388 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



Numerous species of the genera Uledius^ Cn/ptuhium, LatJirohium, P/}ilo)ithus, 

 Quedius, Aleochant, and Jlonialota are found in the United States, but their specific 

 and even their generic determination is often difficult. Aleochara 

 braclii/pterus, which is figured, occurs both in Europe 

 and in Xortl> America. 



The family Flatvi'svlijd.e consists of a single 

 species, I-'lati/jisi/I/a canton'ii, an ovate, elongate, 

 much-tlattened parasite of the beaver ( Castor p'l>cr). 

 The beetle is only U.16 of an inch long, and has 

 neither eyes nor wings ; the elytra are short, leav- 

 ing five abdominal segments exposed. This insect was first 

 described by Kitsema in 1809 as a new genus and sjiecies of 

 Aphani])tera, but its coleopterous nature was pointed out in 187l' 

 by Dr. ,T. L. Le Conte. Professor J. <). Westwood considers it to represent a distinct 

 order of insects, the Achreioptera. 



With the family Hydkuphilidj: begins a series of several families of Coleo2Jtera 

 which inhabit water, or, in a few cases, extremely moist places. Of these families only 



Fig. 45'J. — Aleo- 

 chara bracht/p- 

 terus. 



Flu. iea.~f latijpsylla 

 castoris. 



i,aj^fU\if;,'i|y'^f^ 



ll,l,tr,,piiiin^ I 



;illil egtl-Iiesl. 



the Hydro]ihilida> have clavate antenna*. The antenna' have from six to nine joints, 

 the outer joints forming a distinct club, the palpi are long, the middle and posterior 

 legs are sometimes flattened and fitted for swimming. The images of this family are 

 said to eat vegetable matter, either decom]iosed or living, and this is probably true of 

 many species; but certain kinds of Hi/fh-nphUns prefer animal matter when they can 

 obtain it. Robert writes that H. piceus feeds upon snails {Limnri-us), and I found that 

 this species ate gr(>edily fresh meat or fish in preference to vegetable matter in an 

 aquarium. Westwood asserts, however, that H. /en?iicus eats turnip leaves in the 



