354 NATURAL IIISTOUY OF ARTHROPODS. 



]>y IUkjis ntortisaga, Ji. ohtx.su, and others of tlie same genus. The odorous fluid, 

 both <if Bhqis and of Eleodes, is secreted by two ghands, one on each side, near tljc 

 anus, from wliich it is ejected, sometimes in the case of Eleodes loJigicolUs to a dis- 

 tance of three or four inches. Mr. C. F. Gissler, who has examined the secretion of 

 JEleodes, states that it has an acid reaction, stains the skin brown and causes lachryma- 

 tion ; has a very jienetrating, indescribable odor; is sohible in water, alcohol, and 

 ether ; and sometimes crystallizes on a glass, forming an orange-colored magma of 

 minute crystals. JJktps ubtusa, accoi'ding to Ilornung and Bley, contains a red pig- 

 ment, volatile and fatty oil, resin, formic and uric acids, and wax, besides chit in and 

 other substances. Kii-by and Sjience wi'ite that, "Pliny tells us of a Blatta, which, 

 from his descri|ition, is evidently the darkling-beetle (libips mortisaga), and which he 

 recommends as an infallible nostrum, when applied with oil extracted from the cedai-, 

 in otherwise incurable ulcers, that was an object of general disgust on account of its 

 ill scent, a character which it still maintains." 



The sub-family Asidin;e contains numerous genera, auKjng which Asida is well 

 known since it is rei^resented by numerous species in the European fauna and by over 

 thirty s])ecies, all from west of tlie Mississip])i River, in the United States. The species 

 of Asida iidial)it desert regions. They are ajiterous and have an ovate body. 



The sub-family Tentyriina; contains, with few excejations, apterous species. The 

 only species of the Tentyi'iiniB found in the northeastern United States is Phello2isis 

 ohcordata, which is found from Maryland to Canada. It is about 0.55 of an inch long 

 and one-third as wide, is dark l)rown, is roughened liy deep punctures and prominent 

 elevations, and has the anterior portion of the prothorax winged laterally. It is found 

 u])on fungi in localities similar to those freijuented l)y Solitotherus bifurczcs, which its 

 color and rugosity recall. 



Sub-Order IV. — Pentamera. 



The Pentamera, the group of beetles normally having tarsi with five joints, includes 

 all the Coleoptera to be described hereafter in this work, and probably contains about 

 one half the known species of Coleoptera. Omission is made of some of the smaller 

 and less interesting families in order to allow more space for those families which are 

 of most importance. 



The family LymexyloxidvE contains but four genera and a limited number of 

 species, but the destruction of ship-timlier in western Eurojie by Lymexylon navale, 

 and Linna>us' application of a remedy by immersing the timber during the time of 

 ovi])osition of the beetle, early called the attention of naturalists to this species. The 

 species of this family have a deflexed head, which is narrowed behind ; the eleven- 

 jointed serrate antcnnie are inserted on the sides of the head ; the coxa? are all con- 

 tiguous in the three American genera, but in Atractoccri/s the anterior coxa? are 

 separate; the legs are. slender. Jyi/ine.r>/loii has entire elytra and the abdomen with 

 five ventral segments. The species generally resemble those of certain Elateridiv, or 

 spring-beetles, later to bo described. The larva- of Z. namde are slender, six-legged 

 grubs; the head is small, the first segment enlarged, and the last segment bears a leaf- 

 like ajipendage above. These larvre make long cylindrical l)nrrows in oak wood. 

 None of the Lymexylonidm are sufficiently abundant in America to cause damage. 

 Micromcdthus dehdis, a minute but interesting species, has been reared by Mr. II. G. 

 Hubbard, from decayed wood found in Detroit, Mich. 



