2C8 C0LE0PTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



long), with the head black, the front retuse ; the thorax is serai- 

 circular, with the sides thickened and reflexed, and the middle 

 strongly carinate ; this carina is prolonged into a point at the 

 base. The elytra are elongate oval, very coarsely punctured, 

 flattened on the back, with a very strong ridge running from the 

 humerus nearly to the tip, and another very near the margin 

 from near the base to the tip itself, thus causing the appearance 

 of distinct epipleurse ; the elytra are dusky, with a long lateral spot 

 and the tip pale. The consistence of the body is firmer than in 

 the other genera of the family, but I cannot perceive any struc- 

 tural difference of importance except the form of the antennas, 

 which are not very slender, but cylindrical ; the 2d joint is one- 

 half as long as the third ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi is 

 large and securiform ; the eyes are distant and moderate in size. 



Eam. lx.— meloidae. 



Mentum trapezoidal, supported by a large gular process ; 

 ligula prominent, labial palpi 3-jointed. 



Maxillse with two corneous ciliated lobes, the outer one 

 in some Nemognathini very long and filiform ; the inner one 

 sometimes very small ; palpi 4-jointed. 



Head much inclined, suddenly constricted far behind the 

 eyes into a small neck, which is not entirely received into 

 the prothorax ; eyes variable in form, finely granulated ; la- 

 brum prominent ; mandibles usually not extending beyond 

 the labrum, frequently entire at tip, frequently armed with a 

 small subapical tooth, rarely (Phodaga) emarginate at tip. 



Antennae 11-jointed in our genera, inserted (except in 

 Phodaga) at the sides of the front, before the eyes. 



Prothorax narrower at base than the elytra, lateral suture 

 completely obliterated; presternum short; coxal cavities 

 large, confluent, widely open behind. 



Mesosternum short, triangular, side pieces attaining the 

 coxal cavities, which are confluent ; metasternum very short 

 in the first tribe, generally long in the second. 



Elytra variable in form, but when short never truncate : 

 epipleurae not well denned. 



Abdomen with six free ventral segments. 



Legs long, anterior and middle coxge large, conical, con- 

 tiguous; hind coxae transverse, prominent, more or less con- 

 cave beneath, nearly contiguous ; tibial spurs distinct, those 



