BIOLOGY OF SOME COMMON LAMPYRID^i. 53 



whether in the presence of the male or not. In no case was there 

 observed a definite exchange of flashes between the sexes, yet it 

 seems very evident that the light-emission functions in bringing 

 the sexes together. On several occasions, while holding females 

 in my hand, males flew to them and they would have alighted 

 had my presence not scared them away, and on two occasions, 

 while holding males, females flew and alighted beside the cap- 

 tured males. This would lead one to believe that there is a 

 definite sexual attraction by means of light-emissions between 

 the sexes of this species, and that the female, having become an 

 active flier, is also attracted to the male. In each case observed 

 where the two sexes were attracted to one another, both con- 

 tinued to flash actively, but in no case was there any evidence 

 that one was responding to the flash of the other. In no case 

 did the female of this species assume a vertical position or expose 

 the abdomen so that the light would be flashed in the direction of 

 the male. It is possible that the brilliancy of the light-emissions 

 on the part of the female has obviated the necessity for such 

 exposure. Even while the females were on the ground the 

 flashes were easily perceptible for a considerable distance. 



Copulation was observed in the field on three occasions. 

 Unlike our other native fireflies, these beetles were never observed 

 in copula on, or near, the ground, but while clinging to the leaves 

 of trees, often at considerable height. While in this state the 

 flashing of the light-organs apparently ceased, though one female 

 was found emitting a rather dim continuous glow during this 

 period. 



Egg laying usually began about one week after emergence 

 and continued at intervals for a period of about two or three 

 weeks. Several females, which were captured early in the 

 season, were dissected to determine their egg laying capacity. 

 On the average, each female contained about fifty mature eggs, 

 with from seventy-five to a hundred smaller ones, indicating 

 that the eggs were at varying stages of maturity. 



The characteristic place for the oviposition by the female is at 

 the base of grass or moss in damp loamy soil. Oviposition was 

 not observed in the field, yet on several occasions eggs were 

 found which had been deposited at the base of the roots of grass 



