526 



The Ohio Naturalist. 



[Vol. XV, No. 8, 



always found associated with the dead fish. Members of the 

 Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera have been 

 observed in this association. The first two orders named are by 

 far the most abundant, both in nimiber of species and individuals. 

 Of these the Diptera usually far outnumber the Coleptera in num- 

 ber of individuals, the only four species*, Lucilia caesar Linne, 

 Compsomyia macellaria Fabr. ; Sarcophaga sarraceniae Riley, and 

 Sarcophaga assidua Walker, all members of the family Sarcopha- 

 gidae, are at all common. Diptera are universally present in the 

 larval stage and usuall}^ in large number while with few exceptions, 

 as mentioned, later, the Coleoptera found associated with the 

 dead fish are in the adult stage. This makes the Diptera of first 

 importance in removing the frequent accumulation of fish. Twen- 

 ty-one species of Coleoptera in all, as follows, were found by the 

 writer associated with dead fish and apparently feeding thereon: 



SilphidcB 

 Necrophorus americanus Oliv. 

 Necrophorus orbicollis Say. 

 Necrophorus tomentosus Weber 

 Silpha surinamensis Fab. 

 Silpha inaequalis Fab. 

 Silpha americana Linn. 



Staphylinidce 

 Leistotrophus cingulatus Grav. 

 Creophilus villosus Grav. 

 Philonthus aeneus Rossi. 



DermestidcB 



Dermestes caninus Germ. 

 Dermestes vulpinus Fab. 



Histeridce 



Hister imunis E. 

 Hister abbreviatus Fab. 

 Saprinus lugens Erichs. 

 Saprinus pennsylvanicus Payls. 

 Saprinus assimilis Payls. 

 Saprinus fratemus Say. 

 Saprinus patruelis Lee. 



MitidulidcB 

 Omosita colon Linn. 



ScarabceidcB 



Onthophagus hecate Panz. 

 Trox scabrosus Beauv. 



It was thought that the Coleopterous scavangers might be 

 most active at night while retiring to more secluded hiding places 

 by day. This was disproven by night trips with lantern, when 

 Coleoptera were found in no greater numbers than by day, except 

 Trox scabrosus Beauv. This last named species was usually 

 found in large numbers clumsily wading thru the sand, and leaving 

 their paths as irregular lines running in every direction. When 

 approached they play "possum" and easily pass for pebbles. 

 Their frequency at fish by night, however, did not show a marked 

 increase over that of the day. 



One or more of the larval forms of this species may be found in 

 their burrows in the sand a few inches under many of the fish, and 

 are sometimes found under boards on the fish strewn beach. 

 None were observed feeding, however, either by night or day. 



Early in the period of observation it was found that fish 

 removed from the beach to shaded places under the trees drew 

 coleoptera in much larger number and representing more species, 



