76 COLEOPTEEA OF NORTH AMERICA, 



Fam ix— leptinidae. 



Mentum transverse, narrowed to the front, apex truncate 



with an accessory- piece, posterior angles prolonged in slen- 



, der processes; ligula concealed behind the mentum, the 



paraglosste alate, prominent; palpi three-jointed, second 



longer, third more slender, the basal support visible. 



Maxillre bilobed, the lobes broad, and with long cilitB on 

 the outer; the palpi four-jointed, the third longer, terminal 

 more slender. 



Labrum transverse, connate witli the front. 



Mandibles in form of thin triangular plates, their apices 

 acute and prolonged. 



Antennae eleven-jointed, slender, arising under the frontal 

 margin. 



Eyes entirely wanting {Leptinus) or abortive {Leptinillus). 



Prothorax without distinct side-pieces beneath. 



Mesosternum short, the epimera reaching the cox*. 



Metasternum very short, epimera and episterna distinct. 



Anterior coxce small, globular, with distinct trochantin, 

 the cavities open behind, confluent at middle (Leptmus) or 

 separated by the somewhat prolonged prosternum {Lepti- 

 nillus). 



Middle cox« small, with large trochantin. 



Posterior coxas narrow, transverse, contiguous at middle. 



Abdomen with six ventral segments, the terminal small. 



Legs short, flattened tibite with terminal spurs, tarsi five- 

 jointed, the first joint of the posterior pair as long as the 

 next two. 



In addition to the above characters it may be noted that the 

 clypeal suture is distinct, the head abrnptly narrowed behind, 

 but applied closely against the thorax, the hind angles overlap- 

 ping the anterior angles of the same. The thorax is in shape a 

 little more than a semicircle, apex truncate, base covering the 

 base of the elytra, and broadly emarginate. Scutellum distinct. 

 Elytra conjointly rounded at tip, covering the abdomen, the side 

 margin inflexed at the basal third. The posterior tibial spurs 

 are long and slender. 



Two genera are known to inhabit our continent : — 



Head entirely without eyes : anterior coxffi contiguous. Leptinus. 



Head with translucent eye-spots at the hind angles ; prosternum separat- 

 ing tlie anterior coxfe. Leptinillus. 



