20-i CURCUL10N1D.9C. 



Subfamily II. OTIORRHYNCHIN^. 



Apart from the three genera Episomus, Schh., Ptochns, Schh., 

 and Mi/Uocerus, Sclih., this subfamily is very poorly represented 

 ill British India, nearly all the remaining genera containing not 

 more than one or two species each. 



The distinction relied upon by Lacordaire for separating this 

 subfamily from his Eremnin^, namely, the absence of a post- 

 ocular lobe or vibrissas on the prothorax, is not a very satisfactory 

 one, for these characters are occasionally so much reduced in 

 members of the latter subfamil_y as to make their position some- 

 what doubtful ; moreover, it leads in some cases to the separation 

 <it:' genera which otherwise appear to be very closely allied. 



Ketj io the Groups. 



1 (4) Corbels of hind tibia3 distinctly enclosed. 



2 -(3) Tarsal claws free ; joint 3 of tarsi not [p. 250. 



broader than 2 Nothognathides, 



8 (2) Tarsal elawrs connate at base ; joint u 



evidently broader than 2 Episomides, p. 204. 



4 (1) Corbels of hind tibia> open. 



5 (8) Elytra Avithout any humeral angle ; in- 



sects not capable of flight; hind coxie 

 reaching- margin of elvtra. 



(7) Episterna of n]eta.<-teruum distinct, at 



least iu the anterior half : antenme long 



and slender, scape exceeding front mar- [p. 2o2. 



gin of prothorax Otiorrhynchides, 



7 (6) Episterna of metasternum imperceptible ; 



antennte short and stout, scape not [p. 275. 



exceeding front margin of prothorax . . Trachyphloeides, 



8 (5) Elytra with a distinct humeral angle ; 



insects capable of flight ; hind coxie not 



reaching the margin of the elytra Phyllobiides, p. 278. 



Group I. EPISOMIDES. 



This section includes tlie Episomides and Oosomtdes of 

 Lacordaire, which he himself admits to be hardly separable. Its 

 principal stronghold is South Airica, though the genus Episomus 

 contains a considerable number of Indian species. The insects 

 are for the most part wingless and slow-moving, living on herbs 

 and low bushes. Some of the Malayan species of E2}isoimfs are 

 quite handsomely coloured, but the Indian forms are mostly sombre. 

 The larvae are probably ail root-feeders. 



Keif to the Genera. 



1 (2) liostrum continuous with the head, 



the gente projecting beyond the 



mandibles Pauapionus, g. n., p. 205. 



