Order 5. COLEOPTERA. . 513 



MalacMus, Fabr., has beneath each of tlie anterior angles of the thorax and each side of the base of the abdomeii 

 a retractile vesicle capable of dilatation, and which the animal protrudes vhen it is alarmed, but of the use of which 

 we are ig^norant. The body is shorter than in the following genus, with the thorax broader than long. One of tlie 

 sexes has in some species a hook at the tip of the elytra; the basal joint of che antennje is often dilated and irre- 

 giUar-shaped in the males ; their colours are agreeable. [These are active, pretty little insects, found in the spring 

 and summer months, especially frequenting umbelliferous plants to prey upon the weaker insects which inhabit 

 those flowers.] Types, Cantharis cencajlUnw., andCaiifhaiis bipustulata, Linn, [two very common British species]. 



Dasyfes, Fabr., has filiform palpi ; the thorax is not furnished with vesicles ; the antenna at least as long as 

 the head and thorax, and the body generally narrow, and sometimes linear. D. c<cruletis, Fabr, 



Zygiay'Sa.hv., smdi Melyrls proper are composed of exotic species, having the ungues unidentate; the antennae 

 shorter than the head and thorax, and the body shorter and of a more solid consistence. 



Pelecophorus, Dejean, has the maxillary palpi terminated by a large hatchet-shaped joint. Notoxus lUigeri, Sch. 



Diglobicerus, Latr., has the antenna; only distinctly 10-jointed, the last two joints being large and globular. 



The fourth tribe of the Malacodermi, that of the Clerii, so named from the typical genus Ckrus, is 

 distinguished by the following characters : — Two of the palpi at least are advanced, and terminated in 

 a mass ; the mandibles are dentate ; the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed, and the first verj- short, 

 or indistinct in many species ; the antennse are either fihform or serrated, and sometimes clavate, or 

 gradually thickened to the tips ; the body is ordinarily almost cylindrical, with the head and thorax 

 narrower than the abdomen, and the eyes notched. The majority are found upon flowers, and the 

 others upon the trunks of old frees, or in dry wood. Such of the larva: as have been observed are 

 carnivorous. This tribe comprises the genus 



Clerus, Geoff.,— 

 Some of which have the tarsi, when seen either from above or below, distinctly 5-jointed ; and the 

 antennae are always dentated like a saw. 

 Cylidrus, Fabr., having long entire mandibles (type, Trichodes cyaneus, Fabr., from the Isle of France) ; and 

 Tillits, Oliv., having the mandibles of moderate size, and notched at the tip (type, Tilliis clongatus, Oliv., a 

 rare British species), have the maxillary palpi filiform, or but slightly thickened at the tips ; whilst 



Priocera and Axina, Kirby, founded upon Brazilian insects, have all the palpi terminated by a mass, the last 

 joint of the labial palpi being always hatchet-shaped. 



Eurypus, Kirby, differs from the last two in having only the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed. This is also 

 founded upon a Brazilian species. 



In others the tarsi, when seen from above, only appear to be composed of four joints, the first of the five ordi- 

 nary joints being very short, and concealed beneath the second. 



Thanasimus, Latr., Clems, Fabr., having the maxillary palpi filiform (tj'pe, AtteJabits foitnicarius, Linn.) ; and 

 Opilo, Latr., Notoxus, Fabr., having all the fo-ar palpi terminated by a large hatchet-shaped joint (type, Atte- 

 labtts mollis, Linn.), have the antennas gradually thickened to the tip, but in the remaining 

 groups the last three joints form a sudden mass. 



Clerus, Geoff. (Trichodes, Fabr.), has the maxillary palpi terminated by a reversed triangular 

 compressed joint, whilst that of the labial is larger, and hatchet-shaped ; the joints of the club 

 of the antennas are close together ; the thorax is depressed in front. The perfect insects are 

 found upon flowers, but the larva; feed upon the grubs of some kinds of Bees. 



Trichodes alvearius, Fabr.— Blue, with red elytra banded with blue ; lives in the nest of 



JIason Bees (G. osmia, Reaum.), and feeds at the expense of their posterity. The larva of Atte- 



labiis apiariiis, Linn., devours that of the Honey Bee, and often does much damage in hives. 



Necrobia, Latr. (Corynetes, Fabr.), has the four palpi terminated by a joint of the same siz3. 



Fig. 60.— cicras alve- in the form of an elongated and compressed triangle; the joints of the club of the antennte 



*'■'"''• apart, and the thorax is not depressed in front. Nea-obia violacea, Oliv. ; Dermestes violacea, 



Linn. Very common in houses and upon carcases. 



Enoplium, Latr., has the ninth and tenth joints of the antennse produced on the inside into a long tooth. Tillus 

 serraiicornis, Oliv. 



The fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, that of the Ptiniores, has for its type the genus Ptinus, Linn., 

 and some others which are derived from, or most nearly approach it. The body of these insects is of 

 rather solid consistence, sometimes ovoid or oval, or sometimes cylindrical, but generally short, and 

 rounded at each end ; the head is almost orbicular, and received in the thorax, w-hich is very much 

 swollen, or hood-shaped ; the antenna; of some are filiform, or become gradually slender to the tip, 

 either simple or flabellate, pectinated or serrated, and those of others tenninate in three joints abruptly 

 thicker and longer than the preceding joints; the mandibles are short, thick, and toothed; the palpi 

 are very short, and terminated by a larger joint, almost oval, or reverse triangle-shaped ; the tibiae are 

 not toothed, and the spiu's at their tips arc very small; their colours arc alwavs obscure and but slightly 



2k 



