BEETLES. 61 



Another interesting exotic genus is Brachycerus, Oliv. The 

 rostrum is stout, of moderate length ; the thorax is provided with 

 a spine on each side ; the wings are absent, and the elytra are 

 soldered together, and are very convex, and frequently deeply 

 punctured. They frequent sandy places, and although several 

 small species inhabit the South of Europe, by far the greater 

 number occur in South Africa. Many of the species are black, 

 with rows of reddish or yellowish depressed spots. 



Hypera, Germ., is a large genus of dull-coloured beetles, about 

 one-third of an inch in length, which are common on various 

 plants, and form their slender cocoons beneath the leaves. They 

 are of an oval form, and the rostrum is as long as the thorax, and 

 slightly curved. 



Cleonus, Schonh., is another large and widely-distributed genus, 

 including species of dull black or grey colours. 



Lixus, Fabr., includes slender species of moderate size, in 

 most of which the abdomen and elytra are produced into a sharp 

 point. It is represented by numerous species in most parts of the 

 world. L. Mucranatus, Oliv., which is slate-coloured, and about 

 half an inch long, is common in South Europe and Algeria. It 

 is found on thistles and other flowers. 



Curculio Abietis, Linn., which is common in fir woods, is a dull 

 black, deeply-punctured beetle, with two transverse yellowish bands 

 on the elytra ; it measures half an inch, or rather less, in length. 



Hilipus, Germ., is an extensive South American genus allied 

 to Curculio ; most of the species are black, with white, grey, or 

 yellowish markings. 



The genus Apion, Herbst, includes a great number of small 

 beetles, many of which do not exceed one-tenth or one-twelfth of 

 an inch in length. They are of various colours, such as black, 

 blue, green, red, etc., and live gregariously on various plants. They 

 have a narrow head and thorax, a long rostrum, and broad elytra, 

 but no wings. A. Flavipes, Fabr., is black, with reddish legs, and 

 lives on trefoil. 



One of the most familiar weevils in the larva state is Balaninus 

 Nucum, Linn., the Nut Weevil. Its whitish grub is often found 

 in nuts, especially filberts, but it will also attack acorns. The 

 beetle is black, with reddish legs, and a long proboscis, and is 

 about a quarter of an inch long. 



Rhynchites, Herbst, is a genus of beautiful little beetles, about 

 one-sixth of an inch long, several of which are of a brilliant 



