CLASSIFICATION 



COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Fam. I.— cicindelidae. 



Mentum deeply emarginate; ligula small, concealed; base 

 of labial palpi free. 



Maxillae with the outer lobe biarticulate, the inner usually 

 terminated by an articulated hook. 



Antennas inserted on the front, above the base of the 

 mandibles. 



Prothorax with the epimera and episterna distinct. 



Metasternum pointed behind, reaching the abdomen. 



Abdomen with the three anterior segments connate; 

 6-articulated in the female, usually 7-articulated in the male. 



Legs slender, formed for running; posterior coxa?- dilated 

 internally, not reaching the margin of the body ; tarsi 

 5-jointed. 



The species composing this family are the most predaceous of 

 Coleoptcra, and in some of them activity as well as brilliancy of 

 coloring is carried to its greatest perfection. The genera found 

 in the United States are all terrestrial, but within the tropics are 

 many which alight only on leaves of trees. More full descriptions 

 of the habits will be given below, under the particular groups. 



The head is large; the mandibles long and sharply toothed ; the 

 maxilla; have two lobes; the interior is armed with spines on its 

 inner margin, and in our genera is terminated by an articulated 

 hook, which is wanting in some foreign genera ; the mentum is 

 large, deeply emarginate with the lateral angles acute, armed in 

 the middle with a large acute tooth, and is separated from the gula 

 by a distinct suture; the ligula is small, hidden under the mentum 

 tooth; the base of the labial palpi is free and prominent, appearing 

 like a separate joint. 

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