CT.AVICORNIA. L'2.") 



NITIDULINA. 



This tribe contains the majority of the European genera and species 

 which belong to the family, two of the genera, Epurcea and Meligethe*, 

 being of considerable extent in point of numbers ; its members are 

 distinguished from those of the preceding tribe by having the abdomen 

 entirely or almost entirely covered by the elytra, and from the Cychra- 

 mina, to which they bear a close relation, by having the thorax fitting 

 closely to the base of the elytra and not covering it. With the exception 

 of Stelidota, Ipidia, and Xenostronyylus, all the European genera are 

 represented in Britain. 



I. Prosternum depressed behind anterior coxae, not pro- 



duced. 



i. Antcnnal grooves convergent, the convergence varying 

 in degree. 



1. All the tarsi more or less dilated ; disc of thorax 



without impressions. 



A. Labrum bilobed ; abdomen of male with an extra 



dorsal segment. 



a. Thorax widely margined. 



a*. Posterior legs approaching one another . . EPUK.EA, Er. 



b*. Posterior legs considerably separated . . . OMOSIPHOKA, Reitler. 



b. Thorax with hardly perceptible margins . . . MiciiuiiULA,* Iteitler. 



B. Labrum only feebly ernargiiiate ; abdomen of male 



without extra segment NITIDULA, F. 



2. Tarsi not dilated ; disc of thorax with impressions . SOKONIA, Er. 

 ii. Antennal grooves parallel, or nearly so. 



1. First joint of antennae very strongly dilated ; man- 

 dibles bifid at apex AMPHOTIS, Er. 



2. First joint of antennae moderately thickened ; man- 

 dibles not bifid, but with a strong tooth about a third 



from apex OMOSITA, Er. 



II. Prosternum produced behind. 



i. Head without, or with very indistinct, antennal grooves ; 

 tarsi dilated. 



1. All the tibiae simple PHIA, Kirby. 



2. Front tibiae simple ; hinder pairs of tibiae furnished 



with spines THALYCBA, Er. 



ii. Head with distinct antennal grooves. 



1. Tarsi not dilated; front tibire simple, produced into 



a strong point externally at apex POCADIUS, Er. 



2. Tarsi all dilated ; front tibiae more or less strongly 



and very variably toothed externally MELIGETIIES, Kirby. 



EPUEtJEA, Erichson. 



This genus comprises about seventy species, which are widely distri- 

 buted ; the majority occur in cold and temperate regions, but represen- 

 tatives have been recorded from Madagascar and South Africa, Ceylon, 

 Tahiti, Chili, Java, &c. j more than thirty are found in Europe, of which 



* Previously Micruria; cf. Wiener, But. Zeituug, iii. 209 (August, 188 J) 

 VOL. III. Q 



