442 



OOLEOPTEKA. 



tant from each other ; the thorax is punctured and pubescent, 

 the middle coxa? slightly separate, while the abdomen is nar- 

 rowed at the tips. Fig. 387 represents the larva of this or a 

 closely allied genus found in a humble bee's nest. Philonthus 

 (litters in having the femora unarmed. The species 

 live in decaying matters and excrement. The spe- 

 cies of Pwderus (Fig. 388, the larva of the European 

 P. tempestivus Erichs.) are found under stones, etc., 

 near water. 



In /Stenus, of which S. stygicus Say and fit. Juno 

 Fabr. are types, the eyes are large and prominent, so 

 that the head resembles that of Cicindela and the 

 antenna} are inserted upon the front between the 

 the labrum is entire and rounded anteriorly, the para- 

 glossae are dilated, rounded, and the body is coarsely punctured, 

 while that of its nearest ally Dianous is finely punctured and 

 , the paraglossae are connate and indistinct. 

 Another small group of genera is repre- 

 sented by Oxyporus, which is found in fungi, 

 and which has a large head, with 

 large long mandibles crossing each 

 other, and five-jointed tarsi ; and 

 OxyteUis which is found in wet 

 places and in dung, and has three- 

 jointed tarsi, with a row of spines 

 on the front tibiae, and the middle coxa' 

 separated. 



Anthophagus ccesus?, Harris Correspond- 

 ence (Fig. 389 ; a, maxilla), is found in wet ground where 

 spearmint grows, of which it diffuses a strong odor. 



In Omalium the antennae are inserted under the lateral mar- 

 gin of the front, the elytra are long, and the tibiae finely spi- 

 nous. Micralymma is closely allied, but differs in the elytra 

 being very short. The genus Micropeplus is squarish in form 

 and connects the present family with the one following. 



Leach. As stated by Leconte, "this is a very 

 well defined family of insects, moderately numerous, nearly all 

 of a shining black color, with the elytra variously sculptured 



