366 INSECTA. 



MEGACEPHALA, Lat. 



Labrum very short and transversal ; first joint of the labial palpi 

 much longer than the second, and projecting beyond the men- 

 turn*. 



OXYCHEILA, Dej. 



The labrum forming an elongated triangle, first joint of the labial 

 palpi not much longer than the second, and not extending beyond 

 the emargination of the mentum f. 



In the following species the labial palpi are at most about the 

 length of the external maxillary palpi, the last joint is longer than 

 the penultimate. They also form two subgenera. 



EUPROSOPUS, Lat. Dej. 



The third joint of the labial palpi thicker than the last ; the three 

 first joints of the anterior tarsi of the males somewhat elongated, 

 flattened, carinated beneath, and equally ciliated on both sides ; very 

 large eyes. They keep on trees J. 



CICINDELA, Lat. 



The true Cicindelae only differ from the Euprosopi in the third 

 joint of the labial palpi, which is not much thicker than the fourth; 

 and in their anterior tarsi, whose three first joints, in the males, are 

 much elongated, more strongly ciliated on the internal side than the 

 external, and are destitute of a carina beneath. 



Their body is usually of a darker or lighter green, mixed with 

 various brilliant metallic tints; the elytra are marked with white 

 spots. They prefer dry, warm situations, run with considerable 

 swiftness, take wing the moment they are approached, but alight at 

 a short distance. If pursued, they have recourse to the same means of 

 escape. 



The larvae of the two species indigenous to France, the only ones 

 that have been observed, excavate in the earth a deep cylindrical 

 hole, an operation which they effect with their mandibles and feet. 

 To empty it, they place the detached particles on their head, turn 

 about, climb up the ascent little by little, resting at intervals, and 

 clinging to the walls of their domicile by means of their two dorsal 

 mammillae ; when they arrive at the mouth of the aperture they throw 

 down their burden. While in ambuscade, the plate of their head 

 exactly closes the entrance of their cell, and is on a level with the 

 ground. They seize their prey with their mandibles, and even dart 



* Cicindela megalocephala, Fab. ; Oliv., II, 33, 11, 12; C. Carolina, Oliv. Ib., xi, 

 2 ; Megacephala euphratica, Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., I, 1, 2. For the other 

 species, see Dejean, Species des Coleoptres, I, p. 6, et seq. In the United States, 

 Meg. Carolina and Meg. virginica, both beautiful species. 



f Cicindela tristis, Fab. ; Oliv., Coleopt., II, 33, iii, 35 ; Oxycheila tristis, Dej., 

 Species Gener. des Coleop. I, p. 16 ; Cicindela bipustulata, Lat. ; Voy. de Humb. et 

 Bonpl. ; Obser. d'Anat. et de Zool., No. XIII, xvi, 1, 2. 



Cicindela 4-notata, Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Europ., I, i, 6 ; Euprosojphus 4-wo- 

 Dej., Spec. Gener. des Coleopt. I, p. 151. 



