130 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



The CEKMATIID.E have the antennae bristle-like and longer than the body ; the legs 

 are also very long, and facetted eyes instead of ocelli, are present an exceptional 

 feature among the myriapods. Our only species, Cermatia forceps, which is rarely 

 found in New England, but which is more common in Philadelphia and the South, is 

 a beautiful form ; its general color is a greenish brown, sometimes inclining towards 

 purple, the body and legs being striped and banded with green. It is commonly 

 reputed to be poisonous, but authentic cases of its bite are at least rare. 



As a rule the Myriapoda are beneficial to the agriculturist. The carnivorous forms 

 destroy immense numbers of injurious insects, while most of the vegetable feeders 

 live on decaying wood and plants, thus converting them into the very best form of 

 plant food. All, however, are not so innocuous, for some forms, especially the galley 

 Avorms, are known to eat the roots of plants or even to attack the fruit of the straw- 

 berry, cucumber, etc. These forms are often erroneously included under the term 

 wire-worms by gardeners and farmers. 



J. S. KlNGSLEY. 



FIG. 190. Lithobius americanus. 



