Notes on the genus Mormolyce Hagenbach

(Coleoptera, Carabidae)

%

M. A. Lieftinck and J. T. Wiebes

Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden

The present memoir contains some notes and obser- collection, and also to Messrs. M. A. Donk, of the

vations on the taxonomy and biology of the Rijksherbarium, Leiden, and C. A. W. Jeekel, of the

genus Mormolyce Hagenbach. Though only too well Amsterdam Museum, who both gave important infor- known among coleopterists ever since their discovery, mation on the nomenclature of bracket-fungi and

these remarkable carabids do have been Laboulbeniaceae. not appear to epizoic

in critically studied recent years. As a matter of fact,

little information very on them has been supplied DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON MORMOLYCE

the last all observa- during fifty or so, nearly years PHYLLODES HAGENBACH of than tions more passing interest being contained

in what be called “classical” IMAGINES may aptly memoirs,

written earlier students whose works Distribution and — The fresh by some are geographical variation.

listed in the literature cited at the end of this series of from paper. Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach The have Perak present authors, therefore, gratefully ac- (5 $ 4 <5, Plus River area, Sungei Chior,

this record the results M. A. forms welcome cepted opportunity to put on leg. Lieftinck, 7.III.1963) a

of fresh of these a study by reviewing the addition to the collection of the Leiden Museum, facts known in check which already a joint attempt to pre- contained only one specimen from the Asiatic

vious their The mainland S investigations against own. junior (Central i a m, Niki, 150 m alt., Kwae author has revised the systematics, taxonomy and Noi River exp., leg. J. E. Jonkers, 23.IV-5.V.1946).

early stages of Mormolyce, his studies being based Other material in the collection originates from West rich of on a supply material including specimens and Java (several specimens without exact locality, col- illustrations of historical great interest. To the senior lected by H. Kuhl & J. C. van Hasselt, S. Müller author has fallen the task of establishing some locali- and Cl. Mulder; and 2 examples from the Preanger,

ties with more and of on his P. F. The from Suma- precision narrating own leg. Sijthoff). following are

with without experiences Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach tra: some exact locality; N.E. Sumatra: 1

while a to the on collecting trip Malay Peninsula, ex., E. Atjeh, Gedong Riara, leg. R. Straatman, 4.XII.

these field notes fact, initiated having, in the studies 1952; 1 ex., Tebingtinggi [Deli, low country], leg.

carried out. However the presently fragmentary, F. J. Weynman; 1 ex., Tandjong Morawa [Serdang

above it investigations put together may, is hoped, distr., low country], leg. R. Hagen. W. Sumatra: 1

contribute in some measure to of our knowledge ex., Tanangtalu [Ophir distr., 1000 m alt.], leg. E.

Mormolyce generally. Jacobson, V.1915; 1 Soerian, Sumatra ex., exp., Much of the material which forms the basis of 1.1878; Solok 1 ex., [Padang distr., 400 m alt.], leg. this is in the paper lodged Rijksmuseum van Natuur- P. O. Stolz; 1 ex., Rimbo Pengadang [Renkulen, Leiden. Other made lijke Historie, were m specimens 1000 alt.], leg. E. Jacobson, VI.1916. E. Sumatra: available for the authorities study by of the British I.: 1 Palembang [low country], Bangka ex., Museum (Natural History), London; the N a tuna Is. W. 2 Zoologisch Bangka. [off Borneo]: ex., Great Museum, Amsterdam; and the Museum, Hasselt. University Natuna I., leg. A. L. van Borneo: see Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford. The below. writers are indebted to Mr. P. H. van Doesburg Sr., The three specimens labelled: K[uhl] & v. H[as- Baarn, for records of his supplying in — form series locality selt] Java, part of the type of M. phyl-

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lodes and male is here The male Hagenbach, one designated line); in some hardly so. genitalia are simi-

lectotype. lar to those of M. p. phyllodes (fig. 10 ')).

In the collection British male from Pontianak of the Museum (Natural Holotype is a ("Bornéo occ.

Pontianak. History), London, I have seen typical examples from 1898") in the collection of the Rijks-

the Malay Peninsula (Perak, leg. Doherty, Gru- museum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden.

bauer and and from It should be noted that the from the Fruhstorfer, one 11.1890; Ding specimens

Ding Is. [off the west coast], leg. H. N. Ridley, Natuna Islands do not belong to the Bornean form,

1897); Java (leg. Horsfield, 1860, and Bowring, but to M. p. phyllodes.

1863); and Sumatra (Benkulen, leg. C. J. Brooks,

Sexual — The 1912). The specimens from the Amsterdam Museum dimorphism. series from Malaya con-

from of four are N.E. Sumatra (Sarang Giting, Serdang distr., sists nine specimens, viz. males and five fe-

and W. Sumatra 120 males. In this the distinction between the 1918) (Ampugadang, m alt., leg. species,

A. de For Bornean below. sexes is of and the of Kock, 1925). examples, see special interest, greater part

variable Mulder's this Although highly in size, M. phyllodes in paper was devoted to subject. MULDER

and Thailand (1860: 146), after discussed the characters Java, Sumatra, Malaya appear to be having

rather constant in structural characters. GESTRO mentioned by MANNERHEIM (1837), and basing him-

self of (1875: 886-888) described a variety borneensis from on comparative measurements one male and

Sarawak. In this form, which should be considered one female example, reached the conclusion that

there a good species, the lateral margins of the prothorax are, in Mormolyce phyllodes, no external char-

acters which the be are very regularly, and rather finely, dentate (fig. 13). on sexes can distinguished.

The Leiden Mulder measured the antennal of his two Museum possesses examples of this spe- segments and found cies from two localities in W. Borneo, viz. Pontianak specimens, them to be longer in the male

absolute difference and the Schwaner Mts. in the interior; in the Amster- in length (the main being found

dam there from in the third and fourth sub- Museum is a specimen E. Borneo: segments), although

Sambodjan, N. of Balikpapan. equal in their length relative to the length of the

head. According to GESTRO (1875: 889), in the largest specimens of M. phyllodes the length of the third Gestro also noted the presence of aberrant indivi- antennal is than the sub- segment longer head, or duals among those from Borneo and considered these equal in length; in large specimens, it is subequal a transitional form between phyllodes and borneen- or slightly shorter; in smaller specimens, four-fifths sis. In the Leiden Museum this form is represented of the head-length; and in the smallest specimens, by specimens from W. Borneo (Pontianak; G. three-quarters of this length. Kenepai, Pondok, leg. J. Biittikofer, 1.1894) and the In the nine specimens from Perak I do not find Mahakam Biver (Borneo exp., leg. A. W. Nieuwen- sexual characters. The series shows any secondary a huis). In the British Museum (Natural History) there positive allometry in the length of the head (meas- is series from and a Pontianak, one example from ured behind the eyes) and in the total length of the Njabang (ex. coll. Schneider); and two from Mt. Dulit antenna, and a slightly stronger positive allometry (Oxford exp.) in Sarawak. The Amsterdam Museum in the of the third and fourth antennal length seg- from possesses a specimen Pontianak, and one from ments (see table 1). Sangasangadalam [E. Borneo, S.W. of Samarinda],

consider these I specimens to represent the Bornean

— males and female Epizoic fungi. Two one of the of which race Mormolyce phyllodes, I have great series from Perak flora of Laboul- show an epizoic pleasure in naming after Prof. Dr. H. Engel: beniaceae. GIAKD (1892) described Thaxteria küncke-

li (= Laboulbenia kuenckelii (Giard) Thaxter), from

collected in Perak, and this Mormolyce phyllodes engeli Wiebes, subspec. nova. Mormolyce phyllodes later species was (THAXTER, 1908: 368) recorded from

The of the prothorax 12) is different from Sumatra. shape (fig. Our specimens, however, resemble more both M. phyllodes (pl. 1) and M. borneensis p. (fig. Laboulbenia palmella Thaxter, described from M.

13), in that the marginal dentations are rather irre- gular and not nearly as fine as in M. borneensis, and ') In the drawing by JEANNEL (1942: 278, fig. 120), the lack the characteristic teeth of M. posterior p. phyl- median lobe is distinctly shorter and more robust, and lodes. In most the of the specimens, margins pro- M. in this respect is more like our example of quadrati- thorax in 12 dotted are hyaline (indicated fig. by a collis Donckier from Borneo.

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Table 1. Measurements nine (in mm) of specimens of Mormolyce p. phyllodes from Malaya

specimen no. (see plate 1):

hnttnm rnw top row UUllUlll 1UW

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Ô â 5 2 2 2 â â 2

Length of:

head behind eyes 8.0 9.8 13.1 14.5 13.9 14.6 15.4 14.6 15.5

pronotum 10.8 12.0 16.3 16.0 16.0 17.0 17.6 17.8 17.8

pronotum and elytra

(along median suture) 33 38 47 47 47 48 50 51 51

antennal segment 1 4.0 4.6 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.4 6.6 6.1 7.1

2 0.8 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6

3 9.0 12.2 17.1 18.9 18.9 19.4 19.9 20.0 21.6

4 6.7 9.9 13.8 15.5 15.0 15.4 15.2 16.2 17.0

5 2.9 3.5 4.3 4.3 4.6 4.5 4.8 4.8 5.0

6 3.4 3.8 4.8 4.8 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.0 5.3

7 3.4 4.0 5.0 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.4 5.3 5.3

8 3.5 3.8 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.1 5.3 5.1 5.3

9 3.4 3.7 4.8 5.1 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.0 5.0

10 3.2 3.5 4.6 4.8 4.8 5.0 4.8 4.8 5.0

11 4.2 4.5 5.8 5.9 6.1 5.9 5.9 5.8 6.5

antennal segments combined 44.5 54.9 72.5 71.0 77.0 78.3 79.9 79.7 84.7

1-3. Figs. Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach. 1, pupa, ventral aspect; 2, larva, dorsal aspect; 3, pupa, dorsal aspect.

1, 3, X 2 2/3; 2, X 3 1/3.

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2 phyllodes collected in Perak, Molucca ), and Java in Java: "De Mormolyce leeft als larve 8 à 9

and later also recorded from (THAXTER, 1895: 337), maanden, gedurende welken tijd zij vijfmaal ver-

Ding Ding Is., Penang, and Sumatra (THAXTER, velt" 3) (MAITLAND, 1858: 42; repeated by MULDER,

1908: 368). 1860: 153). Here the question arises as to the ac-

curacy of Overdijk's observations. Mulder considered

the that IMMATURE STAGES possibility Overdijk, not being a professional

have mistaken the larvae of other VER HUELL (1847: 344-347, pi. 7 figs. 1-6) described entomologist, may beetles for those of there and in Mormolyce. In opinion, some larvae pupae collected by Overdijk Java my is little doubt that did observe the larvae of (see MAITLAND, 1858: 41). This material soon after- Overdijk

wards lost 1960: Sub- well to be able to them was reported (MULDER, 152). Mormolyce enough recognize did had their considerations from others, but, if he not rear them individually, sequent authors to base on

the of Huell's he well have been in his reconstruction of immature stages Mormolyce on Ver may wrong the larval description and figures, until VAN EMDEN (1942: 20, cycle. With the data the number of larval the larval now at hand, 81, fig. 18), in his key to genera of Cara-

described larva from Sarawak. The in cannot be ascertained. VAN EM- bidae, a present stages Mormolyce

larva and DEN (1942: 81) mentioned one of Carabidae specimens, viz. one one pupa, are com- example which larval than Huell and in possibly more occur is pared with the descriptions by Ver Van stages

and with made normal in the viz. African Triaenogenius of Emden, some original drawings by family,

the tribe Helluonini. It be of interest to note Overdijk, now preserved in the Rijksmuseum van may that this of beetles (fam. Anthiidae) is related Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden. group to the Thyreopteridae in which CHAUDOIR (1868:

and also Larva. — The larva about2.3 the width of 133-134), JEANNEL (1949: 1058), is cm long, recently placed Mormolyce Hagenbach. Other Lebiomorphi, the head capsule is 3.6 mm. The head-width of Van far have three larval as as known, seem to stages. Emden's larva, consideredby him to represent the sec- Five larval instars described ERWIN ond measured 3.45 and thus is about of were recently by stage, mm, (1967) for Brachinus pallidus Erwin, and this ab- the same size, and presumably age, as the present Huell between larva normal number is related to their example. Ver distinguished a evidently ectopara- sitoid habits. "encore très jeune" (fig. 1 of his plate), and one

adulte" "presque (his fig. 2), but no measurements

were given. If Ver Huell's figures are approximately The larva (fig. 2) is yellowish in colour, with dark

natural which the smaller the first in size, seems probable, brown parts as follows: the head capsule, larva measured 1.5 2 thoracic the second and third ca. cm (head-width, ca. mm), segment, patches on and the the larger ca. 3.5 cm (head-width, ca. 4 mm). thoracic segments and on the first abdominal, small scale drawn of the the and of In Overdijk's original drawing, a peritremata spiracles, cerci part

in pencil next to the figure presumably indicates the the ninth abdominal segment.

total length of the larva: 2.8 cm (head-width, ca. The antenna (fig. 9) is four-segmented (length ratio

4.5 12 : 10 11 the mm). approximately as : : 7), segments are VAN EMDEN'S calculations of the "à Huell: the sensorial Using (1942: 5-6) not peu près égales" (Ver 346); the head-width ratio of the successive stages, and on appendage of the third segment is cone-shaped, and that his also larva presumption (as our) represents not very prominent. the second the labium stage, one would arrive at following The (fig. 5) is inverted-trapezoid in out-

approximate values for the head-width of the larvae: line; the ligula has the shape of a wide triangle,

7 and I, ca. 2.0 mm (Ver Huell, pi. fig. 1); II, ca. 3.5 mm truncate at tip, with a pair of subapical setae

(Van Emden, fig. 18; present larva); and III, 4-4.5 two pairs of laterals; the palpi are two-segmented

7 described Ver mm (Ver Huell, pi. fig. 2; Overdijk's original (12 : 7), not three-segmented as by

drawing). Huell who probably counted the palpigerous portion

assumed that has three labium his Here it was Mormolyce of the as a separate segment (see figs. 3-4). larval the normal number Carabidae. The maxilla has with stages, as is in (fig. 6) a large stipes, some

the It seems to have escaped all authors, however, that antiaxial setae, and a row of setae along paraxial

recorded five moults for Overdijk Mormolycelodes phyl-

3 ) The larva of Mormolyce lives 8 to 9 months, during

-) Evidently Malacca! which period it moults five times.

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Figs. 4-11. Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach. 4-9. larva: 4, cerci, dorsal aspect; 5, labium, ventral aspect, and detail dorsal ventral ventral hind in view; 6, maxilla, aspect; 7, mandible, aspect; 8, leg, anterior aspect; 9, antenna, ven-

tral aspect; 10, male genitalia, ventral aspect; 11, pupa, apex of abdomen showing male gonotheca, ventral aspect. 4, X 22; 5-7, 9, X 40; 8, 11, X 15; 10, X 10.

Figs. 12-13. Outline of thorax of: 12, Mormolyce phyllodes engeli subspec. nova; 13, Mormolyce borneensis Gestro; X 2 2/3.

the is Huell. would margin; palpus three-segmented (15 : 8 : 5; Ver It appear that these discrepancies

the lobe due observation palpiger 10); outer two-segmented (7 : 3), are mainly to inaccurate by Ver

the basal the his segment indistinctly separated from Huell, or to misinterpretation of some structures.

Here the relative of the In colour, there be actual difference be- stipes. again, length palpal may some

segments differ somewhat from Ver Huell's descrip- tween larvae of different stages.

tion.

The mandible is it has — The 3 the (fig. 7) robust; a strong Pupa. pupa is ca. cm long, yellowish; and thoracic retinaculum, a penicillus. terga and the abdominal segments with The legs (III, fig. 8) have the normal number of dorsal and lateral patches of brownish setae; the five segments; there is only one claw. second to seventh abdominal segments with setose The ninth abdominal and lateral 3. segment (fig. 4) is entire, protuberances. See figs. 1, it bears slender articulated described Huell made of female and male two cerci, not as Ver mention a a

Huell. in by Ver pupa, and noted some differences colour and in

In all characters mentioned, the larva agrees with the number of dorsal setae; but Mulder doubted the description by Van Emden, who noted some dis- whether Ver Huell could distinguish between a male

between his larva and the and female could The crepancies description by a pupa (Mulder not!). present

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Table 2. Distribution of Mormolyce

lodes engeli castelnaudi hagenbachi phyl borneensis quadraticollis tridens p. p.

Thailand X

Malaya (Perak) XXX

Ding Ding Is. X

Sumatra XXX

Atjeh (N.E.) X

Tebingtinggi(N.E.) X

Sarang Giting (N.E.) X

Tandjong Morawa (N.E.) X

Ampugadang(W.) X

Tanangtalu (W.) X

Soerian (W.) X

Malalak (W.) X

Solok (S.W.) X

Rimbo Pengadang(S.W.) X

Benkulen (S.W.) X X

Ranau (Benkulen, S.W.) XXX

Palembang (S.E.) X

Java (West) X

Bangka I. X

Natuna I. X

Borneo X X X X

Sarawak (N.W.) X X

Pontianak (W.) XXX

Njabang (W.) XXX

Sintang (W.) X

G. Kenepai (W.) X

Sambas (W.) X

Schwaner Mts. (C.W.) X

Mahakam River (E.) X

Sangasangadalam(E.) X

Balikpapan (E.) X X

characterized the specimen certainly is a male, by DISTRIBUTION OF MORMOLYCE IN THE unpaired gonotheca showing between the ninth and MALAY ARCHIPELAGO

tenth abdominal segments (fig. 11). of In total, there are now known to exist six species the identification of which be ob- Mormolyce, may

Specific identification of Van Emden's larva (from tained by reference to Rousseau (1906) and Andrewes

Sarawak, leg. Shelford). — Four species of Mormo- (1941: 315, figs. 1-6). As to the geographical distri-

from lyce were recorded from Borneo, and two are known bution, it can be said that Mormolyce ranges from Sarawak table borneensis Gestro Central Thailand far and (see 2), viz. M. into Malaysia as as Java and SHELFORD will be from table 2 that the M. phyllodes engeli subspec. nova. Borneo. It seen species recorded other (1906: lxxiii) the larvae and pupae of do not necessarily exclude each geographically,

and later alluded these several of “Mormolyce”, (1916: 162-163) on the contrary: instances are known two It that Shel- three that have been taken simul- to Mormolyce phyllodes. seems probable or even species able ford would have been to recognize M. phyllodes taneously in one restricted area and obviously may from his the Details of the M. borneensis; specimens then, including coexist at same locality. specific the larva described Van have be- habitations and of each of by Emden, may ethology are, course, un-

longed to M. phyllodes engeli. known but on the basis of the material at our dis-

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could be estab- posai sympatric occurrences actually destruction of the hillside vegetation and the defores-

lished and are in the table. tation of the volcanoes specified great in Java are responsible

for the from that island disappearance of many in-

The occurrence of Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach sects once common, including Mormolyce.

in Java. — At one time M. phyllodes seems to have

been distributed in the of widely forests West Java. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON

The beetle is well in collections represented though MORMOLYCE PHYLLODES HAGENBACH the great majority were purchased from dealers and IN PERAK, MALAYA are either labelled "Java" or bear no indication of

habitat. This the localities The observations made the is not surprising as were following were in state of the of mostly kept secret. As Shelford (1916) wrote, in the Perak, on occasion a long-planned excur-

middle of the last the sion the Plus River century Paris Museum actually to area, a country practically un-

francs for "a disburse- disturbed but well known naturalists paid 1,000 a single specimen, by man among which have for luxuriant forests rich and varied ment subsequently they must regretted, its harbouring a

for the beetle and fauna and flora. The had been for is by no means uncommon recent- trip arranged me

ly has been taken by the hundred". Now this last by the University of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur and

refer de- undertaken in with Furtado statement may to some Bornean species, it was company Dr. J. I.

does the of of the main finitely not apply to occurrence M. phyl- same University, our object being an

of the lodes in Java. I know of no collector, expert or dealer, investigation Odonate fauna in the Chior Big who the last Game Forest which within the caught a single specimen during fifty Reserve, is area men-

years. As far as I am aware the most recent captures tioned.

those of the Bartels We left the were late ornithologist Max Jr., Ipoh by station car on. early morning

who before World War II showed small of March north Rambutan shortly me a 7, 1963, heading via Tg. taken toward series that had been in June 1915, by one of the valley of the river Plus, some 35 miles

the Sundanese mandurs the estate Pasir of hours later at tea Datar, away. A couple we arrived at kampong

the northwest of Mt. Gedeh. Even Lasah and after for while the on slope ex- having explored a site

of the abandoned perienced naturalists like F. C. Drescher, Mrs. M. E. military camp at the left bank of

Walsh and E. who the best of the crossed the and drove Jacobson, spent years river, we bridge on for

their life exploring all parts of Java in company of another four or five miles following the hill-road

collectors, the which leads into the their native never once came across up Forest Reserve. The sur-

violin beetle. Pictures of that shown here looked de- Mormolyce were roundings promising enough, so we

in cided halt to the Sundanese population many suitable places, to at a suitable spot where we could leave failed elicit Therefore the and reach the invariably to recognition. it car Chior, a tributary of the Plus

may well be that the has since maintained it- meandering through heavy forest, almost parallel to

self in limited if it has There tracks this only very areas, not already our way. were no leading to stream become In Sumatra and the Peninsula but where the road crossed extinct. Malay we stopped at a point a has been found brook our species repeatedly also in the tiny which seemed to flow in the right direc- lowland forests and there believe tion. With is every reason to our belongings dangling we slipped down

that this well. should the bank the bed and found was so in Java as However, it steep into slowly our be in mind in the bushes borne that much of the low country way through overhanging the water, that almost under which island, now entirely cultivation, in was only ankle-deep. It was a bright day with the was extensive forests clear under the dense of early days occupied by un- a sky, yet canopy trees no

human but the time almost filtered the and down here spoilt by agency at same sunray through foliage it inaccessible. This account for M. and all around may phyllodes was very damp gloomy us. After a been found levels. Much having only at higher of the while I noticed the stem of a huge tree-trunk that

volcanoes remained well-wooded for had fallen the great a con- right across perpendicular banks of siderable the of the Mt. Gedeh-Pan- the form natural time, slopes gulley, so as to a bridge. It was a

for at- grango complex instance, were fairly easily big moss-covered trunk, obviously very ancient, tainable horseback feet The underside of by cart or on to say nothing measuring 3 across. the stem of the climate in the submontane almost feet overhead that could agreeable persisting was two so I easily

which made far attractive under zone, collecting more even pass it, but what attracted my attention, in-

the naturalist. brief "bracket- to citing to a inspection, were some

all it is that the radical of the horizon- Considering this, very likely funguses", Polyporaceae, projecting

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the the this tally from near the under surface of the stem. They proximal portion nearest stem and proved

coloured blackish either the be the inhabited. had of were brown on surface, to one It a diameter only

been identified later Fomes mela- 12 mm a of 50 the rest of species having as by depth scarcely mm,

There three the in width towards the noporus (Mont.) Cooke. were of these plate diminishing rapidly

of close of free which 2-3 Within funguses different size, two in proximity margin, was only mm thick.

each other and much about the tissue of the firmest of the a third, smaller, two woody portion fungus,

I and above the four feet further away. When came near looked up just porous layer, nearly equidistant

the lenticular tunnels of different had been to biggest specimen I suddenly saw a fascinating sizes ex- cavated. of these picture. Facing various directions, their roundish con- One contained a larva in the penul-

in other tours hardly discernible the dim light, I counted timate (?) stage, one yielded a single pupa.

five examples of Mormolyce. Here they were, at last, These are here figured (figs. 1-3). Fortunately enough,

the Violins! Resting upside down with their bodies both could be easily recognized by their yellowish

the underside of the white colour lie embedded pressed closely against fungus as they happened to in

the surface. As I close the There they occupied entire soon as re- proximity to cutting edge. were no

of holes these neither alised that when standing on tiptoe the objects would traces exit leading to cavities,

the firm dorsalsurface the softer underside come just within reach of an outstretched hand, I on nor on freed myself from bags and other obstacles and of the Fomes, though the almost black surface be-

— neath covered with reached out to pick the first beetle by hand a was numerous very superficial

which all of sudden scratches caused the adults when crawl- gesture I at once regretted. For a evidently by

felt in the which about. I had at least slits to I as if severely stung right eye, by ing expected narrow

I taken aback for some exist the enable the was quite moments. This is on porous face, so as to emerging

beetle to effect its but orifices what had happened. On being disturbed, one of the escape no communi-

had emitted fine of with the outside world could be detected. As- Mormolyce a spray some liquid, cating

like and this statements about the existence of an atomiser, was volleyed right into my suming previous would small holes be with Shelford face. As luck have it, my spectacles served as to correct, I agree (see

shield but had failed to that is hard to understand how the beetles a obviously protect my right below) it

eye sufficiently. The fluid had a strong scent, re- can free themselves at or after metamorphosis. The observer who all reared the sembling a mixture of nitric acid and ammonia. The only seems to have at instantaneous result of this slightly dramatic incident adult insect is C. Overdijk, who in June 1839 found

choke followed but this beetles when was a by a coughing-fit, was two (freshly emerged?) unpacking a

the "inhabited" had soon over and after a few hours burning pain also good quantity of funguses that he

had almost the remained taken home after two search the eastern disappeared, although eye a day's on sensitive for several weeks. slopes of Mt. Gedeh in West Java (MAITLAND, 1858).

Further Meanwhile, after interfered with details are neither CLAAS MULDER having my plans, lacking, the beetles had his friend S. also come to rest, holding the same posi- (1860) nor Binnendijk, in Java, ac-

and knife then witnessed the of Yet tion. Using a butterfly net a I cut tually emergence Mormolyce.

off the from the the of of his fungus trunk, at same time Overdijk's original painting one "gammoer"

called which here shoving its occupants quickly into the net. The in- specimens, fomentarius, is

sects made effort to but tried shows scratches and holes no fly away instead to reproduced (pi. 2), clearly

in which did described him in of his letters. Years escape by rapidly running away, they by one later, succeed. thus obtained commented not Having all five examples SHELFORD on two occasions (1906, 1916)

from the the follows: biggest fungus, I went on inspecting the on same subject by writing as

two smaller either of which held three "Access to the larval chamber attained ones, more is by an

that beetles; four of these were captured, two managed to orifice so small that it is surprising the newly-

of the series obtained in beetle it to escape. A photograph this emerged can squeeze through the exte-

one locality is shown in pl. 1. rior, this orifice is situated on the upper surface

stated the 4 As above, largest Fomes was broken off of the fungus" (1906: lxxiii; the spacing is mine) ).

the cut into two and And later: "I do how the trunk, its contents examined. It not know imago manages had the usual ear-like about twice to effect from I shape, being as its escape its prison. once caught a wide the as deep, greatest expanse when freshly cut newly emerged beetle, with the integument still soft 310 of 150 measuring mm by a depth mm, the side and pale in colour, resting on a Polyporus fungus, of attachment the trunk of but the cell the to having a length 240 though in fungus was empty it was

The thickest of the of almost incredible that could have mm. part fungus was, course, so large a creature

Downloaded from Brill.com10/05/2021 11:13:23AM via free access size. natural

Top Malaya.

Perak, row:row: frombottom About ,￿, of2/3 ￿, ￿; series Hagenbach, phyllodes Mormolyce

1. Plate

Downloaded from Brill.com10/05/2021 11:13:23AM via free access 2. in Plate Overdijk’s orginal painting of a Polyporacea inhabited by Mormolyce phyllodes Java.

Downloaded from Brill.com10/05/2021 11:13:23AM via free access NOTES ON THE GENUS MORMOLYCE HAGENBACH 67

the small hole the and escaped through to cavity, even cies, M. phyllodes (3 ex.), hagenbachi (2 ex.)

allowing for the softness of its tissues, which would, castelnaudi (2 ex.), all in or near the locality just

of of course, be capable of a certain amount com- mentioned. One of these, captured by a native, was

fact that taken while the pression. It is a curious one or more adults reportedly nibbling at a tree-fungus,

are always found in close proximity to a fungus with fungus with its tenant being still in the collection of

larval and have wondered if the beetles chambers, I sometimes Mr. van Doesburg. On two occasions were

they assisted the newly hatched beetles to emerge observed flying about in a forest clearing, once late

by gnawing at the entrance to the larval chamber in the afternoon, the other time in complete dark-

and its but I have found at about 8 o'clock and in both instances increasing size, never a ness, p.m., of such and do the distances. The fungus showing traces action, so not insects were seen to cover great

consider it probable" (1916: 164). It is just possible observer got the impression that Mormolyce, though the transformed beetle leave the has take off from the to imagine freshly to being a good flier, difficulty to

fungus by moving towards the bark of the tree and ground and apparently is not capable of doing so

harden of attachment. in do its body at some point But until after climbing up some tree. This they can

the no whatsoever with and when about make of present instance irregularities great speed to use

were to be seen on the edge where this was severed their wings let themselves fall somewhat in the man-

from the trunk. will therefore of when down. Breeding experiments ner a flying squirrel sailing Mr. van

be to this informant also noticed that beetles ob- necessary clarify point. Doesburg's

served in captivity move about with the long an-

There evidence that becomes held back. stimulated is strong Mormolyce tennae straight On being to in-

most active towards dusk and is also attracted by vestigate some object, the antennae are turned round

forward which the artificial light. Mrs. M. E. Walsh, who in June 1935 in a direction, invariably occurs in

southwest told horizontal This habit the beetles was on a collecting trip in Sumatra, plane. suggested to of their life me that one evening she had the good fortune to spend most in or between narrowly-

that into flattened pick up a specimen was walking straight spaced, objects.

the verandah of the Forestry resthouse at Tandjong beetles' Sakti, which is about 500 metres above sea level. In connection with the secretory means of his little known commented refer In paper VAN DOESBURG (1936) defence, upon above, I may again relates the life of adult a in letter MAITLAND on two aspects in Mormolyce to passage Overdijk's to (1858),

about results which are worth mentioning here as they add to our in which he complains the of having

information the distribution of the his from scanty on genus safeguarded specimens upon homecoming

Sumatra and the thirties his excursion. After touched a of in on its flight capacities. In having couple new- beetles he felt itch the author received from his correspondent J. J. Th. ly developed a strong burning in

schoolteacher south his which him from them for Boon, at one time a at Ranau, in fingers prevented using

the of the the other Sumatra, seven specimens belonging to three spe- rest day. SHELFORD (1916), on

ill effects hand, never experienced any whatever,

although he handled several living specimens him- 4 ) This is a contradictory statement as the same author did he had from his self, nor ever complaints Dayak in his book that: in that I have says .. every fungus collectors who, as he tells, had a stillwider experience examined the one and only entrance to the larval chamber

the of the of beetles. is on under surface fungus" (1916: 163). living

Downloaded from Brill.com10/05/2021 11:13:23AM via free access 68 M. A. LIEFTINCK AND J. T. WIEBES

REFERENCES

H. 1941: Papers on Oriental Carabidae. Ent. 41-43 13de ANDREWES, E., Tijdschr. 1, (Verslag alg. verg. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (11) 7, 307-317, figs. 1-6. Ned. Ent. Ver., 4.V11.1857).

1868: Mémoire sur les MANNERHEIM, Mémoire CHAUDOIR, BARON DE, Thyréopté- LE COMTE, 1837: sur quelques

rides. Ann. Soc. 113-162. ent. Belg. 12, genres et espèces de Carabiques. Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat.

P. H. 1936: het Année 3-49. DOESBURG, VAN, [Bijzonderheden over Moscou, 1837 no. 2, voorkomen Ent. C., 1860: van Mormolyce in Sumatra]. Tijdschr. MULDER, Aantekening over Mormolyce phyl-

79, vii-ix (Verslag 69ste Winter-verg. Ned. Ent. Ver., lodes Hagenb. Tijdschr. Ent. 3, 131-157, pis. 10-11.

23.11.1936). ROUSSEAU, E., 1906: Coleoptera. Fam. Carabidae, sub-

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Carabidae. Trans. B. ent. Soc. London 92, 1-99, figs. SHELFORD, R., 1906: [Exhibition of the larvae of Collyris

1-100. emarginatus Dej., and of Mormolyce] . Trans, ent. Soc.

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menti al Museo civico di Genova con descrizione di of the Laboulbeniaceae. Part I. Mem. Amer. Acad.

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MAITLAND, B. T., 1858: [Fragment uit een brief van C. VER HUELL, Q. M.-R., 1847: Sur les métamorphoses du

over Zool. Overdijk waarnemingen aan lodesMormolyce phyl- Mormolyce phyllodes. Ann. Sei. nat. (3), 7, 344- 347, pl. 7 figs. 1-6.

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