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Genus IV. PTINVS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna filiform, very long, of eleven articula- 

 tions, of which the last are the longest. Tho- 

 rax nearly round, not margined, receiving the 

 head under it. 



General Observations. 



The Ptini, which are very small insects, are 

 commonly found on walls and in houses ; they 

 infest granaries, but are seldom met with in the 

 fields. In their habits they resemble the Der- 

 mestides. Like them, when touched they draw 

 in their head, and pressing their antennas and 

 feet against their body, make a mockery of death, 

 and thus endeavour to escape the danger to 

 which they appear no longer sensible. 



The larvae are provided with six feet. The 

 body, which is covered with wrinkles, is soft, 

 cylindrical, and very lightly downy, the hinder 

 part is curved inwards, giving the larva the ap- 

 pearance of an arch. The head is hard, scaly, 



and has two very strong little jaws. These in- 

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