ST'I'.KA.M ILY III. ATTKLAI'.IN.K. 61 



Subfamily III. ATTELABIN/E. 



THE LKAF-ROLLIXU WKKVILS. 



This subfamily comprises a small group of usually glabrous 

 short-bodied, robust species differing from the Rhynchitids mainly 

 in the form of the mandibles, which are stout, pincer-shaped and 

 toothed on the inner side; in having the tibia 1 armed at tips with 

 two strong hooks instead of small terminal spurs, and in the 

 tarsal daws being united or connate at base instead of free and 

 bifid. 



In addition to the distinctive characters mentioned they have 

 the head prominent, not detlexed ; beak short, stout, wider at the 

 outer end; antenna 1 inserted in short broad grooves on its upper 

 surface rather than on the sides, straight. 11-jointed, first and 

 second joints stouter, 1) 11 larger and forming a loose elongate 

 club. Thorax truncate before and behind, convex. Elytra sepa- 

 rately rounded at tip, not covering the pygidium, which is corne- 

 ous and has its upper surface margined with a large deep 

 groove; epiplenra 1 narrow but distinct. Abdomen with five short 

 ventral segments separated by straight sutures. Front coxa 1 

 conical, prominent, contiguous; middle ones slightly transverse; 

 hind ones more transverse, nearly contiguous, the intercoxal 

 process acute. Legs stout; tibia? serrate on inner side; tarsi di- 

 lated, brush-like beneath, third joint deeply bilobed. 



This subfamily represents the family Attelabida- founded by 

 Kirby in 1S37 upon the genus AttcJabiis of Linnrens. It comprises 

 only abom iMXI species most of which inhabit the tropics, reaching 

 Madagascar. Only five species belonging to the one genus ( Fig. 

 33) are known from the United States, four of which occur in 

 our territory. As their common name indicates, they live during 

 the larval stage in compact thimble-shaped rolls made from 

 leaves (Fig. 34). These rolls are formed by the female beetle and 

 are often found hanging by a narrow strip to the leaf from which 

 they were made. In each roll a. single egg is laid. The larva, 

 after hatching, feeds upon the inner part of the roll, and when 

 mature enters the ground to pupate. 



I. ATTELABUS Linn., 1707. (Gr., "a kind of locust with- 

 out wings.") 



Since this is the only genus of the subfamily it is sum'ciently 

 characterized above. The only known North American species 

 not occurring in our territory is .1. //om//.s- Lee., described from 

 New Mexico. 



