SPHINDIDAE. 233 



Fam. LI— SPHINDIDAE. 



Mentum trapezoidal, corneous; ligula coriaceous, wide, 

 paraglosste small, labial palpi short, widely separated at 

 base, 3-jointed, last joint cylindrical, truncate at tip. 



Maxilla3 exposed at base, with two ciliate lobes; pal{)i 

 short, -i-jointed, last joint narrower than the 8d, cylindrical. 



Antennie inserted near the front margin of the eyes, wliich 

 are convex; lO-jointed, the 1st large and stout, 3-7 slender, 

 small, 3d as long as the two following, 8-10 forming an oval, 

 perfoliate club, as long as the stem, of which the 1st joint is 

 small, 2d quadrate, and 3d longer and larger; in repose they 

 are folded along the prosternal suture, with the club flexed 

 suddenly outwards, behind the front leg. 



Head short, prolonged in front into a short broad muzzle, 

 clypeal suture transverse, usually deep ; labrum distinct. 



Prothorax truncate before and behind, Avith distinct side 

 margin ; side pieces not separate from the notum, flanks 

 concave for reception of the antennae, or flat; prosternal 

 sutures deep, wideJy distant; prosternum truncate behind; 

 coxal cavities separated by the prosternum, narrowly closed 

 behind. 



Mesosternum slightly declivous; side pieces, attaining the 

 coxte, broadly truncate behind. 



Metasternum long, rounded in front at the middle; side 

 pieces narrow. 



Elytra entire, cpipleura:^ narrow, not extending to the tij). 



Abdomen with five free ventral segments, the 1st larger. 



Front coxa3 transverse, small, not prominent; middle coxa3 

 distant, transverse, not prominent; hind coxie transverse, 

 separated, not prominent, not excavated for the reception 

 of the thighs, cut off externally by the side pieces of the 

 Tnetasternum. 



Legs moderate, tarsi shorter' than the tibiie, the front and 

 middle 5-jointed, the posterior 4-jointed, joints 1-4 short, 

 lilth as long as the others united; claws small, sim})le. 



This family contains a few small species, and is of difficnlt loca- 

 tion, as the affinities seem to be equally (liver<jent in a (Maviconi 

 and Serricoru direction. It seems to ))e related to tlie Cioida-, 

 and would follow them wherever i)]accd. They are found in dry 

 fungi, especially Lycoperdiaceae, which prow on the trunks of 

 trees. 



Our three species, all from tlic Atlantic States, indicate three 



