PIMELIA. INSECTS. 



SECTION II. HETEROMERA. 

 First four tarsi composed of five joints, and the last two of four. 



I. Head subovoid, sinking into the thorax, without marked 



neck. 



FAMILY I. MELASOMA. 



Joints of the tarsi almost always entire; antennae always ex- 

 serted under the lateral and projecting borders of the head, 

 moniliform, with the third joint elongated; extremity of the 

 mandibles bifid, and a tooth or corneous hook on the internal 

 side of the jaws. 



This family includes a great portion of the genus Tenebrio of Linnaus. They 

 are found in sand, under stones, and obscure places, and never quit their retreat till 

 night Their movements are generally slow. The larva which have been observed 

 are long cylindrical, covered with a shining, almost scaly skin, and are furnished 

 with six short feet Latreille divides this family into three tribes. 



TRIBE I. PIMELIARLE. 



Apterous ; elytra united, and covering the abdomen ; maxilla- 

 ry palpi filiform, or terminated by a joint somewhat larger. 



This tribe is divided as follows, viz. 



A. Chin large, covering the origin of the jaws ; body oval or oblong, not orbicular ; 

 thorax transverse, or not orbicular. 



Gen. PIMELIA, PLATYOPUS, (Fischer ;) DIESIA, TENTYRIA, TAGONITS. 



1. Thorax in the form of a truncated heart, either square or oblong. 



Gen. HEGETER, ELENOPHORUS, AKIS. 



2. Body suborbicular. 



Gen. EURYCHORA, ERODIUS, ZOPHOSIS. 



B. Chin small or of medium size, not covering the base of the jaws. 



Gen. MOLURIS, PSAMMODIUS, TAGENIA, SEPIDIUM, SCAURCS, and L^ENA. 



Gen. PIMELIA, Fab. Lat. Tenebrio, Lin. 

 Base of the jaws covered by the chin ; antennas of uniform 

 thickness, or slightly thicker at their extremity, composed of 

 eleven joints, of which the last is small and pointed ; abdo- 

 men large, more or less oval, or almost globular ; thorax short 

 and transverse. 



P. bipunctata, Lat. Body black and shining ; antennae as long as 

 the head and thorax, with the ninth and tenth joints a little thick- 

 er ; the eleventh forming with the preceding a globular and point- 

 ed body ; thorax granulated ; elytra finely wrinkled, with four 

 elevated lines. 8 lines long. Europe Lat. Hist. x. pi. 87, fig. 5. 



TRIBE II. BLAPSIDES. 



Maxillary palpi terminated by a joint larger than the preceding, 

 triangular or dolabriform. 



This tribe is divided by Latreille in the following manner, viz. 

 A. Chin large, covering the base of the jaws. 



Gen. ASIDA. 

 VOL. II. T 



