WALTER N. HESS. 



LO 



tile elements, the caudal filaments (Fig. 8, C, F), which are used 

 in propelling the body forward. On the lateral sides of the 

 eighth abdominal sternite are two luminous areas, the larval 

 light-organs (LO}. 



Resembling to a certain extent the habits of the adults, these 



larvae unless disturbed were not 

 found active during the daytime. 

 At this time they are usually under- 

 neath stones or concealed in de- 

 pressions in the ground. At night 

 they become active and their light 

 can be frequently seen as they 

 wander about in their natural hab- 

 itat. When the ground is smooth 

 a small garden rake is of advantage 

 in collecting them, as they can be 

 easily disturbed by it, thus expos- 

 ing their light-organs to view. The 

 glow of their light-organs is not 

 visible when the larva? are lying 

 on the ground, as it can only be 

 seen when the ventral sides of their 



FIG. 8. Photurus pennsylvanica 

 larva, ventral view of abdomen, abdomens are exposed to view. { A 



LO, larval light-organ; CF, caudal flash-light is also of assistance in 

 filaments ' collecting them. 



While in the field, collecting on numerous occasions during the 

 evening, larvae were found wandering about apparently in search 

 of food. On two occasions they were taken while feeding on 

 snails, which they had evidently killed a short time before being 

 discovered. As the larvae crawled about, their heads were fully 

 distended, the maxillary palpi and antennas were constantly in 

 motion, and it appeared as if they were feeling their way by 

 means of these organs. From observations on their movements, 

 even when a snail was very near, it seemed very probable that 

 the larvae find their food by chance, and having found it they 

 tap it several times with their maxillary palpi and antennae before 

 beginning to feed. Since newly hatched larvae and those one- 

 year-old were abundant, efforts were made to determine more in 

 detail the methods of feeding and the nature of their food. 



.--C F 



