318 The Life History of " Wireworms" 



Larva in Late Instars. 



Length 20-22 inin., or according to Beling(2) 24 mm. with a width 

 of 2-6 mm. Biconvex, deep yellow and strongly chitinized on the dorsal 

 surface. Head, prothorax and 9th abdominal segment brownish yellow. 



Head transverse, somewhat rounded at the sides. Dorsal surface 

 considerably excavate in the occipital region and apex of the cephalic 

 plate truncated. Eyes dark brown, situated posterior to the antennae 

 on either side. A pair of moderately long setae are borne near each of 

 the anterior angles of the head and a longer pair laterally a little posterior 

 to the middle. There is also a longitudinal line of four setiferous follicles 

 on each epicranial plate, midway between the middle and the lateral 

 margin of the head: the most anterior of the setae arising therefrom is 

 long, the remainder very short. Antenna longer than that of Agriotes, 

 borne on a pale membranous base. The first and second segments brown, 

 with apex of each pale. The third or dorsal supplementary segment is 

 fine, linear and only about one-half the length of the second segment, 

 which itself is about half the length of the first. The ventral process at 

 the apex of the second segment is conical, short and colourless. 



Mandible (Text-fig. 16) stout, yellow at the base, dark brown and 

 pointed at the apex, strongly curved inwards; with a rather long, 

 slightly recurved retinaculum, inclined at an angle of about 45° to the 

 apex. There is a penicillus at the base of the inner margin, composed of 

 fine, somewhat wavy, yellow hairs. 



Maxillary cardo more distinct than in Agriotes, flattened anteriorly 

 at the point of articulation with the stipes and narrowed to a point 

 posteriorly. Sides of the stipes nearly parallel and base almost straight 

 and at right angles to them. Maxillary palps somewhat long, borne on 

 white membranous palpigers which taper from their bases. 



Galea with the first segment much rounded, especially on the outer 

 side. 



Lacinia triangular, pointed at the apex and densely clothed with 

 long yellow hairs. 



Nasale or clypeal process (Text-fig. Ic) brown, broad at the base, 

 transverse, bearing three rather sharp teeth. The median tooth projects 

 forwards, the two lateral ones outwards at an angle of 45°. 



Prothorax nearly as long as the meso- and meta-thorax together, 

 shallowly and sparingly punctured, almost smooth. Each succeeding 

 segment to the 8th abdominal segment is progressively more densely 

 punctured and the abdominal segments from 1st to 8th are dorsally 



