Platyrrtiii RHTNcnopnoiu. 100 



and, in many cases, very long rostrum ; they are perhaps representatives 

 of one of the most archaic forms of the Coleoptera. The Anthribidae, 

 as represented in our fauna, may be divided into the two following 

 tribes : 



I. Antennae inserted at the sides of the rostrnm, with the 



point of insertion invisible from above PtATYBBHixiyA. 



II. Antennae inserted on the upper surface of the rostrum, with 



the point of insertion visible from above CHOBAGIXA. 



PLATYRRHININA. 



This tribe contains nearly all the members of the family and includes 

 the Anthribina and Brachytarsina of Thomson ; the species are variable 

 in size, and especially in the length of the antennaa, but they are closely 

 allied by reason of their very short and broad rostrum, and by having 

 the antennae inserted at the sides of the rostrum with the point of the 

 insertion invisible from above. 



It appears best to adopt the names here used for the tribe and familv 

 in preference to Anthribina and Anthribidae, as the name MacrocepJialus 

 is with advantage employed for the insect known to us as Anthribus 

 altrinus, the generic name Anthribus having been in part referred to 

 Brachytarsus by some authors ; the six* European genera belonging to 

 the tribe are represented in Britain, with the exception of Phcenoiherion 

 and Cratoparis. 



The larvae of nearly all the Curculionidse are feeders on vegetable 

 substances ; a notable exception is, however, furnished by the species of 

 Brachytarsuz, the larvae of which are parasitic on various Cocci. 



The British genera may be distinguished as follows: 



I. Thorax without a distinct transverse ridge before base, 

 i. Rostrum not bilobed ; antennae short ; anterior coxae 



contiguous ; size small BBACHTTABSUS, Schonh. 



ii. Rostrum strongly bilobed in front ; antennae long, 

 especially in male ; anterior coxae distant ; size 



large MACBOCEPHALtra, Ol. 



(Attfhribui, Brit. Ent.) 



II. Thorax with a distinct transverse ridge before base. 



i. Thorax with a strong dilatation at sides and with 



the transverse keel before base interrupted in middle; 



size large PLATYBBHISTTS, Claire. 



ii. Thorax without dilatation at sides and with the 



transverse keel before base not interrupted ; size 



small TBOPIDEBES, Schdnh. 



* Enedrevtes Schonh. is here regarded as a part of Tropideres : a long description of 

 the larva of Enedreutes oxyacantha is given by Ferris (Larves des Coleopteres, 

 355 7). 



