412 attempted division of british insects. 



Stirps. — Blapsina. 

 Natural Order.— Blapsites, Slow4egged-beetles. 



Larva elongate, cylindrical, with six articulate and one caudal leg 1 . 

 Lives in the dark, feeding on decayed animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances. Pupa changes in the same situations. Imago, with 

 rnoniliform antennae, the third joint being the longest ; mandibles- 

 small but strong, bifid at the apex ; maxilla? with a single tooth 

 internally ; wings, particularly the hind pair, frequently wanting. 

 Inhabits cellars, out-houses, decayed trees, shunning the light, 

 and moving by night with a slow, awkward, and disgusting gait ; of 

 uniform dark brown or black colour. (Pimelia), Blaps, Tenebrio. 



Natural Order. — Helopites. 



Larva very elongate, cylindrical, frequently with two hooks on the 

 telum. Inhabits and feeds on decayed wood. Pupa changes in 

 the same situations. Imago, with filiform antennae ; mandibles 

 sometimes bifid, sometimes terminating in a single point ; maxillae' 

 without the internal tooth ; fore-wings generally soft and flexible, 

 hind- wings generally perfect, adapted for flight. Inhabits decayed 

 woods, flowers, &c. Helops, Cistela, Melandrya, Conopalpus f 

 Hypulus, Nothus, JEdemera ? 



Natural Order. — Mordellites. 



Larva less elongate, soft, and more fleshy ; legs less distinct. 

 Inhabit and feed on decaying wood, flowers, and sometimes- 

 parasitical in the nests of wasps. Pupa changes in the same 

 situations. Imago, with pectinated antennae, particularly the 

 males ; head somewhat heart-shaped, and united vertically to the 

 prothorax ; fore-wings flexible, wide at the base, narrow at the 

 apex ; hind-wings mostly without the longitudinal fold. Inhabit 

 flowers ; diurnal, fly and run with rapidity and ease. Mordella, 

 Anaspis, Ripiphorus. 



Natural Order. — Pyrochroites, Soldier-beetles. 



Larva more depressed ; head as wide as the prothorax ; paratelum 

 the largest segment ; telum corneous, and produced into two 

 spines. Inhabits and feeds on decaying wood. Pupa changes in 

 the same situations or in the ground. Imago, with long pectinated 

 antennas ; head exserted, triangular, and porrected, horizontally 

 narrower than the prothorax ; fore-wings soft, flexible, brilliant 

 red ; diurnal, flying readily in the sunshine. Pijrochroa. 



