THE AXDIAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 417 



discussed elsewhere, are practically all introduced species, brought to Hawaii 

 on accouut of their well-known predaceous habits. The dermestes,-^ the com- 

 mon forms introduced and which destroy household stores and goods, have 

 also native species of small size. The histerid beetles -** have several intro- 

 duced species and an important Hawaiian genus with thirty or forty species 

 of very small scjuare-shaped beetles that occur about decaying matter in the 

 mountains. The nitidulids,-" a family composed of small flattened beetles with 

 the wing covers more or less truncate, exposing the abdomen, suggesting the 

 rove-beetles which have a much longer abdomen, are ciuite common ; one hun- 

 dred and forty species, all of which feed on decaying animal and vegetable 

 matter, and are often found about flowers, occur in the mountains. 



Several other families made up of small-sized individuals and a limited 

 ninnber of species, belong in this division, and may occasionally be capt\ired by 

 the careful collector. 



The group known as the serricorn beetles, since the antenna^ are usually 

 saw-like, is well represented by three families, the most extensive and common 

 being the click-beetles,^" snapping-bugs or skip-,iack beetles. If disturbed 

 they curl up their legs and apparentl.y drop dead, usuall.v landing on the 

 ground on their backs. With a sudden click, they will spring vip in the air 

 and turn over. If they strike the ground on their feet they will run : if not, 

 the clicking performance is repeated again and again. The adults aie usually 

 didl-colored, but some are of fair size and cjuite common. The larva? are com- 

 monly known as wire-worms. Eighty-five species or more belong to the genus 

 Eopcnthes, a genus that includes some beautiful irride.scent species that num- 

 bers among them some of the most attractive beetles in the islands. The 

 checkered beetles,^^ with three widely-disti-ibuted species, and the metallic 

 wood-borers,-'- including two introduced species, conclude this part of the 

 oi'der. 



Beetles with the antenna' arranged so that the outer joints are prolonged 

 internally in a manner to present flattened surfaces to each other, are grouped 

 under the lamellicorn beetles, and are represented in Hawaii by such well- 

 known families as the stag-beetles ^^ or pinch bugs, so called on account of 

 tlieir large mandibles. The rare genus Aptcrocydus. including the seven 

 si>ecies of the family occiirring in Hawaii, is found only on the Island of Kauai. 



All of the eight or more species of Scarabaids ^^ belonging to the fore- 

 going section, and including such widely-distributed forms as the Japanese 

 beetle,35 have been introduced. Other members of this extensive family, in- 

 cluding such classic forms as the ^lay beetle, tumble-bugs, dung-beetles, skin 

 beetles and the like, may accidentally gain admittance here from time to time, 

 as two dozen species of beetles were prevented from landing in 1912 only 

 through the rigorous insect inspection in force in Hawaii. 



The group •''" including the long-horned beetles ^" is Avell represented by 



^- Buprestidw. 

 ' ('eranibycidte. 



