LONG-HORNED WOOD-BORERS. 165 



Tlie Stenaspini resemble the Clytini in their convex form, the. tho- 

 rax in both groups being ahnost globuhir, but are readily distinguished 

 by their pointed scutellura and their style of coloration, being some- 

 times velvety -black, with a few large red spots, and sometimes almost 

 wholly red or purple, but with the legs and antennie black. The group 

 is named from the genus Stenaspis, Serv., a word expressive of the nar- 

 row and pointed form of the scutellnm. The species are usually of 

 rather large size ; but one ol" the most common, the BaUjle suturalis, 

 Say, is less than half of an inch in length, almost wholly red, and 

 clothed with short erect hairs. The grouj) contains about thirty spe- 

 cies, many of which, however, are not found north of Texas. 



Sub-family LEPTURIDES. 



The Lepturides aro named after the genus Leptiira, of Linnteus, a 

 term derived from the Greek Zc-ro- — slender or attenuated, in allusion to 

 the slender and tapering form of most of the species. 



They are distinguished from the other Longicornes by their round 

 eyes, sometimes entire, but usually with a small notch or indentation ; 

 by the head narrowed behind the eyes, and the thorax narrowed in 

 front, the union of these two parts giving the appearance of a neck of 

 greater or less length ; and by the anterior coxte being of an angular 



^'g ■''^v^ form and projecting below the level of the breast. 



The base of the elytra is usually more or less elevated 

 above the level of the thorax. The middle cotyloid 

 cavities are always open, and the eyes are almost 

 always finely granulated. Their form is usually some- 

 what tapering behind, and as a general rule they are 

 smaller and more active than the other Longicorns, 

 and many of them tiy by day, whereas most of the 

 ' westwood. Longicom beetles are crepuscular. Whilst most 



Longicorns are found upou the trunks of trees, and often near the roots, 

 many of the Lepturides frequent flowers, especially those of umbellife- 

 rous plants. 



It is in this sub-family that the species occur, which have very short 

 or very narrow elytra. But in these cases the wings are not folded 

 under them, as they are in the short-wiuged Staphylinidic, but lie at 

 their full length upon the abdomen. The larvie ditler from those of 

 other Longicorns in having the head as wide as the body. 



This group is usually placed at the end of the Longicornes, but we 

 retain them here on account of their close alliance with the preceding 

 sub-family of Cerambycides, with which they are uuit<id by Lacordaire. 



