1S2 PTtOTECTIOX AOATXST INSECTS. 



The larvae are found especially under moss, but the beetles 

 chiefly in decomposing substances, such as fungi, dead leaves, 

 dung, carrion, etc. There are nearly 800 British species. 

 The largest species are : Ocj/pns olens, Miill. (the " Devil's 

 coach-horse "), Staphylinus caesareus, Cederh., Crcophilus 

 ma.villosus, L., etc. Larvae of small species of Stajyln/linidac 

 occupy the galleries of bark beetles, and probably eat their 

 eggs and larvae. 



4. -SUphidae. 



T^^'r/Z^'s flattened oblong or oblong-oval, usually witli 11-jointed 

 clubbed antennae ; thorax with a flattened side-margin ; anterior 

 coxae conical ; tarsi 5-jointed. Usually dull, black, and often 

 rugose or ribbed. 



Both the larvae, which have 6 legs, and the beetles live in 

 carrion and decomposing substances. Some genera, such as 

 Silpha, Fabr., attack insects. Silplia quadripunctata, L., lives 

 in summer on oak trees, and feeds on caterpillars, etc. It 

 has the margins of the thorax and the elytra ochre-yellow, 

 the latter with two black spots on each. 



5. NitiduUdae. 



Beetles small, oval or oblong, with straight clubbed, 

 11-jointed antennae inserted under the frontal margin. 

 Tarsi short, usually with 5 joints. Abdomen with 5 — 6 

 segments. 



Larvae long, with projecting horny head and G legs. The 

 flattened genera, JiJiizophaguft, Bhst. , iind Piti/opJiafiim, Shuck., 

 which live under the bark of trees of both broad-leaved and* 

 coniferous species, are regarded as enemies to bark-beetles. 



C). Colydiidae. 



Beetles small, thin, and long, with 8 — 11-jointed clubbed 

 antennae. Tarsi 4-jointed. Abdomen of 5, rarely of 6, seg- 

 ments, of which the first three or four are fused. Larvae 

 long, and sometimes with horny plates below ; 6-legged. 



The species of this family live in decaying wood, in fungi, 

 or under the bark of trees, and are predaceous. 



ColijdliDH ehmiiatnm, Fabr., locates itself in old oak trees, and 



