LONGICORNES; MUSK -BEETLE. 133 



were killed by this species alone in the Hartz Forest, in the year 

 1783; and that as many as eighty thousand individuals were 

 ordinarily engaged in the destruction of each tree ; whence the 

 whole number at work in the forest at once must have been one 

 hundred and twenty thousand millions. 



657. Passing over the small family PLATYSOMA, which closely 

 resembles the preceding in structure and habits, we come to the 

 family LONGICORNES, distinguished by the great development of 

 the antennae, whicli are always at least as long as the body, 

 and often longer. The larvee mostly reside in the interior of 

 trees, or under the bark ; and are destitute of feet, or have them 

 very small. They are furnished with robust mandibles, and do 

 much injury to trees, especially those of large size, by burrowing 

 deeply into them. They are vegetable-feeders in their perfect 

 state also, and do great injury to plants ; some attacking the 

 leaves, and others the roots. Many of them produce a slight 

 creaking sound, by the friction of the joint whicli unites the 



FIG. 355. CALLICHROMA MOSCHATA. 



thorax to the abdomen. Several of them are brilliantly coloured, 

 especially the tropical species; and some are remarkable for ex- 

 haling an agreeable musky odour. This is the case with a British 

 species, the Callichroma moschata, or Musk-beetle, which is about 

 an inch long, entirely green, or shaded with a blue or golden hue, 



