544 CLASS INSECTA. 



united certain Pimelia, nearly allied to the last, but whose 

 body is ovoid, short, arched or gibbous above, with the cors- 

 let short, as wide behind as the base of the elytra, terminated 

 on each side by a sharp angle, and the presternum dilated 

 behind into a point, supporting itself by the posterior end on 

 the mesosternum. 



These erodii form nevertheless three sub-genera. 



Erodius, Proper, Latr., 



With the last two articulations of the antennae united, and 

 forming a little knob or bud ; the fore-legs have a strong 

 indentation near the middle of the outer side, and another at 

 the end of the same side. The mentum is framed under- 

 neath, and covers the base of the jaws. Their body is in 

 general swollen.* 



ZoPHOsis, Lat. Erodius, Fab. Oliv., 



In which the antennae are nearly filiform, or thicker insen- 

 sibly toward the end, with the second articulation very dis- 

 tinct from the preceding, a little larger, nearly ovoid ; the 

 fore-legs, as well as in the following, have no indentation near 

 the middle of the outer side ; the mentum is encased under- 

 neath, and covers the base of the jaws ; the third articulation 

 of the antennae is scarcely longer than the second, and the 

 ninth and tenth are nearly in the form of a top. (Lat. 

 Gener. Crust. Insect, ii. 146.) 



Nyctelia, Lat. Zophosis, Germ., 

 Are nearly similar to Zophosis, but the third articulation of 

 their antennae is much longer than the preceding, and the 

 following, as well as the ninth and tenth, are nearly globular. 



* Erodius bUineatus, gibbus, Icvigatus, of Oliv. Col. III. No. 65. See 

 Lat. Gener. Crust, ^et Insect. IL 145, et Cat. de la Col. du Comte 

 Dejean. 



