SA.WHORNED WOOD-BEETLES. 97 



The}- are distiugiiislied from the allied Buprestidai, not only by this 

 saltatory power, but also by the posterior angles of the thorax being 

 prolonged backwards to a i>oiut, so as to f^'^'s- ^^ 



embrace the base of the elytra, and by the 

 bases of the thorax and of the elytra slop- "'"^ larva of elateu. 

 ing downwards towards each other, which, in addition to a slight sepa- 

 ration between them, permits the freedom of motion which these parts 

 have upon each other. The thighs moreover are almost or entirely des- 

 titute of the accessory joint at their base called the trochantin. The 

 elaters are also readily distinguished by their usually dull brown colors, 

 very rarely changing to black or red, and by their surface being almost 

 always clothed with a line pubescence. 



The larvie are elongate, slender, of the same width throughout and of 

 a hard and almost horny consistency, and furnished with short legs. 

 The last segment is sometimes forked at the extremity, sometimes 3- 

 toothed, and sometimes entire. They bear a strong resemblance to the 

 meal-worms or larvie of Tenebrio, but differ in the structure of their 

 mouths. 



These larvfe go hy the common name of wire-worms. With respect 

 to their food they may be divided into two classes : those which live in 

 rotten wood, being frequently found under the bark of decayed stumps 

 and prostrate logs, and sometimes, but rarely, penetrating into solid 

 woo<l* ; and those which feed upon the roots of grasses and of other 

 plants. The natural food of the larv.u of the latter division appears to 

 be the roots of grasses, both wild and cultivated, but from these thej' 

 spread to the roots of almost all kinds of cultivated plants, including 

 Indian corn and the small grains, and various kinds of garden vegeta- 

 bles. In some localities they rank amongst injiuious insects of a very 

 serious character. 



The ElateridiT? constitute one of the most extensive, and one of the 

 most natural families of Coleoptera, but their division into minor groups 

 is very difficult, on account of the great numbers and the strong general 

 resemblance of the species. In treating ui)on this sabject, Lacordaire 

 makes the following remark: ''The classification of this family presents 

 extreme, and perhaps insurmountable difficulties. If we examine the 

 works of the most recent authors, Germar and Erichson, we shall see 

 that both of them despair of the classification of these insects. The 

 latter, indeed, has expressed the wish that some new characters may yet 



*Mr. C. V. Riley has shown me a specimen of Hcmirhipis facicularis, Fab., distinguished for its 

 l)eautifully pectinated antenna-, which was reared by liim from a larva which ho found boring through 

 the heart wood of the Pecan Hickory, tlius provin-j; that gome of the Elateridie are genuine wood-borers 

 ami corroborating the propriety of placing them in the same tribe with the wood-boring I!upresti(l;e. 

 (Since the above was written, ^Ir. Riley iuforms me that lie strongly suspects that the Heiuirhipis 

 larva was preying on that of Clytus pictus which was boring the same tree, and not feeding on the 

 wood itself.] 



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