1985] 
Ashe — Meronera venustula 
201 
ing that generalized predatory inclinations are not strongy devel 
oped; and 3) large amounts of fungus mycelium was present in guts 
of some adults and larvae. 
Though structural characteristics of mouthparts of larvae and 
adults of M. venustula are not as highly derived in association with 
fungus feeding as are those of the mushroom inhabiting Gyrophae- 
nina (see Ashe 1984 and In press), several features of mouthparts of 
adults and larvae are similar to those found among known fungus 
eating beetles. These also suggest that they have somewhat differ- 
ent feeding habits from many other aleocharines which are believed 
to be more general predators. 
Mouthpart characteristics of larvae which suggest that observa- 
tions of fungus feeding are not aberrent include the apically bifid 
mandibles which are broadly concave internally (Figure 3), the large 
dense patch of spines on the epipharynx (Figure 7) and perhaps the 
short broad ligula (Figure 8). Features of adults which suggest fun- 
gus feeding include the prominent ridge of distinct teeth with rows 
of smaller teeth more basally in the molar region of the mandible 
(Figure 18). Seevers (1978) and Ashe (1984) have suggested that 
such teeth in the molar region of mandibles of aleocharines are 
probably usually associated with fungus feeding. Preliminary obser- 
vations of habits of several aleocharine species which have this 
characteristic (unpublished data) have supported this contention. 
However, it is interesting that maxillae of adults of adults of M. 
venustula (Figure 17) are not noticably modified from the generali- 
zed aleocharine condition. Among the fungus feeding Gyrophae- 
nina it is the maxilla which is most strikingly developed in 
association with this habit. It is, however, important to note the 
different fungal resource that is being used by gyrophaenines, which 
feed on the hymenium layer of fruiting bodies of agarics, and 
members of M. venustula which apparently feed primarily on fungal 
hyphae. In any instance, these structural characteristics of adult and 
larval M. venustula are consistent with the habit of fungus feeding. 
However, they are also consistent with general omnivory or detriti- 
vory, and these habits cannot be eliminated as the generalized feed- 
ing mode in this species. 
The weight of evidence suggests that both adults and larvae of M. 
venustula feed on fungus mycelium or fruiting structures which 
would be abundant in the wet vegetable litter in which they live. 
However, though they were able to effectively feed on fungus myce- 
