CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 213 



dead or dying wood of various trees. Pupa 

 changes in the same situations. Imago with an- 

 tennae composed of seventeen or eighteen joints, 

 gradually attenuated towards the apex ; mandibles 

 small, with four distinct teeth ; maxillae short, 

 obtuse, their feelers biarticulate ; labium short ; 

 ligula minute, entire ; feelers four-jointed ; ocelli 

 three ; head orbicular, large ; prothorax very long, 

 slender, and neck-like ; the remaining segments of 

 uniform size ; the oviduct of the female exserted, 

 covered above by a sheath-like appendage. In- 

 habits posts, decayed willows, &c. flying in the 

 sunshine. Xyphidria. 



729. Xy elites (Xy elites). Larva perfectly 

 without feet. Feeds in the wood of fir-trees, 

 making channels, as in the two preceding orders. 

 Pupa changes in the same situations. Imago 

 with antennae twelve-jointed, the basal and second 

 joint short, the third very long, and the nine 

 following very short, together scarcely equalling 

 the third in length, elbowed twice, at each end of 

 the long joint ; mandibles moderately long, acute, 

 and dentate internally ; maxillae with the blade 

 small, obtuse, the galea biarticulate, the feelers 

 very long, and four-jointed ; labium short, ligula 

 hitherto undiscovered, feelers four-jointed; ocelli 

 three ; wings very ample ; legs short ; prothorax 

 not developed superiorly, the mesothorax and 

 head meeting above it ; podeon as wide as the 

 other segments ; oviduct ensiform, exserted, 



