2 BULLETIN 264, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGKICTJLTURE. 
It now seems probable that in some of these cases the rove-beetle 
might have been the culprit. The complaints cover scatteringly a 
span of 12 years. 
It .has been hoped that something more definite than is recorded 
concerning the life history of the insect could be learned before pub- 
lication. The notes now presented, however, show conclusively the 
injurious character of the insect, and the remedies advised and used 
have proved perfectly successful, showing that it is not by any means 
a difficult insect with which the gardener or florist has to cope. 
DESCRIPTIVE. 
The ant which this beetle especially resembles is known as the 
pavement ant (Tetramorium caespitum L.). This ant often occurs 
in greenhouses, but when the two insects 
are carefully compared the much larger 
antennae, or " feelers," of the beetle will 
readily be noticed. 
' Ap ocellus sphaericollis belongs to the 
group Oxytelini of the family Staphy- 
linidse, and is the sole representative of 
its genus occurring in the United States. 
It was originally described by Say in 
1834, under the name of Lathrobium 
sphaericolle. The general appearance of 
the insect is shown in the accompanying 
illustration (fig. 1). The head is only 
fig, i.— The violet rove-beetie s lightlv larger than the thorax, which is 
(ip ocellus sphaericollis): \'-, i i r™ i , 
Adult. Greatly enlarged, somewhat rounded. Ihe elytra or wing 
(Original.) covers are very short, as is usual in 
typical Staphylinidse. The femora or thighs are larger than those 
of ants, but this is not noticeable at a distance when the insects are 
at work. The total length of the insect is about 2.5 millimeters. 
October 14, 1901, Mr. L. J. Barber, Wheeler Eoad, near Congress 
Heights, Washington, D. C, brought living specimens of this rove- 
beetle, with report that it was injuring violets grown in hothouses, 
particularly low-growing forms, but did not attack the high-growing 
plants. He was positive that the beetles destroyed the flowers by 
riddling them with holes, and in response to inquiry thought it quite 
probable that they were introduced in manure that he was using. 
Injury was thought, both by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of the Bureau 
of Entomology, who furnished the identification of the species, and 
by the writer, to be due to some other insect, but Mr. Barber stated 
otherwise. 
