REVISION OF ELEODTINT BLAISDELL. 



27 



On the femora the proximal margin of a puncture is transversely 

 raised so that the seta arising- from it is more or less appressed to the 

 surface and directed toward the apex of the femur. 



On the tibiae the murications are more erect, the walls of the punc- 

 tures being more equally raised. The hypodermal process is usually 

 much thickened to become a spinule or spine — the latter may be very 

 short and stout, and with the produced margins of the puncture from 

 which it arises, very tightly fitted to it, so that both appear as a single 

 element. 



The rugulose condition or reticulations frequently observed on the 

 elytral surface is most usually due to the rapid evaporation of the 

 body fluids during and immediately after the casting of the pupal 

 skin, while the integuments are undergoing chitinization. Tt is the 

 result of shrinking of the cuticular wall. 



Often depressions arise in the exoskeletal wall from muscular 

 exertion on the part of the insect while the body surface is yet soft. 

 The contracting muscle dimples in the integument at the point of its 

 attachment ; the movements being kept up while the body walls are 

 liardening, the depressions finally become permanent. Such uni- 

 lateral or bilateral impressions are frequently observed on the pronota 

 of the Eleodilni FJleodes impresslcolUs of Bohemann, a synonym of 

 E. clavieornis is an instance of this kind — merely a specimen with 

 two thoracic fovea?. 



TABULATED MODIFICATIONS OF A PUNCTTTRE. 



Simple punc- 

 ture, hair' 

 minute. 



Hypertrophy of 

 the margin. 



Modification of 

 tlie hair-like 

 process of the 

 hypoderniis. 



With hypertrophy of the an-lnir . , 

 terior margin into a more or F*^^^*;^*^ ?""«" 

 less acute point. | *"^^^°^^- 



Margins greatly thickened and] 



rounded, puncture obliterated, IXuberculation. 

 hair or seta atrophied. J 



Hairs flexible, not chitinous....|^f''y ^f P"" 

 ' i bescent. 



Hair-like processes considerablylo . , 



chitinize.!. T^^^^ o'' ^^^''^^- 



(S p i n u 1 es or 

 s p i n u 1 o s e ; 

 spines or 



tion. 



spinose. 



CLASSIFICATION AND SYNOPSIS. 



Fau.ilv TENEBRIONID.E. 



This tribe contains insects of greater size than any other of the 

 heteromerous siibfauiily Tenebrioninte. 



The body is oblong to ovate, rarely oval, apterous; head prominent, 

 slightly narrowed behind the eyes; epistoma covering the base of the 

 mandibles at the sides; labrum prominent; nientum small, inserted 



