4 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



species are more numerous in the temperate and warm regions of 

 the country, and gradually disappear towards the north, until in 

 the latitude of Lake Winnipeg but two or three species remain.* 

 Our species all belong to the genus Cicindela. f 

 The larvae of Cicindela, like the perfect insects, live in holes, 

 which they excavate with their jaws and feet, in sandy localities, 

 using, as stated by Westwood, their broad head for bringing the 

 particles to the surface. They are easily procured in spring by 

 placing a fine straw down the hole, when the larva will gradually 

 push it out, and rising to the surface, may be captured. They are 

 whitish grubs, with a large, flat, metallic-colored head, with long 

 toothed mandibles; the prothoracic segment is protected above by 

 a large, lunate, corneous scute; the ninth segment has two dorsal 

 hooks; the tarsi are terminated by two claws. They lie in wait 

 for prey at the mouth of the burrow, the head and thorax closing 

 the opening, and seize with the long mandibles any insect which 

 approaches within reach. 



Fam. il— caeabidae. 



Mentnm deeply emarginate ; ligula more or less promi- 

 nent, usually furnished with paraglossas. 



Maxillas with the outer lobe palpiform, usually biarticulate, 

 the inner usually curved, acute, ciliate with spines. 



Antennas inserted behind the base of the mandibles, under 

 a frontal ridge. 



Prothorax with the epimera and episterna usually distinct. 



* For a synopsis of the native species of Cicindela, see Transactions of 

 the American Philosophical Society, vol. XI. 



f While this sheet is passing through the press, Mr. Ulke has kindly 

 loaned me a female specimen of Drovtochorus Pilatei Guerin, -which lie has 

 recently received. It has not the third joint of the labial palpi any thicker 

 than in ordinary Cicindelse, but differs, however, by the -wings being en- 

 tirely wanting. In several species of Cicindela, the wings are very feeble, 

 and in that case the humeral angles of the elytra are not distinct, so that 

 the form of Dromioa is assumed. I am disposed, therefore, to consider D. 

 Pilatei as constituting merely an aberrant group of Cicindela, in the neigh- 

 borhood of C. dromicoides, and our own C. celeripes. It is a black insect, 

 about half an inch long, without lustre. The eyes are moderately large, 

 and the front is scarcely concave, with but few wrinkles. The elytra are 

 convex, oval, narrowed in front, and covered with not very deep bluish 

 punctures ; there is no sutural spine, and the apex is entirely without ser- 

 rature. The tarsi are more pubescent than in other species. The labrum 

 is armed with three acute teeth. It is found in Texas. 



