FAMILY CARABID^. 43 



Lebia smaragdula (Dj.). (Plate xviii, fig. 3.) 



Head, thorax and elytra brilliant metallic blue-green ; lower side glossy black. Length? 



Lebia vihidis (Say). (Plate xviii, fig. 1.) 



Brilliant green above, glossy black below ; legs black. Length from three- to four-tenths 

 of an inch. 

 L. smaragdula and viridis scarcely differ either in color or size. 



Scaritides. 



The most remarkable peculiarity in this sub-family is the wide space between the thorax 

 and abdomen, by which the latter appears pedunculated : the posterior angles of the 

 former are also so rounded, that its form is lunate. The antennae are short, moniliform, 

 and the first joint is the longest ; the head is large ; the tibiae of the anterior legs are 

 broad and dentated, having the appearance of being palmated. The mandibles are large 

 and powerful, and armed with broad teeth ; labrum short, entire or dentate, sometimes 

 trilobate ; mentum tridentate, with the middle tooth strong ; labial palpi two- and four- 

 jointed. 



The scaritides are carnivorous, and in this respect bear a close resemblance to the allied 

 subfamilies : some living in the ground, upon other insects or their larvae ; and some 

 frequenting the seacoast, burrowing in the sand, and living upon the dead carcases of 

 shrimps. In this State, they burrow in the ground, or live under stones. A large species 

 is found in decaying logs in North-Carolina, some ten or fifteen being frequently found 

 together in one situation. 



Genus SCARITES (Fab.). Tenebrio (Linn.). 



* Oblong, subdepressed ; antennae elbowed ; mandibles with strong teeth internally ; 

 < external maxillary palpi and terminal joint of the labia nearly cylindric ; mentum 

 ' trilobate. Antennae with the basal joint subconic ; thorax broad, lunate ; body 

 ' depressed ; anterior tibiae strongly palmated, the rest simple' (Stephens). 



ScARiTEs subterrakeus (Fab.). (Plate xviii, fig. 14.) 



Color black ; thorax marked witli a fine central line. Thorax and head equal the abdomen 



in length, the latter supported on a short peduncle. Length eight-tenths of an inch. 



The insect, in consequence of its pedunculated abdomen, appears as if bisected. It is a 



nocturnal feeder, and is found quite abundantly in Central New- York. Its singular form 



renders it easy to be distinguished. 



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