COLEOPTERA. 



HORIID^. 



291 



The fourth family, Houiid^*, is distinguished by having the tarsal 

 claws denticulated, and furnished on the underside with a long and 

 slender filament i^fig. 33. 4.). The head is large and considerably 



Fig. 33. 



dilated behind the eyes (7?^. 33.1. head of Horia maculata) ; the 

 jaws large, porrected, and terminated by an acute point ; the antennae 

 rather short ; the upper lip small ; the palpi filiform; the labial {Jig. 

 33. 3.) as long as the maxillary {Jig. 33. 2.) ; the thorax subquadrate ; 

 the elytra flexible ; the tarsal joints entire ; and the hind legs robust, 

 especially in the males. 



This family is of a very small extent ; the species are of a com- 

 paratively large size, and handsomely coloured. They are confined to 

 tropical countries. The Rev, Lansdown Guilding has described the 

 transformations of Horia maculata, an inhabitant of South America 

 and the West Indies {Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. v. 14. p. 316. pi. 8. 

 and V. 15. p. 51L). Its larva {fg. 33. 5.</.) destroys that {Jig. 33. 

 5. c.) of a species of wild carpenter bee (Xylocopa teredo, X. morio 

 Fab.), which makes its cells {Jig. 33. 5. a.) and deposits its eggs in the 

 trunks of trees. Mr. G. conjectures that the larva of the beetle 

 feeds upon the provisions {Jig. 33. 5. h.) destined for the food of 

 the larva of the Xylocopa, and which is consequently starved to 



• Biiii.ioG. Refer, to the Horiidve. 

 Gu6rm. Icon. R. An. 

 Griffith. Animal K. Ins. 

 Sturm. Insect. Catal. Tab. ,S. fig. 25. 

 Guilding. Linn. Trans, v, 14. and 15. 

 Huhner, in der Naturforsclicr, St. 24. 

 Swederus, in Act. Ilolm. 1787. (Cucujus (Horia) maculata.) 



u 2 



