120 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ficiently deep to receive it, accomplishing the work so 

 rapidly that in three hours it is entirely buried out of 

 sight, having first deposited their eggs within the car- 

 cass, .which is to serve the larvae for food. 



III. MELASOMA. MOLD EATERS. 



These insects have mostly an oval body with acute 

 corners, nearly covered with hard elytra, a large thorax 

 and small head, with the mandibles notched and the 

 antennae thickened at the tip ; the teeth are thick, large, 

 and mostly toothed. They live on decayed vegetable 

 matter, manure, rotten wood, etc., in which they lay 

 their eggs ; some also feed on leaves and buds. They 

 are divided into three families, namely, Mushroom, Wood, 

 and Ground Beetles. 



1. FUNGICOLA. MUSHROOM BEETLES. 



Are mostly small beetles, with tarsi of three or four 

 joints, short antennae, and live in damp places. 



The Dark-brown Mold Beetle (lathridius porcatus) 

 is nearly a line in length, smooth and dark brown, anten- 

 nae and feet also brown ; on each elytra are eight small 

 stripes. These insects live on vegetables or other sub- 

 stances in damp cellars, where they can feast on the 

 white mold that collects in quantity in such places, 

 keeping always on the lower surface of the article they 

 are preying upon; therefore they often fall upon their 

 backs, from which position they have some difficulty in 

 recovering on account of their short legs. 



The Common Mushroom Beetle (scaphidium agarici- 

 num) is oval, and scarcely a line in length, shining black, 



