548 
ON THE CANTHARIDES OF THE ARGENTINE PROVINCES. 
more perfectly diffused over the mucous surfaces, or more readily absorbed into the sys¬ 
tem, than the ordinary salts of bismuth. 
Accepting the evidence of Mr. Schacht as conclusive, the dose of this salt would he 
two grains, or of the solution a fluid drachm .—American Journal of Pharmacy. 
Chicago , Illinois , November , 18G4. 
NOTES ON THE CANTHARIDES OF THE ARGENTINE PROVINCES.* 
BY DP.. HERMANN BERMEISTEK. 
The remarks of Don Camilo Giovanelli on the cantharides of this country in the 
‘Revista Farmaceutica,’vol. iv.no. 3, p. 71, induce me to send you a more detailed 
notice of these insects, so useful in medicine, and so abundant on our soil, as also in all 
other warm countries. 
Cantharides belong to a family of Coleopterci Ileteromera, i.e. of that section of Coleo- 
pterci which have five joints in the four fore feet, and only four in the hind feet; and 
this family is easily distinguished from others of the same section by its soft body, less 
horny on the surface; as also by the form of the hind part of the head, and the cloven 
claws. 
The celebrated Latreille, the first entomologist of his time, has called the family of 
cantharides “ Vesicificaf alluding to the caustic property possessed by many (although 
not by all) of the species. This property seems to reside, not in the fluids, but in the so¬ 
lids of the body, and chiefly in the horny covering; and it is stronger in proportion as that 
covering is rougher and more metallic. On this account, the European cantharis is 
probably one of the most efficacious, for it is one of the most resplendent, in its golden- 
green metallic lustre.f 
The family of the Vesicijica is divided into two principal sections, viz. Meloides and 
Cantharides. The former have no wings, and the elytra are usually short; but the 
latter have longer elytra, and are furnished with wings. 
4 ?; Amongst the Meloides there is one species, Meloe Proscarabceus , which was at one time 
considered an antidote to hydrophobia. We have in this country only a single species 
of this section, viz. Meloe miniaceo-macidatus , figured in D’Orbigny’s ‘Voyage to S. 
America’ ( Insect. tab. 15, fig. 6). I have found this insect (which is easily recognised 
by the red spots on its small elytra) a few times in the interior of the province of 
Buenos Ayres. Another species, the Meloe Klugii, described and figured by Brandt and 
Erichson, in the Transactions of the Acad. Caesar. Leop. Car. vol. xvi. pi. i. p. 103, t. 8, is 
found in the Banda Oriental. I have myself collected, during my travels in the Argen¬ 
tine Provinces, two new species,—the one in Mendoza (J/. sanguinolentus , nob.), the 
other in Catamarca ( M. ebeninus , nob). These four species are hitherto only known to 
exist in this part of South America. 
The Cantharides are far more numerous, not only in other countries, but also in the 
Argentine Republic. Entomologists divide them into various genera, of which I have 
met with the following in this country :— 
1. Iloria metadata , Fabr.—This lives with the great bees which make their nests in 
the trunks of vines, and are called Mangangas (. Nylocopa ). The beetle destroys the 
bee by eating up its food, and even the bee itself in the grub state. It is the largest of 
all our native cantharides, being above an inch long. It is of a yellow colour, with 
black spots on the elytra. 
2. Tetraonyx, Latr.—This has the body more robust—shorter and proportionally 
broader—than the other genera of the same family; it has also the antennae less 
elongated and rather thicker; and the tarsi short, with broad triangular articulations. 
I have collected three Argentine species of this genus, one in Tucuman, two in 
Mendoza. 
3. Cantharis , Latr. (Lytta, Fabr.) —Body longer or shorter, narrow ; antennae long, 
slender ; feet elongated, with narrow slender articulations : these characters distinguish 
the true cantharides from allied genera. It is the most numerous group of all, contain- 
* ‘Revista Farmaceutica’ of Buenos Ayres, January, 1865. 
f [It may be observed, however, that Mylabris Cichorii, Fabr., which is devoid of metallic 
brilliancy, has vesicating powers quite equal to those of the common cantharis. —Ed. Pir. J. | 
