BYRRHIDAE. 109 



Mesosternum entire ; prosternum truncate behind ; body clothed with long 

 erect hairs. Apsectus. 



The number of joints of the antennae is variable in Anthrenus. 

 Apsectus has but one species, found in the Atlantic States ; one 

 specimen in my possession was hatched from a tumor on a stem 

 of Bhus radicans. The other genera are represented on both 

 sides of the continent. The antennae of the males of*certain spe- 

 cies of Trogoderma are strongly serrate. 



Group IV. — Orphili. 



This group consists of a single genus, Orphilus, of which one 

 species is found in Europe, one in the Atlantic district, and one 

 in California. The frontal ocellus is distinct; the prosternum is 

 very short, not lobed in front, pointed behind, but not reaching 

 the mesosternum, which is horizontal, rounded in front, and sepa- 

 rates widely the middle coxse ; the anterior coxa? are very large 

 and prominent, and, with the anterior legs, serve to protect the 

 under surface of the head; the antennal cavities are deep, but 

 not very sharply defined, and are behind the middle of the thorax; 

 the hind coxae extend to the sides of the body ; the ventral seg- 

 ments gradually diminish in length, and the last is quite short. 



The Atlantic species, 0. ater Er., is dull black, somewhat 

 coarsely punctured; the Californian one, 0. subnitidus Lee, is 

 shining black, finely punctured, and is somewhat larger than 0. 

 ater. They are found on flowers. 



Fam. xxvil— byrkhidae. 



Mentum transverse (except in JSTosodendron), corneous ; 

 ligula usually prominent, simple. 



Maxillae exposed at base, with two unarmed lobes. 



Antennae rarely 10-, usually ll-jointed ; the outer joints 

 forming an elongate club in most genera, nearly filiform in 

 Amphicyrta. 



Head prominent in Nosodendron, retracted in the other 

 genera, with the parts of the mouth more or less protected 

 by the prosternum; epistoma usually wanting, sometimes 

 short, coriaceous, sometimes corneous; labrum distinct; 

 mandibles short, not prominent. 



