64 Zoologica: N. Y. Zoological Society [HI; 3 



Plate VI, fig. 1). Their compact structure and clubbed extremi- 

 ties recall the antennae of many myrmecophilous beetles or of 

 certain ants, for many of these insects, of course, use their 

 antenna; in soliciting liquid food from one another. The basal 

 joint of the Coccidotrophus antenna is even elongated to form a 

 crude scape, although the remaining joints do not form an angle 

 with it as in ants. The relations of the beetle to the coccids, 

 moreover, are physiologically similar to those of symphilic beetles 

 to the host ants that feed them with regurgitated liquids, and 

 the Coccidotrophus like the symphiles has a short, broad tongue 

 and short labial palpi. Wasmann (1896) and Escherich (1902) 

 have dealt with these antennal and labial adaptations in detail, 

 pointing out that the tongue in symphilic beetles becomes short, 

 broad and spoon-like and that the palpi, especially those of the 

 labium, become shorter and have a reduced number of joints. 

 Precisely this condition is seen in the labium of Coccidotrophus 

 as shown in the figure of Schwarz and Barber (PI. VI, fig. 1). 

 The greater development of the maxillary palpi indicates that 

 they may occasionally function like the antennae in soliciting 

 honey-dew. 



Coccidotrophus larvs of all stages, from those just hatched 

 and less than a millimeter in length, to those almost four milli- 

 meters long and nearly ready to pupate, likewise solicit and 

 obtain food from the coccids by stroking them with the antennae. 

 The small beetle larvae show no preference for small coccids 

 since just hatched larvae are often seen on the backs of adult 

 female coccids, feverishly stroking their waxen surfaces and 

 full grown larvae may often devote themselves to coccids smaller 

 than their heads. The movements of the larva's antennae, though 

 similar to the antennal strokes of the beetles, cover a smaller 

 portion of the coccid but the larvae reinforce the titillation by 

 a simultaneous use of the maxillae and maxillary palpi. The 

 larva is almost or quite as persistent as the beetle and drinks 

 up the periodic globules of honey-dew with quite as much gusto. 

 Both beetles and larvae, however, stroke the dorsal surfaces of 

 the coccids so gently that their waxen bloom is neither removed 

 nor diminished even after the most prolonged solicitations. 



In connection with the behavior of the larva. Dr. Boving's 

 figures of its mouthparts and antennae are very interesting and 



