Geodephaga.- 



- INSECTS.- 



-Dtschirics. 



203 



GnOUP— GEODEPHAGA {Ground Carnivorous 

 Beetles). 



Of the group or family named Ciciiideletce by Lacor- 

 daire, only nine species were known in the days of 

 Linnfeus. At present at least five hundred species are 

 known. These are arranged by Laoordaire into five 

 tribes, which may bo shortly divided in the following 

 manner : — 

 I. Maxillie euding in a jointed claw. 



A. Third joint of Ihe maxillary palpi longer than the 



fourth. 



a First joint of laLial palpi scarcely extending to beyond 

 the base of the notch of the nientum, Mauticorules. 

 They are great, African, large-jawed, black beetles. 

 6 First joint of labial palpi extending far beyond the 



notch Mef/accjjhaitdes. 



Chiefly natives of the New World, though one is 

 found iu Europe, and one also in N. Australia. 



B. Third joint of the maxillary palpi shorter than the 



fourth. 



a Fourth joint of the tarsi entire, . Cicindclides. 



Tiger beetles, everywhere found, except in arctic and 



antarctic regions; essentially "children of the Sun." 



There are five British species. 



h Fourth joint of the tarsi heart-shaped, at least in the 



fore legs, CoUi/rides. 



Long, thin, long-thoraxed, Asiatic insects, generally 

 dark-blue with red logs. 



II, Maxillai without jointed claw, . . Ctenostomides. 

 Curious South American insects, with strange palpi. 



The great group or family Carahici contains from 

 five to six thousand known species. Lacordane divides 

 it into the following legions and tribes : — 



Legion I. (corresponding with the <jram/i/j(i?/)es of Latreillc, 

 and the SimpUcq}cdGS of Dejeau), is known by the tibiai of 

 the fore legs being entire; their two spurs are generally both 

 apical. It is divided into five tribes : — 



I. Mesosternum indistinct, covered by the presternum, 



Omqphronides. 

 Roundish aquatic-like beetles — S. Europe, North 

 America, and Asia; one {Omojfhroti Ujiiiatum) 

 is figured, Tlate 4, fig. 5. 



A. v^purs on fore tibiie, one at the tip, the other before 



the tip, Eliqihrides.* 



Found iu boggy places. Coleoptera (Plate 4, fig. 1), 

 Elaphrus ulir/inosus. 



B. Both of the spurs apical. 



a Prosternum more or less prolonged behind, antenna) 

 as it were broken, with the lirst joints very long, 



Uilctldes. 



Antenna of the normal form, . . . Canilules.' 



Among the largest of the race — Europe, Asia, N. Africa, 



N. America, and S. Au^erica. 



aa Prosternum not prolonged behind, . Crjchrides.* 



With prominent mouth, body bulging beliind, convex. 



Legion II. is known by the tibire of the fore legs being 

 more or less deeply notched on the inner side. Spurs of these 

 tibia;, one at the tip, the other before the tip. 



The first section of this legion contains but one 

 tribe [Pamboridcs), iu wliich the fore tibite are scarcely 

 notched, and the last joint of the palpi is very large. 



In the second section, which nearly corresponds 

 with that named by Latreille, Ti-uncatipennes, tlie 



* Mr. Wntcrhouse includes these three families in one, Cara- 

 bid:n, with thiriy->ix British species in the genera NotiophilHSf 

 JClujihrus^ BlcthisHy Lcistas (with their formidably armed 

 moutlis), Nehvia, PclophUaf Caloaotna, the last-mentioned 

 winged ; Carabtt^, apterous insects : and Ci/chrus. 



elytra are truncated or notched at the end, nearly in 

 all. The tibite of the fore legs are deeply notched, 

 and the body is more or less depressed. Lacordaire 

 divides the section into nine tribes : — 



I. Mesosternum of normal breadth. 



A. Claw of the maxilte jointed, , Trigonodactylidcs. 



Flat insects — Africa, ttc. 



B. Claw of the maxillre fixed. 

 a Labrum moderate or short. 



h Tongue moderate, more or less detached from its 



appendages {Pai'aglossa:). 

 c First joint of the antennie of normal length. 



Elytra truncated at the tij), . . OdncantJiides.' 



Elytra entire at the tip, . . Ctcnodactijlides.'' 



cc First joint of the antennte elongated, Galerilides.' 



See further on for a figure and description of one. 

 bb Tongue very large, without side aiipendagcs, 



JIdluonukSt 

 Australian and Indian insects. 



bbb Tongue and appendages united at the sides. 



Body more or less thick and robust, Bracldnides.' 



Bombardier beetles, crepitating. 

 Body in general much depressed, . Lebiides.' 



Generally distributed. 

 aa Labrum very long, rounded in front, Pericaluks. 



Java and other Asiatic islands, and Indian continent. 



11. Mesosternum very narrow, . . Psemhmorphuks. 

 Flat, dei)ressed, aqnatic-like insects, also resembling 

 Nitidula — a few fine species in Australia, one iu N, 

 America. Westwood and Guerin have figured them. 



In the third section the elytra are entire at the end 

 in nearly all. The anterior tibiae, except in Siagon- 

 ides, deeply notched, never palmated. Thorax united 

 generally to the abdomen by a distinct pedimcle. 



I. Intermediate coxm contiguous, • . . Ozcenides. 

 Brazilian generally. Near these perhaps Pavssidw should 

 be placed. See end of Coleoptera. 



II. Intermediate coxa; distant. 



a Mentum united with submentum, , Siagonides. 

 Flat, longish-beetles. 

 aa Mentum not united with sub-mentnm. 

 h Anterior tibice not widened within at the end. 

 Tongue moderate, more or less free in front, IHtomidcs. 

 Tongue moderate, united closely to its appendages, 



Grapkipterliks, 

 Pretty, flat, desert-loving beetles — Africa and Arabia^ 



black spotted with white or lined with white. 

 Tongue very large, without appendages, Anthiades. 



Coleoptera (Plate 4, fig. IJ, Aiithia guttata), 

 bh Anterior tibim more or less widened at the end, 



Monoitii/es. 

 The fourth section contains one tribe, Scwitidcs, 

 which may be known by the anterior tibia; bchig 

 widened at the end, palmated and digitate at the tij), 

 and deeply notched inside. The protboras is separated 

 from the abdomen by a peduncle. It is a family of 

 generally large, ferocious, sand-loving beetles; our little 

 Ctivina and Dyschirius belong to this section. 



In tlie fifth section the elytra are entire at the tip. 

 The fore tarsi of the males are sometimes simple, but 

 most frequently the three or two first joints are dilated 

 into a square more or less rounded at the angles, except 

 the first, which is generally triangular. They are 

 clothed below with brushes of hairs 



• Mr. Watcrhouse unites these in one family Lcblatla, with 

 thirty four s])ecies belonging to tho genera Odacantlia, Dnjpta 

 Xiqiliium, Pob/sticJiua, Demetriaa, Ihomim, Lebia,Tarus, i/aao- 

 reus, JjracJuuua, A:c. 



