SUPERFAMILY I. STAPHYLINOIDEA Antennae simple or clubbed: venation of hind-wings without any closed cells, often greatly reduced. Larvae generally campo dei f orm.
The Staphylinidae (fig. 7) or rove-beetles amount to about 13,00o species, over Boo inhabiting the British Isles. They are easily distinguished by the very short elytra which usually leave the greater part of the abdomen uncovered. Both these beetles and their larvae inhabit the soil or decaying organic matter of many kinds : some are carnivorous and others feed on refuse.
The Silphidae (fig. 8) include the car rion beetles and allies. The true burying beetles (Necrophorus) are large black or black and orange insects feeding upon small animal carcasses. The larvae of some species of Silpha prey upon snails or cater pillars, while those of S. opaca attack root crops.
The Histeridae are a large family of hard, shining beetles with elbowed, clubbed antennae : the alytra are shortened behind, leaving the last two body-segments ex posed. Hister and its allies frequent dung and carrion while other genera live under bark. The larvae are carnivorous.
Among other families, mention must be made of the Trichop terygidae which are the most minute of all beetles.