48 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



Elater {Pyrophoriis) noctilucm, the night-shining Elater, is 

 the celebrated ciicuio or fire-beetle of the West Indies, from 

 whence it is frequently brought alive to this country. It 

 resembles the preceding insect somewhat in form, and is an 

 inch or more in length. It gives out a strong light from two 

 transparent eye-like spots on the thorax, and from the segments 

 of its body beneath. It eats the pulpy substance of the sugar- 

 cane, and its grub is said to be very injurious to this plant, by 

 devouring its roots. 



The next two common Elaters, together with several other 

 species, are distinguished by their claws, which resemble little 

 combs, being furnished with a row of fine teeth along the 

 under side. The thorax is short and rounded before, and the 

 body tapers behind. They are found under the bark of trees, 

 where they pass the winter, having completed their transfor- 

 mations in the previous autumn. Their grubs live in wood. 

 The first of these beetles is the ash-colored Elater, Elater 

 {MeJanotus) ciiierei/s of Weber. It is about six tenths of an 

 inch long, and is dark brown, but covered with short gray hairs, 

 which give it an ashen hue; the thorax is convex; and the 

 wing-covers are marked with lines of punctures, resembling 

 stitches. It is found on fences, the trunks of trees, and in 

 paths, in April and May. 



Elater (Melanotus) communis of Schonherr, is, as its name 

 implies, an exceedingly common and abundant species. It 

 closely resembles the preceding, but is smaller, seldom exceed- 

 ing half an inch in length ; it is also rather lighter colored ; the 

 thorax is proportionally a little longer, not so convex, and has 

 a slender longitudinal furrow in the middle. This Elater 

 appears in the same places as the cinerens in April, May, and 

 June ; and the recently transformed beetles can also be found 

 in the autumn under the bark of trees, where they pass the 

 winter. 



Another kind of spring-beetle, which absolutely swarms in 

 paths and among the grass during the warmest and brightest 

 days in April and May, is the Elater {Lvdivs) apprcssifrons of 

 Say. Its specific name probably refers to_ the front of the head 

 or visor being pressed downwards over the lip. The body is 



