586 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



three species. These are heteromerous beetles, which can 

 be easily recognized by the characters given in the table of 

 families. 



The family MORDELLID.^ (Mor-derii-dse) includes a large 

 number of small beetles, which are easily recognized by 

 their peculiar form (Fig. 715). The body is arched, 

 the head being bent down ; and the abdomen is 

 Fig. 715. usually prolonged into a slender point. Our most 

 common species are black ; but many are variegated, and 

 all are pubescent. The adults are usually found on flowers ; 

 the larvae live in rotten wood and in the pith of various 

 plants, upon which they are supposed to feed. 



The family Anthicid^ (An-thic'i-dae) includes beetles of 

 moderate or minute size. The head is strongly constricted 

 behind the eyes, and the neck is slender ; the prothorax is 

 narrower than the wing-covers at base. Many of the beetles 

 live on flowers and leaves ; but some are found near the 

 margin of water. Our most common species belong to the 

 genus Notoxus (No-tox'us), in which the prothorax is pro- 

 longed over the head into a horn. 



The family PYROCHROIDyE (Pyr-o-chro'i-dae) includes a 

 small number of beetles, which are from one 

 third to three fourths of an inch in length. The 

 body is elongate ; the head and prothorax are 

 narrower than the wing-covers ; the antennae are 

 serrate or subpectinate in the females and usually 

 flabellate in the males (Fig. 716). The beetles Fig. 716. 

 are found about decaying trees, beneath the bark of which 

 the larvae live. 



Family Meloid^ (Me-lo'i-dae). 



The Blister-beetles, 



The blister-beetles are of medium or large size. The 

 body is comparatively soft ; the head is broad, vertical, and 

 abruptly narrowed into a neck ; the prothorax is narrower 



