Broun.—On the Habits of Prionoplus reticularis. 285 
any kind of substantial nourishment, and, though inactive, is in reality 
undergoing important changes. Now, for the first time, may be seen the 
result of those marvellous transformations which have occurred since the 
female laid the egg, as the form and structure of the imago, or perfect insect, 
can clearly be traced. 
The beetle issues from the pupa stage during autumn or spring, in the 
former case generally remaining quiescent during the winter, and, in the 
vast majority of cases, is short-lived, appearing, indeed, to exist no longer 
than is necessary for the propagation of the species. It is evident, there- 
fore, that the imago does comparatively little injury, whilst many of the 
predaceous ground-beetles, which frequently live throughout the spring and 
summer, destroy vast numbers of insect pests. We are indebted to the 
microscope and the investigations of many learned naturalists for our 
knowledge of the anatomy of Coleoptera, the details of which, however, 
scarcely come within the scope of this paper. Suffice it to say, that the 
internal organs consist of a stomach, pouch, gizzard and gullet, for the 
assimilation of food, several ‘‘ hearts” united by what may be called veins 
for the circulation of the blood, and the air-tubes previously alluded to 
under the heading “larva.” The anatomical structure can only be advan- 
tageously studied in works specially devoted to that branch of the science ; 
the external form, infinite in variety, may, so far as the indigenous Coleop- 
tera are concerned, be studied in the volume now being published by the 
Colonial Government.* Many people are under the impression that a beetle 
“grows” considerably; that, however, is a mistake, as the ultimate size of 
the insect is determined in the larval state, the development depending on 
the quantity and suitability of the nutriment available. 
The foregoing remarks having, I hope, served their purpose, id est, 
enabled those, whose vocations have not permitted them to become entomo- 
logical students, to realize in their own minds something approaching an 
accurate conception of the nature of the forms recognized as Coleoptera, 
I now subjoin descriptions of the larva and pupa of Prionoplus reticularis, 
our largest longicorn beetle. 
Larva cream-coloured, sub-cylindrical, attenuated posteriorly, twenty-one lines in 
length, composed of thirteen very distinct segments, of which the first forms the head; 
the second is the broadest, measuring 64 lines across; the next four are the shortest, and 
about equal in breadth to the second; the others padíany inerease in length, and the 
mie is rather broader than the immediately preceding ones. i 
less te, parts of the mouth being pitchy-brown, and is seemingly capable of 
being retracted within the second segment; it is rounded and densely ciliated in front, 
the line of demarcation between its anterior and back parts is obvious, the 
front angles of the latter portion are formed, just behind the lower part of the base of 
the mandibles, by distinct tubercles; there are four other, but much smaller, elevations 
* Coleoptera of New Zealand, by Capt T. Broun, 
