1896.] of the Coleoptera of South Africa. 131 



Habits of South African Carabid^. 



The habits of the South African carabidous beetles are quite 

 similar to those in other localities, and no new light is thrown on 

 their peculiarities from a study of the South African forms. The 

 smell emitted by Bhopalomelus and Procletus when fearing capture 

 is reported to be very nauseating. The former is found in white 

 ants' nests, feeding on Termites. Most, if not all, the South African 

 Anthia emit an acrid, very volatile fluid, producing a stinging sensa- 

 tion on the face and hand, and able to produce temporary blindness. 

 The allied genera Polyhirma and Microlestia do not appear to possess 

 that power, but the latter stridulates very audibly when captured, 

 and one of my correspondents is quite certain that the Grcq^hij^terus 

 found in Mashunaland also discharge a pungent volatile fluid. I 

 have not, however, been able to corroborate this observation among 

 our southern species. 



Protective Eesemblance. 



One would hardly expect to find much protective resemblance or 

 mimicry among the Carahidce, the livery of which is, with some 

 exceptions, of a very inconspicuous hue. Yet we have in South 

 Africa cases of colour-resemblance to general surroundings extremely 

 noticeable in the genus Graphipterus. These beetles are very flat and 

 extremely agile, and the upper part of the body is covered with a thick, 

 very short pubescence, which harmonises wonderfully well with the 

 colour of the ground, and may vary in individuals of the same species 

 from localities far apart, between an almost ochreous red and dark 

 grey, according to the colour of the soil. Where the background of 

 the elytra is not relieved by semi-denuded bands or patches, the 

 insect is well-nigh indistinguishable from the surrounding soil. 



In the genus Ega (tribe Eg ides) we find a most striking resem- 

 blance to an ant, and the two species of Eccoptoptera (tribe Anthiades) 

 are singularly like some of the large female Mutillce (a Hymenop- 

 terous insect), which occur also in the same localities. There is no 

 proof as yet that the mimicry in this last case could be of any value 

 to the carabidous insects, but it is not improbable that a resem- 

 blance to the armour-clad Mutilla, which is provided also with a 

 most powerful stinging apparatus, may be of use to the Eccoptoptera 

 for protection from enemies, just as much as the nauseating smell 

 emitted by Rhop)alomelus protects it against the white ants upon 

 and among which it lives, and whose soldiers would make short work 

 of it but for that means of protection. 



