COLEOPTERA. 



*39 



characters in distinguishing between the different species of a genus. In the 

 division of the family to which Hister belongs, the prosternum is produced in 

 front, forming a prominent " chin-piece " which serves to protect the lower part of 

 the head when the latter is retracted. In Saprinus the " chin-piece " is wanting. 



The Nitidididce have some resemblance in external form to the Histeridce, 

 though they are generally of smaller size, with their integuments less hard, and 

 their colours a little more varied. The elytra are 

 slightly truncate behind, leaving a variable number of 

 the segments of the abdomen exposed. The antenna? 

 are eleven-jointed or, exceptionally, ten-jointed, with 

 the last two or three joints forming a knob; the maxillae 

 have as a rule but a single lobe, and the tarsi are five- 

 jointed, though in a few genera the males, at least, 

 have only four joints in the posterior tarsi. Many of 

 the species are found feeding and breeding in decaying 

 vegetable or animal substances, such as rotten wood, 

 bark, fungi, and in carcases or bones ; some frequent 

 the exuding sap of trees ; while a very large number 

 are to be seen on flowers, amongst which are the 

 brightly-coloured little beetles of the genus Meligethes. 

 The species figured (M. cenews) is one of the commonest, 

 and met with chiefly on the flowers or leaves of cruci- 

 ferous plants. In Germany these little beetles are well 

 known, on account of the depredations they commit 

 in crops of rape. A few days after emerging from 

 their winter sleep, the beetles lay their eggs in the 

 buds ; in about a fortnight the larvae are hatched and 

 proceed to feed on the undeveloped or full-blown 

 flowers ; while later on they attack the young pods, 

 to which they do more damage than the beetles them- 

 selves. The small family Byturidce may also be 

 mentioned here. The genus Byturus contains only 

 four or five known species, which are confined to 

 Europe and North America, and one of which is 

 familiar to gardeners and others as the " raspberry 

 beetle." This species (B. tomentosus) is somewhat 

 oblong in form, from an eighth to a sixth of an inch 



in length, of a dirty yellowish colour, and covered with a yellow down. Though 

 found on flowers of many different kinds, it is especially common on raspberry 

 blossoms, and the cylindrical brownish larvae sometimes do much damage to the 

 flowers and fruit. 



The Dermestidce have a special interest, owing to the destructive habits of 

 many of the species. The beetles themselves are small in size, oblong or oval 

 in shape, sometimes nearly round, and usually clothed with fine closely lying 

 hairs or scales, which frequently give rise to greyish or yellowish spots or bands 

 on the elytra. The front of the head, except in the genus Dermestes, bears a single 



Meligethes ceneus (nat. size and 

 greatly magnified). 



