HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS 



Fig. 115. Hydnocera pallipennis Say 



Black; antennae and legs pale; elytra dull 

 yellowish with variable brownish or black 

 markings. Length 3-5 mm. The checkered 

 beetles may well be favorites with collectors 

 Although rather small in size their graceful 

 form and varied color patterns, not infre- 

 quently brilliant, place them among the most 

 beautiful beetles. 



28a Front coxae transverse; hind coxae flat 29 



28b Front r.oxae globular 30 



29a Tarsi slender, first segment short; elytra never truncate. 

 (The Grain and Bark-gnawing Beetles.) Fig. 116 



Farai ly 68, OSTOMIDAE 



Fig. 116. Tenebroides maurltanica (L.) 



The Cadelle. Flattened; shiny black. A 

 serious pest in mills, granaries and storehouses. 

 Length 9-10 mm. (From U.S.D.A.) 



This is a small family. Its members are black 

 or reddish black. L'ost of them, live under bark 

 and are flattened so that they may accommodate 

 themselves to such cramped quarters. 



Figure 116. 



29b Tarsi more or less dilated; first segment not short; elytra 

 often truncate. (The Sap-feeding Beetles.) Fig. 117 



Fami ly 69, NITIDULIDAE 



Fig. 117. Qmoslta colon (L.) 



Brownish black with margins of thorax, four 

 spots on base of elytra and a region of the 

 apical ends dull yellow. On carrion and fungi. 

 Length 2-3 mm. 



The Sap-Feeding beetles are a fairly sizable 

 family, l.^any of them are flattened. Their 

 feeding habits vary greatly. Most of our Iowa 

 species are quite 

 small, but a few 

 species reach a length 

 Figure 117. Of 7 or 8 mm. 



30a Prosternum with a spine which 

 fits into a groove in the meso- 

 sternum. Fig. 118 31 



Figiare 113, 



66 



