The Bionomics of South African Insects. 395 



Lcmidia, by a Longicorn of the genus Dccphisia. The 

 common mimicry of Matillidx may be due to an original 

 body-form, size, and colouring, which rendered the resem- 

 blance to such models peculiarly easy and rapid of attain- 

 ment by selective means. Clcrida3 also occasionally 

 possess warning colours of tljeir own. Examples are 

 found in the genus Lcmidia mentioned above, and in an 

 abundant, bright-red, strongly-smelling South African 

 species of a genus which is probably new. The latter was 

 rejected by insect-eating animals (see p. 344). 



We now come to four groups which the experiments 

 here recorded show to be at any rate partially distasteful. 

 They are often very conspicuous, sometimes from an 

 aposematic colouring peculiar to themselves, sometimes 

 from their sluggish movements and size, and the manner 

 in which they expose themselves or move freely in the 

 open. They are, however, not as a rule mimicked by 

 other beetles, and they do not largely enter into synapo- 

 sematic association with the most distasteful Coleoptera. 



ScARAB.ElD^. The diurnal South African species are all 

 conspicuous, and freely expose themselves. Their colours, 

 black, green, or coppery, are all conspicuous against the 

 ground on which they are always found. The largest 

 South African species (ScarahcVus femoralis) adopts a 

 warning attitude when it is disturbed. Many of the 

 species were evidently distasteful to insect-eaters. It is 

 possible that their special defence is due to the nature of 

 their food. 



CETONiiDiE. The majority of South African species, 

 including all the larger species, are conspicuous on flowers 

 or exuding gum. They freely take wing in sunshine, but 

 are quite sluggish in cloudy weather. Their colours vary 

 greatly, but very conspicuous and contrasted tints are often 

 present. Many of the species were found to be unpalatable. 



Tenebrionid.E. Mostly dull bi-owns and blacks, gener- 

 ally diurnal, terrestrial, and slow-moving. Several species 

 proved to be distasteful. 



Lagriid^. The South African species are often iri- 

 descent green or purplish, many brown or black. They 

 are abundant and very sluggish ; they freely expose them- 

 selves in conspicuous positions on leaves, and have a 

 strong smell. Although but few experiments were made, 

 it is probable that the whole group is distasteful. 



The case of the Longicornia is peculiarly interesting. 



