CHRYSOMELIDiE. 
357 
birch catkin. The ants pick up the covered egg and carry it into the 
nest. The young larva, which hatches in about twenty-one days, uses 
the egg-case as a nucleus on which to build the larval case ; thus very 
young larval cases have the egg-case still attached to their posterior 
end. The egg-case has a threefold raison d'etre —to protect the egg 
and newly hatched larva, to make the ants believe it is a bit of useful 
vegetable refuse, and to give the larva a foundation on which to 
start the larval case. When the larva case grows larger, the egg-case 
breaks off and the larva fills up the hole thus formed with the same 
material as that with which it builds the rest of the case. This 
material consists of its own excrement mixed with earth, which it pre¬ 
pares with its mandibles. To enlarge the case the larva removes particles 
from the inside, and plasters them on to the outside. The larva feeds on 
vegetable refuse in the nest. When changing its skin it fastens the case 
to some object in the nest. When full-grown it fastens the case to a 
piece of wood or twig, and turning completely round, changes to a 
pupa, facing the broader end of the case. When hatched the beetle 
gets out of the case at this broader end, by biting a circle round inside 
it, thus forming a cap, which it forces off. 5 5 
The student should refer to this account and read the bibliographi¬ 
cal remarks especially. There is nothing to show that our species have 
this habit, but it is worth bearing in mind when searching ants ’ nests 
for insects. 
The Megalopince include Temnaspis (4), and Colobaspis (4), rare 
insects found in the hills. The Clytrince are listed by Jacoby and 
Pig. 231.—A. Diapromorpha pinguis, B. Aspidolopha thoracica, 
C. Gynandrophthalma subdivisa. 
[Aflev Jacoby.) 
