278 



COLEOPTERA 



phorous series, with wiiich it has, however, no direct connection. 

 On the other hand, it is so closely connected with Chrysonielidae 

 that it is not possible to indicate good characters to distinguish 

 the two at present. The Australian genus Carpopltagus, and the 

 large South American species of Caryohorus appear to he quite 

 indistinguishable as families, though Lacordaire and Chapuis 

 placed one in Bruchidae, the other in Chrysonielidae. The 

 definition we have given applies, therefore, to the majority of the 

 family, but not to the aberrant forms just mentioned. The 

 European genus Urodon appears to belong to Anthriludae, not to 

 Bruchidae. The family Bruchidae is called Mylabridae by some. 

 Fam. 78. Chrysonielidae. — Antennue moderatdy long ; eyr.-i 

 moderately large, visually not at all surrounding the insertion of tJte 

 antennae ; dipper surf are usually tare, frequently hriglttly coloured, 

 and. shining. This enormous family comprises about 18,000 

 species of l)eetles, in which the form and details of structure 

 are very varied. No satisfactory character for distinguishing 

 5 Clnysomelidae from Cerandjycidae has 



yet been discovered, although the two 

 families are certainly distinct and 

 natur;d. Most of the Chrysonielidae 

 live on foliage ; few of them are more 

 than half an inch long, whereas the 

 Cerambycidae are wood - feeders and 

 usually of more elongate form and larger 

 size. Thepotato beetle, or Colorado beetle, 

 that occasioned so much destruction in 

 North America some thirty years ago,an(l 

 tlie introduction of which into Europe 

 was iMiticipated with much dread, is a 

 good example of the Chiysomelidae. The 



„ ,,„ ^ , , turnip flea, a tiny hopping beetle, is 



Fig. U2. — Don/2}hom decern- ^ ^^ o ^ ^ c ■^ 



lineata, the potato beetle, aiiioiig the Smallest fomis of the tannly. 

 North America. A iiiiago ; ^^^^^ ^^ .^ member of another very exten- 



B, limd-tarsus. 3, third / 



joiut ; 4, true fourtii joiut ; sive Subdivision of Chrysonielidae, viz. 



5, so-called fourth joint. Halticides. Tlic term Phytophaga is 



by man}- iiat-uralists limited to Chrysonielidae, the Cerambycidae 

 being excluded. The classification of the family is but little 

 advanced, but the enormous numl>er of species of Chrysonielidae 

 are placed in four divisions, viz. : — 



