COLEOPTERA. 
513 
Malachius, Fabr., has beneath each of the anterior angles of the thorax and each side of the base of the abdomen 
a retractile vesicle capable of dilatation, and which the animal protrudes when it is alarmed, but of the use of which 
we are ignorant. The body is shorter than in the following genus, with the thorax broader than long. One of the 
sexes has in some species a hook at the tip of the elytra; the basal joint of the antennae is often dilated and irre- 
gular-shaped in the males ; their colours are agreeable. [These are active, pretty little insects, found in the spring 
and summer months, especially frequenting umbelliferous plants to prey upon the weaker insects which inhabit 
those flowers.] Types, Cantharis cenea,lA\m., zxACantliaris hipustulata, Linn, [two vei’y common British species]. 
Dasytes, Fabr., has filiform palpi ; the thorax is not furnished with vesicles ; the antennae at least as long as 
the head and thorax, and the body generally narrow, and sometimes linear. D. ccsruleus, Fabr, 
Zygia, Fabr., and Melyris proper are composed of exotic species, having the ungues unidentate ; the antennae 
shorter than the head and thorax, and the body shorter and of a more solid consistence. 
Pelecophorus, Dejean, has the maxillary palpi terminated by a large hatchet-shaped joint. Notoscus Illigeri, Sch. 
Diglobicerus, Latr., has the antennae only distinctly 10-jointed, the last two joints being large and globular. 
The fourth tribe of the Malacodermi, that of the Clerii, so named from the typical genus Clerus, is 
distinguished by the following characters : — Two of the palpi at least are advanced, and terminated in 
a mass ; the mandibles are dentate ; the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed, and the first very short, 
or indistinct in many species ; the antennse are either filiform or serrated, and sometimes clavate, or 
gradually thickened to the tips ; the body is ordinarily almost cylindrical, with the head and thorax 
narrower than the abdomen, and the eyes notched. The majority are found upon dowsers, and the 
others upon the trunks of old trees, or in dry wood. Such of the larvae as have been observed are 
carnivorous. This tribe comprises the genus 
Clerus, Geoff.,— 
Some of which have the tarsi, when seen either from above or below, distinctly 5-jointed ; and the 
antennae are always dentated like a saw. 
Cylidrus, Fabr., having long entire mandibles (type, Trichodes cyaneus, Fabr., from the Isle of France) ; and 
Tillm, Oliv., having the mandibles of moderate size, and notched at the tip (type, Tillus elongatus, Oliv., a 
rare British species), have the maxillary palpi filiform, or but slightly thickened at the tips ; whilst 
Priocera and Axina, Kirby, founded upon Brazilian insects, have all the palpi terminated by a mass, the last 
joint of the labial palpi being always hatchet-shaped. 
Eurypus, Kirby, differs from the last two in having only the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed. This is also 
founded upon a Brazilian species. 
In others the tarsi, when seen from above, only appear to be composed of four joints, the first of the five ordi- 
nary joints being very short, and concealed beneath the second. 
Thanasimus, Latr., Clerus, Fabr., having the maxillary palpi filiform (type, Attelabus formicarius, Linn.) ; and 
Opilo, Latr., Notoxus, Fabr., having all the four palpi terminated by a large hatchet-shaped joint (type, Atte- 
labus mollis, Linn.), have the antennae gradually thickened to the tip, but in the remaining 
groups the last three joints form a sudden mass. 
Clerus, Geoff. {Trichodes, Fahr.), has the maxillary palpi terminated by a reversed triangular 
compressed joint, whilst that of the labial is larger, and hatchet-shaped; the joints of the club 
of the antennae are close together ; the thorax is depressed in fi’ont. The perfect insects are 
found upon flowers, but the larvae feed upon the grubs of some kinds of Bees. 
Trichodes alvearius, Fabr. — Blue, with red elytra banded with blue ; lives in the nest of 
Mason Bees (G. osmia, Ileaum.), and feeds at the expense of their posterity. The larva of Atte- 
labus apiarius, Linn., devours that of the Honey Bee, and often does much damage in hives. 
Necrobia, Latr. {Corynetes, Fabr.), has the four palpi terminated by a joint of the same size, 
Fig. 60.— Clerus alve- in the form of an elongated and compressed triangle; the joints of the club of the antennae 
arius. apart, and the thorax is not depressed in front. Necrobia violacea, Oliv. ; Dermestes violacea, 
Linn. Very common in houses and upon carcases. 
Enoplium, Latr., has the ninth and tenth joints of the antennae produced on the inside into a long tooth. Tillus 
serraticornis, Oliv. 
The fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, that of the Ptiniores, has for its type the genus Ptinus, Linn., 
and some others which are derived from, or most nearly approach it. The body of these insects is of 
rather solid consistence, sometimes ovoid or oval, or sometimes cylindrical, but generally short, and 
rounded at each end ; the head is almost orbicular, and received in the thorax, which is very much 
swollen, or hood-shaped ; the antennae of some are filiform, or become gradually slender to the tip, 
either simple or flabellate, pectinated or serrated, and those of others terminate in three joints abruptly 
thicker and longer than the preceding joints ; the mandibles are short, thick, and toothed ; the palpi 
are very short, and terminated by a larger joint, almost oval, or reverse triangle-shaped ; the tibiae are 
not toothed, and the spurs at their tips are very small ; their colours are always obscure and but slightly 
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