( 33 



V. Descriptions of some Coleopterous Larva, Sfc. By John 

 Curtis, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 



[Read 3rd April, 1854.] 



I HAVE the pleasure of calling the attention of the Entomological 

 Society to a {q\v interesting larvee, of vvhicli hitherto no figures 

 have been published, with the exception of one species. 



The very excellent and useful volume which lately issued from 

 the press at Liege* will greatly assist in the investigation of the 

 larva-state of the Coleoftera; and the figures there given, from the 

 pencil of one of the authors, add greatly to the value of the 

 Memoir. 



It is not however in the grouping of genera, I expect, that so 

 much benefit will be derived from a knowledge of the larva of 

 insects as was at one time anticipated; we need only take a glance 

 at the PapiUonidce to be convinced, that instead of unity there is 

 frequently as great a difference amongst themselves as can be 

 exhibited between that natural family and any other belonging to 

 the order Lepidoptera.f I am, however, far from rejecting the 

 larvae in systematic arrangement, when their forms assist in com- 

 bining groups, whether of families or genera. The great value 

 which attaches to a knowledge of the economy of insects arises 

 from its connection with the economy of tlie human species, whe- 

 ther we consider insects as the enemies or benefactors of man ; 

 destroying the hopes of the agriculturist and the gardener, or 

 supplying the stajile in the arts and manufactures. J 



Family STAPHYLINID^. 



Genus Velleius. (Plate V. fig. 1.) 

 Sp. 1. F. dilalatus, Fab. 

 Elongated, but slightly depressed, narrowed anteriorly, smooth, 

 sparingly clothed with short hairs. Head oval, depressed (fig. 2, 



* Catalogue des Larves des Coleopteres, par M. F. Chapuis et M. E. Candeze. 

 1853. 



t Vide the larvae of our two species of Papilio, Podalirius and Machaon, the 

 genus Acronycta, &lc. 



X From the able and long-continued experiments of my friend Dr. Chavannes 

 of Lausanne I expect some very important discoveries will result. He has been 

 able, if I mistake not, to obtain as good and fine silk, as that from the common 

 silk-worms, from the cocoons of caterpillars, which are largci and much hardier 

 in their nature than those from China. 



VOL. III. N.S. PART I. — JULY, 1S54. D 



