i86 



INTRODUCTION 



besides presenting the two stages exemplified in Curculionidae ^, possess species 

 which in the perfect state are either mainly or exclusively anthophilous, either feeding 

 on nectar (e.g. Clythra scopolina) or on the soft parts of flowers (e.g. Cryptocephalus 

 sericeus). But even in Chrysomelidae, the anthophilous species constitute but 

 a small part of the whole family. The same holds good among Lamellicornia for 

 Melolontha L. and Cetonia Z., the anthophilous species of which either feed upon 

 foliage-leaves, only occasionally resorting to flowers, where they devour all the soft 

 parts indiscriminately (Phyllopertha horticola), or else subsist chiefly (Hoplia 

 philanthus, Cetonia) or exclusively (Trichius fasciatus) on flower-food. Of 

 Cerambycidae and Elateridae at least half our native species resort to flowers, 

 some only incidentally (Rhagium, Clytus arietis, Diacanthus aeneus), but the 

 greater number exclusively. Finally, among the Mordellidae, Oedemeridae, Malachiidae, 

 and other families, all the species live solely on flower-food when they are adult. 



To Miiller's account I would add two observations, which are interesting 

 because they show that even the most markedly predaceous beetles may occasionally 



Fig. 76. The Adaptations of longtcorn beetles to feeding on nectar (after Herm. Miiller). 

 (1) Leiopus nebulosus Z,., which never visits flowers. Head turned downwards, no neck-like constriction 

 behind the eyes, prothorax broad. The hairs on the maxillary lobes (1 b) are short and bristly. (2) Clytus 

 arietis Z., which occasionally visits the flowers of Umbelli ferae and Rosaceae. Head turned less sharply 

 downwards, post-ocular region less broad, prothorax longer and narrower, outer lobe (galea) ot maxilla 

 (2 b) beset with longer hairs. (3) Leptura livida A., which is exclusively anthophilous, visiting Unibelliferae, 

 Kosiflorae, Compositae, Convolvulus, and so forth. Head forwardly elongated and turned to the front, 

 a post-ocular constriction, outer (galea) and inner (lacinia) lobes of the maxilla I3 b) with long hairs. 

 (4) Strangalia attenuata Z,., which is exclusively anthophilous, and able to suck nectar from the corolla- 

 tubes (4-6 mm. long) of Knautia arvensis. Characters as in the preceding species, but the prothorax 

 is still longer and more tapering in front, and both lobes of the maxilla (46) possess long brushes 

 of hair. 



visit flowers, and sometimes do not disdain flower-food. In July, 1892, I saw 

 ('Blumen und Insekten auf den nordfries. Ins.,' p. 165), upon the island of Fohr, 

 Carabus cancellatus devouring the flowers of Thymus Serpyllum. It held the plant 

 so fast with its mandibles that I was able to move both together for a short distance. 

 Near Friedrichroda in Thuringia I saw during July, 1894 (at 9 p.m.), Carabus 



* Helodes phellandrii, for example, lives as a larva in the hollow stems, and sometimes as an 

 adult on the flovi'ers of Phellandrium aquaticum. Cassida murraea lives in the larval state on the 

 leaves of Pulicaria dysenterica, and sometimes when adult on the flowers of the same plant. Crioceris 

 punctata lives in the larval state on Asparagus, and as a beetle sometimes feeds on the nectar of 

 Umbellifers. 



