PATJSSIDiE. 
267 
The life-history of no species is known. These beetles are found at 
light, have been repeatedly found walking on the soil and are found in 
Fig. 152.—A. Ceratoderus oberthuri, B. E u pla tyrhopa l u s aplustifer, 
C. Platyrhopalus mellyi. 
(.After Desneux .) 
ants’ nests. It is believed they are all myrmecophilous, living on vary¬ 
ing terms of indebtedness in the nests of surface ants. They fly quickly 
and settle with the wings extremely quickly closed, so that they appear 
to fall rather than to settle. As in the previous family, these beetles 
secrete a liquid which is irritant to the human skin. 
Of the known species (Desneux, Genera Insectorum), nearly 300 
in number, about one-seventh are Indian, and the fauna is comparatively 
rich in forms. They are found in the plains as in the hills and probably 
many plains’ forms remain to be discovered. 
Platyrhopalus denticornis, Donov. (Plate XVI), is apparently the 
most common, found at light and walking on the soil. Merismoderus 
Bensoni, Westw., is known from the United Provinces and figured by 
Westwood (Cab. Oriental Entomology, Plate XLI, Fig. 4); he states 
that it was found in a “ black ants’ nest.” Many Indian species 
of this family are figured in Westwood’s Arcana Entomologica. 
