190 JOURNAL, NATURAL TILST. SOCIETY OF SLiM Vol. L 



also undetermined, which belong apparentl}' to the same species, hence 

 it is very desirable that the male be ascertained and the identity ot the 

 species established. 



In this case the requisite information may be obtained in 

 various ways, either b}^ rearing the larva and breeding the male beeth's 

 from them, or by catching the male beetle when it comes to pair with 

 the living female and forwarding both insects for identification.* 

 Both these methods may require a little patience, but in neither case 

 are the difficulties likely to be insuperable. 



As regards the first method, the first step is to be able to dis- 

 tinguish the larva from the perfect female, for the resemblance between 

 the two is very close. 



The most read)'' means of distinction lies perhaps in the legs ; 

 in the larva these are short and pointed, almost conical, terminating 

 in a single stout claw, while in the female beetle they are rather 

 longer and more slender, the different sections being articulated 

 at an angle, and the last section, the foot or tarsus, being composed of 

 five { or perhaps only four or three ) minute joints, the last of which 

 terminates in two slender claws. 



If the specimen found prove to be a larva, it should feed, judg- 

 ing from the analogy of the better known species of this group, on 

 small snails and slugs, and if kept moist with a plentiful supply of 

 food, should complete its transformations without much trouble. 

 A small tin box with a tightly fitting lid, half filled with fine 

 earth, makes a convenient breeding cage, and is easily cleaned 

 and kept free from mould. When full grown the larva will remain 

 quiescent for a few days, lying on its side and taking no food ; it will 

 then cast its skin and become a pupa ; this is at first white, but 

 graduall}' becomes darker, the change showing most quickly and most 

 completely in the eyes. If the pupa is to produce a male beetle, the 

 rudiments of wings will now be visible at the sides of tlie body, but if 

 it is to produce a female beetle there will be hardl}' any noticeable 

 change from the form of of the larva, except in the limbs which now 

 are fixed and motionless. A few days in this state should be sufficient, 

 then the pupa will in turn cast its skin and the perfect beetle 

 emerge. 



* In tiic case of specimens captured /n fo/;. particular care should be taken 

 that the pairs are kept toc^ether and confusion vith other specimens avoided. 



