Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/496

 476 BEETLE earth; the larvae are of a forbidding appear- ance and extremely voracious, seizing any in- sect which passes the openings of their subter- ranean holes. All the cambici, in the grub and perfect state, feed on living prey ; they emit a fetid liquid when pursued, and are for the most part agile runners; many have no true wings; they conceal themselves in the earth or under stones and the bark of trees. Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus crepitans). This is a very numerous tribe, and its study is difficult. Some of the most interesting genera are curatui, scaritea, harpalus, brachimis, fe- ronia, &c. Among the carabidce or ground beetles, many of which eject a fetid fluid for defensive purposes, may be mentioned the bombardier beetle (bracliinus), of which there are several species in both hemispheres, vary- ing in length from one eighth to half an inch. The wing covers and lower part of abdomen are bluish black ; the rest of the insect, includ- ing the long and narrow head and thorax, legs, and antennae, reddish. The species of brachi- nvs, and of the allied genus apt inns, have re- ceived the above name from their habit of projecting from the anus, with an explosive pnif, a fine acid spray, to the distance of sev- eral inches, so irritating to the eyes and abraded skin as to cause severe smarting, and discoloring the cuticle as if by an acid ; the fluid is very volatile, and of a pungent odor. They are carnivorous in all their stages, and not injurious to vegetation. The larger tropical species are the most brilliant. The hydrocan- thari, or swimming beetles, include the genera dytwciis and gyrinus ; the feet are adapted for swimming, being compressed and ciliated ; they live in the fresh lakes and marshes and quiet streams of all countries, and they pass their first and final stages in the water. The dytuci can live on the land and also can fly; they vary in size from H inch to of an inch in length; they are carnivorous and voracious, and can remain a long time under water in pursuit of their prey; they swim on the sur- face with great rapidity. The gyrini are small- er, and may be found in troops on the surface of still waters, darting about with surprising agility ; they can see in the water and in the air at the same time ; they can fly well, though they swim better; the eggs are deposited on the leaves of aquatic plants. This family is useful in destroying noxious and predaceous in- sects and grubs. 2. The brupjielytra have but one palpus in the jaws, or four in all ; the wing cases are shorter than the body, which is nar- row and elongated ; the head is large and flat, the mandibles strong, the antennao short; they live in rnoist earth, on dung and other ex- crementitious matters, and most of all in de- caying animal carcasses; they are courageous and strong, running or flying with the greatest facility; they destroy insects with eagerness. This family is composed entirely of the old and vaguely determined Limut-an genus staplty- linun. The larva? live in the same situations as the perfect insects. The family are very use- ful natural scavengers. 3. The serricornes have elytra covering the abdomen, and antennas equal throughout, dentated, saw-like or fan- like. Among the most interesting genera is buprestis, many of whose species are very large and exceedingly brilliant; these walk very slowly, but are excellent flyers ; they are most numerous in warm climates, and live gen- erally in wood. The genus elater is remark- able for the shortness of the legs, and for the faculty it lias of changing from a supine posi- tion to its feet by springing into the air by means of a spine on its pnesternum ; the species '. are found in flowers or plants, and on the ground ; some of the American species, as the E. noctilvcits, are phosphorescent, and are j called fireflies. The genus lampyris also is interesting, as containing the- phosphorescent species whose females go by the name of glow- worms. The genus telephone is noted as fur- nishing the species which are occasionally taken up by high winds, and deposited in distant regions, causing the so-called insect showers. The tick of the death-watch is produced by a species of anobivm, living in decaying wood. The larvae sometimes cause great destruction of valuable timber. 4. The elavieornet have the antenna? thickened or knob-shaped at the end ; they live chiefly on animal substances. The genus hister feeds on decaying and ex- crementitious matters. The genus necropJiorus is noted for its habit of interring small animals, such as mice and moles, for the purpose of de- positing its eggs in the decaying carcass; this they do by removing the earth beneath the body, which falls into the hollow ; their sense of smell must be extremely acute. The genus iilpJia also prefers putrefying animal sub- stances. The genera dermestes and anthrenut, in their larva state, are perfect pests to the naturalist, as they devour every animal sub- stance accessible in his cabinet ; the action of heat, usually employed to destroy them, is nearly as destructive as the insects. 5. The palpicornes resemble the preceding family in the shape of the antennae, composed of only nine joints, and the feet in most of the genera are formed for swimming. The genus hyiiro- philus is carnivorous and voracious, frequenting fresh water and marshes, swimming well, but not so rapidly as dytiscus ; their larvss destroy