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CHAPTER XIII. 



HETEROMERA. 



THE tarsi of the first two pairs of legs have five joints, those of the hind 

 pair four joints. 



Family TENEBRIONIDAE. 



This is a curious family of dark-coloured beetles, members of which are 

 to be found distributed throughout the forests of the country, occasionally 

 in considerable abundance. Some forms resemble predaceous Carabidae, 

 whilst others bring to mind the lamellicorns, owing to the existence of horns 

 on the head. 



The beetle is elongate or squarish in shape, the elytra often rounded 

 and convex ; the parts fit well together, giving the in- 

 Beetle, sect a compact and often flattened form. In some cases 

 the elytra are soldered together, lower wings being 



absent. The antennae are short and eleven-jointed, the abdominal segments 

 five in number. Blacks or very dark browns and greys are the predominant 

 colourings in the family. 



The larva of this family resembles the elaterid larva, being elongate 



and circular in shape, and covered with a thick 



Larva. brownish or yellowish hard coat of chitin ; there are 



three pairs of thoracic legs used in walking, and a 



ventral process used in wood-living species as a sucker, and two hooks on 

 the last segment (cf. fig. 159). 



The pupa is yellowish white, convex dorsally, with a vertical head, 

 hooded thorax, the abdominal segments corrugated, the last ending in two 

 processes (figs. 157, 159). 



The exact importance of this family cannot as yet be definitely stated. 

 A number of forms feed on dead and decaying materials bark, wood, leaves, 

 fruits, etc. but are of small economic utility. It is by no means certain* 

 however, that this function, or even that of sap-feeding from dying or newly 

 felled trees, forms the habit of the greater number of forest forms of the 

 family. Some species investigated are undoubtedly predaceous, whilst others 

 would appear to be bark- and wood-borers to some considerable extent. 

 From observations and investigations carried out, I should be strongly 

 averse to relegating the family to the position of mere scavengers, or to 

 commit myself to the statement that it contains no pests in the forest. The 

 habits of the genus Setenis, as will be shown, would appear to indicate that 

 some members of the family are wood-feeders and borers. The grubs of the 

 genus Hypophloeus are at least semi-predaceous upon bark-borer grubs. 



