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INSECTS AEKOAD. 



The extraordinary little Beetle which is represented below 

 belongs to the group called Rhopelophorides. This word signifies 

 "dub-bearer," and is given to the Beetles on account of the 

 club-like appearance which is given to the antennae by a single 

 large tuft of hair with which they are adorned. They are mostly 

 Australasian, and are small insects, our present example being 

 the largest, and one or two very tiny creatures. 



The word Cosmisoma signifies an adorned or decorated body, 

 and is probably given to these insects on account of the 

 beautiful colour of the body. The hue of the Cosmisoma scopipcs 

 is either blue or green, the insect being exceeding variable in this 

 respect, and the surface is covered with rather bold punctures. 

 The antennas are very long and slender, and the fourth joint is 

 furnished towards the end with a large round tuft of long black 



Fig. 117. — Cosmisoma scopipea. 

 (Blue-green, with black hair tufts.] 



hairs. The hind legs are equally remarkable. They are chestnut 

 in colour, very long in proportion to the size of the insect, and 

 the end of the thighs is much enlarged. The tibiae are slender, 

 boldly curved, and from their outer edges radiates a flat brush of 

 black hairs similar to those upon the antennae. 



Another species of the same genus, Cosmisoma ochraceum, is 

 very similar to this insect, except that it is smaller and has the 

 hair-tufts yellow. There are many other allied insects which 

 bear tufts on the antennas. The most remarkable of them is 

 called Disaulax hirsv.ticornis, whose peculiar structure is implied 

 by the specific name, which signifies " hairy horns." In this 

 insect there are no tufts on the legs, but the first four joints of 

 the antennae are wholly covered with long black hair, which 

 radiates equally round them, "so that they appear cylindrical 

 rather than conical, as is the case with the Lnphonocerus. 



