BEETLES. 



383 



^IG. 450. — Saprlnus maw- 

 ritanicus, ' 



Fig. 451. — Hololepta 

 fossularis. 



of this genus ; most of them are found about carcasses ; the species are difficult to 

 distinguish. 



In IBster, another large genus, well represented in North 

 America, the prosternum is lobed anteriorly, the antennal club 

 is broadly oval and distinctly annulated, the labrum trapezoidal, 

 and the cavities for the reception of the antennas are anteriorly 

 situated, and open in front. IT. arcuatus is one of the largest 

 North American species, being about 0.35 of an inch long, and 

 marked with a curved red stripe ufton each elytrum. IT. bi- 

 maculatus is found both in Europe and North America. 

 Closely relaited to Sister, but having a truncate antennal 

 club, and a transverse labrum, is Tribalus. T. scaphidiformis 



is found in Algiers and Portugal. In OnthopMlus the antennal 

 ~\^ \jy,\J »£r cavities, which are beneath the angle of the prothorax, are open 



) //^sV »T\\ 1 below and closed in front, and the prosternum is scarcely lobed 



in front. O. alternatus, a small species, not over 0.1 of an inch 

 long, is from the eastern United States. 



The species of Hololepta are quite different, in general 

 appearance, from all the other Histeridse. They are very much 

 flattened, the head and mandibles are prominent. H. fossularis 

 is about 0.4 of an inch long, shining black, and is found in the 

 eastern United States beneath the bark of decaying trees. 



The ScAPi-iiiD^ contain a small number of very shiny 

 beetles of similar form and coloration to the Histeridss, but easily 

 distinguished from the latter by their clavate antennte, which are 

 not geniculate, and by other structural characters. The larvae are 

 said to have long antennae. 



The family of Phalackid^ is small, and consists of only four 

 genera of little convex shining beetles, that live upon flowers or 

 under bark. Phalacrus, Olibriis, and Litochrus are represented 

 in the North American fauna. Tolyphus granulatus, which is 

 here figured, belongs to the only other genus, and is from south- 

 ern France and northern Africa. 



The Teichopteeygid/e are the smallest known beetles. The antennae are verti- 

 cillate with long hair, and the wings are fringed with hair. A 

 few are apterous. The larvae are active and cai-nivorous, those of 

 some species feeding on Podurida3. PHj)ation lasts but a few 

 days. Quite a number of the Trichopterygidfe are myrmecophil- 

 ■» ainuw o^S) others live under bark. Trichopiteryx atomaria is found 



Tl I IIV ^o^^ in Europe and in America. 



» r lllitN ^^^ typical carrion-beetles belong to the family Silpi-iid.<e. 



These beetles are often of considerable size, and have clavate an- 

 tennae. The characters which Drs. Le Conte and Horn give to 

 separate the beetles of this family from others having clavate 

 antennae are as follows : dorsal segments of the abdomen partly 

 membranous, ventral segments free, mentum moderate or small, 

 palpi approximate at their bases ; anterior coxae large, conical, and prominent ; pos- 

 terior coxae more or less conical and prominent; eyes finely granulated, sometimes 



Pig. 463. — Tricliopteryx 

 cttomnria. 



