BEETLES. 11 3-. 



Genus Anobium, Fabr. 



Body cylindrical. Antennae eleven-jointed, with the first joint 

 large and stout, and the rest small and roundish. The last three 

 joints are long and flattened. They are placed in front of the- 

 eyes. The beetles are found on flowers and in wood, especially 

 in furniture and fittings, of which the larvae are especially fond.. 



* A. pertinax, Linn., the Death Watch (Plate XII., Fig. 5). 

 Elytra punctate-striate, dark brown. The pronotum has three 

 pits in the middle, and two behind at the hinder angles, as well 

 as a yellow pubescent spot. It is common in old willows and 

 in household fittings, and if touched feigns death. The males 

 knock vigorously against the wood with their heads, producing 

 the so-called death-tick, and the females answer them. 



* A. striatum, Oliv., is a similar species, but smaller ; and' 

 another of the genus (* A. paniceum, Fabr.) lives in stale bread. 



* A. (Xestohium) iesselatum, Fabr. (Plate XIL, Fig. 6). Elytra 

 irregularly punctured, dark brown, with yellowish pubescent 

 spots. The pronotum is convex, without distinct pits. Length, 

 5-6 mm. It is common in the wood of trees, especially in oaks. 



Genus Apate, Fabr. (Bostrychus, Geoff). 



Body cylindrical. Head rather small, nearly oval, sunk into- 

 the pronotum almost as far as the eyes. Clypcus slightly 

 concave in front. Pronotum roughly convex. Antennae with 

 ten joints, the first and second being a little longer than the 

 five following. These beetles swarm in the evening in wootls- 

 in May and June. The larvie live in wood. 



* A. capucina, Linn. (Plate XIL, Fig. 7). Black, with red' 

 wing-cases and abdomen. The pronotum is not concave m 

 front. The wing-cases are deeply and irregularly punctured. It 

 lives in decayed oak and lime trees, and is very rare in Britain^ 



