Coleoptera 223 



wasps' nests is at first a minute, armoured campodeiform grub, and 

 afterwards a white, legless maggot. 



Anthicidae.— The Anthkida.' are a large family of very small 

 beetles, which agree with the Rhipidophorids and Pyrochroids in 

 most structural points, being distinguished from the former by 

 their narrow prothorax, and from the latter by the drooping head 

 and thread-like feelers. The species, some of w^hich are like ants 

 in appearance, live in sandy places or in salt-marshes ; the family 

 ranges throughout the world. 



Meloidae. — The MfloiJj; are large or moderate-sized insects with 

 the head constricted behind tlie eyes, the prothorax at its hinder 

 edge narrower than the elytra, the legs long with front haunches 

 large and conical, the teet with the last segment but one not 

 bilobed, and the claws split to the base. The larvae of several 

 genera undergo a hypermetamorphosis, being at first active and 

 campodeiform, and then becoming legless, parasitic maggots. 

 The Oil-beetles (^Meloe) are well-known, dark, elongate insects 

 with very short elytra and long, large abdomen ; their larva; are 

 parasitic in bees' nests. The "Spanish Fly" (^Lytta vesicaioria) a 

 bright green beetle, and several species of the exotic genus Mylabris 

 —mostly brightly-spotted insects — are used medicinally for blister- 

 ing purposes. 



The four next families are distinguished by the marked elonga- 

 tion of the head into a beak or snout — they form the group Rhyn- 

 chophora and are easily recognised from almost all other beetles. 

 The feet consist of four evident segments whereof the last but one 

 is bilobed. 



Anthribidae. — The Anthribidtc are a large family characterised by 

 a distant labrum and by the palps of the first maxills being jointed 

 and flexible as in beetles generally. The straight feelers end in a 

 three-segmented club ; in some genera— especially in the males — 

 they are of enormous length. The snout is usually relatively short. 

 The family is generally distributed, but is much more abundant in 

 the tropics than in cooler regions. 



Brenthidae. — The Brcnthiddt are characterised by their narrow 

 and elongate shapes, very greatly produced snout, and short 

 clubbed feelers. They are beetles of most striking appearance, and 

 mostly coloured black and red or yellow. The family is almost 

 confined to the tropics ; only two species reach northwards to 

 southern Europe. 



Curculionidse. — The CurcuUonidie or Weevils are an exceedingly 

 large family characterised by the absence of a distinct labrum and 

 by the short, rigid and conical palps of the first maxilla:. The 

 snout is always distinct, sometimes very long, and the feelers are 

 often divided into a scape and flagellum. In size, colour, and 

 details of shape the numerous genera show very great variation. 



