184 INSECTS AT HOME. 



very pretty when viewed through a lens. The colour i^ pitchy- 

 black, the head and thorax being thickly granulated. Tht 

 elytra are striated and punctated, and are variegated by a few 

 whitish patches. The under surface of the body is clothed with 

 white down. As its specific name implies, it is to be found 

 upon the oak. 



Our nest example of this family is Orobites cyaneus. The 

 genus is knoA\Ti by its globular and polished body, and the 

 short groove on the chest. The insect which is figured is the 

 only British species of its genus, and is by no means common. 

 Vetches are good localities for it, ;ind it has been found on 

 willows and in hedgerows. Its colour is very dark-blue^ and 

 it has a curious way of avoiding observation if alarmed. As 

 the reader may see by reference to the illustration, its legs are 

 rather long in proportion to its body ; yet, it possesses the 

 power of packing them so tightly under its body, that it looks 

 more like a dry polished seed than an insect, and, in order to 

 assist the deception, it is ijastinctively taught to remain per- 

 fectly still as long as any sign of danger remains. The generic 

 name Orobites is Greek, and signifies ' vetch-eating,' and the 

 specific name cyaneus signifies ' dark-blue,' so that both titles 

 are perfectly appropriate. 



Omitting of necessity several genera of these insects, we 

 come to oue which is among the most destructive of the group. 

 This is the Rice Weevil {Sitophilus oi^zce), which is showm 

 on Woodcut XIX. Fig. 5. The generic name of Sitophilus 

 signifies ' grain-lover,' and is given to the insect on account of 

 the terrible havoc which it makes in corn-stores. It belonos 

 to the family Calandridse, of which there is only one British 

 genus, that which has just been mentioned. In this family the 

 antennge have eight joints, the last joint being large and 

 rounded. The body is rather flat, and the elytra, which are 

 boldly striated, do not quite cover the end of the abdomen. 

 There is anotlier species, the Corn Weevil {Sitophilus grana- 

 Hus), which feeds upon corn as the present species does on 

 rice. The Rice Weevil is distinguished by having four red 

 spots on the elytra, the Corn Weevil being altogether dusky- 

 red. 



