SCARABiEIDiE. 
251 
Rhyssemus includes very small species, resembling Scolytids; 
Rhyssemus germanus , Linn., is the common species in Bengal and Behar, 
and has been seen flying in very great numbers in warm still evenings in 
March. Choetopisthes is recorded by Wassmann from nests of Termes 
obesus in India and may be obtained by digging into the large central 
nests and fungus chambers. 
Orphnince.—Orphnus and Ochodaeus. are Indian, with several 
species. Orphnus picinus , Westd., is common in the Himalayas, where it 
makes tunnels in the soil below masses of cowdung, carrying the dung 
down to fill the ends of the tunnels, its larvae being found in the dung- 
mass. 
Hybosorince. Represented by Hybosorus orientalis, Westd., and 
Phceochrous indicus , Westw., the latter not uncommon in the plains. It 
is a flatter insect, with the appearance almost of a Tenebrionid. 
Geotrupinw .—These are nocturnal insects, found abundantly in the 
rains and coming freely to light. Their habits appear to be practically 
unknown in India ; Boucomont says of the group in general that they dig 
long vertical tunnels in the soil where they remain by day, and where 
their larvae live; the beetles feed on dung and fly at night in search of it. 
Lethms and its allies are remarkable for living in couples in burrows and 
feeding on the shoots of plants, but none are recorded as Indian. 
Boucomont has listed the species (Gen. Ins. 1902), mentioning as Indian 
Geotrupes (9), Rolboceras (26), Athyreus 
(2), Ceratophyus (1). B. quadridens , F., 
and B. suhglobosus, Westw., are our com¬ 
mon forms. 
Tmgince .—Four species of Trox occur, 
(Harold Col. Hefte, IX, p. 1), the common 
plains forms being Trox indicus , Hbst., 
T. omacanthus , Har., both quite common. 
They feed on hard dry excrement, which 
appears to be their normal food, with small 
carcases and dead insects. 
Fig. 143.— Tkox indicus. 
