172 INSECTS AT nO]ME. 



conspicuous that it cannot possibly be mistaken if seen. This 

 f^enus, of wliich two British species are known, is distinguished 

 by its broad, smooth, egg-shajjod body, the minute and scarcely 

 visible scutellum, and the strong hook at the tip of the tarsi. 

 The colour of this species is shining-black, and the thorax is 

 deeply punctured, and marked with three irregular spots on 

 each side, the spots being composed of dull-yellow hairs. The 

 elytra are covered with many dull-yellow spots and a number 

 of shallow rounded impressions. 



Both species of Molytes are found in chalky districts, and 

 the present species seems to be a very local one, Kent and 

 Sussex being the places where it has chiefly been found. 



Another example of this family may be seen on Plate VI. 

 Fig. 6. This is the Beetle known by the name of Phytonomus 

 tifjrinus, an insect which is found plentifully at Dover. In 

 this genus the antennjB have twelve joints, the scape being 

 clubbed, and reaching to the eyes, the club being oval. The 

 beak is twice as long as the head, rounded and curved, the 

 elytra are thickly clothed with scales, and the tibiae are without 

 spurs. 



The insects of this genus are remarkable for constructing 

 pensile cocoons when they are about to change into the perfect 

 state. One of these cocoons is represented just below the 

 Beetle. These cocoons are really wonderful examples of insect 

 art, and that they should be made by such a creature as a little 

 long-bodied hairy grub seems almost incredible. The form is 

 oval, and -the material is silken thread secreted by the insect. 

 The peculiarity in these cocoons is that they are made of open 

 network, the meshes being large enough to admit an ordinary 

 pin. A very good imitation of one of these cocoons could be 

 made by taking some galvanised iron net, and forming it into 

 an egg-like shape ; for the threads of the cocoon are in their 

 way quite as strong as the wire. The cocoon represented in 

 the plate is of the natural size. 



The larva always takes care to spin its cocoon on the under 

 surface of a leaf, so that it will not be seen unless the leaves be 

 lifted. As a rule, the young entomologist will find that the 

 under surfaces of leaves will often afford him a rich harvest, 

 when no sign of an insect is to be seen on the upper surface. 



