Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . surface even more conspicuously marked. It gainsits generic name of Oeruckus, or horn-bearing, from the twohorn-like projections of the head, which are but slightly indi-cated in the Sinodendron When viewed sideways, the head isseen to be bent downwards, flattened and shovel-shaped, so as to assist the Beetle in forcing its waythrough the material in which itlives. Both in the larval and perfectstates, these insects, as well as theDorcus, inhabit rotten wood, so thatthe infrequency of th
Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . surface even more conspicuously marked. It gainsits generic name of Oeruckus, or horn-bearing, from the twohorn-like projections of the head, which are but slightly indi-cated in the Sinodendron When viewed sideways, the head isseen to be bent downwards, flattened and shovel-shaped, so as to assist the Beetle in forcing its waythrough the material in which itlives. Both in the larval and perfectstates, these insects, as well as theDorcus, inhabit rotten wood, so thatthe infrequency of their appearancein the open air is easily accounted surface of the insect is brokenup in a very complicated fashion. Thehead is covered with large punctures,and so is the thorax, which has alsotwo depressions or pits on each side, so large that they almostlook as if they were injuries. The elytra are covered withbold ridges, and both they and the furrows between themare profusely covered with large punctures. According to thesystem of Lacordaire, this insect forms one of a group Fig. •.. — < Vnuhus striatus.(Shining black.) The next group, called Passalides, is looked upon as a linkbetween the rectinicorn and Lamellicorn Beetles, on accountof the form of the larva, which, as we shall see, very muchresembles that of a Lamellicorn Beetle. Our example of thegroup is the fine insect called Kclcus or Passalus inhabits Deraerara. It is really a striking insect, though the colouring is verysimple. The body is shining black, but there is a wonderfulquantity of silky golden down, which contrasts boldly with theotherwise uniform black. The upper part of the head is thicklycovered with this down, which in this place has a dash of orangein it, very much like the beautiful tuft on the head of ourgolden-crested wren. Tufts of similar hair projeel from theshoulders, and densely clothe the hind tarsi, which look like HABITS OF THE LARVA. 107 yellow
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1883
