72 INSECT A. 



bimaculatus lives in the root of the Eryngium campestre, where it 

 also undergoes its metamorphosis*. 



Myoditbs, Lat. — Ripidius, Thimb. — Ripiphorus, Oliv. Fab. ^-c. 



Where the wings are also extended, bvit the elytra very short, in 

 the form of a truncated scale, or very obtuse at the extremity. The 

 hooks of the tarsi are indented beneath. The antennae are inserted 

 on the summit of the head, and strongly pectinated in both sexes — on 

 the two sides and forming long filaments in the males, and on the 

 inner side only in the females. The maxillae are but slightly pro- 

 longed. The ligula is elongated and entiref. 



Pklocotoma, Fwc/i. — Ripiphorus, Payk. Gyll. 



These Insects approach the Myodites in the serrated hooks of their 

 tarsi ; but their wings are covered by the elytra. The antennae, in- 

 serted before the eyes, have but a single range of filaments or teeth 

 in both sexes. The scutellum is very apparent. The maxillae do 

 not project, and the ligula is emarginated \. 



In the others, the wings are always covered by elytra extended 

 almost to the extremity of the abdomen and tapering to a point. The 

 posterior margin of the thorax is not lobate, or but very slightly so. 

 The abdomen of the females terminates in the manner of a tail, 

 pointed at the end. The eyes are sometimes emarginated. The 

 maxillary palpi are terminated by a large joint, securiform, or like a 

 reversed triangle. The extremity of the mandibles is emarginated 

 or bifid. The antennae, even in the males, are at most serrated. In 



MoR D ELLA , Lin .,Fab., 



Or Mordella properly so called, the antennae are of equal thicknes 

 throughout, and somewhat serrated in the males ; all the joints of the 

 tarsi are entire, and the hooks of the last present one or two inden- 

 tations beneath. The eyes are not emarginated. 



M. Leon Dufour has observed in the Mordelle a bandes two float- 

 ing salivary vessels longer than the body. The hepatic vessels have 

 no caecal insertion, an exceptive character in this section. 



M. acideata, L. ; Oliv., Col, III, 64, 1, 2. Length two lines ; 

 black, glossy, immaculate, with a silky down ; an ovipositor as 

 long as the thorax, by means of Avhich it introduces its ova into 

 the cavities of old wood§. 



* See the Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., Ed. II, article Ripiphore. 



t Ibid., article Myode. 



X Ibid., article Pelocofome; Fisch., Entom. Imp. Russ., II, xxxvii, 9. Severa 

 species are found in Brazil. 



§ Add the following species of Olivier: fasciata, duodecim-punctata, octo-punctata, 

 uhdominalis. See also Fisch., Entomog. Imp. Russ., II, xxxviii, fig. 3, 4. His 

 genus Ctenopus — Ibid., tab. ead., fig. 1 — appears to form the transition from the 

 Pelocotomae to the Mordellae. The antennae are simple; the labrum is bifid; the 

 mandibles are strong and arcuated; the maxillary pcdpi are very long and almost 

 filiform; all the joints of the tarsi are entire, and the hooks of the last are pectinated. 



