COLEOPTEllA. * 489 



They form the genus Mylabris of Fabricius. 



Those, in which the two or three last joints of the antennae are 

 united, at least in the females, and form an abrupt, thick, ovoid, or 

 globuliform club, the extremity of which does not extend beyond the 

 thorax, and in which the total number of joints in these organs is 

 then but from nine to ten, form the subgenus 



Hycleus, Lat. — Dices, Dej. — Mylabris, Oliv.(l) 



Those, in which these same organs, proportionally larger, present 

 in both sexes eleven very distinct and well separated joints, gradually 

 enlarge, or only terminate regularly in an elongated club, and of 

 which the eleventh or last joint, well separated from the preceding 

 one, is larger and ovoid, constitute the 



Mylabris, Fab. Oliv. Lat. 



Or our Mylabris properly so styled. The respective length of the 

 antennae varies slightly, and these modifications have an influence on 

 the form of their joints, and principally the intermediate ones. 

 These considerations appear to have induced M. Megerle — Dejean, 

 Catalogue, &c. — to form certain species into the genus Lydus; but two 

 of those which he places there — algiricus, trimaculatus — present 

 to us a much less uncertain and more decided character: the infe- 

 rior division of the hooks of their tarsi is pectinated, while in the 

 other Mylabres it is simple. 



M. chicorii, L.j Oliv., Col. Ill, 47, I, a, b, c, d, e. Length 

 from six to seven lines; black; pilosej an almost round yellowish 

 spot on the base of each elytron, and two transverse and indented 

 bands of the same colour, one near their middle, and the other 

 before their extremity; antennae entirely and constantly black. 

 I have occasionally found this species in the vicinity of Paris, 

 but it is much more common in the south of France and other 

 southern parts of Europe. Its vesicating properties are quite as 

 active as those of the Cantharides of the shops. In Italy it is 

 mixed with the latter, or even used alone. The Chinese employ 

 the M. pustulatiis — Oliv., Ibid., I, f. and II, 10, b(2). 



(1) Mylabris impundata, Oliv-, Encyc. Method.; — M. argentata, Fab.; — 31. lu- 

 nata, Fab.; — M. Bilbergii, Schcenh. 



(2) For the other species, see Encyc. Method., article Mylaire; Schcenh., Sy- 

 non. Insect.; and Fischer, Entomog. Imp. Russ., II, xli, and xl, 5, 8 — but these 

 synonymes, notwithstanding the excellent Monograph of Hilberg, require a re- 

 examination. 



Vol. III.— 3 M 



