iio 



TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



England during the summer nights, are very common in some 

 parts of the Continent, and they sparkle like little gems amongst 

 the grass and dense foliage up the hill sides in Southern Europe. 

 They are beetles, and belong to the genus Lampyris, and they 

 resemble somewhat, but cannot be confounded with, the Can- 

 tharidce. Their chest pieces, which form a broad mass, project 

 more or less over the head, like a buckler. The males have 

 large wings and long elytra, but the females have only rudi- 





METAMORPHOSES OF THE GLOWWORM {LaiHpyris splendidula). 



mentary wings, and they therefore cannot fly. The females 

 resemble the larvae ; they are more abundant than the males, 

 and they give out the light which Benders them such well known 

 insects. The curious phosphorescent light comes from the under 

 part of the abdomen, near the tip, and is under the control of 

 the animal. It is used to attract the males, which generally 

 conceal themselves during the day-time in the trunks of trees. 

 The larvae resemble the females, and are highly developed. 

 They attack and devour snails and other land mollusca, and 



