LAMISLLICOIiNIA, 



203 



feed on vegetable substances, dung, and, in some cases, on other 

 animal matter ; those that live in wood or at the roots of plants 

 sometimes take three years or more to come to maturity, but 

 many of the coprophagous species take longer than these phyto- 

 phagous species, although, as a rule, the former take a shorter 

 time and, in many instances, go through their metamorphoses in 

 a very brief period (v. Chapuis et Candeze, Cat. des Larves des 

 Coleopteres, pp. 112-115). 



As the Lamellicorkla are one of the most important of the 

 Indian groups of Coleoptera, it may be of service to quote the 

 table of larvae given by Erichson, and followed by Chapuis and 

 Candeze and other authorities. It must, however, be borne'in 

 mind that it is based on the study of only a small number of 

 types, very few, if any, of these being Indian : — 



I. Lobes of maxillae connate (Pleurosticti). 



i. Mandibles obtusely dentate at apex and fur- 



nished with transverse stria? on their posterior 

 surface. 



1, Ninth segment of abdomen divided in the 



middle by a transverse furrow, which 

 makes the segment appear as if divided 



iuto two D Y N A S T I N JE . 



2. Ninth abdominal segment simple Cetoniinje. 



ii. Mandibles furnished with a small tuft at apex, 



posterior surface not furrowed ; ninth abdo- 

 minal segment as in the DYNAsnxiE Melolonthusl<e. 



II. Lobes of maxilla? separate (Laparosticti). 



The Lapaeosticti may be further divided as below; the joints 

 of the antennas are reckoned apart from the basal support, which 

 has apparently been counted in the number by some authors. 

 We have not here quite followed Chapuis and Candeze, as their 

 views seem in one or two points to be at variance with those of 

 Schiodte, whose work is most accurate. 



i. Segments divided into transverse folds. 



1. Antenna? composed of four joints. 



A. Mandibles distinctly tridentate CoppnviE. 



1>. Mandibles obtusely and sometimes ob- 

 scurely bidentate Aphodiin^. 



2. Antenna? composed of three joints. 



A. Mandibles with four teeth on each, the 



last being the largest, bifid at apex .... Geotpupin^e. 



B. Mandibles with two or three teeth on 



each Tpogin^e. 



ii. Segments single, without transverse folds. 



1. Antenna? composed of two joints ; posterior 



legs very small Passalipje. 



2. Antenna? composed of three joints ; all the 



legs strongly developed Ltjcanid.e. 



The larva? are especially remarkable for their stridulatcry 

 powers ; the organs for producing the sound appear to be situated 

 in some cases on the mandibles and in others partly on the coxa? and 



