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Show 364 INSECTA. Dufour', their crop is so short that it is almost entirely concealed in the head( 1 ). C. apiatius; .JJ.ttelabus apiarius, L.; Trichodes apiarius, Fab.J Oliv., Col. IV, 76, 1, 4. Blue; elytra red, trave1·sed by three bands of deep blue, the last of which occupies the extremity. The larva devours that of our domestic Bee, and does much injury to hives. C. alvearius; Tt·ichodes alvearius, Fab.; Oliv., lb., I, s, a, b; Reaum., Insect., VI, viii, 8-10. Almost like the p1·eceding, but with a bluish-black spot on the scutel. It inhabits the nests of the Mason Bees-OsMIA-of Reaumur, and feeds on their larvre. NEoROBIA, Lat.-Corynetes, Fab. The four palpi terminated by an. elongated, compressed, triangu· lar joint of the same size; the second and third joints of the antennae nearly equal, and the terminal club elongated, with loose joints; no depression in the thorax anteriorly. N. violacea, Oliv., Col., lb., 76, bis, I, 1; Dermestes violacetu, L. Small; violet-blue or gt·eenish, with similal'ly coloured legs; elytra, with longitudinal series of punctures. Ve1·y common in houses in the spring; it is also found in carrion(2). We will terminate this tribe with a subgenus in which the two penultimate joints of the antennre, more Ol' less dilated internally in the form of teeth, compose with the last, which is oval, a serrated or semipectinated club. The palpi are terminated by a larger joint, either in the form of an elongated or compressed triangle, or secu· riform. Such are those which form the ENOPLIUM, Lat.-Tillus, Oliv. Fab.-Corynetes, Fab.(3) The type of the fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, or the PTI· NIOREs, consists of the genus Ptinus of Linnreus, and of some other genera depending on, or which most closely approach it. The body of these Insects is of a tolerably firm cons~t· ( 1) The genital organ of the male is much more complicated than that of the Melyrides, Lampyrides, and other Malacodermi. The last abdominal annulus ~ widely emarginated. They and the Peltes of Fabricius are the only Coleoptera which have six biliary vessels-they are inserted into the ccecum. (2) See Olivier, genus Necrobie and Schcenh., Synon. Insect. I, 2, P· 50. (3) 'I'illu,s serraticornis, Oliv., Col. II, 22, 1, 2;-T. Weberi, Fab. ;-T. damicornU. Id.;-T. dermestoi'des, Scheff., Elem. En tom., 138;-Corynetes sanguinicollil, Fab. See Schamh., Synon. Insect., I, 2, p. 46. t..:OLE011TBRA. 365 ence, sometimes almost ovoid or oval, and at others nearly cylindrical, but generally short and rounded at the two extremities. The head is nearly globular or orbicular, and almost entirely received into a strongly arched or vaulted thorax, resembling a hood. The antennre of some are filiform, or diminished towards the end, and are either simple, flabelJiform, pectinated, or serrated; those of others terminate suddenly by three larger avld much longer joints. The mandibles are short, thick, and dentated under the point. The palpi are very short and terminated by a larger and almost ovoid joint, or like a reversed triangle. The tibire are not dentated, and the spurs at the extremities are very small. There is but little variety in their colours, which are always dark. They are very small. When touched they counterfeit death, lower their heads, incline their antennre, and contract their feet; in this apparent state of lethargy they remain for some time. Their motions are generally slow, and those that are winged ~rely take to flight to escape. Their Iarvre are very noxious to us, and bear a great res em hlance to those . of the Scarabreides. Their body, frequently curved into an arc, is soft and whitish; the head and feet are brown and squamous. Their mandibles are strong. With fragments of various substances, which they detach by gnawing, they construct a shell in which they become nymphs. Other species establish their domicil in the country, in old wood, and under stones; their habits are the same. Such are the characters of the genus PTINus, Lin. In some, the head and thorax, or the anterior half of the body is narrower than the abdomen; the antennre are always terminated in the same manner, simple or but slightly serrated, and at least almost as long as the body. PnNus, Lin., Fab.-Bruchus, Geoff. The antennre of the true Ptini are inserted between the eyes, which are protuberant or convex. Their body is oblong. They are generally found in houses, and chiefly in granal'ies and inhabited places. Their larvre destroy our herbaria and desiccated |