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CHAPTER XVI. 



THE HETEEOMEEA. 



THIS section comprises twenty families : the Blaptida, 

 Coniontidce, Pedimdae, Opatridte, Trachyscelida, Boli- 

 tophagidce, Diaperida, Ulomidce, Tenebrionidte, Helopida, 

 Cistelida, Lagriada, Tetratomidce, Melandryidce, Pyro- 

 chroida, Anthicidce, MordeUida, Meloida, (Edemeridte, 

 and SalpingidcR, in all of which the front and middle 

 tarsi have five joints, and the hinder pair only four. 

 Some few aberrant species in other sections also exhibit 

 this tarsal formula, either in one or both of their sexes ; 

 but they cannot easily be confounded with any of the 

 Heteromera, on account of their own unmistakeable 

 family likeness, and of wanting other characters which 

 are nearly always found in this section, such as the 

 kidney-shaped eyes, exserted and clavate maxillary palpi, 

 moniliform un-elbowed antennae, and bifid mandibles. 

 The missing joint in the Heteromera, moreover, is 

 merged in the elongate basal joint; whereas in other 

 heteromerous species it is usually the fourth joint that 

 is wanting or undeveloped. 



We possess but a meagre list of species belonging to 

 this section, which is very extensively represented in 

 tropical countries ; and it is worthy of notice that only 



