202 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
THE EUPODA, OR PHYTOPHAGA (COMMONLY CALLED 
CHRYSOMELIDJE). 
At the beginning- of this section we must now place 
the Bruchidx, which until comparatively recently have 
been placed in the Rhynchophora ; it must be allowed 
that they are not very closely allied to any other group, 
but they come nearer to the Sagrina than to any- 
thing else ; the following are their chief characters : 
head free, produced in front, but with no distinct ros- 
trum, neck usually constricted, antennae eleven-jointed, 
not clavate, but often serrate or pectinate ; anterior 
coxae conical and oblique, contiguous at apex, posterior 
coxae large, laminate, reaching the margin of the elytra; 
pygidium always exposed; abdomen with five free ven- 
tral segments, of which the first is the longest ; tarsi, 
as in the Chrysomelidx, with the third joint bilobed, 
and the fourth vei-y small ; the basal joint of the hind 
tarsi is long and curved, and the hind legs are more or 
less thickened. Our single genus, Bruchus, comprises 
some small, oblong beetles, usually leaden-black in 
colour, and variegated with grey or white pubescence, 
arranged in indistinct bands or spots. Their males are 
usually distinguished by the denticulation, &c., of the 
inner side of the middle tibim. One species, B. pisi, 
found in peas, is in all probability imported from 
