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COLEOPTERA 533
small, slender, almost ant-like, and vary in size from 9-28 mm., are metallic
green or reddish in color, and are apterous or winged. Collyris occurs in Indo­
Malaysia and Africa. C. emarginata Dejean inhabits cocoa, coffee, cotton, tea,
and other plants in Malaysia. Tricondyla aptera Olivier, 25 mm., is Indo­
Australian. T. cyanea Dejean, blue with red legs and 22 mm. long, lives on
coffee plants in the East Indies.
The genus Cicindela Linn. is the largest genus and is cosmopolitan in distribution.
There are about 80 species in North America north of Mexico. C. brunet
Gory of Malaysia and C. argentala Fab., C. cyanitarsis Kollar of South America
are said to be termitophilous CW. Horn 1915). The genus MegacePhala Latr. is
common throughout the tropics and ranges into the warmer temperate regions.
M. carolina (Linn.) (Tetracha Hope), 18-20 mm. with metallic rainbow colors,
is one of the finest species in southern United States and tropical America.
Family CARABIDlE Leach 1815, 1817 (Ca-rab'i-dre, from the Greek Kapafjos,
a horned beetle, the stag beetle; referring to the large mandi bles). German,
Laufkafer. French. Carabiques. Predacious Ground Beetles, Carabid
Beetles.
Minute to large, hard and heavily armored, elongated and flattened, usually
smooth, punctate, rugose, or striated, swift-running ground beetles which are
either somber-colored, black, brown, yellowish, and reddish, or brilliant
metallic blue, green, bronze, and gold with rainbow reflections. All species are
practically devoid of hairs and scales. Head free, prognathous, prominent,
narrower than thorax, sometimes greatly prolonged. Antennre long, setiform
or filiform, ll-segmented, usually all but basal segments pubescent. Eyes
prominent or absent in cave dwellers. Mouth parts well developed. Clypeus
not extending beyond base of the antennre; mandibles large; strong, toothed;
maxillre large; galea usually two-segmented; lacinia without immovable apical
hook; palpi five-segmented prominent; mentum small, deeply emarginate;
labial palpi large, three-segmented. Apical segments of palpi in male may be
greatly enlarged. Prothorax prominent, much narrower than or as wide as the
rest of the body, variously shaped. Metasternum with distinct transverse and
oblique sutures. Legs long, slender, cursorial. Coxre variable in shape and
position; fore and middle pairs open or closed behind. Tibial spurs present;
minute, small, long; terminal or nearly so. Tarsi five-segmented; segments
elongate or pad-like, may be greatly enlarged in forelegs of males. Claws
simple or peCtinate. Elytra entire or truncate; smooth, punctured, rugose,
striated, or otherwise sculptured. Wings present and well developed, atrophied,
or absent. Abdomen with six visible sternites. Larvre typical caraboid type,
elongated, distinctly segmented, wholly or partly armored dorsally. Head
large and strong. with six ocelli on each side and fotir-segmented antennre.
Legs short, tarsi one- to two-segmented. Abdominal segment IX with a pair of
cerci and an anal tube.
The members of this remarkable family live largely on the ground, although
a considerable J;l.umber are more or less arboreal and readily climb trees in