FLOWER BEETLES. 



The typical sub-family, the Nitidulina, are known 

 by the length of the elytra, which reach to the last 

 joint of the abdomen, and the shape of the thorax, 

 which does not cover the base of the elytra. One of 

 these insects, Omosita discoidea, is a very plentiful 

 species, and may be found in fungi, under the bark of 

 trees, and even in old bones. 



The body of this Beetle is oval, and, as may be 

 inferred from its name, is much flattened. Its colour 

 is rusty-brown, and the surface is thickly punctured. 

 Upon the elytra are some faint oblong black streaks, 

 and a curved mark of paler hue than the rest of the 

 body. 



In the accompanying woodcut is shown another 

 of these Beetles, Meligethes ceneus. This genus is 

 known by the squared and 

 highly-polished metallic body, 

 the long elytra, and the third 

 joint of the antennae, which is 

 exactly as long as the fourth 

 and fifth together. All the 

 Beetles of this genus are very 

 small, and are invariably to 

 be found in flowers, creeping 

 from their hiding places under 

 the petals when the flower is 

 gathered or shaken. Being 

 very minute insects, a careful examination with a 

 somewhat powerful lens is needed to distinguish the 

 species, and, even then, the little creatures are so 

 like each other in size and colour, that the ento- 

 mologist is obliged to abandon the usual mode of 



Meligethes aeneus. 



