132 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



length ; claws simple. Ventral segments six. The body is 

 elongate oval, convex, brown or black, pubescent. 



The internal lobe of the maxillae is armed with a terminal hook. 



Fam. XL.— LAMPYRIDAE. 



Mentum quadrate, moderate in size, frequently formed of 

 two pieces separated by a transverse suture; ligula not cor- 

 neous, prominent, without paraglossae; palpi 3-jointed. 



Maxillae exposed at the base, with two ciliate lobes, the 

 internal of which is sometimes obsolete; palpi 4-jointed. 



Antennas serrate, rarely pectinate or fiabellate, usually 11- 

 jointed, inserted on the front, more or less distant, according 

 to the sub-family. 



Head sometimes prominent, sometimes protected by the 

 thorax ; eyes rounded. 



Prothorax with the side pieces not separate ; coxal cavities 

 large, transverse; prothoracic spiracle usually visible; pro- 

 sternum very short. 



Mesosternum triangular, not excavated ; side pieces large, 

 attaining the coxae. 



Metasternum with side pieces large; epimera visible. 



Elytra never embracing strongly the sides of the abdomen, 

 sometimes short, sometimes (in the female of foreign genera) 

 entirely wanting. 



Abdomen with seven or eight free ventral segments. 



Anterior coxae contiguous, conical, with large trochantin ; 

 middle coxae oblique, contiguous (except in Lycini), conical, 

 with or without trochantin ; posterior coxae transverse, pro- 

 minent, internally forming a conical protuberance. 



Legs slender, or compressed, long or moderate; trochanter 

 in the axis of the thigh ; tibiae with short or indistinct ter- 

 minal spurs; tarsi 5-jointed, not lobed beneath, uniformly 

 pubescent in the first, spongy pubescent in the second sub- 

 family, fourth joint more or less bilobed; claws variable in 

 form. 



Insects of moderate, or small size, of elongate form, and soft 

 consistence, found on plants. Many of the species of the second 

 tribe of the first sub-family possess the remarkable power of 

 emitting light, and are hence called fireflies. 



Two sub-families may be separated : — 



Side pieces of metathorax slightly curved internally. Lampyrid^e. 



Side pieces of metathorax sinuate internally. Telepuorid^e. 



