98 ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



Boletophagvs coRxiTis- ( Plate V, fig. 12.) 



Brown, scabrous : elytra furnished with three rows of tubercles. Male thorax furnished 

 with two curled horns leaning forward, yellow, villose on their under sides ; labium 

 furnished with two pointed upright horns, or pointed tubercles : thorax of the female 

 furnished with two short notched tubercles ; margin of the thorax dilated, tuberculate 

 and serrate. 



Helopidae. 



The colors of this family of insects are rather lively : their elytra are free, and the wings 

 are usually simple. The larva? are found in wood or under the bark of trees : some, in the 

 perfect state, frequent umbelliferous flowers. 



Pitho americanus ( Knoch). ( Plate xxv, fig. 9.) 



Brown, darker above, and slightly brassy or submetallic ; head and thorax darker than 

 the elytra. 



Tenebrionidae, Blapsidae, and Pinieliidae. 



Anatomical characteristics. Tarsi and tarsal claws entire ; sides of the head parallel ; 

 antennae rather short, moniliform, and inserted beneath the widened margins of the head ; 

 mandibles short, triangular, tips bifid ; internal lobe of the maxilla often armed with a 

 corneous tooth ; eyes oblong, and only slightly elevated. 



General habits. These families possess many similar habits : they avoid the light, 

 and live in damp places in cellars, basements, stables, etc., or upon the ground and under 

 stones in sandy places. The term tenebrio is derived from the latin, signifying darkness 

 ( West wood). The colors are all dark brown or black. 



In the Te.nebrionid.£, the body is oblong ovate and depressed, or supplied with short 

 legs ; elytra free ; thorax square, and the head as broad behind as the base of the elytra : 

 the palpi are enlarged at the tip ; mentum narrowed at the base. 



In the Blapsid^; : Elytra soldered together ; wings obsolete ; legs of moderate length, 

 hene« the body is less depressed than in the former family ; palpi three-jointed ; man- 

 dibles bifid ; internal lobe of the maxilla armed with a claw. 



In the Pimeliuxx, the palpi filiform, and terminal joint rather dilated than hatchet- 

 shaped as in the two preceding families ; maxilla concealed in a large mentum, which is 

 as wide behind as before. 



