158 BRITISH BEETLES. 



mies, such as Anthrenus, Dermestes, Psocus, the larvae 

 of certain Tinea, and worst of all the lazy, footless, 

 white, fat " mite," which so often cleans out all the 

 ligaments of specimens, leaving the mere outer husk, 

 ready to fall to pieces on being manipulated, and often 

 pierced in more than one place by its voracious tenant. 

 A single application of benzine to any insect supposed to 

 be so infested will destroy the parasite, which usually 

 signifies its presence by dropping a little heap of fine 

 yellow dust underneath the specimen on which it is feed- 

 ing : nevertheless, a second or third dose should be ad- 

 ministered on a future occasion, as the fluid has no 

 effect upon any eggs which may happen to have been 

 deposited in the body of the insect. 



Both Gnathocerus and Tribolium are small, flat, yellow 

 beetles ; but the species of Hypophlceus are very different, 

 both in shape and habits, presenting a certain likeness 

 to Rhizophagus, on account of their linear cylindrical 

 form. They are found under bark, or in galleries, where 

 their larvse (as in the last-mentioned genus) prey on 

 the larvae of certain wood-feeding beetles. H. bicolor, a 

 pretty little red species with the apical half of the elytra 

 black, is found not uncommonly under elm bark, where 

 its larvse feed on those of certain Scolyti. The species 

 of Alphitoblus sometimes resemble certain of the Der- 

 mestidce ; they are black in colour, and are probably im- 

 ported, being found in warehouses, etc., where their 

 larvae feed in flour, etc. 



The TENEBRIONID.E here are represented by one 

 genus, Tenebrio, the two species of which are known in 

 their larval state as " the meal-worm," a favourite food 

 for singing-birds. It has been remarked that meal- 

 worms obtained from the east end of London usually 



