CLASSIFICATION OF THE RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA. 469 
and slightly prolonged at tip so as to fit into this excavation. The 
lateral fold of the inner surface of the elytra is well marked for 
the middle third, but is distant from the side, and gradually ob- 
literated behind, following along the 2d line of punctures from 
the side. The tibiæ are slender, truncate at tip, with feebly de- 
veloped spurs, never mucronate ; the tarsi are dilated and brush- 
like beneath, the 2d joint usually deeply emarginate, receiving the 
3d joint in the emargination : the 3d is usually narrower and shorter 
than the 2d and also emarginate : the last joint moderate in length, 
claws separate toothed. 
As observed by Lacordaire,* when the sexual differences are 
well marked the male is larger than the female, and the beak of 
the latter is shorter: the reverse being the case in all other fami- 
lies of Rhynchophora. There are also sometimes great differ- 
ences in the antenne and front legs which are much longer in the 
male, 
The larvæ of some species of Brachytarsus (Anthribus Geoff.) 
are parasitic on certain species of Coccus: the only example thus 
far ascertained of carnivorous habits among the Rhynchophora. 
APIONIDZE. 
In this family the last dorsal segment is horizontal and small as 
in the Scolytidæ, but the other characters are quite different. 
e beak is long and slender, the mouth small, the gular pe- 
dunele rather narrow and emarginate, the mandibles feeble, and 
acute. The antenne are not geniculate, the scape is somewhat 
elongated ; they are inserted on the side of the beak at or above 
€ middle, and the grooves are very short; the eyes are rounded, 
rather coarsely granulated. 
e prothorax is not lobed in front, the coxe are contiguous, 
Conical and prominent. The side pieces of the metathorax are 
distinct, narrow. The tibiæ are slender, truncate at tip; hind 
pair without spurs; the claws are separate, more or less toothed 
at the base, 
The dorsal segments are membranous: the last segment (pygi- 
dium) is horizontal, rather small and corneous, entirely covered by 
the elytra; at the side it meets only the 5th ventral, and the last 
Spiracle is not apparent: the ventral ‘segments are very unequal, 
TTE E a eS x 
* 1, c. vii, 480. 
