The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 06 (of 10)Sharp, David
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 06 (of 10)
Sharp, David
Animals
Series 3. _Polymorpha._—Antennae frequently with either a club, _i.e._
the distal joints broader [Clavicorn series of authors], or the joints
from the third onwards more or less saw-like, the serrations being on the
inner face [Serricorn series of authors]; but these and all the other
characters, including the number of joints in the feet, very variable.
Series 4. _Heteromera._—Front and middle tarsi five-jointed, hind tarsi
four-jointed. Other characters very variable.
Series 5. _Phytophaga._—Tarsi four-jointed [apparently], but with a small
additional joint at the base of the fourth joint: sole usually densely
pubescent [sometimes the feet are bare beneath or bristly, and
occasionally the small joint at the base of the fourth joint is more
distinct].
Series 6. _Rhynchophora._—Head prolonged in front to form a beak; gula
indistinguishable. [Palpi usually not evident.] Tarsi four-jointed
[apparently], but with a very minute additional joint at the extreme base
of the fourth joint.
_Strepsiptera_ (see p. 298).
The first and second series, with much of the third, form the Pentamera,
the fifth and sixth the Tetramera [or Pseudotetramera[78]]. The term
Isomera was applied by Leconte and Horn to a combination of series 1, 2, 3,
and 5.
SERIES 1. LAMELLICORNIA.
_Tarsi five-jointed; antennae with the terminal joints (usually three,
sometimes more), broader on one side, so as to form a peculiar club, the
leaves of which are movable, and in repose are more or less perfectly
coadapted so as to have the appearance of being but one piece._
This series includes three families, Passalidae, Lucanidae, and
Scarabaeidae; the latter includes an enormous majority of the species, and
in them the structure of the antennae characteristic of the series is well
developed; but in the other two families {191}the form of the antennae is
not so widely different from that of other Coleoptera. The larvae live on
decaying vegetable matter, roots or dung. They have three pairs of legs,
and are thick clumsy grubs with curved bodies, the last two segments being
of larger size than usual. Many of them possess organs of stridulation, and
the structure of their spiracles is very peculiar, each one being more or
less completely surrounded by a chitinous plate. The spiracles usually form
a system entirely closed, except at the moment when the skin is shed and
the tracheal exuviae are detached. Meinert[79] considers these spiracles to
be organs of hearing. The life of the larvae is passed underground or in
the decaying wood on which the Insect feeds.
[Illustration: Fig. 85.—Antennae of Lamellicorns. 1, _Neleus interruptus_;
2, _Lucanus cervus_ ♂; 3, _Phanaeus splendidulus_ ♀; 4, _Phileurus didymus_
♀; 5, _Polyphylla fullo_ ♂.]
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