CLUB-HORNED BEETLES. 



27 



Fig. 26. — Gyrin us ma rinus. Gyll. Hind leg and tarsal joints of same separated 

 and extended. Highly magnified. After Miall. 



lakes, especially in quiet water near the shore, that they cover 

 many square yards. If disturbed, all dart away, tracing graceful 

 curves on the surface of the water. The legs and the adult insect 

 are illustrated in Figf. 26- 



B. CLUB-HORNS. 



(Clavicornia). 



Club-horned beetles are very numerous, but the character 

 expressed by the term "club-horns" is not always easily de- 

 tected. These beetles are divided into numerous families (32), 

 and some of them are of very great benefit to orchardists. Most 

 of them, however, are scavengers, and subsist upon dead or de- 

 caying material. Some live in water, others are inhabitants of 

 ant-nests, some prefer dung as food, others dead fungi and wood, 

 or woolen garments and dried meat, and even collections stored 

 in museums do not escape their hungry jaws. One family at 

 least enjoys nothing 1 tetter than leaf-lice and scale-insects, the 

 great enemies of our fruit-producing plants. It is impossible 

 even to mention the names of the numerous families of beetles 

 belonging here, and only a very few of the more destructive ones 

 will be given, so that something about the classification of beetles 

 may be learned. 



