182 COLEOPTERA— BEETLES 



Lampyridae. — The fire-fly family is quite an exceptional 

 one, and is very interesting on account of the brilliant phos- 

 phorescent property. This is most commonly observed 

 during June and early July and represents the time when 

 the adults are most abundant. There are a number of 

 species possessing the phosphorescent organs. The eggs 

 are deposited and the larvse probably develop during that 

 same summer, and the pupa stage is reached and adults issue 

 the following season. They pupate ])erhaps in fall or else 

 in spring. They are subterranean and are carnivorous and 

 feed upon the larvae of other species. 



Lucanidse {Stag Beetles). — The lucanidse are large forms 

 with very prominent mandibles which in some species develop 

 into antler-like structures. The Lucanus dama larva lives 

 in rotten wood, old stumps, and logs, etc., and only inci- 

 dentally feeds on living wood. The larvae never start on 

 living wood. The grubs are large, white, fleshy creatures 

 with the body curved, almost coiled, and they pupate in the 

 wood in which they are developed and the adults run over 

 the ground in timber lands. The adults are quite common 

 along the beach. They are not adajjted for long flight. 



A quite interesting species is the horned Passalus {Passa- 

 lus cornidus) which Hacs in wood in almost the same manner 

 as the last species, but the larva is flattened and the adult 

 quite prominently flattened. The wings are considerably 

 aborted and the species probably quite limited in its flight. 



Scarabaeidse. — The Scarahceidoe are characterized quite 

 readily by the structure of the antennae. They have a very 

 specialized form of antennae consisting of a series of small 

 joints and then a broad terminal structure which is made 

 up of three or five leaves folded together like the leaves of a 

 book. These may be separated when the insect is flying. 

 They are presumed to be the organ of the sense of smell. 

 There are many sensory pits', and they give evidence of hav- 

 ing strong olfactory sense, in that they collect at any decay- 

 ing matter. They are not all scavengers, but they all have 

 an acute sense of smell. The tumble bugs and a host of 

 scavenger beetles related to it are included in this family. 



