CLASSIFICATION 



COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Fam. I— cicindelidae. 



Mentum deeply einarginate; ligula small, concealed; base 

 of labial palpi free. 



MaxilliB with the outer lobe biarticulate, the inner usuallv 

 terminated by an articulated hook. 



Antennae inserted on the front, above the base of the 

 mandibles. 



Prothorax with the epimcra and episterna distinct. 



Metasternum pointed behind. 



Abdomen with the three anterior segments connate ; 6- 

 articulated in the female, usually 7-articulated in the male. 



Legs slender, formed for running; posterior ooxsd dilat- 

 ed internally, not reaching the sides of the body; tarsi 

 5-jointed. 



The species composinn; this family are the most predaceous of 

 Ooleoptera, and in some of them activity as well as bi-illianey of 

 coloring is carried to its greatest perfection. The genera found 

 in the United States are all terrestrial, Ijut within the tropics are 

 many which alight only on leaves of trees. More full descriptions 

 of the habits will be given below, under the particular groups. 



The head is large; the mandil)les long and sharply toothed ; tiie 

 maxillifi have two lobes; the interior is armed with spines on its 

 iimer margin, and in our genera is terminated by an articulated 

 iiook, which is wanting in some foreign genera; the mentum is 

 large, deeply eniarginate with the lateral angles acute, armed in 

 the middle with a large acute tooth, and is separated from the 

 gula by a distinct suture; there is also a distinct lateral suture, 

 running from the lower side of the genae backwards, separating 

 the pleursE of the cranium from tlie upi)er piece or notum ; this 



i (1) 



