MELOIDAE. 415 



Fam. LXXL— MELOIDAE. 



Mentum trapezoidal, supported by a large gular process; 

 ligula protnint, labial palpi 8-jointed. 



Maxilla3 with two corneous ciliated lobes, the outer one 

 in some Nemognathini very long and filiform; the inner 

 one sometimes very small; palpi 4-jointed. 



Head much inclined, suddenly constricted far behind the 

 eyes into a small neck, Avhich is not entirely received into 

 the prothorax ; eyes variable in Ibrm, finely gra;iulated ; 

 labrum prominent; mandibles usually not extending beyond 

 the labrum, frequently entire at tip, or armed with a small 

 subapical tooth, rarely (Phodaga) emarginate at tip. 



Antennne 11-jointed (8-jointed in Cordylospasta), inserted 

 (except in Phodaga) at the sides of the front, before the eyes. 



Prothorax narrower at base than the elytra, lateral suture 

 completely obliterated; prosternum short; coxal cavities 

 large, confluent, widely open behind. 



Mesosternum short, triangular, side pieces attaining the 

 coxal cavities, which are confluent; metasternum very short 

 in the first tribe, generally long in the second. 



Elytra variable in form, but when short never truncate; 

 epipleurai not well defined. 



Abdomen with six free ventral segments. 



Legs long, anterior and middle coxte large, conical, con- 

 tiguous; hind cox£e transverse, prominent, more or less con- 

 cave beneath, nearly contiguous; tibial spurs distinct, those 

 of the hind tibias frequently differing in size and form ; 

 anterior and middle tarsi 5-jointed ; hind tarsi 4-jointed; 

 penultimate joint almost always cylindrical; claws usually 

 divided at the base, with ihe inferior portion very slender; 

 rarely not divided, and then armed with a large tooth. 



Tills family contains species of moderate or large size found on 

 l)lants; they are mostly of a soft consistence, and are reinarkablo 

 ill possessing a peculiar principle, cantharidine, from which tliey 

 derive the hlistering power, which causes them to be used in 

 iiiedicine. 



They are equally remarkable in the development of the larva, 

 which assumes successively several forms, in the first of wliicli 

 it is a very small active I'(!(liculus-like parasite infesting Ijees of 

 different genera, and is called a iriungnline. 



Two tribes, first properly recognized by liUeordaire, are thus 

 separated. 



