476 COLEOPTERA. 



head is bent forward, the base of the prothorax is sinuous, 

 but not distinctly lobed, and the elytra are striate. M. striata 

 Say is found in the Atlantic States. 



PYTHIDJE Lacordaire. This is a small group of mostly 

 northern species found living under bark and stones. Pytho 

 and its allies resemble some Tenebrionidce. 



CEDEMERID.E Latreille. This group comprises insects of 

 moderate size, and, according to Leconte, generally found on 

 plants, though some species of Asclera live on the ground near 

 water, and Microtonus sericans is a very small brown sericeous 

 insect, found on leaves in the Atlantic States. 



CEPHALOID^:. Leconte places in a distinct family, the single 

 species, Cephaloon lepturides Newman, which is found on 

 plants northward. 



MORDELLIDJS Leach. These are curious small, wedge- 

 shaped, glistening, pubescent, black beetles, which occur in 

 abundance on the flowers of Golden-rods and asters, and when 

 disturbed leap off like fleas, or slip suddenly to the ground. 

 Anaspis has the fourth joint of the anterior and middle tarsi 

 very small, and the body is fusiform, with oval eyes. In Mor- 

 della the body is wedge-shaped, the eyes are finely granulated, 

 the scutellum is triangular, and the last joint of the maxil- 

 lary palpi triangular or securiform. The larvae are said to live 

 in the pith of plants during autumn, and are long, subcylin- 

 drical, and the sides of the rings are furnished with fleshy 

 tubercles. Mordellistena differs in the hind tibiae having sub- 

 apical and oblique ridges. 



Latreille. Of this small group, Notoxus anchora 

 Hentz is noted for having the head prolonged over the 

 mouth into a horn ; it is found in marshy places. Leconte 

 states that Tanarthrus salinus Lee. flies and runs on salt mud 

 like a Cicindela ; it occurs in the Colorado desert. The nu- 

 merous species of Anthicus live in sandy places near water. 

 Formicomus is ant-like, being wingless. 



