Synop.fLi of the i'ohoplcrous Family Cisidac {Cioidae) 1 



SYNOPSIS OF THE COLEOPTEROUS FAMILY 

 CI SI DAE (CIOIDAE) of Ainerica Xorth of Mexico 



By Charles Dcry 



The beetles in the above area comprised in this family 

 exclusive of the R}upida7idn7iae, which have been removed to 

 the Tenebrionidae, are of small size, subcylindrical form, mostly 

 of l)hick or brownish colors, though a few species of the different 

 heretofore described genera have red or yellow elytral macu- 

 lation. They live in woody fungi of the different polyporoid 

 kinds. Males of many of the species have variously shaped 

 horns or processes on the head or anterior margin of prothorax, 

 and secondary sexual marks on the first ventral segment. The 

 number of antennal joints vary from eight to eleven in the 

 different genera. The antennae are inserted at the anterior 

 margin of the eyes and the terminal joints are large and form a 

 rather loose club. Tarsi 4-jointed. The Prothorax, wliich has a 

 lateral margin, is more or less prolonged over the head. Men- 

 tum corneus. Labial palpi 3-jointed. Maxillary palpi short 

 and 4-jointed. Ventral segments five in number. The first 

 longest. Anterior and middle coxae oval, not prominent, 

 without trocantin. Hind coxae transverse and separated. 

 Tarsal claws simple. But few species exceed 3mm. in length. 

 Because of their small size and dull colors they are rather 

 unattractive, and have been much neglected by collectors. 

 However, if they are studied mth high enough power it will be 

 seen that they are among the most interesting of Coleopterous 

 insects. The secondary sexual characters of the males of 

 some of the species being quite remarkable. The North Ameri- 

 can species are of but little economic importance so far as is 

 kno^^•n, though they and their larvae are voracious feeders on 

 the substance of the inner parts of woody fungi. They are 

 generally gregarious and sometimes occur in great numbers. 

 From a small piece of tough, woody poh'porus broken from a 

 log, was hatched scores of adults. They continued emerging 

 all winter, ^^'hen they first hatch they are soft and pale and 

 require several days to acquire the dark colors of the mature 



