COCCI NELLTDAE. 117 



Strongly marked. The legs are strongly retractile, the thighs 

 sulcate beneath for the reception of the tibia>, the latter are deeply 

 sulcate externally for the reception of the tarsi : claws appendicu- 

 late, rarely (certain HyperaKj)iy), simple, and acnte. Abdomen 

 usnally with six visible ventral segments in ?, and seven in % . 

 Our genera are as follows: — 



Abdomen with but live ventral segments. 2. 



Abdomen with six or seven ventral segments, according to sex. :i. 



2. Prosternum lobed in front, covering the mouth. Cryptognatha. 

 Prosternum not lobed in front ; epipleurae not foveate. Pentilia. 



3. Front tibis with a strong spine on outer edge. Brachyacantha. 

 Front tibiae without spine. 



Epipleurre foveate. Hyperaspis. 



Epipleurffi not foveate. Hyperaspidius. 



Group v.— Scymni. 



This group scarcely differs from the preceding, except in being 

 strongly pubescent, the antennjB are still smaller and shorter,' 

 scarcely as long as the head: the prothorax is deeply emarginate 

 in front, rounded behind. The epipleurie of the elytra are nar- 

 row, do not extend to the sutural tip, and are impressed very 

 near the humeral angle for the reception of the knees of the 

 middle legs. There are five ventral segments (9) or six (%). 

 The legs are strongly contractile, the raetasternal and ventral 

 lines well marked, the thighs sulcate beneath fur the reception of 

 the tibite, which are sulcate externally for the tarsi : tarsal claws 

 appendiculate. 



Last joint of maxillary" palpi large, securiform, ]i<%-i(l deticxed, i-yes mode- 

 rate. Scymnus. 



Last joint of maxillary palpi long, slender, pointed ; head laigc, not 

 deflexed, eyes large, protliorax wry short. Cephaloscymnus. 



The first is represented on both sides of the continent by 

 numerous species : the differences in the ventral lines indicate 

 that their importance as generic characters has been exaggerated 

 in other groups. Cephalot^cijmnua is represented by one species 

 Zimmermanni, which extends from the Southern and Western 

 States to southern California, but is very rarely found, though 

 so witlely diffused. 



