204 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
dermestid fed and multiphed. In such cases, after the hides were re- 
moved and lumber placed in the hold, the larvae bored into the wood to 
pupate. The hide beetle (Vermestes vulpinus F.) (fig. 43) and the 
larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius lL.) are the chief offenders in such 
cases. 
licure 48.—Adult beetles: A, Glischrochilus sanguinolentus Oliv.; B, Dermestes 
vulpinus; C, Pomphopoea sayi Lec.; D, Cucujus clavipes F.; E. Alobates 
Pennsylvanica Deg.: F, Silpha inequalis F. 
Famity OSTOMIDAE 
Several beetles of the family Ostomidae are important and useful 
predators, ranking with the clerids in their destruction of injurious 
forest insects, whereas other members of the group feed on grain, 
decaying vegetable matter, or fungi. The predaceous forms are 
elongate, rather depressed beetles with a trapezoidal thorax, narrowest 
behind; having 11- jointed antennae, the last 3 joints forming a loose 
club; and 5- jointed tarsi, the fourth joint very long. The larvae 
closely resemble clerids, and in fact, can be separated only by the rela- 
tively deep retraction of the ventral mouth parts below the point of 
attachment of the mandibles. The prothorax, mesothorax, and meta- 
