CHAPTCR IX. 



ORDER I. COLEOPTERA ( Continued). 



LONGICORNES. 



The Longioornes of Latreille ( Eucerata of Westwood) deserve a special notice, in 

 consequence of their habits, and the singular prolongation of their antennae, which is one 

 of the most obvious characters of the group. The antennse are filiform or setaceous, and 

 frequently considerably longer than the whole body. The eyes are peculiar, in consequence 

 of the position of the antennae, wliich often appear to have been implanted witliin them : 

 the eye is therefore said to be emarginate, though not strictly so ; and it has a reniform 

 shape, when considered independently of the base of the antenna. The body is elongated 

 and cylindrical. The elytra are broader than the thorax, which they more perfectly encase 

 by their sudden flexure at the shoulder, than is common in other groups. The head is 

 short, and driven into the thorax up or neai'ly to the eyes : their jaws are powerful. The 

 legs are long, and frequently the longest in front. The thorax is cylindrical, and in some 

 species the sides are armed with a short pointed tubercle. The three basal joints of the 

 tarsi are cushioned beneath : the fifth is long and slender ; the fourth, small. 



The insects of this group come out from various kinds of wood in their perfect state, 

 having inhabited it from the first, or from the time of the deposition of the egg : they are 

 therefore usually found in the vicinity of wood and dock yards, or where timber is stored. 

 It may well be inferred from these facts that the larva is injurious to the tree it occupies ; 

 and the more so, as it is known to remain in this state for many years. 



The larvae are provided with six scaly articulated legs ; but they are of little use as 

 organs for locomotion, by reason of their small size : their movements are rather effected 

 by means of the warts or fleshy tubercles situated along the sides of their bodies. Their 

 bodies are soft, and of a dirty white color. The head is only moderate in size, flat and wide. 



In consequence of the long time the larvae are resident in various kinds of wood, there 

 is, through commercial intercourse, a tendency to distribute in all countries the beetles of 

 this large group. A piece of wood from South America is brought by a ship and thrown 

 out upon some island in the West Indies, or is transported to one of our southern ports, 

 Savannah, Charleston, or even New- York : the insects contained in the wood are liberated 



