Plate [XXXII]. fig. 1.
Order: Coleoptera. Section: Lamellicornes. Family: Cetoniidæ, MacLeay.
Genus. Cetonia, Fabricius. Scarabæus P. Drury.
Cetonia Marginata. Glabra, atra, thoracis elytrorumque marginibus rufis. (Long. Corp. 1 unc. 1½ lin.)
Syn. Scarabæus marginatus, Drury, App. vol. 2. Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 46. 15. Syst. El. II. p. 145. 50. (Cetonia m.) Oliv. Ent. 1. 6. p. 26. t. 5. f. 34. Palisot de Bauvois Ins. d'Afr. & d'Amer. 1. 11. p. 27. t. 5. f. 1. & 2 var. De Geer Ins. iv. t. 19. f. 10.
Habitat: Sierra Leone.
Head small, squarish, and margined in front and the sides; shining black. Thorax and elytra soot-coloured and velvety, being surrounded along the sides with an orange border. Scutellum triangular, and rather large. Abdomen and breast black. Sternum small. Abdominal scales small, but distinct. Anterior tibiæ with three spurs, the others with two. Tarsal joints spined within, excepting those belonging to the fore legs, which are unarmed.
According to Mr. Smeathman, this beetle frequently settles on the thatch of houses, whence he is of opinion, that it is fond of dried palm leaves, "where it deposits its eggs." Afzelius however, who subsequently studied the Entomology and Botany of Sierra Leone with great attention, says, "Inveni hanc speciem in Sierra Leona mensibus Aprilis et præcipue Majo copiose in Cassia rugosa, mihi, et in foliis Ficus oblongæ, mihi. Eam in Jatropha Curcas (non autem Gorcas, ut ait Fabricius) nunquam observare licuit. Mas abdomine subtus medio sulcato, femina medio convexo." (Schonh. Syn. Ins. iii. p. 128.)
MELOLONTHA OCCIDENTALIS.
Plate [XXXII]. fig. 2.