COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 213 



MACRASPIS FUCATA. 



PLATE XV. Fig. 2. 



Cetonia fucata, Fabr — Cetonia quadrivittata, Olivier. 



The most obvious character in this genus is that 

 which has suggested the name,* viz. the great size 

 of the scutellum, which equals at least a third of 

 that of the elytra. The projecting point of the 

 sternum reaches to the insertion of the anterior 

 legs, and in many instances extends beyond that 

 point. The form of the body is in general shorter 

 and more rounded than in Rutela. The species 

 amount to near thirty, and they are confined to the 

 tropical regions of the New World. The most com- 

 mon in the interior of Brazil is M. clavata, which 

 is often observed in the morning, suspended in 

 great numbers to the leaves of trees, around which 

 they fly during the day, and consume the flowers. 

 The species figured has the same habits, but it is 

 much rarer, and appears later in the year. It is 

 about ten lines in length, of a deep black colour, 

 very highly polished on the surface, and thickly co- 

 vered with very minute punctures. The thorax is 

 margined with deep yellow, and there are two broad 

 stripes of the same colour on each wing-case, which 

 unite behind. 



* From juxx^of, long, and a^r<j, a shield. 



