526 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XV, No. 8, 
always found associated with the dead fish. Members of the 
Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera have been 
observed in this association. The first two orders named are by 
far the most abundant, both in number of species and individuals. 
Of these the Diptera usually far outnumber the Coleptera in num¬ 
ber of individuals, the only four species*, Lucilia caesar Linne, 
Compsomyia macellaria Fabr.; Sarcophaga sarraceniae Riley, and 
Sarcophaga assidua Walker, all members of the family Sarcopha- 
gidae, are at all common. Diptera are universally present in the 
larval stage and usually in large number while with few exceptions, 
as mentioned, later, the Coleoptera found associated with the 
dead fish are in the adult stage. This makes the Diptera of first 
importance in removing the frequent accumulation of fish. Twen¬ 
ty-one species of Coleoptera in all, as follows, were found by the 
writer associated with dead fish and apparently feeding thereon: 
Silphidce 
Necrophorus americanus Oliv. 
Necrophorus orbicollis Say. 
Necrophorus tomentosus Weber 
Silpha surinamensis Fab. 
Silpha inaequalis Fab. 
Silpha americana Linn. 
Staphylinidce 
Leistotrophus cingulatus Grav. 
Creophilus villosus Grav. 
Philonthus aeneus Rossi. 
DermestidcB 
Dermestes caninus Germ. 
Dermestes vulpinus Fab. 
Histeridce 
Hister imunis E. 
Hister abbreviatus Fab. 
Saprinus lugens Erichs. 
Saprinus pennsylvanicus Payls. 
Saprinus assimilis Payls. 
Saprinus fratemus Say. 
Saprinus patruelis Lee. 
Mitidulidce 
Omosita colon Linn. 
Scarabceidee 
Onthophagus hecate Panz. 
Trox scabrosus Beauv. 
It was thought that the Coleopterous scavangers might be 
most active at night while retiring to more secluded hiding places 
by day. This was disproven by night trips with lantern, when 
Coleoptera were found in no greater numbers than by day, except 
Trox scabrosus Beauv. This last named species was usually 
found in large numbers clumsily wading thru the sand, and leaving 
their paths as irregular lines running in every direction. When 
approached they play “possum” and easily pass for pebbles. 
Their frequency at fish by night, however, did not show a marked 
increase over that of the day. 
One or more of the larval forms of this species may be found in 
their burrows in the sand a few inches under many of the fish, and 
are sometimes found under boards on the fish strewn beach. 
None were observed feeding, however, either by night or day. 
Early in the period of observation it was found that fish 
removed from the beach to shaded places under the trees drew 
coleoptera in much larger number and representing more species, 
