404" CLASS INSECTA. 



ten distinct articulations, and whose palpi are very short, and, 

 inflated underneath, afterwards proceed into a point. The 

 body is orbicular. {N'ltidula orbiculata, Gyll.) 



Among those whose antennae have eleven distinct articu- 

 lations, and whose palpi are filiform, or proceed thickening, 

 we shall first separate those whose antennae are not receiveci 

 in any special fossets of the under part of the corslet. The 

 presternum rarely advances on the mouth, with the sole 

 exception of Dermestes undatus of Fabricius, and Limni- 

 ckus. 



In some the antennae are terminated abruptly in a perfo- 

 liate knob, large, and formed by the last three articulations. 



Dermestes, Lin. Geoff. Fab., 



In which the antennae are similar, or but little different in 

 the two sexes. The length of the last articulation does not 

 remarkably exceed that of the preceding. 



Some species commit great ravages in furrieries and cabi- 

 nets of natural history. Accordingly, Degeer designates 

 them under the title of dissectors. In fact, D. Lardarius 

 cuts and reduces to pieces the insects in the collections into 

 which it penetrates. The others devour carcasses. 



D. Lardarius, Lin. Oliv. Col. II. 9. i. 1. is black, with 

 the base of the elytra ashen, and punctuated with black. 

 Its larva is elongated, diminishing insensibly in thickness 

 from front to posteriors, of a marrow-brown above, white 

 underneath, furnished with long hairs, with two kinds of 

 scaly horns, on the last ring. It casts its excrements in the 

 form of long threads.* 



Megatoma, Herbst. Lin. Geoff. Fab. 

 Differ from Dermestes only by the knob of their antennae, 



• Add, D. Vulpinus, murinus, afflnis, hniaritis, tesselatus, trifasciattis of 

 Gyllenhall. (Ins. Suec. I. p. 145. et seq.) 



