POLYMORPHA DASCILLIDAE 



255 



Coleoptera, the l)ody being elongate and vermiform, the elytra 

 reduced to small, functionless appendages, while the wings are 

 ample, not folded, but traversed by strong longitudinal nervures, 

 and with only one or two transverse nervures. Owing to the 

 destruction of our forests the two British Lyniexylonidae — L. 

 navale and Hyhcoetus dermestoides — are now very rarely met 

 with. 



Fam, 58. Dascillidae. — Smcdl or moderate-sized beetles, with 

 rather fiimsy integuments, antennae either serrate, filiform, or 

 even viade fiahellate hy long appen- 

 dages ; front coxae elongate, greatly 

 exserted ; abdomen 'with five mobile 

 ventral segments ; tarsi five-Jointed. 

 This is one of the most neglected 

 and least known of all the families 

 of Coleoptera, and one of the most 

 difficult to classify ; though always 

 placed amongst the Serricornia, it 

 is more nearly allied to Parnidae 

 and Byrrhidae, that are placed in 

 Clavicornia, than it is to any of the ^lo. 132. - iiydrocyphon detkxicoilis. 

 ordinary families of Serricornia. It 

 is probable that careful study will 

 show that it is not natural as at present constituted, and that the 

 old families, Dascillidae and Cyphonidae, now comprised in it, will 

 have to be separated. Only about 400 species are at present 

 known; but as nearly 100 of these have been detected in New 

 Zealand, and 17 in Britain, doubtless the numbers in other 

 parts of the world will prove very considerable, these Insects 

 having been neglected on account of their unattractive exterior, 

 and fragile structure. The few larvae known are of three or 

 four kinds. That of Base ill us cervinus is suljterranean, and is 

 believed to live on roots ; in form it is somewhat like a Lamelli- 

 corn larva, l)ut is straight, and has a large head. Those of the 

 Cyphonides are aquatic, and are remarkable for possessing antennae 

 consisting of a great many joints (Fig. 132, A). Tournier 

 describes the larva of Helodes as possessing abdominal but not 

 thoracic spiracles, and as breathing by coming to the surface of 

 the water and carrying down a bubble of air adhering to the 

 posterior part of the body; the larva of Hydrocyphoii (Fig. 18 2, A) 



Britain. A, Larva (after Tournier) 

 B, imago. 



