Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/497

 BEETLE 477 great numbers of aquatic insects and water snails; they pass the nymph state in cavities in the earth, for about three weeks. Other genera are elophorw and sphteridium ; the latter i< terrestrial. 6. The lamellieornes are the last family of the pentamera, including numerous genera, among which are some of the most brilliant and the largest of the order ; those that feed on vegetable substances are beautifully colored, while dark tints prevail among those which devour decaying animal matters. The untennea are deeply inserted under the side of the head, short, ending in a knob, composed of plates or lamina. An idea of the form of the larva, which are often very destructive to vegetation, may be formed from the well known white worm, the larva of the melolontha. In this family is included the genus scarabceus of Linnaeus, proper to warm Scarabams enema. climates, particularly Africa; they live in or- dure of all kinds; the ateuchus sacer, an object of religious veneration among the ancient Egyp- tians, and often represented on their monu- ments, and found in the sarcophagi, belongs to this genus. Other genera are copris, geotrupes, trox, melolontha, cetonia, and lucanut (stag beetle). While many of the melolonthians are Stag Beetle. destructive, the gectriipiilif and srarabceida are useful in removing carrion and filth. The heteromera, the second section of the order, are all vegetable feeders; many of them avoid the light. It includes: 7. The family mela- soma, of black or ash-colored species, for the most part apterous, with the elytra as it were soldered together ; some of them have a sali- vary apparatus; they dwell on the ground, under stones, and in dark situations in houses, quitting their retreats at night ; they are slow in their movements. Among the genera are pimelia, blaps, and tenebrio (meal worms). They and their larvae are useful scavengers. 8. The taxicornes have no corneous tooth on the inner side of the jaws ; all are winged, and the legs are not adapted for running; in the males the head is sometimes furnished with horns. Most live on tree fungi or under the bark, or under stones on the ground. Some of the genera are diaperis, phaleria, and ele- dona. These fungus-eaters are useful to man. 9. The stenelytra, differ from the preceding chiefly in the antennas ; they are very active, concealing themselves under the bark or among the leaves and flowers of trees ; some live in fungi, others in old wood. To this belong the genera helops, cistela, dirccea, cedemera, and others serviceable to man. 10. The trache- lides live on plants, of which they devour the leaves and suck the juices. Here belong the genera lagria, pyrochroa, mordella, notoxus, horia, meloe, cantharis, &c. ; the C. vesien- toria, or Spanish fly, is well known in medi- cine for its blistering properties. The third section, the tetramera, are vegetable feeders. It includes: 11. The rhynchophora, a large and richly ornamented family, living very often in the interior of fruit and seeds, and very destructive to the products of the farm and the orchard ; it is easily recognized by its projecting muzzle. Among the genera are bruehus, whose larvea are very destructive; attelabus; brentia ; curculio, the greatest pest of the horticulturist; calandra, one of whose species, the weevil, destroys immense quantities of grain; the larvee of the G. palmarum are considered a great dainty by the West Indian blacks. 12. The xylophagi, in the larva state, destroy or render useless great numbers of for- est trees by the channels which they gnaw in various directions. Among the most destructive is the genus scolytm; other genera are bostri- cJius and trogosita. 13. The platysoma are found beneath the bark of trees. The principal genus is cucujus. 14. The longicornes have filiform and very long antennas ; their larvae live in the interior or beneath the bark of trees, where they are very destructive. Some of the species are among the largest of the order. Among the genera are parandra, cerumbyx, cal- lidium, lamia, saperda, and leptura. 15. The eupoda derive their, name from the large size of the posterior thighs in many species ; they are all winged, and occur on the stems and leaves of plants, especially the Uliacece. Among the genera are sugra, crioceru, and donacia. Hi. The cycliea are small, slow in their move- ments, but often brilliantly colored ; the females are very prolific. Here are placed the gene- ra Jiispn, cassida, cryptocephalus, chrysomela ;