2l8 



The Orders of Insects 



in tropical countries, but become scarcer in temperate regions ; only 

 three are known as British. 



Dascillidse. — The DascUlida are a small family of beetles. The 

 eleven-segmented, thread-like feelers are inserted directly in front 

 of the eyes. The upper lip and the lobes of the second maxillae 

 are often distinct. The front haunches are inserted far apart and 

 their cavities are open behind. The mesosternum is small, the 

 metasternum moderate, and the hind-haunches almost in contact. 

 The legs are rather short, the shins slender, and longer than the 

 feet which have five segments. There are five visible sternites in 

 the hind-body. The larvz are short and broad, the prothorax 

 being the largest segment ; they are hairy and in one genus (^Helodes') 

 are remarkable for the great length of their feelers. The family is 

 generally distributed. 



Lampyrids — The Lampyridce are a very large family of beetles 



Fig. 121. — I. Click-Beetle, Agrioies Uneatus (L.), Europe, magnified; 2. 

 grubs or wireworms, natural size; 3. grub, magnified. 



mostly of moderate size with the skin remarkably soft and flexible 

 and clothed with short hairs; they are mostly elongate in form. 

 The feelers are usually saw-shaped, but sometimes simple. The 

 front haunches are conical and touch each other at their tips ; their 

 cavities are usually open behind. The feet have five segments. 

 Six or seven sternites can usually be recognised in the hind-body. 

 The larvje are various in form ; some bear short tail-processes, while 

 in others the hindmost segment is provided with a sucker-foot. 

 The family is widely distributed. Its best known members are the 

 brightly coloured "soldier-beetles" {Tclephorus~) found on plants, 

 and the " glow-worm " — the wingless larva-like female of Lampyrh 

 noct'duca, who attracts her flying, large-eyed mate by the light she 

 emits. 



Cleridae. — The CUrida are a family of handsome, soft-skinned 



