TR0G0SIT1 DJE. 



101 



the New World. Grouvelie has recently recorded and described 

 about seventeen species from the Indian region belonging to 

 Temnochila, 'Tenebrioides, etc. In the Munich Catalogue one species 

 of Melambia, three of Trogosita, and oue of Ileitis are mentioned, 

 all bat one being recorded from Ceylon. The species of Nemosoma, 

 Temnochila, and Tenebrioides mostly inhabit decayed trees ; they 

 are carnivorous and devour the larvae of xylophagous insects. 

 The members of the genus Ostoma and its allies are chiefly found 

 in fungi on trees, and may also be carnivorous, but this is un- 

 certain. The cosmopolitan Tenebrioides mauritanica is found in 

 flour and corn and is said to do damage to the grains, but it has 

 been proved that they also devour larvae of other insects living in 

 the corn, so that their action may be rather beneficial than 

 hurtful. 



The larva of Temnochila ccerulea, which has been figured by 

 Ferris, is elongate and parallel-sided, with a very large head 

 furnished with powerful jaws, and the thoracic segments plainly 

 larger than the abdominal ; the segments are furnished with 

 larger or smaller corneous dorsal plates, and the sides with scanty 

 bristles; the apex is terminated by two stout hook-like cerci with 

 the points turned outwards. 



The composition of the family has given rise to some con- 

 troversy. It is quite plain that Syntelia and Helota, which have 

 been included in it, must be regarded as quite distinct. The 

 right position is evidently very near to the NitiuulidjE, from 

 which the Trogositiu^ only differ in the structure of the tarsi 

 and in the fact that the maxillae are always bilobed. 



Lacordaire divides the family into four tribes as follows : — 



I. Antennas 10-jointed Egoliides. 



II. Antennae 11-jointed (10-jointed in two species 

 of Nemosoma). 

 1. Internal lobe of the maxillae simple. 



1. Eyes simple Trogositides. 



2. Eyes divided into two, at least in the males Gymnochilides. 

 ii. Internal lobe of the maxillae furnished with 



a corneous hook Peltides. 



This division, however, is not very satisfactory, and the family 

 may be divided into two subfamilies : — 



I. Inner lobe of maxillae rudimentary, or at least 

 simple and without a terminal hook; form 

 elongate or elongate oblong ; elytra with 

 narrowly margined sides and narrow epipleurae . Trogositin^e. 

 II. Inner lobe of maxillary palpi strongly developed 

 and furnished with a strong hook; form 

 narrower or broader, elliptical, convex ; elytra 

 with distinct broad margins and broad^epi- 

 pleurae Peltinje. 



