370 1NSECTA. 



PIMELIA, Fabricius. 



These Hcteromera are proper to the countries situated round the basin of 

 the Mediterranean, to western and southern Asia, and to Africa. They are 

 not found in India, or at least none have as yet been discovered there. 



The Pimeliarise consist of numerous genera, the chief of which are, Erodius, 

 Zophosis, Tentyria, Arts, Tagenia, &c. 



The second tribe of the Melasoma, that of the BLAPSIBES," receives its 

 denomination from the genus BLAPS of Fabricius. 



The maxillary palpi terminate by a manifestly securiform or triangular 

 joint. This tribe is formed of a single genus, that of 



BLAPS. 



In Blaps properly so called, die thorax is almost square and plane, or but 

 slightly convex. The abdomen is oval, truncated transversely at base, and 

 more or less elongated. The elytra of most of them are narrowed and pro- 

 longed into a point, those of the males especially. The third joint of the 

 antenna? is cylindrical and much longer than the following ones ; the latter, 

 or at least the three antepenultimate ones, are granose; the last is ovoid and 

 short 



B. Icevigata, Fab. This species might constitute a particular subgenus. 

 Its body is much shorter than that of the others, and extremely convex or 

 gibbous. The antennae are granose from the fourth joint. The anterior tibia? 

 terminate in a stout point or spine formed by a spur. 



It is stated by Fabricius that the Turkish women inhabiting Egypt, where 

 the insect is very common, eat the Blaps sulcata, cooked with butter, in order 

 to become fat. The same author also says that it is used as a remedy for the 

 headach and the sting of a scorpion. 



The remaining Blapsides are distributed under various genera, such as 

 Gonopus, Asida, Pedinus, Blaptinus, &c. 



We now come to Melasoma, provided with wings. Their body is usually 

 oval or oblong, depressed or but slightly elevated; their thorax square or 

 trapezoidal, and its posterior extremity as wide as the abdomen. The palpi 

 are larger at the extremity ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi has the figure 

 of a reversed triangle, or is securiform ; the mentum is but slightly extended 

 in width, and leaves the base of the maxilla? exposed. 



These insects compose the third and last tribe of the Melasoma, that of the 

 TENEBRIONITES, formed of the single genus 



TENEBRIO, 



As originally arranged by Fabricius, and to which we will annex his Opatrum 

 and Orthocera; they will serve as types of as many particular divisions. 



J. Those in which the body is oval; the thorax nearly trapezoidal, arcuated 

 laterally, or forming a semioval, truncated anteriorly, wider than the abdomen, 



