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X. On the larvK of Trictenotoma child reni, Gray, Melitt- 

 oiiima insularc, Fairmaire, and Dascillus cerviuus, 

 Liiui. By C. J. Gahan, M.A , F.E.S. 



[Read Marcli 18th, 190S.] 



Plate VI. 



In view of tlio divergence of the opinions that were at one 

 time hold in regard to the systematic position of the 

 TrietenotomicLv, a knowledge of the larvae of this family 

 must prove to be interesting, and I am now fortunately in 

 a position to be able to give some account of a larva which, 

 witliout doubt, belongs to the family. This larva was 

 received from the late M. Henri Rouyer, by whom it was 

 found in Java "by the side of the debris of pupa? and 

 imagines" of Trietenotoma childrcni, Gray. 



A description is given also in this paper of the larva of 

 Melittomnia, Murray, a genus of Li//nex)/lid,v, and tiie 

 opportunity has been taken to add a figure of the little- 

 known larva of Dasrillns cervinus, Linn., which was described 

 by Eiichson in 1841. 



1. The larva of Trictenotoma childrcni, Gray. 



The larva is 12 centimetres (= 4-7 inches) in length, its general 

 colour pale yellowish-white ; the head, which is strongly exserteJ, is 

 reddish-brown with the front margin and the robust mandibles, 

 black. The head and anterior segments are somewhat flattened and 

 depressed ; the legs well developed, and rather widely separated by 

 tlie broad flat sternal plates. The general appearance would be very 

 suggestive of the larva of Fytho or Pyrochroa were it not for the 

 difference in form of the terminal abdominal segments. The 9th 

 segment is narrower and somewhat shorter than the 8th, is obtusely 

 rounded behind and carries at the apex two backwardly produced 

 processes which are curved upwards and sharply pointed at the end. 

 The anus is placed transversely on the ventral side of this segment 

 at about one-third of its lengtli from the end. 



Head. Porrect, strongly exserted, transverse, rounded at the 

 TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 190S. — PART II. (SEPT.) 



