COLEOPTERA : CURCULIONID,E. 429 ^ 



The Striped .Cantharis, C. vittata, Harr., is about half 

 an inch long, and light yellowish-red above, with two 

 black spots on the head, and two black stripes on the 

 thorax and on each wing-cover ; under parts black, cov- 

 ered with a grayish down. The Margined Cantharis, C. 

 marginata, Olivier, is over half an inch long, wing-covers 

 black, with a narrow gray margin. The Ash-colored 

 Cantharis, L. Fabricii, LeC, and the Black Cantharis, L. 

 atrata, Fabr., each about half an inch long, are also com- 

 mon species. The Spanish Fly, C. vesicatorius of authors, 

 inhabits the South of Europe, and is golden green. 



The Genus Meloe contains the Narrow-necked Oil-Bee- 

 tle, M. angusticollis, Say, an inch long, color Prussian-blue. 



STYLOPID^E, Kirby. This Family comprises small 

 beetles which at first sight seem to bear no resem- 

 blance to the other coleoptera, and which were for- 

 merly regarded as a distinct order, named Strepsiptera. 

 They are less than a quarter of an inch long, the ely- 

 tra pad-like, but the hind wings are greatly developed. 

 They are parasite in various aculeate hymenoptera. 



CURCULIONIM;, Latr., CURCULIO OR WEEVIL FAMILY. 

 This Family embraces hard-shelled beetles which have 

 the fore part of the head prolonged into a broad muzzle 

 or a longer and slender snout, at the extremity of which 

 is the mouth, armed with small horny jaws. They are 

 exceedingly numerous in genera and species, and in many 

 cases very minute. They are timid, and quickly feign 

 death when disturbed. The larvae are white, thick grubs. 



The Genus Bnichus contains the Pea- Wee- Fig 320< 

 vil, B. pisi, Linn., which lays its eggs on the 

 pea when in flower, and the larva enters the 

 pea through the green pod, and remains there 

 till the following spring, when it emerges as 

 an imago. Harris says that the Baltimore Ori- 

 ole splits open the green pods for the sake of Linn - 



