Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . blaze of splendour. The centre of the thorax is rich violet,and on either side is a large patch of fiery, burnished copper,very deeply and profusely punctured. The elytra are smoothand of a kings yellow colour, while in their middle is a largecircular patch of the most splendid purple, and the last third of A BEAUTIFUL GENUS. 153 the wing-cases is of the same colour. A very strong light isneeded to develop the full beauties of this splendid colour. Itis so deep that in a poor light it lo
Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . blaze of splendour. The centre of the thorax is rich violet,and on either side is a large patch of fiery, burnished copper,very deeply and profusely punctured. The elytra are smoothand of a kings yellow colour, while in their middle is a largecircular patch of the most splendid purple, and the last third of A BEAUTIFUL GENUS. 153 the wing-cases is of the same colour. A very strong light isneeded to develop the full beauties of this splendid colour. Itis so deep that in a poor light it looks black, but when properlyilluminated the purple is so intense as almost to dazzle the eye ;and as it is contrasted with its complementary colour, yellow,it necessarily appears peculiarly vivid. If possible, the under surface is even more beautiful than theupper. The head and thorax are of the same coppery carmineas that which adorns the sides of the thorax; and the abdomen isshining violet, not quite so dark as the purple of the legs are violet. The generic name of Chrysochroa, or golden. feV Fig. 71.—Chrysochroa Buquetii.(Yellow and deep violet.) surface, has been given to these insects in consequence of theprevalence of golden yellow in their colouring. This is a largegenus, and is represented in the East Indies, China, &c. One ofthe most startling in point of colour is Chrysochroa vittata of elytra of this insect are burnished green glossed with gold,while down their centre runs a band (in Latin, vittd) of brilliantcarmine. Another species, Chrysochroa limbata, though small, notan inch in length, and not shining, is yet a very beautiful is deep olive green; the elytra are boldly ridged, and roundtheir edges runs a broad belt of golden yellow. The specificname limbata is formed from the Latin word limbus, wihch signi-fies a hem, border, or frill, and refers to this yellow belt. 154 INSECTS ABROAD. THE group of Buprestides is represented by
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1883
