10 MEANING OF SHAPSS AND COLOUBS OF THE MEMBBACIDJS. 



Microschema, Hoplophora, Plafi/cofls, Potnia, and Ochrojjcpla (Plates XVITL-XXTI ), 

 also sug^^est cryptic resemblance to various vegetable structures, as a reference to the 

 figures will sufficiently indicate. As in almost all the other cases the bionomics of 

 each of the species requires special study upon the spot. In HupJopJiora sanpiiiiiosa 

 (Plate XIX., Fig. 3) Mr. Buckton suggests the resemblance to a small bee. A probable 

 model may be found by a search among the Neotropical Hymenoptera Acui,eata, 

 but observation of the living insects will still be most desirable in order to afford the 

 fullest confirmation of the interpretation. 



In the two sub-families, the Membracina and the HojjlojjJior'uits, cryptic appear- 

 ances seem to be almost universal, so far as we can judge from the more or less 

 probable interpretations suggested by a study of cabinet specimens and figures. We 

 now reach the Darninie, a sub-family in which mimetic adaptation is the probable 

 exjolanation of many species. Passing the genus Asjmiia (Plate XXII.), of which 

 the colouring may be cryptic, we reach the contrasted colours and conspicuous 

 patterns of Daniis (Plates XXII. and XXII I.). It is highly probable that 

 the appearances which are here figured, indicate aposematic (warning) colours, 

 or else mimicry of the warning colours of other animals. It is probable that 

 one or more of the unpalatable groups of Coleoptera, such as the Phytophaga or the 

 CoccineUlda, atTord the models for some of the species, and it has been suggested that 

 others are mimetic of slugs (see page 109). Certainty can only be attained by a 

 study on the spot, but some conclusions with a high degree of probability could, I 

 think, be reached by an examination of a good museum collection of the specially 

 protected CoLEOPTiiUA from the same part of the world. Some of the species of the 

 genus Sticfopelta (Plates XXIII. and XXIV.) are also probably mimetic of Coleopteka. 

 The representation of -S*. nic/rifrons (Plate XXIII., Fig. 5) especially suggests the appear- 

 ance of a beetle, such as one of the Phytophaga, with a reddish head, black thorax, and 

 light brown elytra. Other species of this genus possess colours which may be 

 cryptic, and the same is the case with IlehefUoides, Hebetica, Tropidarnis, Alcmeone, 

 Hyphinoii, Danioides, Di/si/ncrHiis, Acoiiophora, Entap/iins, Ilypheus, Hemiptycha, 

 Nessorrliinus, and Cymhoiiiuiplia (Plates XXIII. -XXIX.). The ciyptic interpretation is 

 highly probable in some of the species figured, less certain in others. Thus Mr. 

 Buckton's suggestion that Hebeficoides aciitus (Plate XXIII., Fig. 8) resembles a shining 

 brown seed (page 119), or, at least, some vegetable structure, is in every way probable, 

 as is the bud-, thorn-, or spine-like interpretation of several species of Aconoplwra . 

 A single figured species of this latter genus, A. W^ album (Plate XXVIII., Fig. 5), 

 appears to possess an aposematic or mimetic colouring. Again, the species of 

 Alcmeoiip, A. cmirotoides, shown on Plate XXIV., Fig. 6, appears to be cryptic, while 

 A- (/odmani, figured by Canon Fowler on Plate V., Fig. 24, of his monograph in the 



