lie 



THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



[Fig. 52.] 



Lytta yitta 

 Fabricius. 



common 



The genus Lytta, of Fabricius, or Cantharis, of Geoffroy, 

 contains the blistering beetles of the shops, and also the 

 well-known ash-colored, black, and striped potato-beetles. 

 Some entomologists divide them into two groups or sub- 

 genera : Lytta proper, in which the antennae are almost mo- 

 niliform, and a little thicker towards the tip, and Epicauta, 

 in which the antennas are filiform, or a little tapering, with 



rA, the joints elongated. The latter group contains all our 



species. 



• Family XLV. ANTHICID^. 



This family, founded upon the genus Anthicus, a Greek word, meaning 



[Ks. 53.] variegated, is of moderate extent, and is composed of very 



\^y\f/ Ifv^ small, prettily colored beetles, never much exceeding 



i^^n~nfoW' ^^ eighth of an inch in length. They are readily dis- 



/jj: iQjXv "H p^ tinguished from most other small beetles by their nar- 



/ vi/ \ 5/i ^^^ necks. Some of them bear a striking resemblance 



f e^i/' ti)^ ^^ ants, and others are remarkable for a prominent 



! ^ jpr horn on the top of the thorax. The larvte are unknown, 



\!if-rl% liT ^^* some observations of Latreille led him to believe 



*v/ Lj' that they are parasitic. The perfect insects are found 



NoToxufi :— 1, beetle ; OU floWCrS aud IcaVCS. 

 2, front of body seen la- 

 terally ; 3, mandible ; 4, Most of our specics are found in the three following 



maxillary palpu.s ; 5, 6, 



tar.si — after Westwood. gCUCra '. 



A. Eyes notched, hairy, and coarsely granulated Xtlophilus, 6 sp. 



A A. Eyes oblong and entire. 



B. Thorax prolonged over the head in the form of a horn NoTOXUS, 15. 



B B. Thorax -without horn Anthicus, 50. 



The curious little Notoxus monodon, Fab., is not an uncommon insect. 

 It is of a brownish-yellow color, with a black band across the middle of 

 the elytra, and two spots of the same at the base, aud an obscure one 

 at the tip. The horn on the thorax projects forwards so as to cover the 

 head. Another, but less common species, is the N'. hicolor, Say. The 

 head and thorax are yellowish, and the elytra are blue-black. The 

 genus Anthicus is much the most numerous in species. 



Family XLVI. PYROCHROID^. 



The species of this family are few in number, and are most conspicu- 

 ous for the usually branched autennai aud their common style of colora- 

 tion, which is that of a red thorax contrasted with the black elytra. 

 They are of medium size, varying from one-third to three-fourths of an 

 inch in length. The name is derived from the genus Pyrochroa of Geof- 



