432 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



A family containiog but few genera, with less than 200 species, 

 distributed mostly iu the tropics. 



Five species of Attelabus occur in our fauna; four in the 

 Atlantic States, and one in New Mexico. 



Fam. LXXVIL— byrsopidae. 



Mentum moderate in size, trapezoidal, wider in front, 

 concave in our species; gular })eduncle very small: ligula 

 and palpi small. 



Maxillte exposed, small, palpi very short. 



Mandibles stout and short, pincer-shaped, without apical 

 scar. 



Antennas short, inserted in front of the eyes, sub-genicu- 

 late; scape short, funicle 7-iointed, the last joint wider, 

 forming part of the club in Thecesternus, club annulated, 

 oval, pointed, and covered with sensitive surface. 



Head strongly deflexed, beak short, stout, not emarginate 

 at tip, separated from the head beneath by a strong gular 

 constriction, for the reception of the antennae. . Eyes trans- 

 verse narrowed beneath. 



Prothorax rounded in front, deeply excavated beneath 

 for the reception of the head and beak, coxal cavities small, 

 confluent; prosternum visible in Thecesternus as a triangular 

 plate in front of the coxse. 



Meso- and metasternum very short, side pieces of the 

 latter not separate. 



Elytra connate, covering the pygidium. 



Abdomen with the first and second ventral segments very 

 large, connate, the suture effaced at the middle; third and 

 fourth short, fifth as long as third and fourth united; sutures 

 straight, very deeply impressed; intercoxal process broad. 

 Anal segment of % small, rounded at tip. 



Anterior coxdb small, contiguous, rounded somewhat 

 prominent; middle cox£e separated, small, rounded; hind 

 coxse small, oval, widely separated, distant from the side of 

 the elytra. 



Legs slender; tibiae sinuate on inner side, truncate at 

 tip, and armed on the inner side with two small terminal 

 anchylosed spurs. Tarsi 4-jointed, narrow, joints cylindri- 

 cal, setose or spinose beneath. Third joint not at all dilated 

 or bilobed in Thecesternus, Claws slender, simple, separate. 



