Black Beetles

(Histeridae), a family of beetles. Bodylength, 0.8-20 mm. The body is thick, with a hard shell, clavate feelers, shortened wing covers, and digging legs. The larvae have short legs and two double-jointed appendages at the end of theabdomen. There are approximately 3, 500 species, of which 280 are found in the USSR. Black beetles are predators, feeding onthe larvae of other insects. They live in carrion, in dung, inburrows and nests of animals and birds, and under bark; somespecies live in anthills. A number of species are beneficial becausethey destroy harmful insects (such as fly larvae in dung, flealarvae in burrows, and bark beetles).