:\IALACODER]\IIDAE FIRE-FLIES GLOW-WORMS 



!49 



{Luciola) of Southern Europe are an example of the latter con- 

 dition. They are gregarious, and on calm, warm nights crowds 

 of them ]nay he seen moving and sparkling in a charm- 

 ing manner. These individuals are all, or nearly all, males ; 

 so rare indeed is tlie female that few entomologists iiave even 

 noticed it. The writer once assisted in a large gatliering of 

 Lwlola italica in the Val Anzasca, which consisted of many 

 himdreds of specimens ; all of those he caught, either on the 

 wing or displaying their lights on the bushes, were males, but 

 he found a solitary female on the ground. This sex possesses 

 ordinary, small eyes instead of the 

 large, convex organs of the male, 

 and its antennae and legs are 

 much more feeble, so that though 

 provided with elytra and wings 

 it is altogether a more imper- 

 fect creature. Emery has given 

 an account of liis observations 

 and experiments on this Insect, 

 but they do not give any clear 

 idea as to the exact function of 

 the lio-lit.^ In our British glow- 

 worm the female is entirely apter- 

 ous hence tlie name glow-worm Fig. 129.— PJiengodes hieromjmi. Cor- 



, , , , ^^ , doba, South America. (After Haase.) 

 but the male lias elytra and a. Male; B, female, l, ^, Positions 



ample wings, and frequently flies of luminous spots ; /*^ spiracles. About 

 at night into lighted apartments. 



.Vlthough so little has been ascertained as to the light of Lampy- 

 ridae, there are two facts that justify us in supposing that it is in 

 some way of importance to the species. These are: (1) that in a great 

 many species the eyes have a magnificent and unusual develop- 

 ment ; (2) that the habits of the creatures are in nearly all cases 

 nocturnal. It is true, that the little Phosphacnns ]i,nni]jterus is 

 Slid to be diurnal in habits, but it is altogether an exceptional 

 form, being destitute of wings in l:)oth sexes, and possessed of 

 only very feeble light -giving powers, and we have, moreover, 

 very little real knowledge as to its natural history ; it is said 



^ Bull. cut. itul. 1886, p. 406, and Ent. Zeit. Stettin, xliii. 18S7, pp. 201-206. 

 Emery does not mention the name of the species, but we presume it to be the 

 common Italian tire-Hy, Luciola italica. 



