106 



NATURAL HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



there is occasionally, in some small species, a rudimentary 

 joint between the third and fourth joints. 



This Class contains a greater number of injurious insects 

 than all the other Classes combined. It is divided into four 

 Tribes, as follows: 



TRIBE I. -These insects have the head more or less pro- 

 longed into a snout; the antennae are usually capitate, some- 

 times clavate or serrate, and frequently elbowed. 



The two principal Families are as follows: 



Fig. 267. 



BRUCHUS-WEEVILS (Bruchidse). In these insects the snout 



is short and thick, the antennae 

 are serrate and not elbowed, and 

 the eyes are notched. 



These insects are of small size; 

 the wing-cases do not cover the 

 tip of the abdomen. 



The larvae are footless and usu- 

 ally live in seeds. To this Family 

 belong the well-known Pea- weevil (Fig. 267), and the Bean- 

 weevil (Fig. 268). 



SNOUT-BEETLES (Curculionidss). These Beetles are desti- 

 tute of an upper lip and of palpi; the antennae are clavate and 

 usually elbowed; the snout generally projects downward and is 

 sometimes very long and slender. 



The larvae are footless and are provided with a distinct 

 head; they live in fruits, nuts, seeds, etc.; in fact there is 



