232 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



once from all others by their square, short fore 

 wings, naked body, elongate form, and disgusting 

 manner of turning up the tail like a scorpion. 

 Inhabits and devours all putrefying substances, 

 also living insects. Staphylinus. 



770. Short-winged moss-beetles (Pselaphites}. 

 Larva and pupa unknown. Imago with acute 

 dentate mandibles ; obtuse maxillae ; rounded, 

 exarticulate, though somewhat palpiform galea ; 

 maxillary feelers clavated, immensely developed, 

 often equalling the antennae in size ; antennae 

 with ten or eleven joints, the last joint incrassated, 

 forming a club ; fore wings quadrate and abbre- 

 viated ; hind wings usually wanting ; tarsi two- 

 jointed. Very minute ; slow in its movements. 

 Inhabits moss and the roots of grass, feeding on the 

 Acari which occur in those situations. Pselaphus. 



771. Long-winged moss-beetles (Scydmcenites). 

 Larva and pupa unknown. Imago with antennae 

 eleven-jointed, moniliform, incrassated exteriorly; 

 the basal joint rather long, the apical one ovate, 

 which, with the two preceding, is incrassated ; 

 maxillary feelers very large, the third joint stout 

 and conical, the fourth and terminal one small, 

 acute ; fore wings completely cover the body ; the 

 tarsi five -jointed. Inhabits moss, and under planks 

 near cucumber frames ; feed on Acari. Scyd- 

 mcznus, Eutheia. 



772. Fungus-beetles (Endomycites). Larva 

 with six distinct articulate legs ; head small ; 



