120 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Legs moderate iu length, not retractile in most genera, 

 but apparently so in Liestes; tarsi 4-jointed, or from the 

 atrophy of the third joint, apparently 8 -jointed, as in the 

 Coccinellidse, tarsal joints variable in form, according to 

 tribe and genus, claws simple. 



The species in our fauna are not numerous, and are mostly 

 fungivorous in habit. The following tribes are indicated in our 

 fauna; the Euniorphiui having no representative. 



Tarsi distinctly 4-jointed. Mycet^ini. 



Tarsi dilated, apparently 3-jointed, the third joint being minute, anchy- 



losed with the fourth joint, and hidden between the lobes of the second 



joint. 

 Ligula transverse emarginate or truncate. Dapsini. 



Ligula oblong, rounded at tip Endoiiychini. 



Tribe I.— MYCET^IIVI. 



The insects of this tribe are of small, or even of very small 

 size, and are easily recognized by the tarsi being narrow, with the 

 third joint quite distinct, though shorter than the second. The 

 characteristic sculpture of the prothorax, seen in most genera of 

 the family, here fails in the genus Alexia, and is but feebly repre- 

 sented in Anamorphus. In several of the genera the form is 

 rounded, and nearly hemispherical, and by this as well as by 

 other characters this tribe makes a nearer approach to the Cocci- 

 nellidiB than is exhibited by the other tribes of the family. It 

 is, howe^«3r, worthy of remark, that in this, as in many other 

 instances, the individuality of the type is preserved by the 

 possession of a character seen neither in the other tribes of the 

 family nor in the Coccinellidae : in this case, the narrow 4-jointed 

 tarsi. If the species were sufficiently numerous, three groups 

 might be readily indicated. 



Body hemispherical, prothoracic sculpture feeble (Alexise). 1. 



Body rounded or oval, prothorax with usual sculpture (Mycetaese). 2. 



Body elongate, prothorax narrower at base (Rhanes). 3. 



1. Prothorax without sculptured lines ; antennae 10-jointed, club com- 

 pact. Alexia. 

 Prothorax with large linely margined basal lobe, and a basal line each 

 side, running forwards, and then curving inwards ; antenna? 9- 

 jointed, club elongate, very loose. Anamorphus. 



