BREXTHLDiE. PLATYRRIIINIDjE. 193 



been described from the Indian region, though they are probably 

 well represented. 



Lacordaire divides the group into two subfamilies as follows : — 



I. Antennae 11-jointed, regular in form . . Brenthin^e. 



II. Antennae 9- (rarely 11-) jointed, irregular in form . . Ulocerinje. 



Apart from these differences the first section is characterised by 

 a large amount of sexual dimorphism, which appears to be very 

 slight or absent in the second. In the Brexthiioe the rostrum 

 and mouth-parts are very different in the males and females ; in 



Fig. 89. — Prophthalmus patens, male, with head and thorax of female. 



the former sex the rostrum may be broad and more or less 

 rudimentary, or, on the other hand, as long as, or longer than, 

 the elongate body ; in the first case the mandibles are very strong 

 and powerful. The slender rostrum of the female is well adapted 

 for its purpose of boring holes in wood in which the eggs are 

 deposited singly. 



Although the family as a whole consists of wood-feeders, there 

 are one or two genera which appear to be predaceous and to feed 

 on various larvas, but not much seems to be known on this 

 point. 



Family 95. PLATYRRHINID.E (ANTHRIBIDiE). 



Antennce not geniculate, sometimes long ; head 'prominent, not 

 deflexed ; rostrum broad and flat, and often so short as to he 

 indistinct; labrum distinct, quadrate, fringed with hairs; third 

 joint of the tarsi variable, bilobed, but often small and much con- 

 cealed within the apex of the second joint ; pygid.ium exposed, ; 

 propi/gidmm deeply grooved in the middle. 



o 



