Cetonia.] LAMKLLICORNIA. 57 



CETONIA, Fabricius. 



This genus comprises nearly two hundred species, seventy-six of 

 which are enumerated by M. Bergc in his supplement to the Munich 

 Catalogue as having been described since 1869 ; it is probable therefore 

 that the genus is much more extensive than is at present known ; its 

 members, as a rule, are very brilliantly coloured; of the sixteen 

 European species we possess two as British. 



The larva of Cetonia aurata is described and figured by Curtis (Farm Insects, 

 page 108) ; it closely resembles the larva of Melolontha, Bulgaria, but may easily be 

 distinguished by having a horny rusty spot on each side of the prothoracic segment ; 

 the leg* also are longr r and the upper surface is clothed with transverse series of 

 ferruginous hairs ; these larvro live two or three years under ground ; when they have 

 attained their full growth tlx-y form an oval case of earth at a considerable depth as 

 lnrge as a walnut, which is covered outside with the excrement of the animal, and in 

 this cell they change to yellowish pupae; the larvse, and also the perfect iusects are 

 often found in ants' nests. The perfect beetle is sometimes very destructive to roses ; 

 hence its popular name of the " Rose beetle " or " Rose chafer ; " they also attack 

 strawberries, turnips, and beans, and may be found on whitethorn, mountain ash, 

 elder, lilac, candytuft, and various other flowers; it is not, however, very often that 

 they commit any very serious depredations. 



I. Elytra sinuate at apex near suture; process of mcso- 

 sternnm globular, impunctate ; posterior tibia; with a 

 strong raised tooth in middle; upper surface bright 



golden green C. AURATA, L. 



II. Elytra not, or scarcely, sinuate at apex near suture; 

 process of inesosternum truncate, punctured ; posterior 

 tibia: with a ridge terminating in a small point in 



middle ; upper surface more or less bronze or coppery . C. FLOHICOLA, Herbtt. 



C. aurata, L. Oblong, depressed, of a bright golden green colour, 

 shining ; under-side of a bright reddish coppery colour ; head thickly 

 punctured, clypeus rather long, antennae black, with first joint metallic ; 

 thorax gradually and rather strongly narrowed in front, sinuate at base, 

 sparingly punctured on disc, more thickly at sides, scutellum large, 

 elongate triangular, with a few scattered punctures at base or in middle ; 

 elytra depressed behind middle, with traces of raised lines, and with 

 very shallow horse-shoe shaped punctures, which are partly arranged in 

 lines and partly scattered ; from middle to apex there are also more or less 

 distinct transverse wavy whitish lines or small markings ; the apex near 

 suture is sinuate and presents an eroded appearance ; pygidium coppery, 

 thickly rugose ; mesosternal process globular, impunctate ; legs stout, 

 black, more or less metallic. L. 14-20 mm. 



Male with segments 1-5 of abdomen longitudinally impressed in 

 middle. 



Ou flowers, Ac. ; generally distributed and common in the London district and the 

 South of England ; Scilly Islands; not uncommon, although local, in the Midlands 

 as far north as the Birmingham district ; Gloucester, rather common ; Bath, not 

 common; Swansea ; much rarer further north; Liverpool district, Rninhill ; Isle of 

 Man ; not recorded from the Northumberland and Durham district ; Scotland, very 

 rare, Lowland--, Solway and Clyde districts ; Ireland, near Belfast. 



