LIBRARY

572
COLLEGE ENTOMOLOGY
cient action occurs resulting in blisters. It is also of some value as a counterirritant.
Internal doses have often produced very serious results and even death.
The telini fly, Mylabris cichorii (Linn.), M. sidCl! (Fab.), and M. phalerata
(Pallas), Old World species occurring throughout southern Asia and eastern
Europe, have been an important source of cantharidin. But the most important
species is the so-called Spanish fly, Lytta vesicatoria (Linn.) (Cantharis), a
beautiful iridescent green and blue species 12-21 mm. long which is common to
much of Europe. The adults feed chiefly on ash and privet. Epicauta hirticornis
(Haag-Rutenberg) of India is said to be richest in cantharidin.
The family is cosmopolitan in distribution and comprises no less than 2,300
species. Many genera inhabit semiarid and desert regions where they have become
peculiarly adapted to their surroundings. Among the most important
genera are Epicauta Redtenbacher, 247 spp. (cosmopolitan, except Australia);
Lytta Fab., 177 spp. (Holarctic, Neotropical); Meloe Linn.: 133 spp. (Holarctic,
Ethiopian): Mylabris Fab., 376 spp. (cosmopolitan except Australia);
and zom'as Fab., 137 spp. (cosmopolitan except for South America).
XV. Superfamily TENEBRIONOIDEA Seminov 1902
Family TENEBRIONIDlE (Leach 1816, 1817) (Te-neb'ri-on'i-dre, from the
Latin tenebrio, one who loves darkness; referring to the nocturnal and
secluded habits of these beetles). German, Schwarzkafer. Darkling
Ground Beetles, Tenebrionid Beetles, Pincate Beetles.
Small to large, normal or robust, elongated, somewhat flattened, or cylindrical
hard beetles which are smooth, rugose, punctate, sculptured, tuberculate,
striated, or hairy. They are mostly black, dust-colored, or reddish-brown, but
some species are marked with light colors and tropical forms may even be brilliant.
Head relatively small or narrow and fitting into the prot-horax, mouth
parts \Vell developed with large mandibles. Antennre arising under the sides of
the head, simple, clavate, moniliform, short, ll-segmented. Eyes prominent;
horn-like processes may be present in some males. Prothorax variable in size
and form and may be much narrower or wider than the mesothorax. Legs stout,
often long and smoot.h, spined or dentate; tarsi heteromerous with 5-5-4
formula, may be dilated in males; claws simple. Wings developed for flight in
comparatively few species; normally absent or vestigial. Elytra usually covering
abdomen and fused down the middle in many species. Abdomen often large,
with five visible sternites; some males with tuft of hair. Larvre cylindrical,
chitinous or leathery; white, yellow, or brownish; distinctly segmented; with
two terminal abdominal hooks and a short retractile organ. Commonly called
"false wireworms" because of their resemblance to wireworms. Pupre may possess
short cerci.
These beetles are readily distinguished by their nocturnal habits (some diurnal),
death feigning, slow awkward gait, strong offensive odors, and the habit of
certain Jarge species of standing with the abdomen raised vertically into the air.
They are largely phytophagous scavengers and feed mostly on dead and decay-