COLEOPTERA. 493 



Zonitis, Fab. Jlpalns, Oliv. 



The antennae, those of the males particularly, more slender than 

 an Cantharis, and the length of their second joint at least equal to 

 half that of the third. The maxillary palpi are filiform, and the last 

 joint is almost cylindrical. The head is somewhat prolonged ante- 

 riorly, and is the width of the thorax. These Insects are found on 

 flowers(l). 



The males of the two following subgenera present a truly insu- 

 lated character: the terminal lobe of their maxillae is extended into 

 a sort of thread, more or less long, silky and curved. Such is 



Nemognathus, Lat. Zonitis, Fab. 



Where the antennae are filiform, with the second joint shorter than 

 the fourth; the thorax is almost square, or rounded laterally(2). 



Gnathium, Kirb. 



Where the antennae are somewhat larger towards the extremity, 

 with their second joint almost as long as the fourth. The thorax is 

 bell-shaped, and narrowed anteriorly(3). 



Finally, the last subgenus of this tribe, or 



Sitaris, Lat. Apalus, Fab. 



Is remarkable for the abrupt narrowing of the posterior extremi- 

 ty of the elytra, which exposes a portion of the wings. Independently 

 of this, these Insects bear a close resemblance to Zonitis, living in 

 their larva state, like those of the latter subgenus, in the nests of 

 some of the solitary Mason Bees. In rfpalus, Fab., properly so 

 called, the elytra are somewhat less narrowed, and the internal ex- 

 tremities of the joints of the antennae are slightly dilated in the man- 

 ner of little teeth(4). 



(1) The Zonitis of Fabricius, those species excepted which belong to the fol- 

 lowing' subgenus. See also Encyc. Method., article Jipate. 



(2) The Zonitis chrysomelina, rostrata, and vittata, Fab. See Lat., Gener. Crust, 

 et Insect., II, p. 222. 



(3) Gnathium Francilloni, Kirb., Lin. Trans., XII, xxii, 6. This subgenus, from 

 the form of the antennse and that of the thorax, should come directly after that of 

 Cantharis. The tribe should be terminated by Sitaris and Zonitis. 



(4) See Lat., Ibid, p. 221; Schcenh., Synon. Insect, I, ii, p. 341; Jlpalus bi- 

 maculatus, Fab. 



Messrs Lepeletier and Serville, in the Encyc. Method., article Sitaris, mention 

 a new genus, Onyctenus, allied to the preceding, but in which one of the divisions 

 of the hooks of the tarsi is dentated. The Lydus of Megerle and Dejean, as we 

 have already seen, presents the same character. 



