PYROCHBOID.E. PYROCHROA. 63 



Family LXII.— PYROCHROIDiE, Leach. 



Mandibles acute, bidentate at the apex : maxilloe with the inner lacinia want- 

 ing : labium xnemhraxiSiceoviS : palpi \me(\n2\, with the terminal joint stout, 

 somewhat securiform. Antennce filiform, serrate or pectinated : head 

 entirely exserted, subcordate, with the posterior margin broad, rounded : 

 Ziot^y oblong, subdepressed ; ^Aorax narrower than the abdomen j the latter 

 obtuse behind : tarsi all with the penultimate joint bifid : claws simple, 

 heteromerous. 



The Pyrochroidae are insects of a very lively and splendid hue, 

 and may be instantly recognized by their exserted head bearing 

 filiform, pectinated or serrated, antennae, ample elytra, much wider 

 than the head and thorax, simple claws, &c. Their larvae are long, 

 scaly, depressed, with six short legs anteriorly, and two processes on 

 the upper surface of the anal segment ; they reside in decaying wood. 

 The species frequent flowers, trees, and hedges, during the end of 

 spring and the early summer months. 



Genus CCCCLXVII. — Pyrochroa, Geoffroy. 



Antennce rather longer than the head and thorax, pectinated in the males, ser- 

 rated in the females, the articulations obconic, the internal apex, especially 

 of the last, being produced into a branch or tooth, according to the sex. 

 Falpi maxillary elongate, porrect, with the terminal joint elongate-obtri- 

 gonal, compressed ; labial filiform : mentum transverse- quadrate : labium 

 bifid : head nutant, with a distinct neck : eyes emarginate within : thorax 

 suborbiculate, margined behind: elytra broad immarginate: legs rather 

 stout : tibite elongate, with very short spurs. 



There is but one indigenous genus of this family, which is distin- 

 guished by the characters above stated, and by the beautiful red or 

 sanguineous hues which adorn the upper surface of the body. 



Sp. 1. rubens. Atra, subnitida, capite, thorace, scutello elytrisque rufo-sangui- 

 neis, parum pubescentibus, thorace postice paulo angustiori. (Long. corp. 

 5—8 lin.) 



Py. rubens. Fahricius. — Steph. Catal. 252. No. 2506. — Py. coccinea. Dono- 

 van, ii. pi. 66. f. 1. 



Black, and slightly shining ; with the entire head, thorax above and its sides 

 beneath, scufcllum, and elytra sanguincous-rcc/, and pubescent : thorax 



