528 CLASS YIII. 



Family L1X. Brachelytra (Microptera GKAVENIIORST). An- 

 tennae mostly moniliform, of the same thickness towards the apex, 

 or thicker at the apex. Elytra much shorter than abdomen, en- 

 tirely covering the wings which are long and replicate, not dehis- 

 cent. Body mostly narrow, elongate, arcuate upwards, the insect 

 running. Dorsal segments of abdomen all horny. 



Most of these insects live in offal, dung, or under decaying plants. 

 They live on animal substances, especially other insects ; so also the 

 larvae, which are elongate, with a large head and six strong feet. 

 The intestinal canal of these beetles is straight and short ; there are 

 four vasa urinaria. The similarity of these beetles with the genus 

 Forficula amongst the Orthoptera (see above, p. 462, 463) is rather 

 external and does not rest upon a natural affinity in the internal 

 structure. 



The species of this family are very numerous, and in Europe far 

 surpass even those of the Carabici. However, this is quite other- 

 wise with the exotic species hitherto known, and hence some writers 

 are of opinion that this family is eminently a form of the northern 

 hemisphere. Perhaps this may be a hasty conclusion, and the 

 rarity of Staphylini from warm countries, in our collections, may in 

 part be attributed to the inadvertence of travelling collectors. 



Compare J. L. C. GRAVENHORST Coleoptera microptera, Brunsvigae, 1802, 



8vo.; Ejusd. Monographia coleopteror. micropterorum, Gottingae, 1806, 8vo.; 



' MANNERHEIM in Mem. presentes a I'Acad. des Sc. des Petcrslovrg, i. 1831, 



pp. 415 461 ; G. F. ERICHSON Genera et Species StapJiylinorum, cum tab. 



cen. V. Berolini, 1840, 8vo. 



Section I. Sta/phylinina. Abdomen with six or seven segments 

 distinct. Cutaneous papilla exsertile, pilose, on each side near 

 anus in both sexes. 



Btaphylinus L. (in part), GRAVENHORST. Head entirely exsert, 

 separated from thorax by a narrower base as by a neck. Labrum 

 mostly bilobed. Palps mostly filiform, labial triarticulate, maxil- 

 lary quadriarticulate, with last joint in the former sub-equal. An- 

 tennae inserted in the anterior margin of frons, with eleven joints, 

 filiform, or in some incrassated towards the apex. Tarsi with five 

 joints. 



Sub-genera, a) With antennae approximate at the base : Platy- 

 prosopus MANNERH., Othius LEACH, Holisus ERICHSON, Sterculia 

 LAPORTE, XaMholinus DAHL., &c. 



