LIBRARY

COLEOPTERA 569
to the very wide distribution of the two-spotted ladybird, A. 2-punctata
(Linn.), which occurs throughout the world and feeds upon aphids and related
insects. Cycloneda Crotch, 42 spp. (North and South American), is represented
by C. sanguinea (Linn.) the commonest species. Exochomus Redtenb., 62 spp.
Larva Adult Pupa Eggs
FIG. 192. The Mexican bean beetle. EPilachlla vaTivestTis Mulsant. (After Chittenden, U .S.D.A.)
(Holarctic, Neotropical, Ethiopian). E. 4-pustulatus (Linn.) and E. fiavipes
Thunberg are important Old World species.
XIV. Superfamily MORDELLOIDEA Leng 1920
KEY TO IMPORTANT FAMILIES
1. Head strongly constricted behind the eyes; tarsal claws sometimes
pectinate . 2
Head gradually narrowed behind the eyes; tarsal claws simple or cleft;
middle cOXa! prominent, contiguous. Slender, soft-bodied beetles
CEDEMERIDlE
2. Sides of prothorax with sharp lateral margins. the base as wide as the
elytra; antennre filiform, ll-segmented; head joined vertically
against the thorax; hind coxre fiat; elytra soft; tip of abdomen prolonged
into a point. (Tumbling Flower Beetles.) MORDELLIDlE p.570
Sides of prothorax rounded and without sharp lateral margins . 3
3. Hind coxre normal; tarsal claws simple; antennre filiform, ll-segmented.
inserted before the eyes at the sides of the front; middle coxre with
trochantins. Medium to small ant-like beetles. (Ant-like Flower
Beetles.) ANTHlCIDlE
Hind coxre large and prominent; tarsal claws cleft or toothed, head
deflexed, front vertical; antennre ll-segmented, inserted at the sides
in front of the eyes; elytra soft and entirely or only partly covering
abdomen. Medium to large soft-bodied beetles. (Blister Beetlea.)
MELOIDlE p. 570
Family CEDEMERIDlE Thomson 1859.
A small family of 800 species with soft bodies; slender; somber or brightly
colored and metallic. The adults commonly visit flowers, and many are crepus-