164 



ARTICULATES: INSECTS. 



shrubs and trees, but in their grub or larva state they 

 devour the roots of grasses and other plants, and thus 

 do immense injury to the crops. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, they are kept in check by thescrow and many 

 other animals, which eagerly devour them. 



BUPRESTIANS. 



These beetles, in the larva state, live in the trunks of 

 trees, eating holes in all directions, 

 much to the injury of the tree. 

 Some kinds bore the peach, others 

 the plum, others the oak, and others 

 the pine. The perfect beetles are 

 long and very solid, with a sunken 

 head, and often with metallic colors. 



Fig. 302. Buprestis. 



SPRING OR SNAP BEETLES, OR ELATERS. 



When placed upon the back, these beetles at once, 

 with a snap and a jerk, throw 

 themselves upwards ; and they re- 

 peat the operation till they come 

 down right side up. They per- 

 form this feat by means of a spine- 

 like organ situated on tlje under 

 side of the breast. Snap-Beetles 

 vary from half an inch to two 

 inches in length, and the head is 

 almost concealed in the thorax. 

 One of the most curious kinds has 



Fig. 303. Eyed Spring two eye-like spots on the thorax, 



as seen in Figure 303. 

 Some of the Elaters, and others closely related to 



them, give out a brilliant light at night, and are known 



