Usually elongated, small (Fig. 70). The short truncated wing-covers leave the whole of the abdomen exposed. The rove beetles resemble the earwigs in their appearance and in a way they have of frequently lifting up the hinder end of the body and turning it forwards. Tarsi five-jointed, jaws strongly developed. The six-legged larvæ resemble those of the ground beetles, but have a relatively large head. The beetles live through the winter; the metamorphosis takes place in autumn. Live on the ground under fallen leaves, also under the bark of trees; in carcases. Some chiefly eat insects living in the soil and noxious insects; others, dung and decomposing matter. (Species of _Staphylinus_, and of _Ocypus_, e.g. _O. olens_, the =Devil’s Coach Horse=.) Several are of service. A few devour the parts of plants. _Anthobium torquatum_ is found in large numbers in the flowers of rape, devouring the petals, stamens, and pollen. Family: =Silphidæ= (_Burying_, or _Sexton Beetles_). The antennæ either thicken gradually or have only the end-joints larger; body flat; head projecting; tarsi five-jointed. The burying beetles and their larvæ feed on dead animals. A few (sp. of _Necrophorus_) bury the whole animal in the earth, and lay their eggs in it. Failing carrion, some of them can live on vegetable food; these sometimes do harm. Others prefer living insects and snails. They are of service in the economy of nature by doing away with stinking bodies. The following are sometimes harmful: =Black Burying Beetle= (_Silpha atrata_, Fig. 71), the larvæ of which often do much damage in fields of beetroot; _Silpha opaca_ (=Beet Carrion Beetle=), and _S. reticulata_, which, in the adult condition, may do harm to several kinds of plants. Remedies need not be considered, as it is only rarely they increase so largely as to make the supply of carrion insufficient, and consequently attack plants. Family: =Nitidulidæ= (_Shine Beetles_).