186 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the abdomen beyond having 7 to 8 visible rings. Though some- 

 times an inch in length, they are more commonly minute, inhabiting 

 wet places under stones, manure heaps, fungi, moss, under the 

 surface of bark, or leaves of trees. Some burrow in sand, others 

 form galleries under bark ; Slenus is found running on mud, near 

 water ; MicraJymna is found at low water mark in sea weeds in the 

 larva state. Many species inhabit ants' nests, and should be care- 

 fully sought for on dewy mornings, under stones and pieces of 

 wood, which should be taken up and shaken over a white cloth or 

 paper ; or the whole nest should be sifted through a rather coarse 

 sieve, when the small beetles will fall through the meshes. 



The larvae resemble the beetles, and are difficult to rear. 



Histeridoe. These beetles are square or oblong, hard, solid, shiny 

 insects, black, with the prothorax hollowed out to receive the 

 head, which has long prominent jaws. The elytra are usually 

 striated. The antennae are elbowed, club shaped, and the legs are 

 broad and thin. Others are oval and spotted. They are found in 

 exci'ement and under bark of trees. 



Nitidulidoe . Broad oval or elliptical, depressed, the head also 

 received into the excavated prothorax. The three last joints of the 

 antennae are gathered into a broad club. Insects of small size, 

 and found about rubbish, bones, &c. Ips has bright colors, often 

 red, is one of the larger genera, and is found under bark and on the 

 sour sap of stumps and trees in the spring. Others are found in 

 fungi and in flowers. The larvae inhabit similar places. They 

 are flattened oblong whitish grubs, the end of the abdomen has four 

 horny conical upturned appendages. The pupae are found loose 

 in rubbish and decaying wood, saw dust, &c. 



Of similar form and habits is Mycetophagus, and other genera, 

 representing families of small extent. 



Dermestidce. Every entomologist dreads the ravages of Der- 

 mestes and Anthrenus in his cabinet. The ugly bristly insidious 

 larvae which sp skilfully hide in the body whose interior it con- 

 sumes, leaving only the shell ready to fall to pieces at any jar, 

 can be kept out only with great precautions. Dermestes lar- 

 darius is oblong oval, legs short, black, with the base of the elytra 

 gray buff, covered by two broad lines. It is timid and slow in its 

 movements, when disturbed seeking a shelter, or mimicking death. 

 Anthrenus musaearum is round oval, with transverse waved lines. 

 Its larva is thick, with long bristles, which are largest on the end 



