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"The mature beetle in life rivals asparagi in beauty, but may be distinguished by its much broader elytra and its color. The ground color is orange red; each elytron is marked with six black dots, and the knees and a portion of the under surface of the thorax are also marked with black. The beetle, as it occurs on the plant when in fruit, very closely resembles at a little distance the ripening asparagus berry."—Government Printing Office, 1897

Crioceris 12-Punctata

"The mature beetle in life rivals asparagi in beauty, but may be distinguished by its much broader elytra…

"The Mimic Beetles seldom exceed one-third of an inch in length, and are of very solid consistence, their elytra being so hard that the pin of the entomologist is with difficulty made to enter. They are somewhat square in form, with the upper surface highly polished, feeding chiefly on putrid substances and found in great abundance in spring on the dung of oxen and horses." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Mimic Beetle

"The Mimic Beetles seldom exceed one-third of an inch in length, and are of very solid consistence,…

"Readily distinguished from the other groups of beetles by having the elytra much shorter then the abdomen, although they still suffice to cover the long membranous wings, which when not in use are completely folded beneah. The abdomen is long and exceedingly mobile, and is employed in folding and unfolding the wings. It is furnished at its extremity with two vesicles which can be protruded or withdrawn at pleasure, and from which, when irritated, many species emit a most disagreeable odor, although in a few the scent is more pleasing. They are voracious both in the larval and perfect states, feeding chiefly upon decaying animal and vegetable matters, although a few species devour living prey. Many of the smaller forms reside in and feed on mushrooms, some are found abundantly under putrescent plants, others in manure heaps, where they feed upon the maggots of flies, while there are a few forms which make their homes in the nests of the hornet and the ant." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Brachelytra

"Readily distinguished from the other groups of beetles by having the elytra much shorter then the abdomen,…