M ORDER COLEOPTEOA. 



Ptiuidae. 



Tirc family Pti.md^ is composed of a number of small insects, which are sufficiently 

 •buudaut at times to cause considerable damage : they are found in the woodwork of old 

 houses ; in furniture and books, dried plants, ship biscuit, wafers, grain, etc. The Genue 

 Akobium is one of these, and has acquired the name of deathwatch, from the noise it makee- 



Gends PTINUS. 



'Antennae long, slender and simple, inserted close together; eyes prominent; elytra 

 * separated ; body oblong ' ( West wood). 



Ptinus FUB(Linn.). 



This is a small oval insect of a reddish brown color, one-eighth of an inch in length, 

 with the head and prothorax small and the feet and antennae long and slender. The elytra 

 we covered with hairs, and have a longitudinal stria filled with punctures. It is very 

 destructive when numerous, and is common to Europe and America : in Europe, it de- 

 stroys stored wheat. Dr. Haldeman remarks that he has found it feeding upon the corn- 

 stalks used to line cases of insects in an entomological collection, in the month of Fe- 

 bruary. It seems to be a general feeder. 



Lymexylonidae. 



The destruction of ship-timber collected in dockyards, which so often happens, is fre- 

 quently efifected by the Lymexylon navale, a species of insect belonging to this family, and 

 found in Europe. The cause of the damage was investigated by Linneus, at the request of 

 the King of Sweden ; and when he discovered it, he recommended immersing the timber 

 in water during the period when the female insect would be engaged in depositing her 

 eiggs. Dr. Harris describes an American species, or one belonging to the allied genus 

 Hyleoetus. 



• 



CuPES CAPITATA. 



Color black : head red or ferruginous, strongly ridged and transversely grooved, and 

 furnished with two prominent tubercles : thorax with three longitudinal ridges : 

 elytra strongly ridged, with two rows of punctures upon the back, and three between 

 the lateral ridges. 



