MELYRID^E. MAI-ACHJUS. 311 



Family XXXVIIL— MELYRID^E, Leach. 



Antenna setaceous, short, the articulations for the most part cylindric-conic or 

 turbinated, sometimes pectinated or serrated. Palpi not very dissimilar in 

 length, subfiliform ; mandibles emarginate, rather elongate and slender: head 

 nutant, not so broad as, and in general inserted up to the eyes in, the thorax, 

 which varies in form : body ovate or oblong, more or less convex : elytra ge- 

 nerally as long as the abdomen, sometimes flexile: tarsi 5-jointed, the joints 

 all simple. 



The simple tarsi of the Melyridse at once distinguish them 

 from the Telephoridse, to which may be added their short antenna?, 

 subfiliform palpi, emarginate mandibles, convex body, &c. : most of 

 the species are of gay and lively colours, and reside in and upon 

 flowers, chiefly for the purpose of preying upon other insects. 



The following are the indigenous genera: — 



f filiformes, apice subsetaceae : . . . 241. Malachius. 



I 



Palpi ■{ 



| ina=quales, extrorsum crassiores, I brevibus : 242. Aplocnemus. 



(_apice oblique truncati. Antennarum articulis «? 



(elongatis: 243. Dasytes. 



Genus CCXLI. — Malachius, Fabricius. 



Antenna filiform, shorter than the body, composed of obconic joints, in general 

 longer than broad, and sometimes serrated. Labium entire at the apex or 

 obscurely emarginate : Palpi filiform, subsetaceous at the apex : head nearly 

 transverse, nutant, deeply inserted in the thorax; on each side of which, 

 beneath the anterior angle, is a retractile rufous vesicle, and a second at the 

 base of the abdomen. 



The insects of this genus are remarkable for the singular ap- 

 pendages which are attached at the base of the abdomen and beneath 

 the anterior lateral edge of the thorax; these appendages, which 

 are mostly rufous, are capable of being alternately expanded and 

 contracted at the will of the animal ; but their exact use has not yet 

 been ascertained : the insects are of very gay and lively colours, and 

 are extremely voracious, subsisting upon other insects. 



Sp. 1. ameus. JRneo-viridis, capite antice rafo-Jlavescente, elytris sanguineis, 

 basi suturdque dimidiathn ceneo-viridibus. (Long. corp. 4 — 4| lin.) 



Ca. fenea. Linne. — Don. iii. pi. 96. f. 2.— Ma. seneus. Steph. Catal 134. No. 

 1370. 



Mandibulata. Vol. III. 31st Dec. 1830. y 



