LONG-HORNED AND PLANT-FEEDING BEETLES. 



561 



larger species is the musk-beetle Aromia moschata (Linn.), which is common 

 in most parts of the country, and is often found resting on the trunks of 

 willows, in which the larvse feed, in the daytime. It exhales a strong but 

 agreeable odour, contrary to the habit of most other beetles, many of which 

 discharge an extremely offensive liquid when touched. It is of a bright 

 green colour, and often exceeds an inch in length. 



This species belongs to the Cerambycidce, the typical family of the Longi- 

 cornes ; but the largest and bulkiest species belong to the Prionidce, which 



are brown or reddish-brown beetles fre- 

 quently three inches long. Our single 

 native species, Prionus coriarius (Linn.), is 

 rather scarce. It is about the length of the 

 musk-beetle, but much stouter, and of a 

 brown colour. We have figured both sexes 

 of Acanthocinus cedilis (Linn.), which has 

 longer antennae in the .male than any other 

 British species. It is rather scarce with us, 

 being found chiefly at Rannoch, in Scotland, 

 in the pine forests. It is reddish-brown with 

 grey pubescence, and four yellowish spots on 

 the thorax. It belongs to the family of the 

 Lamiidw, which is distinguished by the large 

 head, and almost vertical face. 



The last group of the beetles with appar- 

 ently four joints to the tarsi is that of the 

 Phytophaga, or plant-feed- 

 ing beetles par excellence. Plant-Feeding 

 They are round or oval Beetles, 

 beetles, of small or moder- 

 ate size, and of various colours, many being 

 of a brilliant green. The antennae are gen- 

 erally rather short, and not elbowed, or set 

 on a rostrum, and this alone will generally 

 distinguish them from the beetles of the two preceding groups. 



This group includes several very injurious species, among others the 

 Colorado potato-beetle, and the turnip-beetles. The Colorado Potato- 

 beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a native of the 

 Western States of America. It is about half an inch long, Colorado 

 and of a yellowish colour, with eighteen black spots on the Potato-Beetle. 

 thorax, and ten black stripes on the wing-cases ; the larva is 

 red, spotted with black. Our figure is somewhat above natural size. Some 

 years ago this beetle began to spread eastwards from its 

 haunts in the Rocky Mountains, where it used to feed on 

 a wild species of potato ; and to attack the cultivated 

 plant. It soon spread over the whole of the United States, 

 and there is no efficient way of arresting its ravages but 

 by the free use of ' ' Paris Green, " a dangerous compound 

 of arsenic. Great fears were expressed lest it should 

 spread to Europe, and special measures were taken by all 

 the principal Governments to guard against its invasion. 

 Nevertheless, in addition to a few isolated instances of its 

 occurrence in various countries, a whole colony was dis- 

 37 



Figs. 36, 37. Acanthocinus cedilis, 

 Linn. 



Fifj. 38. COLORADO 



B E ETL ^(Leptinotarsa, 



decemlineata, Say). 



