1178 



FAMILY LIII. CHRYSOMELID.-E. 



quence they are known as "flea-beetles" or ''jumping beetles," this 

 term being especially applied to the small black species of Haltica 

 and Epitrix, which are very injurious to vegetation in the mature or 

 adult stage. 



In addition to the thickened hind femora, most of the species 

 are distinguished from the Galerucini by having the front coxge 

 separated by a prolongation of the prosternum, and the hind tibiffi 

 provided with a terminal spur which gives them a point of resistance 

 in the act of leaping. The third joint of the antennae is, in most 

 species, equal to or longer than the fourth, whereas in the preceding 

 tribe it is usually smaller. The identification of some of the mem- 

 bers of the group is among the most difficult in the family, yet most 

 of the genera have a peculiar facies or general appearance which, 

 once learned, leads readily to the proper placing of additional spe- 

 cies. The principal paper treating of the North American forms 

 is by 



Horn. "A Synopsis of the Halticini of Boreal America," in 

 Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., XVI, 1889, 163-320. 



Of the 33 genera recognized by Horn as comprising the tribe, 

 22 are known to be or should be represented in the State. For con- 

 venience, nnd to avoid a long generic key, these are first divided 

 into two subtribes. 



KEY TO SUBTRIBES OF HALTICINI. 



a. Front coxal cavities open behind. 

 ad. Front coxal cavities closed behind. 



Snbtribe ,1. p. 117S. 

 Subtribe /.'. p. llion. 



Subtribe A. (HALTICINI.) 



As mentioned above, the di- 

 vision of tbe Halticini into two 

 subtribes is for convenience only 

 and is wholly arbitrary. Aside 

 from the open coxal cavities on 

 which the first division is based, 



Fig. 515. a, Hind tibia and tarsus of (Edionychis; b, our members of it are for the 



same of Disonycka; c. same of Longitarsus. (After Horn.) I 



most part larger than those of 



the second, being usually 3.5 or more mm. in length. They are also 

 mostly more ornate or variegated in color. Twelve of the 22 genera 

 belong to this group. 



