HETEBOMEBA. 



157 



2. Form, elongate and cylindrical, but outline uneven ; integument 



softer ; legs distinct ; in many cases pseudopods or tubercles 

 present on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces. 



3. Larvae active in their first stage, with long legs, living on the 



bodies of other insects (triungulins) ; quiescent and inactive, 

 with short legs, in their second stage. 



The larvae of the Tenebekxnibje, which very closely resemble one 

 another, belong almost entirely to the first group ; the (Ebemeeib^; 

 are examples of the second ; while the MeloievE afford varying 

 and striking examples of the third ; to one or two of these 

 reference has already been made (pp. 32, 33). 



The larva of Trictenotoma has only recently been discovered, 

 and may perhaps be considered as the type of a fourth group. 



The majority of writers consider the Heteeomeea to be a very 

 heterogeneous division, and it certainly appears to be so ; there 

 is, however, a sort of indefinable facies about a heteromerous 

 beetle, which, in most cases, enables any expert at the Coleoptera 

 to recognise it almost at the first glance, and this is somewhat of a 

 proof that the group is more homogeneous than is usually thought 

 to be the case. Lameere (Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. ix, 1900, p. 370) 

 is of opinion that it forms a perfect systematic unity, and that 

 its "coryphees"' or primary members are to be looked for in 

 Trictenotoma and Plirenapates. He reduces the group, moreover, 

 to three families only : Tenebiuonib^e, Meeanbbyibjs, and 

 Lagbiibje. The Mela^eetie.e, according to his arrangement, 

 include, besides the genus Melandrya and its allies, the Moebeee- 

 ib,e, the Bhipiphoeib^e (which are only specialised Moebeelib^e), 

 and the Stylopib.e (which are only superior Ehipiphoeie.e) ; the 

 Lageiib^e include, besides Lagria and its allies, the Pythie^e, 

 PyeocheoiEjE, MeecubvE, CEBEMEBiBiE, and ATsTHICTE.E. It is 

 very doubtful, however, whether these latter can be regarded (as 

 stated by Lameere) as having detached themselves independently 

 from the LageiibvE. 



Key to the Indian Families. 



I. Anterior coxal cavities closed behind, 

 i. Tarsal claws simple. 



1. Abdomen with five ventral segments, 

 of which the first three are more or 

 less closely connected. 



A. Anterior coxa? globose, rarely oval, 



not prominent ; penultimate joint 

 of tarsi very rarely bilobed and 

 spongy pubescent beneath 



B. Anterior coxae conical or conical- 



ovate, prominent; penultimate 

 joint of tarsi bilobed and spongy 

 pubescent beneath (except in one 

 or two genera) 



Abdomen with five free ventral seg- 



ments 



Tenebrionidae, p. 159. 



Lagriidae, p. 161. 

 Othniidae, p. 162. 



