Oct., 1921 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
29 
.and the four pairs of feet are simple tubercles, tipped with 
a pair of double claws. The transparent cuticle is separated 
from the epiderm bv a space filled with fluid, in which float 
a number of large corpuscles. Here lies also a beautifully 
symmetrical system of plain muscular bundles, dorsal, 
ventral, and lateral. A brain and four ganglia send threads 
in various directions to supply nervous force. 
Their food consists of vegetable sap. Two rod-like 
teeth pierce the plant, a hollow mouth tube is applied, and 
by the operation of a muscular pharynx the food is sucked 
down into the stomach. 
The outer cuticle is thrown off at times, but is used as a 
receptacle for the eggs, from four to ten being found. Thus 
protected, they hatch after a few days, and are able to care 
for themselves. Some species have great vitality. In dry 
weather they shrivel into a shapeless granule, and remain 
for months in that state, but on being moistened gradually 
till out, and resume their old activity. 
One of the photographs shows the nervous and muscular 
structure, and the other is one in the process of casting oft' 
the skin, with half a dozen eggs enclosed. 
0 
TWO NOTABLE BEETLES. 
By It. Illidge. 
(Notes on the habits of two species of Staghorn Beetles, sent 
from Atherton, North Queensland, by Mr. H. C. Hayes, 
of Kyogle, New South Wales.) 
The beetles forwarded are Phalacrognathus niueUeri, 
MeLeay, and Lamprima mandibularis, McLeay. 
l\ nmelleri is not by any means the largest or most 
remarkable, but certainly the most effulgent in coloration, 
of all the known insects of this family of beetles throughout 
the world. Its nearest relative is undoubtedly the insect 
next referred to, and MeLeay, when describing it, having 
only a female before him, called it Lamprima muelleri • 
remarking, however, on certain differences which seemed to 
constitute almost generic characters. Having afterwards 
obtained the male, lie formed the genus Phalacrognathus to 
receive it. 
Mr. Hayes remarks on its habits as under: “This 
species is found only on one tree, Evodia micrococca. The 
beetles remain in hiding during the day, lying close to the 
trunk of the tree, and venture out at night to feed on the 
leaves. ’ ’ 
