BEETLES. 33 



brown beetle, about one-eighth of an inch in length, is common 

 in fungi, and may be regarded as a typical representative of the 

 family ; it is of an oval form, with the hinder part of the prothorax 

 as broad as the abdomen. In the genus Paramecosoma, Curt., 

 the thorax is convex. Epistemus, Erichs., includes a number of 

 very small beetles which do not exceed one-twentieth or one- 

 thirtieth of an inch in length. They are of a black colour, more 

 or less varied with red or yellow. One of the most extensive 

 genera of this family (Atomaria, Steph.) has received its name from 

 the extreme minuteness of most of the species included in it. 



FAMILY XI. Lathridiidce. 



Tarsi three-jointed (front tarsi occasionally four-jointed) ; front 

 coxae globular; antennae clubbed; head and thorax generally 

 narrower than the abdomen. 



Includes small species found among decaying vegetable matter, 

 under bark, or in ants' nests. The species differ considerably in 

 shape. Lathridius Exilis, Mannerh., is a yellowish insect, with brown 

 elytra; it measures about one-twenty-fifth of an inch in length. 

 Dasycerus Sukatus, Brongn., is a brown insect, much broader, and 

 nearly twice the size of the last. 



FAMILY XII. Mycetophagida. 



Tarsi four-jointed (front tarsi in the males generally three- 

 jointed) ; front coxae globular, hind coxae cylindrical ; antennae 

 gradually thickened, or with two or three larger apical joints. 



The beetles of this family are all small, and live in fungi. 

 Diploccdus Fagi, Chevr., is a somewhat aberrant species, included by 

 Eedtenbacher with the Cryptophagidce ; it is a reddish-brown insect, 

 about one-eighth of an inch long, and is met with under bark. 

 Mycetophagus Quadriguttatus, Mull., is a more typical representa- 

 tive of this family. It is of a pitchy-brown or reddish-brown 

 colour, and of the size of the last species, but is a much broader 

 insect, and has a yellow spot on each shoulder, and another on 

 each elytron, beyond the middle. 



FAMILY ^LllLThorictidce. 



Tarsi five-jointed ; coxae transverse ; antennae short, thickened 

 into a cylindrical club ; scutellum very broad ; elytra entirely 

 covering the abdomen. 



The few species of this family appear to be almost confined 



c 



