Indian forest insects of economic importance Coleoptera . t truncate elytra whichonly cover the base of the abdomen, and leave exposed this latter, which ismore or less long and flexible. The under-wings are folded up and tuckedaway under these short elytra. The shape varies from elongate and narrowto oval or elongate-oval forms, shining-black or brown or dull yellow-brownin colour. The elongate forms have a superficial resemblance to earwigs(Forficulidae), from which they must be distinguished. The legs ;uv have a tarsus with a variable number of joints. The beetles runrapidly, and
Indian forest insects of economic importance Coleoptera . t truncate elytra whichonly cover the base of the abdomen, and leave exposed this latter, which ismore or less long and flexible. The under-wings are folded up and tuckedaway under these short elytra. The shape varies from elongate and narrowto oval or elongate-oval forms, shining-black or brown or dull yellow-brownin colour. The elongate forms have a superficial resemblance to earwigs(Forficulidae), from which they must be distinguished. The legs ;uv have a tarsus with a variable number of joints. The beetles runrapidly, and have the power of curling up tin- abdominal segments over theback. The mouth is usually provided with stout mandibles, which areoften specially prominent in the larval forms which live under the bark ottrees. In other respects the larvae often resemble in form the beetles, savethat the wings are absent. The beetles and larvae of the forest forms of this family are in manycases predaceous, feeding upon bark- and wood-boring insects, or on species <; 2. ioo FAMILY STAPHYLINIDAE which live under the bark of trees, feeding upon the sap or decaying is probable that some of the staphylinids found in trees also feed chieflyon decaying matter. The few species I have beenable to observe appeared, however, to be predaceousin character. Many of the forms living under the bark of treeshave a general resemblance either to the commonstaphylinid found in country lanes in England, thedevils coach-horse, or to some of the commonerhisterids found beneath the bark of trees. Speciesof both these types are to be found in coniferoustrees preying upon scolytid larvae in the WesternHimalaya; whilst a third, resembling the histerid type, but with a more elongate abdomen, giving the , . FIG. fy.—Staphylina m insect a torpedo-shaped appearance, is to be found bme -e x £ N w beneath the bark of trees. Himalaya. Amongst the trees from which I have taken these small forms ofstaphylinid beetl
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbeetles, bookyear1914
