ZOOLOGICAL
54
OLDER COLEOPTERA (Beetles).
SECTION LAMELLICORNIA.
PASSALID2E. Plate 33, Map i.
Of this family between 400 and 500 species have been described. Their range extends throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Only a single species occurs in ISTorth America, while the family is entirely absent from the Palsearctic Region. These Beetles are usually of a large size and of a shining black colour. They occur chiefly in decaying wood.
LUC ANIDA! (Stag-Beetles, &c.). Plate 33, Map i.
This is an important and widely distributed group, containing about 750 species and 80 genera. Of this number only about a dozen occur in Europe (three of which are British), and 14 or 15 in North America, the metropolis of the family apparently being the Indo-Malayan and Austro-Malayan Sub-regions.
Three genera, viz., Lucanus, Lamprima, and Odontolabis, have been selected for illustration. Lucanus, the typical one, contains 26 species, and is especially characteristic of the Nearctic and Palsearctic Regions, to which nearly all its species are confined. One species, the Common Stag-Beetle (Lucanus cervus) occurs in England, but only south of the Midlands. Lamprima is a group of about 15 beetles, often of a brilliant metallic green coloration, confined to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Odontolabis comprises 50 species, mostly of large size, and ranging from Southern India to China and the Malay Archipelago. The male beetles in this genus are remarkable for their great variation in size.
SCARAB AID A! (Dung-Beetles, Chafers, &c.). Plate 33, Maps ii and iii.
This is an enormous and very heterogeneous family, comprising at least 13,000 species. They occur in all parts of the world, and in order to accommodate this vast assemblage of forms, five sub-families are usually adopted. The first (Coprides) contains about 5000 species, and includes such forms as the Egyptian Sacred Beetle (Scarabsetis sacer) and its allies. The second sub-family (Melolonthides) includes the Cockchafers and their allies, about 4000 species in all; the third (Dynastides) contains about 1000 species of huge size and mostly tropical. The fourth sub-family (Eutelides) includes 1500 species, and the Mth (Cetoniides) about 1600, mostly found in warm regions. Over 80 species of the family as a whole are found in Britain.
Scarabseus (Map ii) is confined to Southern Europe, Africa, Madagascar, and the southern portion of the Asiatic mainland. About 70 species are known. Phanseus (Map ii) affords a good example of a genus characteristic of (though not confined to) the Neotropical Region. Over 80 species have been described, many of which are of a beautiful metallic green colour. Trox (Map iii) is a widely distributed genus, comprising at least 100 species. About a dozen species occur in Europe, and two in Britain. Sérica (Map iii) contains about 660 species, distributed as follows: Palsearctic Region, 80; Oriental Region, 400 ; Ethiopian Region, 150; Nearctic Region, 30; Neotropical Region, 5. One (S. brunnea) occurs and is widely distributed in Britain. Melolontha (Map iii) includes about 20 species of Cockchafer, two of which occur in Britain. The remainder are confined to Europe and Asia, extending as far east as Borneo and the Philippines. Gymnetis (Map iii) is confined to the New World, with about 90 species.
SECTION ADEPHAGA.
CARABID7E (Carnivorous Ground-Beetles). Plate 33, Map iv.
This important family comprises about 13,000 species. Representatives are found in all parts of the globe, and many handsome and singular forms are to be found among them. The genus Mormolyce, containing four species inhabiting the Malay Archipelago and Peninsula, is one of the most remarkable.
North America possesses about 1200 species of this family; Europe about 1400, and of the latter over 300 occur in Britain.
Carabus (see Map) is the typical genus, and contains over 300 species, which are mostly confined to the Palsearctic Region. Representatives are found, however, widely spread in the Nearctic Region, while a few forms occur in Chili and even on Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa. Graphipterus, also shown on the Map, is purely African (and Arabian), comprising about 60 species. Anihia (see Map) is a group of about 70 handsome species, which range over the whole of Africa, Arabia, and the southern part of the Asiatic mainland.
CICINDELIDA (Tiger-Beetles). Plate 33, Map v.
The Tiger-Beetles are active and often handsome insects, fierce and carnivorous in their habits. They are universally distributed, and number about 1500 species. The number of genera and species increases steadily towards the Equator. About 70 occur in North America and about 40 in Europe. Britain only possesses 5, all belonging to the typical genus Cicindela. The best-known, and the prettiest, of these is C. campestris, which occurs commonly in sandy places throughout the kingdom.
DYTISCIDA (Carnivorous Water-Beetles). Plate 33, Map v.
The Water-Beetles belonging to this family are universally distributed, occurring even in remote oceanic islands. At least 1800 species have been described, of which about 300 are natives of North America, and about 220 in Europe. Over 100 species occur in Britain, one of which, Dytiscus marginalis, is a well-known inhabitant of our ponds, and may be taken as a typical representative of the family.
measuring 6 or 7 inches across the wings. They are of world-wide distribution, but nine of the genera are confined to Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Thirteen species occur in North America, 22 in the Palsearctic Region and 9 in Europe, all the latter being members of the typical genus Hepialus. Five species, often called Swift Moths, are British. One of the largest and handsomest members of the family is Leto venus, a native of South Africa. Its fore wings are covered with blotches of silver, giving the insect a striking appearance.
LASIOCAMPIDA (Lappet-Moths, Eggars, &c.). Plate 32, Map iv.
About 150 genera and 750 species belong to this family, which has representatives in all parts of the world, except New Zealand and Polynesia. About 60 species occur in the Palsearctic Region, and of these fully half are found in Europe and 11 in Britain. The best-known of the latter are the Eox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi), the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus), the Drinker (Cosmotriche potatoria) and the Lappet-Moth (Gastropacha querci-folia). Twenty-four species occur in North America.
LYMANTRIIDiE (Tussock-Moths, &c.) Plate 32, Map iv.
This family is of universal distribution, with representatives in the extreme north, examples having been met with on several of the Arctic expeditions (e.g., Dasychira rossii). Over 800 species, placed in nearly 200 different genera, have been described. About 70 species occur in the Palsearctic Region, of which 23 are European and 10 British. The Brown Tail (Euproctis chrysorrhcea), Gold Tail (Porthesia similis), Satin Moth (Stilpnotia salicis) and Gipsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) are well-known British representatives of the family. Fifteen species occur in North America.
HYPSIDiE or AGANAIDiE. Plate 32, Map v.
This is a small and essentially tropical family, comprising about 120 species and about 24 genera. Less than 20 species occur in the Ethiopian Region, and only one in the Neotropical. It is hence specially characteristic of the Oriental and Australian Regions, while at the same time absent from New Zealand. These Moths are peculiarly coloured, with buff and grey tints prevailing.
ARCTIID2E (Tiger-Moths, &c.). Plate 32, Map v.
The Arctiidse are a large and important group, containing over 2000 species, for the reception of which over 400 genera have been characterised. These Moths, often brightly-coloured and attractive in appearance, occur in all parts of the world and are well represented in Britain, fully 30 species being recognised as native. Among these the best-known are the Common Tiger Moth (Arctia caia), the Cinnabar Moth (Euchelia jacobxse), the Ermines of the genus Spilosoma and the so-called “ Footmen ” of the genus Lithosia. At least 160 species occur in the Palasarctie Region, 71 in Europe, and 120 in North America.
AGARISTID2E. Plate 32, Map v.
In this family about 250 species are known, placed in over 50 genera. Many of these Moths possess brightly-coloured wings, and are diurnal in habit. In general appearance they have some resemblance to the members of the previous family. They are mainly confined to the tropical portions of both Old and New Worlds, only 15 species occurring in North America (and mainly in the Southern States) and 2 in the Palsearctic Region (Corea, Japan and China).
GEOMETRIDiE (Loopers). Plate 32, Map vi.
This is an enormous group of Moths, comprising thousands of species and distributed over every part of the globe. In the Palsearctic Region alone there are about 1200 species, while Europe and North America each possess at least 800. In Britain about 270 species occur, of which the Currant or Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) may be taken as an abundant and very familiar example. The Moths of this family are in great part of dull colours, with slender, fragile bodies. The popular name of “ Looper ” arises from the peculiar gait of the caterpillar, whose body during progression is thrown into a large loop. The scientific name of the family is derived from the same peculiarity.
NOCTUID1E (Noctuid Moths). Plate 32, Map vi.
At least 10,000 species of usually sombre-coloured Moths belong to this family, whose distribution is universal. Nearly all the members of the group are nocturnal in habit, from which circumstance their name is taken. About 1800 species occur in the Palsearctic Region, over 1000 in Europe, and about 330 in Britain. At least 2000 species are recorded from North America, while over 70 are found in New Zealand, and about 250 in Madagascar. Several sub-families have been formed for the reception of the enormous number of genera contained in the family, but the classification of these genera is a matter of considerable difficulty.
URANIIDjE. Plate 32, Map vi.
This family comprises about 70 species of Moths somewhat resembling the Geometridee in general appearance, but often adorned with brilliant colours. The species are confined to the Tropics, and attain their chief development in the Neotropical and Oriental Regions. The typical genus Urania contains eight species, which range from Mexico and the Greater Antilles to Brazil, and are of brilliant coloration. The handsomest member of the family, however, is the wonderfully brilliant Chrysiridia madagascariensis, confined to Madagascar and originally described as a Butterfly ! Other important genera are Alcidis and Nyctalemon, confined to the Oriental and Australian Regions, and Coronidia, which is purely Neotropical.