442 



COLEOPTERA. 



tant from each other ; the thorax is punctured and pubescent^ 

 the middle coxfe slightly separate, while the abdomen is nar- 

 rowed at the tips. Fig. 387 represents the larva of this or a 

 closely allied genus found in a humble bee's nest. PhilontMis 

 differs in having the femora unarmed. The species 

 live in decaying matters and excrement. The spe- 

 cies of PcHclerus (Fig. 388, the larva of the European 

 P. tempestivus Erichs.) are found under stones, etc., 

 near water. 



In Stemis, of which S. stygicus Say and S. Juno 

 Fabr. are types, the eyes are large and prominent, so 

 that the head resembles that of Cicindela and the 

 Fig. 388. antennae are inserted upon the front between the 

 eyes ; the labrum is entire and rounded anteriorly, the para- 

 glossse are dilated, rounded, and the body is coarsely punctured, 

 while that of its nearest ally Dianous is finely punctured and 

 the paraglossfe are connate and indistinct. 

 Another small group of genera is repre- 

 sented by Oxyporus, which is found in fungi, 

 and which has a large head, with 

 large long mandibles crossing each 

 other, and five-jointed tarsi ; and 

 Oxytelus which is found in wet 

 places and in dung, and has three- 

 ^ jointed tarsi, with a row of spines 

 on the front tibite, and the middle coxse 

 separated. 



Fig. 389. Anthojjhagus ccesus ?, Harris Correspond- 



ence (Fig. 389 ; a, maxilla), is found in wet ground where 

 spearmint grows, of which it diffuses a strong odor. 



In Omalium the antennae are inserted under the lateraf mar= 

 gin of the front, the elytra are long, and the tibiae finely spi- 

 nous, llicralymma is closelj^ allied, but differs in the elytra 

 being verj' short. The genus Mkropephis is squarish in form 

 and connects the present family with the one following. 



HiSTERiD^. Leach. As stated by Leconte, "this is a very 

 well defined family of insects, moderately numerous, nearly all 

 of a shining black color, with the elytra variously sculptured 



