462 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.51. 



Brentoidea; nongeniculate but clavate in Platystomoidea, Doydirhyn- 

 choidea, Attelaboidea, and Brachyceroidea ; geniculate, nonclavate 

 in part of the Brentoidea; geniculate and clavate in Scolytoidea and 

 Curculionoidea. 



In these characters it wiU be noted that the superfamily having 

 the greatest number of specialized general characters is the Curcu- 

 lionoidea. On the other hand, it will be noted that the Scolytoidea 

 are intermediate between the beakless Cerambycoidea, Chrysome- 

 loidea, and Mylabroidea, and the beaked Rhynchophora. 



Even in the larvae we find a progression of characters. The Ceram- 

 bycoidea and Clirysomeloidea with a few exceptions have the larvae 

 provided with legs. The Mylabroid larvae are provided with legs 

 only in the first stage. Legs are also found in the larvae of the Platy- 

 stomoidea. The other groups have legless larvae, although there are 

 occasionally found tubercles or rings where the legs should be. 



The writer has followed the prevailing tendency in considering 

 the groups known to LeConte and Horn as families to be worthy of 

 superfamily rank. The follomng table is proposed as a guide for 

 the arrangement of superfamilies in the series Phytophaga. This 

 series in the classification of Kolbe belongs in the Order Coleoptera, 

 Suborder Heterophaga, Legion Symphyogastra, Phalanx Synactos- 

 temata, Superseries Anchistopoda. 



TABLE OF .SUPERFAMILIES IN THE PHYTOPHAGA. 



1. Tarsi five-jointed, the fourth joint minute and anchylosed with the fifth, third 



usually bilobed , head not prolonged into a distinct beak . Subseries Phytophaga 2 . 

 Tarsi four-jointed ; head prolonged into a distinct beak . Subseries Rhynchophora 5. 



2. Maxillary palpi flexible, labrum distinct 3. 



Maxillary palpi rigid, labrum sometimes lacking, submentum not pedunculate; 



front very slightly prolonged into a broad beak; antennae geniculate, clavate. 



SCOLYTOIDEA Hopkins. 



3. Submentum not pedunculate; head not prolonged into a beak 4. 



Submentum pedunculate; front prolonged into a broad, quadrate beak; antennae 



inserted in front of the eyes, variable in length, serrate or pectinate; tibial spiurs 

 distinct or obsolete MYLABROIDEA, new superfamily. 



4. Antennae usually long or greatly developed, frequently inserted upon frontal 



prominences; front often vertical, large and quadrate; tibial spurs distinct. 



CERAMBYCOIDEA, new superfamily. 

 Antennae moderate or short, not inserted upon frontal prominences; front small, 

 oblique, sometimes inflexed; tibial spurs usually wanting. 



CHRYSOMELOIDEA, new superfamily. 



5. Third tarsal joint minute, anchylosed with the fourth, second usually bilobed; 



head prolonged into a beak in at least one sex; antennae nongeniculate, non- 

 clavate; maxillary palpi rigid ; labrum absent. 



AGLYCYDEROIDEA, new superfamily. 

 Third tarsal joint not minute, usually bilobed, head prolonged into beak in both 



sexes 6. 



f). Antennae nonclavate, geniculate or nongeniculate; labrum absent; maxillary palpi 



flexible; submentum nonpedunculate... BRENTOIDEA, new superfamily. 



Antennae clavate '^' 



