156 BRITISH BEETLES. 



P. cadaverina, a clear yellowish convex insect, with a 

 suffused black patch in the middle of each elytron,, 

 occurs in decaying animal matter, and at the roots of 

 maritime plants, in sandy places on the coast; being 

 common at Shoeburyness, at the roots of Sedum. 



The BOLITOPHAGID^E, in company with several of the 

 succeeding families, have their tarsi clothed on the 

 under side with short hairs ; a similar structure being 

 only exhibited by the Pedinidce among the preceding 

 families of this section. Their antennae are partly re- 

 ceived in repose into a transverse furrow of the head ; 

 the labial palpi are widely separated at the base ; and 

 the apical joint of the maxillary palpi is not hatchet- 

 shaped. 



They live entirely on boleti, and are apparently gre- 

 garious. 



Bolitophagus crenatus, in which the eyes are divided, 

 arid the thorax crenulated at the sides, is dull black in 

 colour, and has strong rows of punctures alternating 

 with linear elevations, on its elytra. It is found in the 

 north of England, and is much larger than the com- 

 moner Eledona agaricola, a convex, oval, dull dirty 

 browri insect, in which the eyes are of the normal struc- 

 ture, and the thorax is not roughened at the sides. As 

 in many fungus- and wood-feeders, individuals of both 

 these species sometimes occur in which the colour is 

 much lighter than usual. 



The DIAPERID.E present a considerable resemblance 

 to certain of the Chrysomelida, from which their five- 

 jointed front and middle tarsi will at once distinguish 

 them. They are metallic, smooth, and more or less 

 bright in colour, with their eyes not entire and their 

 antennae gradually widened to the apex. In Diaperis 



