BRENTI'DES, a family of Coleopterous Insects, belonging to the section Rhynchophora and sub-section Recticornes. Distinguishing characters :—Body much elongated ; tarsi with the penultimate joints bibbed; antenna' filiform, or in some with the terminal joint formed into a club; proboscis projecting horizontally, generally long ; in the male longer than in the female ; palpi minute.
The insects constituting this family are among the most remarkable of the Beetle Tribe, and aro almost entirely confined to tropical climates • only one species has yet been discovered in Europe. But little is laiown of their habits, except that they are generally found crawling on trees, or under the bark, and sometimes on flowers. Tho most common colouring of the species is black, or brown, with red spots and markings.
The four principal genera of the Brentides are as follows : — Brent us, Arrhcnodes, Ulocerus, and Cycles. The genus Bre-taus is
chiefly distinguished by having the antenure II -jointed, either filiform or sometimes slightly enlarged towards the apex, and the body linear.
Brentus Tcmmincl-ii (Mug), one of the most remarkable species of the tribe, will give an idea of their general form. It is found in Java, and is of a blackish colour varied with red markings, and has deeply striated clytra.
In the genus Arrhenodes the rostrum is short, and terminated by two distinct mandibles, which are straight and project considerably in the males. The species inhabit North America, and one is found in Europe, A. Italica.
Ulocerus has the antennto 9-jointed; the last of which forms a club.
Cycles has the antenna; 10-jointed ; the terminal joint forms an oval club ; the thorax is indented in the middle, end the abdomen is of an oval form.