lengthwise down the thorax. 
The phosphorescent species of Lampyride, the fireflies, 
sO numerous in tropical America, are equally distasteful, and 
are also much mimicked by other insects. I found different 
species of cockroaches so much like them in shape and colour 
that they could not be distinguished without examination. 
These cockroaches, instead of hiding in crevices and under 
logs like their brethren, rest during the day exposed on the sur- 
face of leaves, in the same manner as the fireflies they mimic. 
Protective resemblances amongst insects are so numerous 
and widespread, and they have been so ably described by 
Bates and Wallace, that I shall only mention a few of .the 
most noticeable examples that came under my attention, 
and which have not been described by other authors. 
Amongst these were the striking modifications of some beetles 
belonging to the Mordellidz. These, in their normal form, are 
curious wedge-shaped beetles, which are common on flowers, 
and leap like fleas. In some of the Nicaraguan species the 
body is lengthened, and the thorax and elytra coloured, so 
as to resemble wasps and flies. In the Mordellidz the head 
is small, and nearly concealed beneath the large thorax; and 
in the mimetic forms the latter is coloured so as to resemble 
the large head and eyes of the wasp or fly imitated. The 
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