274 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



with very remarkable appendages, of which the uses are entirely un- 

 known [fig- 30. 17. maxilla of the male from Curtis ; 30. 18. ditto $ ) ; 

 the labial palpi are simple {fig. 30. 22. labium of Hylcecetus J ). 

 The species in the larva state feed upon wood. 



It has been already stated that Latreille {Regne Anim. 2d edit.) 

 raised this family to the rank of a primary section of the Serricornes, 

 under the name of Xylotrogi, placed after the Ptinidise, on account of 

 the disengaged head ; a character which can scarcely be regarded of 

 sufficient value to warrant such a step. Dejean, on the contrary, 

 united them with the Ptinidse, forming them into a section, Terediles, 

 evidently from the similarity in their wood-boring habits. That these 

 insects are of difficult location cannot be denied ; but the five-jointed 

 tarsi, and the structure of the trophi of the female, which is not very 

 different from that of some of the Lampyridae, point out a much 

 stronger affinity with the Malacodermous insects than with the Can- 

 tharidae, with which they have been recently associated by British 

 entomologists : indeed, they even seem to be more nearly related to 

 the Helopidae, and still more to Melandrya, both in their habits and 

 the structure of the mouth (especially the maxillary palpi of the 

 female), than to the Cantharidse. 



The family strictly comprises but the genera Lymexylon, Hyleccetus, 

 and Atractocerus, of which the first two are British. The only 

 British specimen of Lymexylon navale i^fig- 30. 16. $ ) hitherto dis- 

 covered, was captured by Mr. J. H. Griesbach, in Windsor Forest, on 

 an oak tree, in July, 1829. The third joint of the maxillary palpi of 

 the male emits numerous long and pilose branches, like a piece of 

 coral {fig. 30. 17.) : the palpi of the female are simple (^fig. 30. 18.). 

 This very curious insect is very common in oak forests in the north of 

 Europe, the timber of which it perforates and greatly injures ; it is, 

 indeed, occasionally so abundant in the dockyards of France and 

 Sweden as to cause much damage. Linnjeus, at the suggestion of 

 the King of Sweden, having investigated and ascertained the real 

 cause of this damage, suggested that the timber should be sunk under 

 water at the time the insect made its appearance in the perfect state, 

 whereby it was secured against its attacks. Linna;us's account of this 

 insect is published in his Iter Westrogoth. accompanied by figures 

 (p. 153. t. 2. f. 2 — 4.). Dr. Ratzeburg has published an account of the 

 injuries committed by this insect (/)/e Forst-Insecten Kafer, vol. i.), 

 accompanied by figures of the larva and perfect insect : the former 



