DYTISCUS. DYTISCUS. 



Generic Character. 



Antenna setaceae. 

 Pedes postici villosi, nata- 

 torii, submutici. 



Antenna setaceous. 



Hind-Legs villose, formed 

 for swimming, and ter- 

 minated by scarcely visi- 

 ble claws. 



JL HIS, like the Gyrinus, is an aquatic genus, 

 and is rarely seen in flight, except during the 

 evening. It is distinguished by ha\ing setaceous 

 antennae of the length of the thorax, an oval body, 

 pointed behind, a bifid sternum, and the hind-legs 

 formed entirely for swimming, being tapered to- 

 wards the point, and beset on each side with fine, 

 strong, close-set hairs, enabling them to perform 

 the office of oars, 



One of the largest European species is the Dy- 

 tiscus marginalis, which usually measures some- 

 what more than an inch in length, and is of a 

 blackish olive-colour, with the thorax and wing- 

 sheaths bordered with yellow or ochre-colour: the 

 whole insect is of a polished surface on the upper 

 part, and the wing-shells are each marked by two 

 rows of scarcely perceptible impressed points: the 

 under parts are ochre-coloured. This insect is 

 not uncommon in stagnant waters, where its larva 



