HOW TO KNOW THE IMMATURE INSECTS 



61b. Lacinia without spurs 62 



62a. Ventral mouth parts deeply retracted; cardo 

 much smaller than stipes. Fig. 245 63 



62b. Ventral mouth parts inserted in a rather shallow emargination oi 

 the front margin of the head; cardo at least as large as stipes. 

 Fig. 246 Family CLERipAE 



This family consists of about 2.500 

 described species. The larvae are pre- 

 dacious and may be found in the soil, 

 frequently in the nests of bees and 

 wasps above ground, and also in the 

 burrows of woodboring insects. The 

 adults are known as checkered beetles 

 and are attractively marked and color- 

 ed. 



^r/p£s 



Fig. 246. a, Ventrol half of 

 the head; b, Caliimerus or- 

 cufer Chapin. 



63a. Mandible with a long, stiff prosthecol process near the middle or 

 at the base of the inner margin; epicranial suture well developed. 

 Fig. 247 Family MELYRIDAE 



At least some of the larvae 

 of these soft winged flower 

 beetles are predacious. Some 

 species of adults are very 

 common on green plants. 

 Around 1,500 species have 

 been described. / 



PfiOTHPCAL P^oce^s 



Fig. 247. o, Collops nigriceps Say; b. Mand- 

 ible; c. Dorsal aspect of head. 



99 



