COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Tribe II.— MEGACEPHALll*!. 



The native species of this tribe are but two in number, and 

 belong to the genus Tetracha. T. virginica is crepuscular iu its 

 habits ; T. Carolina extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. 



Tribe III.— CICIIVDELIIVI. 



Of -this tribe the species are very numerous. Those of our 

 fauna belong to Cieinclela, and many of them are seen on roads 

 exposed to the sun, flying actively on the least alarm, and again 

 alighting at the distance of a few paces. The species are more 

 numerous in the temperate and warm regions of the country, and 

 gradually disappear towards the north, until in the latitude of 

 Lake Winnipeg but two or three species remain. 



The larvae of Cicindelidse, like the perfect insects, live in holes, 

 which they excavate with their jaws and feet, in sandy or clayey 

 localities, using, as stated by Westwood, their broad head for 

 l)ringing the particles to the surface They are whitish grubs, 

 with a large, flat, metallic-colored head, and long-toothed man- 

 dibles ; the prothoracic segment is protected above by a large, 

 lunate, corneous scute ; the ninth segment has two dorsal hooks ; 

 the tarsi are terminated by two claws. They lie in wait for prey 

 at the mouth of the burrow, the head and thorax closing the 

 opening, and seize with the long mandibles any insect which 

 approaches within reach. 



Fam. ii.-carabidae. 



Mentum deeply emarginate ; ligula more or less promi- 

 nent, with more or less distinct puraglossa^. 



Maxilla3 witli the outer lobe palpiform, iisunllv biarticu- 

 late, the inner usually curved, acute, ciliate or with spines. 



Antennae inserted behind the base of the mandibles, 

 under a frontal ridge. 



Prothoracic epimera and episterna usually distinct. 



Metasternum pointed behind, rarely meeting the seconci 

 ventral segment. 



Abdomen with the three anterior segments connate ; 

 usually with six, rarely (Brachinini) with seven or eight 

 ventral segments; the first visible only at the sides. 



