BEETLES. 53 



Sepidium, Fabr., is remarkable for the elytra being studded all 

 over with short blunt spines ; S. Tomentosum, Erichs., is a native 

 of Algeria. Hopatrum, Fabr., and its allies are small oblong 

 winged beetles. H. Elongatum, Gut^r., is an East Indian species. 



Several small species, of more varied colours than Blaps and 

 its allies, are met with among fungi or under bark. One of the 

 commonest of these is Diaperis Boleti, Linn., an oval insect about a 

 quarter of an inch long, with short thick antennae. It is shining 

 black, with a broad dentated yellow band at the base of the elytra, 

 a narrower one beyond the middle, and the tips yellow. 



One of the most remarkable genera of the Heteromera is 

 Cossyphus, Oliv. The whole insect is very flat, and the thorax and 

 elytra are expanded into a broad rim, covering even the head. 

 Several species are found in South Europe, Africa, and the East 

 Indies. C. Depressus, Fabr., an East Indian insect, is of a yellowish 

 brown, and about half an inch long. Some species are said to 

 hide under stones and clods, concealing themselves with a covering 

 of earth, so that they cannot be seen until they move. 



Tenebrio Molitor, Linn., which may be regarded as the type of the 

 Tenebrionidce, is a winged dark-brown beetle about half an inch long, 

 with striated elytra. It is common in houses, especially in bake- 

 houses, where its reddish-yellow larva feeds on flour, etc. This 

 larva is called the Meal-worm, and is much used to feed caged birds. 



The species of Helops, Fabr., are shining black or brown beetles, 

 about half an inch long, which much resemble the Carahidce in 

 shape. This genus has representatives in all parts of the world, 

 but the species are most numerous in the Mediterranean district; 

 a few, however, inhabit Northern Europe. 



Strongylium, Kirb., is an extensive genus, rather longer and more 

 slender than any of the foregoing, and with long and slender legs 

 and antennae. It has representatives in most parts of the world, 

 but by far the greater number of known species are American. 

 S. Rufipes, Kirb., is blue, Avith two yellow bands on the elytra, one 

 at the base, and one across the middle ; the legs and antennae are 

 reddish. 



In the species of Cistela, Geoff"r., the antennae are often more or 

 less serrated. Some are shining black insects, with reddish legs, 

 and measure about a quarter of an inch in length. C. Serrata, 

 Chevr., an Hungarian insect, and Cieniopus Sulplmreus, Linn., not an 

 uncommon European species, are yellow. The species of Cistela and 

 its allies frequent flowers, and their larvae feed on rotten wood. 



