22G 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
on the lower surface, except in Eypophloeus. The 
perfect insects and larvae of Gnathocerus cornutus (the 
male of which has its head armed with conspicuous 
and sharp projections) are often found in bakers shops, 
where also Tribolium ferrugineum occurs : the latter, 
however, sometimes exists in its larval state in neg- 
lected collections of insects, which are liable to attack 
from many other enemies, such as Anthrenus, Dermestes, 
Psocus, the larvae of certain Tinese, and — worst of all — 
the lazy, footless, white, fat “ mite,” which so often 
cleans out all the ligaments of specimens, leaving the 
mere outer husk, ready to fall to pieces on being 
manipulated, and often pierced in more than one 
place by its voracious tenant. A single application 
of benzine to any insect supposed to be so infested 
will destroy the parasite, which usually signifies its 
presence by dropping a little heap of fine yellow dust 
underneath the specimen on which it is feeding : never- 
theless, a second or third dose should be administered 
on a future occasion, as the fluid has no effect upon 
any eggs which may happen to have been deposited 
in the body of the insect. 
Both Gnathocerus and Tribolium are small, flat, 
yellow beetles; but the species of Eiypophloeus are 
very different, both in shape and habits, presenting 
a certain likeness to Rkizophagus, on account of their 
linear cylindrical form. They are found under bark, 
or in galleries, where their larvae (as in the last- 
mentioned genus) prey on the larvae of certain wood- 
feeding beetles: H. bicolor, a pretty little red species 
with the apical half of the elytra black, is found not 
uncommonly under elm bark, where its larvae feed on 
those of certain Scolyti, The species of Alphitobius 
