Cetonia. | LAMELLICORNIA. 57 
CETONIA, Fabricius, 
This genus comprises nearly two hundred species, seventy-six of 
which are enumerated by M. Bergé in his supplement to the Munich 
Catalogue as having been deseribed since 1869; it is probable therefore 
that the genus is much more extensive than is at present known ; its 
members, as a rule, are very brilliantly coloured; of the sixteen 
European species we possess two as British. 
The larva of Cetonia aurata is described and figured by Curtis (Farm Insects, 
page 108) ; it closely resembles the larva of Melolontha vulgaris, but may easily be 
distinguished by having a horny rusty spot on each side of the prothoracic segment ; 
the legs also are longer and the upper surface is clothed with transverse series of 
ferruginous hairs ; these larvee live two or three years under ground ; when they have 
attained their full growth they form an oval case of earth at a considerable depth as 
large as a walnut, which is covered outside with the excrement of the animal, and in 
this cell they change to yellowish pupae; the larve, and also the perfect insects are 
often found in ants’ nests. The perfect beetle is sometimes very destructive to roses ; 
hence its popular name of the ‘ Rose beetle” or “ Rose chafer;” they also attack 
strawberries, turnips, and beans, and may be found on whitethorn, mountain ash, 
elder, lilac, candytuft, and various other flowers ; it is not, however, very often that 
they commit any very serious depredations. 
I. Elytra sinuate at apex near suture; process of meso- 
sternum globular, impunctate; posterior tibize with a 
strong raised tooth in middle; upper surface bright 
OMNES 5 6 5 5 o bo & a 0 0 6 5 6 o Op Muna im 
Il. Elytra not, or scarcely, sinuate at apex near suture; 
process of mesosternum truncate, punctured ; posterior 
tibiae with a ridge terminating in a small point in 
middle; upper surface more or less bronze or coppery . C. FLORICOLA, Herbst. 
Cc. aurata, L. Oblong, depressed, of a bright golden green colour, 
shining; under-side of a bright reddish coppery colour; head thickly 
punctured, clypeus rather long, antenn» black, with first joint metallic ; 
thorax gradually and rather strongly narrowed in front, sinuate at base, 
sparingly punctured on disc, more thickly at sides, scutellum large, 
elongate triangular, with a few scattered punctures at base or in middle ; 
elytra depressed behind middle, with traces of raised lines, and with 
very shallow horse-shoe shaped punctures, which are partly arranged in 
lines and partly scattered ; from middle to apex there are also more or less 
distinct transverse wavy whitish lines or small markings ; the apex near 
suture is sinuate and presents an eroded appearance ; pygidium coppery, 
thickly rugose ; mesosternal process globular, impunctate ; legs stout, 
black, more or less metallic. L. 14-20 mm. 
Male with segments 1-5 of abdomen longitudinally impressed in 
middle. 
On flowers, &c.; generally distributed and common in the London district and the 
South of England; Scilly Islands; not uncommon, although local, in the Midlands 
as far north as the Birmingham district ; Gloucester, rather common ; Bath, not 
common; Swansea; much rarer further north; Liverpool district, Rainhill; Isle of 
Man ; not recorded from the Northumberland and Durham district ; Scotland, very 
rare, Lowlands, Solway and Clyde districts; Ireland, near Belfast. 
