112 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



A small number of oval or rounded oval, convex, shining 

 insects constitute this family. They are found on flowers, and 

 sometimes under bark. The elytra have sometimes approximate 

 rows of small punctures, but more usually only a sutural stria. 

 The scutellum is larger than usual, triangular. One of the four 

 genera (Tolyphus) of this family is wanting in our fauna. The 

 other three are separated by the form of the posterior tarsi. 



Anterio,!- and posterior tarsi of the same length (tibiaa without spurs). 



Phalacrus. 

 Posterior tarsi elongated (tibiae with distinct spurs) ; 



First joint of posterior tarsi shorter than the second. Olibrus. 



First joint of posterior tarsi longer. Litochrus. 



Fam. XIX.— corylopkidae. 



Body very small, oval or rounded, glabrous or pubescent. 



Antenna) inserted on the front, 9-il-jointed, loosely cla- 

 vate. 



Mandibles small, pectinate on the inner margin. 



Maxilla3 with a single lobe, palpi -i-jointed, short, variable 

 in form, according to genus. 



Front coxa) globose, prominent, contiguous or nearly so; 

 middle coxse globose, separated by the mesosternum; hind 

 Goxse transverse, not laminate, widely distant. 



Tarsi 4-jointed, 3d joint small, concealed in an emargina- 

 tion of the 2d joint. 



Ventral segments six, free. 



Wings wide, fringed with long hairs, much shorter than 

 in Trichopterygida3. 



This family has been considered by most authors as allied to 

 Coccinellida), witii which, however, as well-pointed out by DuVal, 

 it has little in common. The wings fringed with long hairs give 

 it a certain affinity with Trichopterygidas, while the loose antenna! 

 club, and the comparatively small size of the 4th joint from the 

 end in several genera show an unmistakable resemblance to Anis- 

 otoma and other small Silphidse. The form of the mandibles and 

 the structure of the tarsi distinguish this family, however, from 

 all allies. 



The genera in our fauna are the following, as far as we have 

 recognized them. 



