188 



INTRODUCTION. 



Family 93. LAMIIML 



Head in front vertical or bent inwards well below the thorax; 

 last joint of the palpi pointed at the end ; anterior tibial generally 

 with a groove beneath. 



This family, so far as the Indian fauna is concerned, contains a 

 considerably larger number of species than the Cerambycid^e, and 

 there are, roughly speaking, about 600 at present known. They 

 are more highly specialised than the latter family and contain 



Fig. 88. — Batoccra rubus (natural size). Stridulating organ enlarged. 



(apart from size) the most striking forms ; the greater number of 

 the cryptic or protected Longicorns belong to the Lamiidae. Two 

 groups may be characterised as follows : — 



A. Episterna of metasternuni narrow Lamiin-33. 



B. Episterna of metasternum broad in front and narrow 



behind Saperdinjb. 



Dr. Sharp (Camb. Nat. Hist, vi, p. 288) points out how the 

 peculiar extension of the eyes round the antennas, which is 

 characteristic of the group, is accompanied by " very curious 

 shapes of those organs, and not infrequently each eye is divided 

 into two more or less widely separated parts, so that the insect 

 has, on the external surface, four eyes." 



