FRUIT-EATING WEEVILS. 195 



legged Weevil (Bruchus rufimanus), the larva of which resides 

 within beans and other similar seeds, is a genuine Briton, as are 

 the remaining six members of the genus. 



All our Bruchidre are little insects, but those of foreign coun- 

 tries often attain a considerable size. Such is the case with our 

 present example of the family, Oarpophagus BanJcsii, which is 

 represented of its natural size. It is a native of Australia. The 

 generic name of this insect, signifying "fruit- eating," denotes its 

 habits, which are like those of the English Bruchidse. 



In this insect the thorax is black and finely granulated, and the 

 elytra are dark chestnut, marked with a few slightly defined 

 longitudinal lines. They are 

 rather curiously formed, not 

 reaching to the end of the ab- 

 domen, but being cut away 

 diagonally on either side from 

 the suture to the outer edge. 

 The head is rather elongated 

 and slightly curved downwards, 



-, ,1 , it Fin. 92. — Carpophagus Bauksii. 



and the antennas are placed (Black thoraX] chestimt elytra) 



near its tip. The legs are 



strong, especially the thighs, which are pear-shaped, the smaller 



end being jointed to the body, and the larger bearing the curved 



tibise. 



The name of Bruchidse ought not to have been used for a 

 Beetle of any kind. It rightly signifies a larval locust, and is 

 derived from a Greek word which signifies " biting " or " grazing." 



The Anthribidse are represented in this work by two examples, 

 one of them showing the ordinary shape and appearance of the 

 insect, and the other the extravagance, if we may so call it, of 

 variation which is sometimes found in foreign Weevils. We 

 have eight British examples of Anthribidte, the best known of 

 which is the little Choragus Sheppardii, which has a habit of 

 skipping and hopping about when disturbed. This power of 

 jumping is the more remarkable because the thighs of the hind 

 legs are not thickened, as is generally the case with jumping 

 insects. 



The Anthribidse are not so injurious as the Bruchidse, some 

 living in fungi, some in decaying wood, and others being found 



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