Cases of Protective Resemblance, Mimicry, etc. 353 



refuse in the sun, when they look like a crowd of ants on 

 the top of an ant-hill. 



Stenus, 



Mr. Holland suggests that the whole genus Stenus is 

 protected in the mud and wet places by the rough rugged 

 dorsal surface, much in the same way as Maphrus. 



Oxyporus rufus, L. 



This is a very conspicuous beetle of a bright red and 

 black colour, suggesting a " warning " or " aposematic " 

 appearance. It feeds on certain species of fungi. Of 

 course experiments are needed to prove its inedibility. 



Micralymma brevipenne, Gyll. 



This small beetle occurs under stones, and under sea- 

 weed on large boulders below high-water mark. Canon 

 Fowler writes (Col. Brit. Isles, Vol. ii. p. 408) : " I have taken 

 it a long way below high-water mark at Ventnor running 

 on stones in the sun in company with a species of Thysanura 

 which it probably preys on, and larger species of which it 

 rather strongly resembles at a little distance." This may 

 be a case of Aggressive Mimicry {Pseudepisematic), the 

 beetle feeding on the Thysanura, or perhaps the Thysanura 

 is distasteful and the beetle mimics it, in which case it 

 would be Protective Mimicry (Pseudaposematic), but 

 more evidence is required before any certain conclusion 

 can be reached. 



SlLPHIDiE. 



Necrophorus. 



All the yellow-banded species of Necrophorus are very 

 conspicuous and are probably distasteful, especially as 

 they are carrion feeders. Probably also they are protected 

 by possessing the characteristic banding of so many species 

 of wasps. 



Silpha qiiadripunctata, L. 



This species has different habits from all the rest of the 

 genus, as it lives on oak trees and hunts for lepidopterous 

 larvse. It is also coloured differently, being yellow with 

 four black spots on the elytra, and is perhaps protected by 

 looking like a large lady-bird. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1901. — PART III. (SEPT.) 24 



