rYTIIIDAE. 401 



llcml sliort ; opiplourrr not I't-achiiig tin; tips of the elytra; first veutval 

 segment short. Gronp Laccoxoti. 



Head prolonged into a beak ; epipleura? reaching the tips of the elytra ; 

 first ventral segment as long as the second. Gioiip Myctkui. 



These groups are represented by one genus in eaeh, Laceonotus 

 and Mycterus; the former with two specie.s, one eastern, the other 

 from Colorado and Nevada; the latter witli four, three of which 

 occur from New Mexico to Oregon. They were formerly con- 

 sidered a family by themselves, but recent studies indicate tliat 

 they bear the same relationship to the other Melandryidte that 

 the Salpingini do to the Pythida?. 



The males of Mycterus have the antennae more serrate, and 

 the first ventral segment at middle elevated in a flat tubercle 

 which may be smooth, strigosc, or pubescent. A similar character 

 to the last occurs in Laceonotus, but the tubercle oV pubescent 

 space is on the second ventral segment. 



Fam. LXV.— pythidae. 



Mentum transverse, trn})ezoidal, narrower in front, snp- 

 ported on a broad and short gular process: ligula visible; 

 labial palpi 3-jointed. 



Maxillae with flattened, ciliate lobes ; palpi 4-jointed, 

 moderate in size. 



Head not constricted behind, prominent in our tribes, 

 received by the prothorax not as far as the eyes, which are 

 not emarginate, and not finely granulated; clypeus short, 

 distinct; labrum. prominent; mandibles short, emarginate 

 at tip, sometimes toothed internall3^ 



Antenna? 11-jointed, slightly thickened externally, in- 

 serted under small oblique frontal ridges. 



Prothorax narrower at base, with the lateral suture dis- 

 tinct in Boros and Crymodes, wanting in the other genera; 

 anterior coxal cavities open behind, frequently confluent. 



Mesosternum moderately long, side pieces attaining or not 

 the coxal cavities; metasternum long (except in Cononotus), 

 side pieces narrow. 



Elytra rounded at ti]"), covering the abdomen; epipleune 

 narrow, wings perfect (except in Cononotus). 



Abdomen with five ventral segments, all free; intercoxal 

 process small, acute (except in Cononotus). 



Legs moderate; anterior coxa? conical, usually contiguous, 

 sometimes with trochantin ; middle cox;e rounded, with or 

 26 



