94 Dr. C. B. Longstaff on some bionomie points 
serrate, dentate and mucronate tibiz is met with, because 
the species of Hoplocnemis, in which the development has 
become almost a monstrosity, do not feed on flowers, or at 
least have not been observed doing so. Their habits seem 
to be more those of certain Dynastinx, and I suspect them 
to live, while in the larval state, in the excrement deposits 
of the subterranean white ant, Hodotermes viator, Latr.” * 
Mr. Péringuey, I am bound to say, fails to convince me, 
and I venture upon yet another explanation. 
Many of the species of Dichelus and Heterochelus burrow 
Diagram of posterior legs of Heterochelus, 6. 
The body of the beetle is buried in the florets of a 
composite flower (x 5 diam.). 
into the disks of composite flowers, eating out the ovaries. 
When so engaged the whole of the body of the insect may 
disappear from view, or the extremity of the abdomen 
may alone protrude, but in either case the hind-legs extend 
beyond the florets, widely separated and closely resembling 
the open jaws of an ant-lion. While picking one out of a 
flower I was startled by receiving a very respectable pinch, 
or bite, inflicted by the formidable teeth above referred to. 
Now the suggestion that I have to offer is this: while 
probably in the first instance adapted to assist the male 
insect in grasping its mate, these huge hind-legs are now 
of great advantage to the otherwise helpless beetle when 
* Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society, vol. 
xil, pp. 625, 626. Descriptive Catalogue of the Coleoptera of South 
Africa, Hopliine, by L. Péringuey, F.E.S. 
