468 



COLEOPTERA. 



Fig. 435. 



at first sight some Staphylinidae ; they frequent flowers and 

 the banks of ponds and streams. The females of Microlipus 

 are apterous. 



CLERID^E Kirby. These beautiful flower beetles are known 

 by the prominent head, the usually emarginate eyes, and 

 the usually eleven-jointed antennae inserted at the sides of 

 the front, and either serrate or pectinate, with the outer joints 

 enlarged, forming a serrate, or rarely a compact club. Their 

 bodies are slender, with slender legs. 

 They are rapid in their movements, 

 and run like ants (which they much 

 resemble when in motion) over flowers 

 and trees to feed on the sweets and 

 sap. The larvae are carnivorous and infest the nests of bees. 

 They are flattened, hairy grubs, the tip of the abdomen end- 

 ing in two horny points. Those of the genera 

 Corynetes and Necrobia live on dead animal 

 matter. 



In Priocera (Fig. 435, P. undulata Say) the eyes 

 are coarsely granulated ; the antennae are serrate, 

 and the maxillary palpi are cylindrical. In 

 Elasmocerus (E. terminatus Say, $ , Fig. 436) the antennae are 

 ten-jointed, the last joint being very long and flat. 



The genus Trichodes is known by the maxillary palpi being 

 somewhat dilated, otherwise it agrees with the succeeding 



genus. T. Nuttallii Kirby is 

 abundant in August on the 

 flowers of Spiraea alba ; its larva 

 is to be looked for in the nests 

 of bees. In Europe T. apiarius 

 Linn. (Fig. 437 ; a, larva ; &, 

 pupa) has long been known to 

 devour the young bees. In its 

 perfect state it is found on 

 flowers. 



In Clerus the head is large, the eyes not very prominent, 

 finely granulated, the antennal club is somewhat triangular; 

 the maxillary palpi are not dilated, and the posterior tarsi are 







Fig. 437. 



