TH CLERID^. 335 



temperate regions, twenty-five species of the genus Telephorus alone being found in Britain. The 

 smaller species belonging to the genera Malthinus and Malthodes, often marked by pale spots at the tip 

 of the wing-cases, are met with in abundance) in hawthorn blossoms in spring. The next sub-family 

 (DRILIXJE) contains a small number of species only, those whose habits are known, such as Drilus 

 faivescens, resembling the Glowworms in having wingless females, and feeding in the larva state on 

 Snails. On chalk hills in the south of England it may be met with occasionally in the shells of the 

 oommon. Helix nemoralis. These insects differ in structure from the Lampyridae, the head being free, 

 and the antenna? inserted in front of the eyes. Following them are the numerous sub-family 

 Melyridfe, of which there are in Britain six genera, and seventeen species. They are floral Beetles, 

 generally of metallic colours, and sometimes hairy. The species of Malachius are recognisable by 

 their abbreviated wing-covers, spotted with red at the tip, and the curious small fleshy vesicles of red 

 or orange colour which are protruded by the insects from the sides of the thorax and abdomen. 



FAMILIES CLERIDJE, PTIXID.E, AND BOSTRICHID2E. 



Associated with the Malacodermata by some authors are three families, which differ from the 

 general character of the tribe in having integuments of normal horny consistence. The first are the 

 CLERID., a numerous group, infinitely varied in colours and markings, and presenting many singular 

 modifications of important oi'gans, such as the antenna?. Amid all their varieties of form and 

 structure, they may be distinguished from the Melyrinse (their nearest allies), and from other groups 

 of Malacodermata, by their tarsal joints being furnished beneath with flattened membranous 

 appendages, and by the haunches of their hind legs articulating in transverse sockets. Nearly 800 

 species are known, from nearly all parts of the world ; some, such as Necrobia rufipes and 

 ruJicoUis metallic-blue or green hairy insects, with red thorax or red legs, and clubbed antennae being 

 among the most widely -distributed of all known insects, as they feed upon dried animal substances, 

 bones, and the remains of food, and accompany civilised man in all his wanderings. Some of the 

 larger species, belonging to the genus Trichodes, are of metallic colours, with wing-cases banded 

 or spotted with bright red or orange. Many of these are common in Europe, and are well 

 known for the destruction they cause in hives of the Hive Bee, as well as various kinds of social 

 Wild Bee, their larvae devouring the newly-hatched grubs of the Bees in their cells. Carni- 

 vorous propensities seem to be universal in this family, at least in. the larva state ; and even the 

 gaily-coloured, innocent-looking adult Beetles, although frequenting flowers, are often noticed to seize 

 and devour soft-bodied insects. A large proportion of the species, however, belonging to Epipldceus 

 and allied genera, differing from the rest by their russet and inconspicuous colours and markings, are 

 seen only on the trunks and branches of newly-felled trees, their larvae living under the bark, and 

 feeding on the larvae of bark insects. Here the perfect Beetles may be found in tropical countries in 

 the bright sunshine, running about with great agility, and vieing with the green and gold-spangled 

 Buprestidae in activity. Many others, such as the long, slender Priocerce, which have serrated 

 antenna?, are found slowly moving about the leaves and slender twigs of trees; and others 

 (HYDNOCERA, with short thread-like antennae, clubbed at the tip, and many of the Enopliinae) infest 

 the broad-leaved Heliconiae and Marantaceous plants in American forests, running over the leaves, 

 and preying on small Phytophaga. All the known larvae resemble closely those of the Melyridae, thus 

 proving the close affinity of the two groups. 



The PTINID.E are convex, oval, or rounded insects, with generally longish filiform antennae. They 

 breed in dead wood, and are often very destructive in their larva state, especially to furniture in 

 houses and warehouses. The BOSTRICHID.E are of cylindrical form, with the three terminal joints of 

 the antennae forming a club, and are recognisable by the great convexity and roughened surface of the 

 front part of the thorax, which hides the head when the insect is viewed from above. They are 

 wood-eaters, and amongst the most efficient agents in the destruction of trees in the countries where 

 they abound. One species (Sinoxylon sexdentatum) is sometimes very destructive to the grape-vine 

 in the south of France. 



