436 INSECTA. 



have been separated from the genus Lampyris of Linnaeus. They 

 constitute the AMYDETES, Hoff., Germ *. 



Others, also peculiar to South America, whose antennae are com- 

 posed of but eleven joints, present particular characters which have 

 entitled them to the same generic distinction, under the name of 

 PHENGODES, Hoff. The third joint of these organs and the follow- 

 ing ones give off, from the inner side, too long ciliated filaments, 

 which appear to be articulated and convoluted round themselves. 

 The elytra are suddenly narrowed into a point. The wings are ex- 

 tended throughout their entire length, and simply folded longitudi- 

 nally. The maxillary palpi are very salient and almost filiform. The 

 thorax is transversal. The tarsi are filiform, and their penultimate 

 joint is very short and scarcely bilobate. The body is narrow and 

 elongated, with the head exposed f . 



The other species now form the genus 



LAMPYRIS, properly so called, 



Which, from the form of the antennae, the presence or absence of 

 the elytra, wings, &c., is susceptible of several divisions. 



L.noctiluca,lj.\ Panz., Faun., Insect. Germ. XLI, 7- The 

 male about four lines in length ; blackish ; antennas simple ; tho- 

 rax semicircular, receiving the entire head, with two transparent 

 lunate spots; venter black; ultimate annuli pale-yellowish. 



S. splendidula, L. ; Panz., Ib., 8. Closely allied to the pre- 

 ceding, but somewhat larger ; thorax yellowish, with a blackish 

 disk and two transparent spots before ; elytra blackish ; under 

 part of the body and legs livid-yellowish; first annuli of the 

 venter sometimes of this latter colour, and at others dusky. 



The female is destitute of elytra and wings ; blackish above ; 

 circumference of the thorax and last ring yellowish; lateral 

 angles of the second and third annuli flesh-colour; under part 

 of the body yellowish, with the three last annuli of the colour 

 of sulphur. 



These latter individuals are more particularly called glow- 

 worms i or vers luisants. They are found every where about the 

 country, along the roads, in hedges, meadows, &c. in the months 

 of June, July, and August. They lay a great number of lemon- 

 coloured eggs, which are large and spherical, in the ground or 

 on plants, where they are fixed by means of a viscid matter with 

 which they are covered. 



The larva bears a great resemblance to the female, but is 

 black, with a reddish spot on the posterior angles of the annuli ; 

 its antennae and legs are shorter. Its gait is very slow, and it 

 has the faculty of elongating and shortening its body, and of 

 bending it underneath. It is probably carnivorous. 



L. italica, L. ; Oliv., Col. II. 28, 11, 12; the Lucciola of the 

 Italians. The thorax does not cover the whole head, is trans- 



* Lampyris plumicornis, Lat., Voy. de MM. Humboldt and Bonpl., Zool. XVI, 4; 

 Amydetes apicalis, Germ., Insect. Spec. Nov., p. 67. 

 f Illig., Mag., VI, p. 342. 



