294 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, 



NOTES ON LAMPYRID/E, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A 

 FEMALE AND LARVA. 



By H. W. WENZEL. 



Last Winter in working on the family Lampyridae I became 

 much interested and fully made up my mind to give these inter- 

 esting insects a little more attention. The results during the 

 Summer season were satisfactory to some extent, the capture of 

 several species before unknown to me at Anglesea, N. J., being 

 of interest. Experience during the Summer has shown that 

 Lampyridae must be collected at night, and that each species has 

 its own peculiar light and flight. While a number of species 

 may be found in great numbers at night, it is utterly impossible 

 to find a specimen during the day. To quote Dr. J. B. Smith, 

 it only goes to show how little we know. 



The female of Lamprohiza reticulata Say is undetermined and 

 unknown in our literature, as is also the larva of Pyradomena 

 ecostata. I am indebted to Dr. J. B. Smith for the drawings 

 herewith given. 



Lamprohiza reticulata Say. This interesting little Lampyrid 

 was described by Say under the name of Lampyris reticulata in 

 the journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, in 1825, from 

 a single specimen brought from Arkansas by Mr. Thomas Nut- 

 tall. As little or nothing is known of this insect it will probably 

 be of interest to record the following notes made at Cranberry, 

 Mitchell County, N. C., altitude about 3250 feet. The first 

 specimens were observed flying on the evening of June n; the 

 night being cool and damp, and after somewhat of a chase sev- 

 eral specimens were captured by my friend, Mr. Lancaster 

 Thomas and myself. As I could not recognize the species at 

 once the desire came to learn more of its habits. The flight is 

 never more than three or four feet above the ground and always 

 in a straight line. The phosphorescent light which they produce 

 in their flight is a continuous glow of a distinct greenish color 

 much larger and brighter than the other species of Lampyrids 

 that were captured. 



It was not long before the object of their low flight was dis- 

 covered as specimens would frequently drop to the ground. 

 There, to our delight, adhering to the roots of grass and other 

 vegetation we found the wingless female showing the % same bright 



