514 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



The family LAGRIID^^, or the lagriid bark-beetles, includes 

 elongate beetles, with a narrow, subcylindrical prothorax, and a more 

 or less brassy color. They are closely allied to the preceding family, 

 but differ in having the next to the last segment of the tarsi 

 spongy beneath. They are found under bark and on 

 leaves. The larva; feed freely on foliage and are much less 

 retiring in habits than those of the darkling beetles. 

 Seventeen species are listed from the United States; most 

 of these are found in the South and Far West. Our most 

 common species in the East is A rthromdcra cenea (Fig. 6i8) ; 

 this species measures from 9.1^ mm. to 13.5 mm. in length. Fig 618 



The family MONOMMID^ is represented in this 

 country by only six species, found chiefly in the Far West and in 

 Florida. They are small, black, oval beetles, in which the anterior 

 coxal cavities are open behind, the hind tarsi four-jointed, and the 

 other tarsi five-jointed; and in which the antenna; are received in 

 grooves on the under side of the prothorax. Except one species found 

 in Florida, our species belong to the genus Hyporkdgits. 



The family MELANDRYID^ includes about eighty North 

 American species. These are found under bark and in fungi. They 

 are usually of elongate form, although some, like the one 

 figured here, are not so. The maxillary palpi are fre- 

 quently very long and much dilated; and the first seg- 

 ment of the hind tarsi is always much elongated. Among 

 our more common species are two belonging to the 

 genus Penthe. These are rather large, oval, depressed 

 beetles, upwards of 12 mm. in length, and of a deep 

 Fig. 619. black color. P^w//?^ o6/zg'Ma/a is distinguished by having 

 the scutellimi clothed with rust-red hairs (Fig. 619). 

 Penthe pimelia closely resembles this species, except that the scutellum 

 is black. 



The family PTINID^ has been restricted recently to one of the 

 subfamilies of the old family Ptinidag, which included, in addition to 

 the insects now retained in it, those classed in the three following 

 families. In the Ptinidas, as now restricted, the antennas are inserted 

 upon the front of the head and rather close together, and the thorax 

 is not margined at the sides. Only thirty-seven of our listed speciesare 

 retained in this family. They are all small beetles and some of them 

 are household pests, infesting stored provisions, clothing, and books. 

 The best-known species is Piinusfur. This is a reddish brown beetle; in 

 the female the elytra are marked with two patches of white hairs. 

 It measures from 2.8 mm. to 3.5 mm. 



The family ANOBIID^, or the death-watch family, includes a 

 large part of the old family Ptinidas, there being more than two 

 hundred species in our fauna. In this family the antenuce are inserted 

 on the sides of the head in front of the eyes; the thorax is usually 

 margined at the sides; and the tibiae are without spurs. These 

 beetles are small, and are generally of a cylindrical form, though 

 some are broadly oval or nearly globular. They live chiefly on dry 



