Order COLEOPTERA. 



Suborder POLYPHAGA. 

 Family CHEYSOMELID^. 



General shape very variable ; mentum generally transverse ; 

 labial palpi 3-jointed ; maxillary palpi 4-jointed, cylindrical, rarely 

 dilated. Head either prominent or inserted in thorax as far as 

 eyes; the latter entire or emargiiiate, frequently kidney-shaped 

 (Cryptocephalince, Chlamydince) clypeus generally separated from 

 face ; mandibles short (larger and robust in some Clytrince); labrum 

 transverse. Antennae variable in position and form, usually 

 11-jointed *, filiform, serrate or somewhat clavate. Thorax with 

 or without distinct lateral margins. Elytra usually covering the 

 pvgidium but the latter is in some cases exposed (Camptosomes), 

 epipleurae sometimes strongly produced below shoulders. Abdomen 

 with five segments of various proportions, the first much longer than 

 the others as in the Eupodes, or all contracted at middle as in the 

 Camptosomes. Legs very variable ; hind femora frequently con- 

 siderably enlarged, often with strong teeth below ; tibiae slender 

 or short and compressed (Chlamydince, Lamprosomince) ; tarsi 

 4-jointed, hairy beneath, third joint bilobed or entire, claws simple, 

 appendiculate or bifid. Prosternum very variable, narrow and 

 hidden to very broad and conspicuous. 



The ChrysomelidcK form an immense complex of forms, most 

 strongly developed in the tropical regions, but also represented by 

 a considerable number iu the temperate zones. The great 

 variability of their shape and structure makes their study very 

 laborious but highly interesting. The species in some of the 

 groups greatly resemble certain Longicornia, from which they can 

 only be distinguished by an intimate knowledge of the various 

 forms. It may however, be taken as a general rule that in the 

 Longicornia the shape is very elongate, the head projecting and 

 prominent, the eyes oblique and more or less divided and the 

 antenna) peduncular, these organs being at the same time rigid 



* Eleven-jointed in all genera dealt wpith in this volume. 

 VOL. I. B 



