100 BEETLES. 



metallic or red legs. The pronotum is almost quadrangular, 

 with a central furrow which disappears in front. The wing-cases 

 are linely punctate-striate, with finely punctured interstices. 

 Length, 10-14 mm. It is found principally in hilly districts. 



Genus LUDIUS, Latr. 

 Trochanters rather broad, toothed ou the hinder border. 

 Antennae acutely dentated from the fourth joint, with the 

 second and third joints very small and rounded, and the 

 eleventh with a distinctly -defined awl -shaped extremity, 

 but otherwise closely resembling the last genus. The only 

 British species is : 



* L. ferrugineus, Linn. (Plate X., Fig. 5). This is one of 

 the largest of the click-beetles. It is black, with the pronotuni 

 as far as the posterior margin, as well as the elytra, dull orange- 

 colour. The pronotum is, however, frequently entirely black. 

 It frequents flowers in June and July. The larvae feed in the 

 dead wood of various trees, especially willows. It is very rare 

 in Britain. 



Genus Ageiotes, Eschsch. 



In these the sides of the pronotum are obtuse, the margin 

 being deflexed in front. There are no grooves for the antennae. 

 The antennae are somewhat dentated, and only slightly com- 

 pressed laterally. The second, third, and fourth joints are all 

 of different lengths. The wing-cases are scarcely broader, but 

 more than twice as long as the pronotum. The tarsal joints- 

 and claws are simple. They are found on flow^ers. The larvae 

 live in the ground on the roots of low plants, and are known 

 as the much-dreaded " wire-worms." 



* A. lineatus, Linn, {segetis, Bjerkand), (Plate XL, Fig. 7).. 

 The second joint of the antennae is longer than the third. The- 

 elytra are brown, with the second and third intervals betweeiL 



