STAPHYLINIDiE. 8 



&c.) ; ill many goiicra the nioilificatioiis of tlie terminal segments in tlia 

 different sexes arc of great importance. 



In the present work I have followed Dr. Sharp in exclusively speaking of 

 tliis latter part of the body as the " hind body " and not as the " abdonien," 

 and I have also followed him as regards his reckoning of the number of 

 the segments ; Erichson and IMulsant and Eey reckon from the first 

 apparent segment, Avhereas Kraatz, Thomson, and Sharp calculate from 

 the segment which is, as a rule, wliolly or partially covered l^y the 

 elytra : the seventh segment, therefore, of these latter authors and of this 

 present work is the sixth segment as mentioned in the works of Erichson 

 and Mulsant and Key ; the first segment, though usually hidden, is often 

 more or less visible, so tliat the authors who reckon it are really more 

 correct in so doing : the point, however, must be carefully noticed, or 

 else confusion is sure to arise ; it will be found again alluded to under 

 the genus Homalota. 



The larvae of the Staphylinidse, as a whole, are very closely related to 

 one another, and both in shape and habits mucli resemble the perfect 

 insect, being long and linear and very active, fierce, and voracious ; they 

 appear to bear a strong atHnity towards the larvae of the Carabidce and 

 certain Dytiscida3 ; some however (such as Sijntomium, &c.) are short 

 and broad and seem to have some analogy with the Silphidae, while 

 others again are related to the Histeridse and Nitidulidae : descriptions of 

 some of the more peculiar forms will be given under their separate genera, 

 but the majority are so much alike, that only a few need be noticed. 



The pupae do not call for any particular description ; they are partially 

 covered with membrane, but the parts of the perfect insect are very dis- 

 tinctly visible ; the form is more or less elongate and narrowed behind ; 

 the abdominal region is often strongly margined, and the " styli motorii " 

 appear to be in many instances almost confined to the anterior margin of 

 the thorax, and sonieciraes to be almost or entirely wanting; the cerci 

 are very short, and often terminate in a short stifl' seta. 



The Staphylinidse are for the most part carnivorous, although they are 

 in great measure necrophagous, and to a certain extent vegetable feeders ; 

 they devour all kinds of larvae and other insects, and some of the lar^'er 

 species are useful in destroying slugs, snails, and worms ; one or two 

 species (as Velleius (lilatatus) are found in the nests of the hornet ( Vespa 

 crahro), and probably prey upon the larvae ; the greater number are found 

 in moss, dead leaves, hotbeds and dunghills, decaying vegetable refuse, 

 dead l)irds and animals, &c. ; a large number, however, occur in fun^i 

 or at sap (as the Boletohii, Oyrojjluence, and many others); some are 

 found in flowers (e.g. certain species of Honialium, Euq^liaJeruni, &c.) ; 

 many live under bark or in decaying wood, and are peculiarly fitted ior 

 this habitat by their very depressed form ; others again occur solely ou 

 the banks of ponds and rivers, and may be taken in numbers by dashing 

 water against the banks ; such are certain Steni and Eledii, the latter of 

 which olten form burrows of very large extent, and may easily be detected 



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