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velo 5 
VI. On some bionomic points in certain South African 
Lamellicorns. By G. B. Lonestarr, M.D., F.ES. 
{Read February 7th, 1906. ] 
Mr. TRIMEN, in the introductory chapter of his “South 
African Butterflies,” after remarking on the poverty of the 
Rhopalocera of the Cape Peninsula as compared with the 
richness of its Flora, and stating that in that part of 
the world butterflies cannot perform a very prominent part 
in the fertilization of flowers, goes on to say: “The great 
number of densely hairy flower-frequenting Coleoptera in 
South Africa must also play a large part in plant 
fertilization.” * 
The beetles referred to are chiefly Lamellicornia of the 
sub-families Cetoniine and Hopliine. 
CETONIINA. 
As regards the former group, Dr. Dixey and I met with 
but eight species, being doubtless too early in the season. 
Of the beautiful gem-like Oxythyrea hemorrhoidalis, Fab., 
which was not uncommon on flowers by the banks of the 
Nahoon and Buffalo Rivers, near East London, I have 
nothing to remark save that Fabricius might well have 
given such a beautiful creature a more appropriate name. 
The more dingy Oxythyrea marginalis, Schonh., was first 
met near Pretoria on the lavender-coloured flowers of a 
Loganiaceous plant of the genus Buddleia, but at Hast 
London it was abundant, occurring sometimes on composite 
flowers, but mostly on the “Pride of Madeira” (Echium 
Jastwosum), a Boragineous plant with a long dense terminal 
spike of small flowers with prominent stamens. The 
spikes are from four to six feet high with blue or creamy- 
white flowers, those in the Queen’s Park being all of the 
latter variety; they proved very attractive to insects of 
several orders and especially to the small Oxythyrea mar- 
ginalis, Schonh. I noticed at the time that this beetle was 
rendered strangely inconspicuous by the white specks on 
* Op. cit. vol. i, p. 42, note. 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1906.—PART I. (MAY) 
