ZOOLOGICAL 



55 



SECTION POLYMORPHA. 



STAPHYLINID^l (Rove-Beetles). Plate 33, Map v. 



The Rove-Beetles are mostly or small size, and are easily known by the 

 short elytra, or wing-cases, which leave a great part of the abdomen exposed. 

 About 9000 species are known at the present day, and these occur in every 

 part <rf the world. Even the remotest oceanic islands, such as Kerguelen 

 and Tristan da Cunha, have their representatives. Over 1000 species occur 

 in ^orth America and about 1400 in Europe. Britain possesses nearly 800 

 different forms, of which the so-called "Devil's Coach-Horse" {Ocypus olens), 

 is one of the largest and most familiar. 



SILPHID.E (Burying-Beetles, &c). Plate 33, Map vi. 



Although this family is widely distributed, the species are more numerous 

 in the cooler parts of the earth than in the Tropics. Some 900 species have 

 been described, of which about 100 occur in North America, and about 200 

 in Europe, while temperate Australia and New Zealand also possess a con- 

 siderable number of representatives. They appear to be absent from the 

 greater part of tropical Africa and Polynesia. Over 100 species occur in 

 Britain. 



COCCINELLID^: (Lady-Birds). Plate 33, Map vi. 



This family is of no little importance from an economic point of view, 

 for the larvse of various species destroy and keep in check such injurious 

 insects as plant-lice and scale insects, as well as destructive mites. At 

 least 2000 species are known, many of them of extremely pretty appearance, 

 and some presenting a remarkable variation in coloration. They are of 

 universal distribution, about 150 species occurring in North America and 

 about 120 in Europe. Of the latter, some 40 odd are British, and although 

 of small size they are fairly familiar insects. 



ELATERID.E (Click-Beetles). Plate 33, Map vi. 



This is a large and important family, whose members have a tolerably 

 uniform aspect, and consequently are easy to recognise. About 7000 

 different species are known, some of the exotic representatives being of 

 large size. They occur in all parts of the globe, fully 350 species being 

 found in North America and about 270 in Europe. In Britain about 70 

 species are native, some of which in the larval state (then known as " wire- 

 worms ") are destructive to many kinds of cultivated plants. 



BUPRESTIDJE. Plate 34, Maps i and ii. 



The members of this family are beetles often of a large size and adorned 

 with brilliant, usually metallic, colours. Although occurring in all parts of 

 the world, the species are much more numerous in the Tropics, and are lovers 

 of hot sunshine. Of the 5000 known species over 200 occur in North 

 America and a like number in Europe. Only 10 species are British, and 

 these are comparatively small and unattractive. With the exception of a 

 single species occurring in the Solway district, they do not range north of 

 Yorkshire. 



Julodis (Map i) is a genus of about 100 species, which range over the 

 whole of Africa and Madagascar, while a few forms occur in South-western 

 Asia, and about eight in the extreme south and south-east of Europe. They 

 are easily recognised by the peculiar tufts of pale hair which are arranged 

 in various patterns on the elytra. 



Chrysochroa (Map i) contains about 50 species of large beetles charac- 

 teristic of the Oriental Region, but also occurring in Africa and Madagascar. 



Psiloptera (Map ii) is a group of nearly 400 species, which are found 

 chiefly in the Neotropical and Ethiopian Regions, but also sparsely repre- 

 sented in the Oriental. Three species occur in Europe. 



Buprestis (Map ii) is the typical genus, with about 50 species, practically 

 ■confined to the Northern Hemisphere. Eight species are found in Europe. 



Stigmodera (Map ii) is a peculiarly Australian genus, comprising over 

 300 species, which are practically confined to that country. A few repre- 

 sentatives, however, occur in Tasmania and New Guinea. 



SECTION HETEROMERA. 



TENEBRIONIDJ3 (Meal-Worm Group). Plate 34, Maps iii and iv. 



This is an enormous family, comprising fully 10,000 species, and occur- 

 ring over the whole of the earth. Over 400 species occur in North America 

 and 700 in Europe. Thirty species are found in Britain, and these include 

 two forms of Maps, or Cellar-Beetle, and two of Tenebrio, or Meal- Worm. 



Blaps (Map iii) is a genus of over 170 species, which are practically 

 confined to the Palsearctic Region; Ilelops (Map iii) on the other hand, 

 occurs also in the Nearctic Region, and contains about 200 species, with a few 

 representatives in other and isolated parts of the world. Zophosis (Map iv) 

 is a wroup of about 160 species, found for the most part in the Ethiopian 

 Region, but ranging also into Southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Trans- 

 caspian Region. Asida (Map iv) is a genus of somewhat peculiar distribu- 

 tion. Nearly 300 species have been described, the great majority of which 

 occur in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and North 

 America from Oregon and Louisiana to Mexico. Since the map was 

 prepared, a few species have been described from South Africa (Namaqualand 

 and Mozambique to the Cape), while a species from Chili has also been 

 referred to the genus. Lastly, Hopatrum (Map iv) is confined to the Old 

 World, at least 180 species having been described. Of these, over 50 occur 

 in Europe and one in Britain, which, however, is confined to the southern 

 and south-eastern coasts of England. 



SECTION PHYTOPHAGA. 



PRIONID^G (Longicorns). Plate 34, Map v. 



The present and the two succeeding families are often regarded as one, 

 to which the general name of Cerambycidse. is given. If this course be 

 adopted, the groups shown on the map may be considered as sub-families 

 only. The differences between them are of a technical character, and consist 

 of certain peculiarities in the articulation of the front pair of legs. All 

 these beetles are characterised by the great length of their antenna?, and 

 hence the general term " Longicorn " usually applied to them. In the 

 Prionidse, which is the smallest of the three sections, some 600 species have 

 been described, which have a world-wide distribution, though not occurring 

 so far north as other Longicorns. Only eight species are found in Europe 

 and one in Britain, namely Prionus coriarius. This is a local insect, 

 occurring only in the southern half of England and Wales. 



CERAMBYCID^I (Longicorns). Plate 34, Map v. 



This group of Longicorns includes at least 5000 species, which as a whole 

 are universally distributed. About 230 species are found in Europe, and of 

 these only 37 are British. Though not on the average so large as the 

 Prionidse, yet in general they are adorned with brighter colours, and hence 

 have a more attractive appearance. 



LAMIID^l (Longicorns). Plate 34, Map v. 



This, the largest family of Longicorns, comprises about 6000 species, 

 which are found in all parts of the world. Europe possesses 230 species and 

 Britain 17. Of the latter, perhaps the most interesting is Acanthocinus 

 sedilis, which is a conspicuous insect on account of its extraordinarily long 

 antennae. In the male these appendages are about four times the length 

 of the body. This beetle is often introduced in pine and fir logs, otherwise 

 it is a local insect and its appearance is always regarded with interest. 



CHRYSOMELID.&: (Phytophagous Beetles). Plate 34, Map vi. 



This is an enormous family, comprising fully 18,000 species, and one of 

 much economic importance, inasmuch as certain members cause wholesale 

 destruction of various crops in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Prob- 

 ably the best known of these is the so-called " Colorado beetle," or " potato 

 beetle" (Doryphora decemlineata), which attained much notoriety some years 

 ago, owing to its destructiveness in the United States. The Chrysomelidse 

 are found in every part of the world. North America possesses over 600 

 species, Europe over 1000 and the British Isles about 540. 



SECTION RHYNCHOPHORA. 



CURCULIONID.E (Weevils). Plate 34, Map vi. 



At least 20,000 species of Weevil have been described, and this vast 

 assemblage is represented in every part of the globe. The chief character 

 by which a member of this family may be recognised is the rostrum or beak 

 in front of the head. This curious organ is always present, but varies 

 enormously in development. From an economic point of view the family 

 is even more important than the Chrysomelidse, for the larvae are extremely 

 destructive, and there is hardly a species of plant or part of a plant which 

 is totally exempt from their attacks. Over 600 species are found in North 

 America and over 1800 in Europe. Of the latter about 450 are British, 

 nearly 80 of which belong to the genus Apion. 



ORDER HYMENOPTERA 



APID^l (Bees). Plate 35, Map i. 



About 1500 species of Bees are known at the present day, and these 

 range over the whole world. They are remarkable for the extreme hairiness 

 of their bodies, and from all other Hymenoptera they may be known by the 

 fact that some of the hairs are branched or plumose. Just over 200 species 

 are found in Britain, and these range in size from the tiny members of the 

 genus P? , osopis to the huge and clumsy Humble-Bees of the genus Bombus. 



VESPIDjE (Social Wasps). Plate 35, Map i. 



These formidable insects (numbering about 530 species) are found in 

 practically all parts of the world, but do not range so far north as Bees, and 

 apparently are not found in New Zealand although occurring in many of the 

 Polynesian Islands. In Europe 12 species are found, of which Britain 

 possesses 7, all belonging to the typical genus Vespa. The largest and 

 most formidable species is the Hornet ( V. crabro), which is only found in 

 England from Yorkshire southwards. The most important exotic genera are 

 Polistes, Icaria and Polybia. As their popular name indicates, these 

 insects live in communities, and their nests, usually built of a papery 

 material, are of much interest and of great variety. 



FORMICID^ (Ants). Plate 35, Map i. 



Using this family name in a broad sense, about 3000 species of Ants may 

 be here included, which have a world-wide distribution. Six sub-families 

 are sometimes adopted to accommodate this large assemblage, the majority 

 of which are lovers of tropical regions. About 200 species occur in North 

 America and nearly 150 in Europe. Britain possesses 20 which are truly 

 native, while at least half-a-dozen others are found in greenhouses, &c, as 

 introductions. 



