156 CLAVIOOKNIA. \Coccindli&<B. 



every part of the world, and these not very much differentiated. I 

 think that a careful analysis of the Coccinellidte would show that they 

 are a northern temperate zone family, the tropical species having rather 

 the appearance of being derived, than of being autochthonous." 



The family may be known by the following characters : form convex, 

 semi-globose or more rarely oblong-oval ; head usually sunk in thorax 

 which is cmarginate in front ; species usually glabrous, but in some groups 

 pubescent ; on this latter character Mulsant divides the family into two 

 large series, the Gymnosomides and the Trichosomides ; the maxillae are 

 bilobed, and the maxillary palpi are 4-jointed, with the last joint large 

 and almost always securiform ; the antennae are moderate, short, or very 

 short, inserted at the inner front margin of the eyes, with the base 

 exposed or covered by a lobe of the clypeus ; thorax transverse ; meso- 

 sternum short, metasternum rather large ; abdomen usually with five free 

 ventral segments, but occasionally with six or seven ; the first segment is 

 the longest, and is usually furnished with more or less distinct curved 

 coxal lines, which are often made use of as generic characters ; legs 

 short, more or less retractile, tarsi apparently three-jointed, but in 

 reality four-jointed, the third joint being very minute and concealed in 

 the lobes of the second joint ; as a rule, however, they are now considered 

 and spoken of as three-jointed, as is the case with other families which 

 were formerly reckoned under the old group Pseudotrimera. 



The family may be divided into two series as follows : 



Mandibles with more than two teeth at apex . . COCCINELLID.S: PHTTOPHAG.E. 

 Mandibles simple or bifid at apex COCCINELLID.E APHIDIPHAG.S:. 



COCCINELLIDJE PHYTOPHAGJE. 



Of this series, which contains the large genus Epilacltna and a few 

 other small genera, only one genus and one species are found in Britain ; 

 the members of the series are, during all peiiods of their growth, plant- 

 feeders, and not carnivorous. 



SUBCOCCZNEX.X.A, Huber (Lasia, Mulsant). 



This genus contains one species which has been described under 

 various names from different parts of Europe and the Caucasus, and from 

 Algeria ; it is very variable as regards colour, no fewer than twenty- 

 three forms being mentioned by Mulsant (Securipalpes, pp. 198-205). 



S. vigintiquatuorpunctata, L. (Lasia globosa, Schneid.). Very 

 convex, almost hemispherical, not very shining, clothed with thick and 

 very distinct greyish pubescence of a reddish or ferruginous colour, with 

 black spots and patches on thorax and elytra, which are very variable, 

 and are sometimes but rarely absent ; the upper surface is thickly but 

 distinctly punctured ; antennae reddish-testaceous, moderately long with 



