COLEOPTERA. — MYCETOPHAGIDiE. 153 



(^fig- 13. A,— Jig. 13. 5. labium); themanelibles short, not exserted, bifid 

 at the tips [Jig. 13. 3.) ; the upper lip transverse {Jig. 13. 2. head of M. 

 4-pustulatus, Jig. 1 3. 6. antennae of ditto) ; the tarsi often possessing 

 fewer than five joints {Jg. 13. 7. $ ?, 13. 8. $ ? anterior tarsus, 13. 9. 

 posterior tarsus of Mycetophagus, ^^. 13. 21. tarsus (all similar) of 

 Mycetaea hirta, — Jig.lS. 24. tarsus (all similar) of Latridius) ; the 

 larvae, as far as I am acquainted with them, never have the extre- 

 mity of the body armed with the pair of hooks or spines observed 

 in the Trogositideous larvae. Mr. Stephens has well observed, in 

 speaking of his family Engidae, that the more elongate, sometimes 

 linear, form of the body, combined with the generally simple joints of 

 the tarsi and less abruptly clavate antennae, distinguish them from the 

 Nitidulidac; adding, however, that the family evidently requires sub- 

 division ; aud, indeed, it seems necessary to introduce still further 

 minor divisions amongst the genera given in my Synopsis, but 

 which a more perfect knowledge of their characters and structure, 

 both in the larva and perfect states, would alone warrant. Moreover, 

 the small size of these insects, some of them being amongst the most 

 minute Coleoptera, and the consequent scarcity of extra-European 

 species hitherto described, materially increase the difficulties connected 

 with these groups. The typical genus appears to be Mycetophagus 

 {Jig. 13. 1.), with which Latreille unites Biphyllus, Meryx, Dasyce- 

 rus, Latridius {fig. 13. 23.), and Silvanus {fig. 13. 12.) The Hete- 

 romerous genus Tetratoma is also much more nearly allied to Myceto- 

 phagus than it is to Diaperis, near which last it is placed by La- 

 treille, as may be seen by consulting Mr. Curtis's figures of these 

 genera. 



The species chiefly frequent fungi and rotten wood ; some of them 

 devour corks, and occasionally produce much damage in wine cellars, 

 by consuming tlie corks of wine bottles. This is the case with My- 

 cetaea hirta, and some of the species of Latridius. 



The species of Mycetophagus arc found in fungi and the rotten 

 stumps of trees ; their elytra arc generally marked with yellow or pale- 

 coloured spots. Mr. G. R. Waterhouse informs me that the larva of 

 M. 1-pustulatus resembles that of Megatoma undatum. 



T\vd larva of Silvanus dentatus, as well as the perfect insect, may 

 often be found dead in sugar, and observed floating in tea or coffee ; 

 hence it is not, probably, an inhabitant of this country. This larva 

 is elongated, depressed, and glabrous, with the central abdominal seg- 



