TENEBRIONIDAE. 227 



Group II. — Blapstini. 



In this group the eyes are completely divided ; the epistoma is 

 emarginate, and the inflexed part of the elytra is composed entirely 

 of the epipleurae ; the mentum is not trilobed in front. In Noti- 

 bius and Conibius the dilatation of the anterior tarsi of the male 

 is very feeble, but in the genus last named the anterior tibiae of 

 that sex are bent and armed with a tooth, on the inner face, near 

 the base. 



Intercoxal process of abdomen short, triangular ; 



Superior portion of eyes large, rounded. Blapstinus. 



Superior portion of eyes small, linear. Conibius. 



Intercoxal process of abdomen broad, rectangular ; 



Superior portion of eyes small, rounded. Notibius. 



Blapstinus contains many species, and is found in every part 

 of our territory ; Conibius and Notibius occur only in California. 



Tribe III— OPATRrari. 



Body oval, not convex; head received by the thorax as far as 

 the eyes, which are transverse, strongly emarginate, and coarsely 

 granulated ; epistoma emarginate, covering the base of the man- 

 dibles ; labrum prominent ; mentum small, inserted upon a dis- 

 tinct gular peduncle ; ligula prominent, not deeply emarginate ; 

 maxilla? exposed ; elytra with not very wide epipleurae, occupying 

 the whole of the inflexed portion. Anterior coxae subtransverse 

 or rounded ; middle coxa? with distinct trochantin, side pieces 

 attaining the cavities ; hind coxa? distant ; intercoxal process 

 truncate or acute ; legs moderately stout, front tibia? dilated in 

 our genera ; tibial spurs small ; tarsi setose beneath. Metasternum 

 Kith narrow episterna and distinct epimera. Hind margin of 

 third and fourth ventral segments subcoriaceous. 



The above definition applies not to the whole tribe, but rather 

 to our genera, which are but two in number, each represented by 

 a single species from the Northern Atlantic States, found near 

 the sea-shore. Both belong to the group Stizopodes, which is 

 distinguished by the last joint of the palpi being securiform ; the 

 anterior tibia? dilated ; the epipleurae not reaching the tip of the 

 elytra. Ammodonus fossor Muls. (Opatrum f. Lee.) has the 

 wings well developed ; ' Ephalus latimanus (Heliopates I. Lee.) 

 is apterous ; in the latter the antennae are very short. 



