796 REPORT— 1900. 



one of Piennce (Delias catharci). The latter is of considerable interest, inasmuch 

 as the Pierine model appears to be excessively rare. There can be little doubt, 

 however, as to the true relationship, for another species of the same genus, 

 /. pandemia, is a magnificent mimic of another species of Delias {D. pandemia), 

 both coming from Mount Kina Balu in North Borneo. 



In the Neuroptera the Mantispides are shown to be mimics, a splendid new 

 species {M. simulatri.v, McLachlau) resembling a common Bracon flying with it 

 on Mount Matang, near Kuching, while a small species from Singapore {M. ? cora) 

 exactly mimicked an ichneumon flying with it. 



It is in the Borneau Coieoptera, and especially the Longicornia, that by far 

 the largest additions to the subject of mimicry have been made. Many Longicorn 

 species, chiefly of the genus Oberea, were excellent mimics of the Braconidce, 

 and perhaps other Ilymenoptera. The long narrow form of the beetle resembled 

 the 5r«co?i at rest with wings folded. Asseenfromthe side, certain species of Oierea, 

 notwithstanding their uniform diameter, were apparently 'waisted' like a Hymeno- 

 pterous insect, the efi'ect being due to a conspicuous white patch on the side of the 

 anterior abdominal segments. The part of the body thus covered is obliterated, while 

 the outline of the patch is such that the uncovered, and therefore conspicuous, part 

 of the body conforms to the shape of a slender 'waist,' from the posterior end of 

 which the abdomen gradually swells. The effect in one species is as perfect as if 

 an artist had deliberately painted the profile of a Ilymenopterous abdomen upon 

 that of a beetle. Among other examples of the same form of mimicry was a 

 magnificent Oerambycid from Mount Penrissen ( Nothopeus or n. gen., n. sp.), a 

 beautiful mimic of the abundant vv'asp, Salius sericosoma, which flew with it. 

 The common Dammar Bee {Trigona apicalis), which does not sting, but is 

 formidable because of its bite, is the centre of a group of three species with the 

 most remote affinities. Not only is there a Longicorn, Epania siiigaporensis, but 

 a Bracon and a Reduviid bug. The mimicry is probably Miillerian in most, if not 

 all, of the species of this group. 



Another important set of Longicorns, species of Entelopes, Tropimetopa, 

 0;-w?io;« ft, and J4«^«^/ie5, were extremely perfect mimicsofPhytophaga(G«/e?7<ci'£Z«). 

 In one large group both models and mimics were reddish-brown, in another 

 iridescent blue-black, in a third anteriorly blue-black, posteriorly reddish-brown. 

 Another species of Entelopes (E. glaucd) resembled a common Coccinellid {Caria 

 dilatata), a Cassid also falling into the group. 



The Lycidce were models for Longicorns and other insects in Borneo no 

 less than in South Africa. Species belonging to the Longicorn genera Erythrtis, 

 Epldes, Xyaste, and Euri/cephalus mimicked Lycids with remarkable accuracy. In 

 (he last-named genus one species, jE. lundi, was a mimic, while another closely 

 related {E. cardinalis) exhibited a warning coloration of the most startling 

 character, an indication that the genus is distasteful and the mimicry Miillerian. 

 In addition to these, the Lycids were mimicked by a Clerid beetle, by numerous 

 Hemiptera and a Zygsenid moth, the latter from Singapore. 



The resemblance of certain Longicorns to the Rbynchophora was far more 

 evident than in South Africa, for not only was there a mimic ( Trachystola yramdata) 

 of a Curculionid (Sipalus granulatus), but there were species belonging to no less 

 than four genera mimetic of the Brenthida. These latter mimics hold their long 

 anteunre extended forwards side by side, the tips only, or in some species the 

 anterior halves, diverging. Thus the rostrum of the Brenthid, together with its 

 usually short antennae, are represented by the long antennse of the Longicorn. 

 The Anthribidce were mimicked by Longicorns of the genera Ereis and Cacia. 



A feature of both Ilhynchophorous models and their mimics, and one very 

 tmusual in mimicry, is the inconspicuous mottled colouring and the absence of 

 strongly contrasted tints. 



A very interesting Longicorn mimic of an Endomychid beetle {Spathomeles sp. 

 near turritus) was a rare species of Zelota as yet undescribed.. The curved 

 spine on the elytron of the model was represented by a brush of hairs on that 

 of its mimic. Experiments indicated that the Endomychida. as a group were 

 distasteful, and large synaposematic sets of purplish black, yello-\v or prftnge 



