1/4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The following translation from Olivier — an entomologist of the pre- 

 ceding century, may be of interest as containing some information respect- 

 ing the peculiar 



Habits and Transformations of Anthrenus Larvae : 



The Anthrenus larvae [of some species] pass nearly a year in this 

 state, eating and destroying insensibly the ligaments that hold together 

 the bones of animals, skins, hairs, feathers — in one word, all animal ma- 

 terials which are not in fermentation, and which are somewhat dried. 

 They occur indifferently in all seasons of the year, but the time in which 

 they are the most abundant, and in which they commit the greatest rav- 

 ages, is toward the end of summer, when they have nearly acquired their 

 full growth. They pass the winter either in the state of larva or of pupa, 

 and the perfect insect does not ordinarily appear until in the spring; still, 

 they are seen in all seasons, yet in fewer numbers. The larva, in growing, 

 changes its skin several times, but that which is very singular, is that it 

 does not leave the larval skin when it passes into the pupal state; the 

 skin only parts along the length of the back, the borders of the fissure re- 

 cede one from the other, and leave an opening which will facilitate the 

 emerging of the perfect insect. It should be farther observed that the 

 larval skin is not adherent to that of the pupa, but is entirely disengaged 

 therefrom ; and when it undergoes its final metamorphosis, and the per- 

 fect insect shows itself, the pupal skin opens along the back, at the place 

 where the larval skin is already open ; the insect escapes by this open- 

 ing, leaving, one within the other, the two skins that it has abandoned — 

 that of the pupa and that of the larva. (Olivier: Encyc. Method. — Hist. 

 A^at. Ins., 1789, iv, pp. 148, 149.) 



Pyrophorus noctilucus (Linn.), 

 The Cucuyo. 



(Ord. Coleoptera: Fam. Elaterid^e.) 



LiNNiEUS : " Mus. Lud. Ulr. [1764], 81;" Syst. Ent., Edit, xii, i, pars 

 ii, 1767, p. 651, no. 4 (as Elater noctilucus). 



Fabricius : Ent. Syst. em,, i, pars ii, 1792, p. 218, no. 10 (as Elafer /locti- 

 liuus ; habitat). 



Westwood: Introduct. Class. Ins., i, 1839, PP* 239, 241-242 (general de- 

 scription, habits, synonymy). 



Kirby-Spence: Introduct. Entomol , 6th Ed., 1846, pp. 540-542 (as 

 Elater Jioc til uc us, its light, habits). 



Perkins: in Amer. Nat., ii, 1868, pp. 422-432, i fig. (general account of 

 appearance and habits). 



Packard: Guide Study Ins., 1869, p. 462, fig. 425 (brief notice). 



Figuier: Insect World, 1872, pp. 512-514, iig. 554 (popular account). 



Glover: in Rept. U. S. Dept. Agr. for 1873, 1874, pp. 154-155, fig. 4 

 (reference). 



Wood: Insects Abroad, 1874, pp. 159-165, fig. 160 (popular account). 



