GENUS XXVII. MELOE. Tab. 39.
Linn. Syst. Nat. page 679.
Their antennae, as in the preceding genus, are moniliform; but
the last joint is of a more oblong figure than the others.
The thorax is something round.
Elytra flexible.
Head inflected, and gibbous.
The Meloes are divided into two sections; those with the elytra
shorter than thé abdomen, and wanting wings: the others, whose
elytra are as long as the body, and furnished with wings.
They have five articulations in the tarsi of the two first, and four
in those of the last pair of feet.
The larvae and insect of this genus are found on the leaves of plants.
The insect denominated the Spanish fly, or blister-beetFe, is of
this genus.
GENUS XXVIII. MORDELLA. Tab. 7.
Linn. Syst. Nat. page 682.
The antennae of the Mordellae are filiform, and serrated.
The head is deflected, or bent under the neck.
The elytra curve or incline towards their extremity.
The palpi are compressed, clavated, and obliquely truncated.
A broad lamina is fixed at the base of the abdomen, before the
thighs.
The tarsi of the first pair of feet consist of four, and those of the
last pair, of five joints.
This insect is common on flowers : their larvas unknown.
GENUS XXIX. STAPHILINUS. Tab. 40, 41, and 42.
Linn. Syst. Nat. page 683.
The antennae of this genus are moniliform.
The elytra are half the length of the abdomen.
The wings lie folded up under the elytra.
The extremity of the abdomen is simple, but provided with two
oblong vesicles, which in distress are frequently projected, and
again retracted at pleasure.
The tarsi in all the feet are composed of five articulations.
The Staphilini subsist on weaker insects, not sparing even their
own species; they are frequently found in the dung of cows.
Their larvae (which are scarcely distinguishable from the perfect
insect) live in moist ground.
GENUS XXX. FORFICULA. Tab. 42.
Linn. Syst. Nat. page 683.
Their antennae are setaceous.
The elytra are considerably shorter than the abdomen.
The wings are folded under the elytra.
The end of the abdomen is armed with a sort of forceps, or forked
tail.
The tarsi in each of the feet contain only three articulations.
This insect is very common, and well known by the term earwig
: its larva varies very little from the animal in its perfect state,
and runs with great agility.
From tbc ,&t)aft;Jj)eare JDtCéJi, by
W. BULMER <t CO.