BEETLES. 



377 



of perforate stigmata. Pinialiou takes place beneath the tlat oval shell of the 

 larva. 



In Pscpheniis the abdomen lias more than live ventral segments. P. lecontei has 

 a wide distribution over the eastern United States. Mr. II. G. Hubbard writes of 

 this species: "The males and unimpregnated females are very active, and in the lieat 

 of the day collect upon stones in mid-stream, which barely break the surface of the 

 water, and are occasionally washed by a ripple. Over these stones they 

 run ill ceaseless activity, chasing each other like flies at pla}', and making 

 occasional short flights over the surface of the water, but never jihiiiging 

 lienoath it, nor suffering themselves to be submerged even for an instant. 

 They are at such times exceedingly wary, and, unless approached very 

 cautiouslv, thev vanish before the observer can get near enough to use 

 his net. They leave the stone with a flight so swift that it cannot be 

 followed with the eye, but they will invarial)ly be found all together and 

 at play upon another stone at no great distance. The gra\id females are found in July 

 or August engaged in laying their eggs on the underside of submerged stones in shallow 

 brooks. When so engaged they are very sluggish, and never attemi^t to escajie. The 

 eggs are of a bright orange color, and are deposited in irregular clusters." The larva 

 of this species, which is very aluindant in some streams, is especially conimou in the 

 rapids above Niagara Falls. This l;ir\a was originally described as a crustacean 

 under the generic name of Fliwlcola. 



Ebnis has only Ave ventral segments and rounded anterior coxk. E, condi/ne/tt- 

 arius is said to be used in Peru for flavoring food. 



Fig. 438. — J'sr- 

 phenus Ieco7iteu 



■r, A7itkrenus wusceonim ; b, Ptiim.'i fur (see page 3.">0); <■, Attagcnus pclfio , il, Denncslcs lardariits. 



The Dermestid^ are small oval or elongate beetles, some of which are the most 

 troublesome insects of liouses and storerooms. Systematically they are recognized, 

 according to Le Conte and Horn, by their having the dorsal segments of the abdomen 

 partly membranous, the ventral segments free, the mentiim moderate or small, the 

 ]ialpi ajiproximate at the liase, the j)osterior coxre not prominent, the aiitenn* 

 moderate in length and cajiitate, the bod\' usually scaly or pubescent. Most of the 



