CLASSIFICATION OF TUE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 469 



and slightly prolonged at tip so as to fit into this excavation. The 

 lateral fold of the inner surface of the elytra is well marked for 

 the middle third, but is distant from the side, and gradually ob- 

 literated behind, following along the 2d line 'of punctures from 

 the side. The tibiae are slender, truncate at tip, with feebly de- 

 veloped spurs, never mucronate ; the tarsi are dilated and brush- 

 like beneath, the 2d joint usually deeply emargiuate, receiving the 

 3d joint in the emargination : the 3d is usually narrower and shorter 

 than the 2d and also emarginate : the last joint moderate in length, 

 claws separate toothed. 



As observed by Lacordaire,* wheu the sexual differences are 

 well marked the male is larger than the female, and the beak of 

 the latter is shorter : the reverse being the case in all other fami- 

 lies of Rhynchophora. There are also sometimes great differ- 

 ences in the antennae and front legs which are much longer in the 

 male. 



The larviB of some species of Brachytarsus {Anthribus Geoff".) 

 are parasitic on certain species of Coccus : tlie only example thus 

 far ascertained of carnivorous habits among the Rhynchophora. 



APIONIDiE. 



In this family the last dorsal segment is horizontal and small as 

 in the Scolytidse, but the otlier characters are quite diff'erent. 



The beak is long and slender, the mouth small, the gular pe- 

 duncle rather narrow and emarginate, the mandibles feeble, and 

 acute. The antennae are not geniculate, the scape is somewhat 

 elongated ; the}' are inserted on the side of the beak at or above 

 the middle, and the gi'ooves are very short ; ihe eyes are rounded, 

 rather coarsely granulated. 



The prothorax is not lobed in front, the coxae are contiguous, 

 conical and prominent. The side pieces of the metathorax are 

 distinct, narrow. The tibiae are slender, truncate at tip ; hind 

 pair without spurs; the claws are separate, more or less toothed 

 at the base. 



The dorsal segments are membranous : the last segment (pj'gi- 

 dium) is horizontal, rather small and corneous, entirely covered by 

 the elytra ; at the side it meets onl}' the 5th ventral, and the last 

 spiracle is not apparent : the ventral segments are ver^^ unequal, 



* I. c. vii, 180. 



