248 MK. K. SHELFORD OX MIMETIC INSECTS AND [NoV. 4, 



through the fine collection in the Hope Department, two chief 

 types of deceptive coloration were seen to be predominant, viz., 

 that of Mutillidse and Cantharidfe. While the constant repetition 

 of a single veiy distinctive Hymenopterous type is remarkable, it 

 must not be forgotten that the Cantharid appearance, orange 

 Avith black ti'ansvei'se bands, is furthermore strongly suggestive of 

 one of the commonest and most conspicuous types of colouring in 

 the Hymenojitera Aculeata. In addition to these predominant 

 types other deceptive resemblances were common, viz., to Phyto- 

 j)haga, Lycidse, ants, and apparently, in the case of certain 

 Australian species, to Cetoniidaj. All the species of the interesting 

 genus AUochotes (Westw.) were Coccinelliform. The interesting 

 question arises as to whether these resemblances are Batesian 

 (pseudaposematic) or Miillerian (synaposematic). The latter 

 interpretation is strongly supported by the interesting discovery 

 by Mr. Shelfoixl of the mimicry by the Longicorn Daphisia of two 

 species of the Clerid genus Ccdlimerus, possessing an independent 

 warning coloration. The conspicuous appearance, abundance, 

 and habits of the species of this genus are entirely consistent 

 with the explanation of their colours and pattei-n as aposematic. 

 Fig. 49 on Plate XXIII. shows a Clerid, Tillicera sp., resembling 

 a Mutillid, near Urania (Sm.) (fig. 48) ; fig. 52 a Clerid, Tenerus 

 sidcipennis (Gahan), resembling a Lycid, Metriorrhynchus atro- 

 fusctcs (fig. 50 ife 51) ; while figs. 53 and 54 show the Clerid species 

 of Callimei'us resembled by the Longicorn. The whole group was 

 obtained by Mr. Shelfoixl from the vicinity of Kuching, and it 

 sti'ongly suggests that the Clerid mimics (figs. 49 & 52) are really 

 synaposematic. — E. B. P.] 



In the Cerambycidse, Collyrodes lacordairei (Pasc.) is the most 

 remarkable mimic of the Cicindelaii genus Colly7-is. Sclethrus 

 amosnus (Gory) is also remarkably like the genera Tricotidyla and 

 CoUyris with its dai-k blue body and bright red legs, of which the 

 hind pair are considerably elongated (compare fig. 11 with 5 

 and 3 on Plate XIX.). It is much less common than its model, 

 but is found in the same situations and always tries to escape its 

 captor by running swiftly just like the Tricondyla. The other 

 five species mentioned in this section of the table, Ephies dilati- 

 cornis (Pasc), the three species of Erythrus, and Pyrestes eximms 

 (Pasc), mimic species of the Lycidee (see gToup of figs. 4 to 8, 

 12, 19, Plate XXIII.). F. eximms with its elongated prothorax 

 is perhaps less Lycid in appearance than the other species. 



Erythrus viridipennis, with black head, red thorax, and green 

 elytra, is a mimic of one of the Melyridae, similarly coloured, 

 Prionocerus ccerideipennis (Perty) (Plate XXIII. figs. 58 & 59). 

 All these species of Erythrus were taken in great abundance on 

 Mt. Matang, and I am strongly of opinion that the entii'e sub- 

 family Pyrestinm is a distasteful one : the mimicry in this case 

 is therefore Miillerian. Ephies dilaticornis, on the other hand, I 

 am inclined to regard as a Batesian mimic ; it is rare, a closer 

 mimic, and belongs to an essentially mimetic subfamily \cf. 

 Table III.). 



