Malayan Phasviidce, and Flower-like Beetle Larva. 443 



composite flower impelled by some such external force as a 

 light breeze, for the legs are completely concealed beneath 

 the dorsal filaments. Should the plant be interfered with in 

 any way while the insects are active, they will immediately 

 drop to the ground (from which the fragility of their dorsal 

 filaments makes it almost impossible to lift them) and run 

 towards the nearest long grass, among which they hide 

 themselves. 



Early in the morning, as late as two hours after sunrise 

 (which occurs in Patalung between five and six o'clock), the 

 larvae may be found resting motionless in the angle formed 

 by the leaves with the stem of their favourite plant — never 

 more than one of them being in the same angle. At this 

 time of day the whole plant may be pulled up by the root, 

 and carried for some little distance, before they are suffi- 

 ciently aroused to drop off. In just this position there is 

 in many plants which grow near the edge of the jungle, in 

 Patalung and Nawnchik, a bunch of coarse white hairs, finer 

 in texture than the filaments on the beetle larva, but suffi- 

 ciently like them for one to suppose that the insect simulates 

 them while at rest. These hairs are not present in any of the 

 ginger-worts, but they are well developed in many grasses 

 that grow in the same environment. 



The only specific flower which this larva may possibly 

 simulate, in its times of activity, is a kind of groundsel 

 which is common in the places where the insect is found. 

 The flower is larger than that of the British species, but 

 otherwise very similar to it, except that it is either pale 

 mauve or white in colour instead of being yellow. I do not 

 think, however, that the beetle larva simulates any particular 

 flower. I have never found it associated with the groundsel 

 in any way. 



Remarks. — The hour immediately preceding and following 

 upon sunrise is the time of the greatest activity of many 

 Malayan animals, for both nocturnal and diurnal species are 

 often then at work. However, nothing being known as to 

 the enemies and dangers to which this particular insect is 

 exposed, nothing can be regarded as proved as to the reasons 

 of its rest in the early morning. The position which it 



