354 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



by Blaps mortisaya, J3. obtusa, and others of the same genus. The odorous fluid, 

 both of JHaps and of Eleodes, is secreted by two glands, one on each side, near the 

 anus, from which it is ejected, sometimes in the case of Eleodes longicollis to a dis- 

 tance of three or four inches. Mr. C. F. Gissler, who has examined the secretion of 

 Eleodes., states that it has an acid reaction, stains the skin brown and causes lachryma- 

 tion ; has a very penetrating, indescribable odor ; is soluble in water, alcohol, and 

 ether ; and sometimes crystallizes on a glass, forming an orange-colored magma of 

 minute crystals. J3laps obtusa, according to Hornung and Bley, contains a red pig- 

 ment, volatile and fatty oil, resin, formic and uric acids, and wax, besides chit in and 

 other substances. Kirby and Spence write that, " Pliny tells us of a Blatta, which, 

 from his description, is evidently the darkling-beetle (Jalaps mortisaga), and which he 

 recommends as an infallible nostrum, when applied with oil extracted from the cedar, 

 in otherwise incurable ulcers, that was an object of general disgust on account of its 

 ill scent, a character which it still maintains." 



The sub-family Asidinas contains numerous genera, among which Asida is well 

 known since it is represented by numerous species in the European fauna and by over 

 thirty species, all from west of the Mississippi River, in the United States. The species 

 of Asida inhabit desert regions. They are apterous and have an ovate body. 



The sub-family Tentyriinae contains, with few exceptions, apterous species. The 

 only species of the Tentyriinse found in the northeastern United States is Phdlopsis 

 obcordata, which is found from Maryland to Canada. It is about 0.55 of an inch long 

 and one-third as wide, is dark brown, is roughened by deep punctures and prominent 

 elevations, and has the anterior portion of the prothorax winged laterally. It is found 

 upon fungi in localities similar to those frequented by Bolitotherus bifitrcus, which its 

 color and rugosity recall. 



SUB-ORDER IV. - - PENTAMERA. 



The Pentamera, the group of beetles normally having tarsi with five joints, includes 

 all the Coleoptera to be described hereafter in this work, and probably contains about 

 one half the known species of Coleoptera. Omission is made of some of the smaller 

 and less interesting families in order to allow more space for those families which are 

 of most importance. 



The family LYMEXYLONID^E contains but four genera and a limited number of 

 species, but the destruction of ship-timber in western Europe by Lymexylon navale, 

 and Linnaeus' application of a remedy by immersing the timber during the time of 

 oviposition of the beetle, early called the attention of naturalists to this species. The 

 species of this family have a deflexed head, which is narrowed behind ; the eleven- 

 jointed sen-ate antenna? are inserted on the sides of the head ; the coxa3 are all con- 

 tiguous in the three American genera, but in Atractocerus the anterior coxiee are 

 separate ; the legs are slender. Lymexylon has entire elytra and the abdomen with 

 five ventral segments. The species generally resemble those of certain Elaterida?, or 

 spring-beetles, later to be described. The larvae of L. navale are slender, six-legged 

 grubs ; the head is small, the first segment enlarged, and the last segment bears a leaf- 

 like appendage above. These larvae make long cylindrical burrows in oak wood. 

 None of the Lymexylonidce are sufficiently abundant in America to cause damage. 

 Jficromalthus debilis, a minute but interesting species, has been reared by Mr. H. G. 

 Hubbard, from decayed wood found in Detroit, Mich. 



