COLEOPTERA 511 



The family MURMIDIID^ includes five introduced species 

 ■representing five genera. They are very small, oval beetles, differing 

 trom the Colydiidge in having the antennas inserted on the front, and 

 in having the anterior coxae inclosed behind by the metastemum. 



The family LATHRIDIID^ includes very small beetles which 

 are found chiefly under bark and stones or in vegetable debris, es- 

 pecially decaying leaves. They are oblong ; the wing-covers are usu- 

 ally wider than the prothorax and entirely cover the abdomen. There 

 are about one hundred species in our fauna. 



The family MYCET^ID^ includes only four American species, 

 which have recently been separated from the following family ; they 

 differ from the Endomychidas in having the tarsi distinctly four- 

 jointed. 



The family ENDOMYCHID.^ includes a small number of 

 species, whch are found chiefly in fungus, in decaying wood, or be- 

 neath logs and bark. They are small, oval or oblong beetles. The 

 antennas are about half as long as the body ; the prothorax is nearly 

 square, and usually has a wide, thin margin, which is slightly turned 

 upwards at the sides. 



The family PHALACRID^, or the shining flower-beetles, in- 

 cludes very small, convex, shining black beetles; they are found on 

 flowers and sometimes under bark. The larvae live in the heads of 

 flowers, especially in those of the CompositcC. More than one hundred 

 North American species have been described. 



Family COCCINELLID^ 



The Lady-Bugs 



These insects are well-known to nearly every child under the 

 popular name given above. They are more or less nearly hemi- 

 spherical, generally red or yellow, with black spots, or black, with 

 white, red, or yellow spots. 



The larvce occur running about on foliage ; they are often spotted 

 ^ith bright colors and clothed with warts or with spines (Fig. 6ii), 

 When ready to change to a pupa the larva fastens 

 itself by its tail to any convenient object, and the 

 skin splits open on the back. Sometimes the pupa 

 state is passed within this split skin, and some- 

 times the skin is forced back and remains in a little 

 wad about the tail (Fig. 612). 



With very few exceptions, the lady-bugs are Fig. 611. Fig. 612. 

 predacious, both in the larval and adult states. 

 They feed upon small insects and upon the eggs of larger species. 

 The lavYse of certain species are known as "niggers" by hop-growers, 

 and are greatly prized by them ; for they are very destructive to the 

 hop-louse. On the Pacific Coast lady-bugs are well known as the most 

 beneficial of all insects to the fruit-growers. In addition to the native 

 species found there, several species have been introduced as a means 

 of combating scale-insects. One of these, Rodolia cardindlis, which 



