BEETLES. 



377 



of perforate stigmata. Pupation takes place beneath the flat oval shell of the 

 larva. 



In Psephenus the abdomen has more than five ventral segments. P. lecontei has 

 a wide distribution over the eastern United States. Mr. H. G. Hubbard writes of 

 this species : " The males and unimpregnated females are very active, and in the heat 

 of the day collect upon stones in mid-stream, which barely break the surface of the 

 water, and are occasionally washed by a ripple. Over these stones they 

 run in ceaseless activity, chasing each other like flies at play, and making 

 occasional short flights over the surface of the water, but never plunging- 

 ben eath it, nor suffering themselves to be submerged even for an instant. 

 They are at such times exceedingly war}-, and, unless approached very 

 cautiously, they vanish before the observer can get near enough to use 

 his net. They leave the stone with a flight so swift that it cannot be 

 f o |] owe j w j t jj t j ie e y e? |-, ut t } iey w jn i llvar i a bly be found all together and 



at play upon another stone at no great distance. The gravid females are found in July 

 or August engaged in laying their eggs on the underside of submerged stones in shallow 

 brooks. When so engaged they are very sluggish, and never attempt to escape. The 

 eggs are of a bright orange color, and are deposited in irregular clusters." The larva 

 of this species, which is very abundant in some streams, is especially common in the 

 rapids above Niagara Falls. This larva was originally described as a crustacean 

 under the generic name of Fluvicola. 



Elmis has only five ventral segments and rounded anterior coxa. E. condimeut- 

 arius is said to be used in Peru for flavoring food. 



FIG. 438. 

 phenus lecontei. 



FIG. 439. a, Anthrenva mnxteorum ; b, Pthiitx fur (see page 356); <, Attagenus pellio ; il, DeciHts/tx lardar'n/x. 







The DEEMESTID^E are small oval or elongate beetles, some of which are the most 

 troublesome insects of houses and storerooms. Systematically they are recognized, 

 according to Le Conte and Horn, by their having the dorsal segments of the abdomen 

 partly membranous, the ventral segments free, the mentum moderate or small, the 

 palpi approximate at the base, the posterior coxas not prominent, the antennas 

 moderate in length and capitate, the body usually scaly or pubescent. Most of the 



