354 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



by Blaps mortisaga, B. oUusa, and others of the same genus. The odorous fluid, 

 both of Blaps and of Eleodes, is secreted by two glands, one on each side, near the 

 anus, from which it is ejected, sometimes in the case of Eleodes longicollis to a dis- 

 tance of three or four inches. Mr. C. P. Gissler, who has examined the secretion of 

 Eleodes, states that it has an acid reaction, stains the skin brown and causes lachryma- 

 tion; has a very jjenetrating, indescribable odor; is soluble in water, alcohol, and 

 ether; and sometimes crystallizes on a glass, forming an orange-colored magma of 

 minute crystals. Blaps obtusa, according to Hornung and Bley, contains a red pig- 

 ment, volatile and fatty oil, resin, formic and uric acids, and wax, besides cliitin and 

 other substances. Kirby and Spence write that, "Pliny tells us of a Blatta, which, 

 from his description, is evidently the darkling-beetle (_Bfojjs mortisaga), and which he 

 recommends as an infallible nostrum, when applied with oil extracted from the cedar, 

 in otherwise incurable ulcers, that was an object of general disgust on account of its 

 ill scent, a character which it still maintains." 



The sub-family Asidinse contains numerous genera, among which Asida is well 

 known since it is represented by inimerous sj)ecies in the European fauna and by over 

 thirty sfiecies, all from west of the Mississippi River, in the United States. The sj^ecies 

 of Asida inhabit desert regions. They are apterous and have an ovate body. 



The sub-family Tentyriin^ contains, with few excejjtions, apterous species. The 

 only species of the Tentyriinse found in the northeastern United States is Phellopsis 

 ohcordata, which is found from Marj'land to Canada. It is about 0.55 of an inch long 

 and one-third as wide, is dark brown, is roughened by deep punctures and prominent 

 elevations, and has the anterior portion of the prothorax winged laterally. It is found 

 upon fungi in localities similar to those frequented by Bolitothencs hifurcus, which its 

 color and rugosity recall. 



Stjb-Oedbr IV. — Pentameea. 



The Pentamera, the group of beetles normally having tarsi with five joints, includes 

 all the Coleoptera to be described hereafter in this work, and probably contains about 

 one half the known species of Coleoptera. Omission is made of some of the smaller 

 and less interesting families in order to allow more space for those families which are 

 of most importance. 



The family Lymexylonid^ contains but four genera and a limited number of 

 species, but the destruction of ship-timber in western Europe by JLymexylon navale, 

 and Linnasus' application of a remedy by immersing the timber during the time of 

 oviposition of the beetle, early called the attention of naturalists to this species. The 

 species of this family have a deflexed head, which is narrowed behind; the eleven- 

 jointed serrate antennas are inserted on the sides of the head ; the coxffi are all con- 

 tiguous in the three American genera, but in Atractocerus the anterior coxae are 

 separate ; the legs are slender. Bymexylon has entire elytra and the abdomen with 

 five ventral segments. The species generally resemble those of certain ElateridaB, or 

 spring-beetles, later to be described. The larva; of L. navale are slender, six-legged 

 grubs ; the head is small, the first segment enlarged, and the last segment bears a leaf- 

 like appendage above. These larvas make long cylindrical burrows in oak wood. 

 None of the Bymexylonidoe are sufiiciently abundant in America to cause damage. 

 Micromalthus debilis, a minute but interesting species, has been reared by Mr. H. G. 

 Hubbard, from decayed wood found in Detroit, Mich. 



