BEETLES. 



na.—J'i/yopl,„nis 

 noctlhifus. 



when not illunihiiiti'il, is yellowish white in color; Init which, when illuminated, gives 

 out a light exceeding in ln-illiancv that of the Lani]iyri<l;e. The species of J^i/rop/iorus 

 fly ill much more direct lines and give out their light longer an<l more constantly 

 than do the Lampyriche. IJuring flight a luminous organ situated 

 beneath, between the metathorax and first alxlominal segment, emits 

 even m'ore light than do the [irothoracic lanterns. In ^'era t'ruz 

 these beetles are so much used as toilet ornaments that they arc an 

 article of trade. The Indians cajiture them by waving 

 about in the air a stick, to which they have attached 

 a burning coal, the light of the Coal attracting the 

 bi't'llcs in the same way as they are attracted to each 

 other by their own buuinosity. They are preserved 

 Fig. 4U. — 7.iiiniis in boxes made of wire netting, arc fe<l each evening 

 With pieces oi cruslietl sugar-cane, and are l)allied 

 twice a day in tepid water to kee]) them in good health. The emis- 

 sion of ]ii;ht bv J'ljrophitriis seems, liki' that of Lanipyrida', to be 

 entirely dejiendent \\\>o\\ the will of the insect; when feeding, and 

 during sleep, no light is given off, the greatest intensity of the 

 light being reached during flight .and activity. 



Corymhites is a large genus, numliering in the United .States over seventy specie.s, 

 and the s]>ecies vary greatly in form, size, and coloration. C. 7'espletulcns, common in 

 northern New England, is shinini;' bron/.e green with ledilish reflections, :md is about 

 0.5 of .an inch long. (J. cj/Undrifnrinis, a brown sjjccies which is quite ekmgated, 

 varies in length from tt.45 to 0.80 of an inch. 



The genera At/ioiis, J^imonintt, J/dd/iotits, Elater, and Cryptohi/pmis ,are all 

 represented by numerous species in tlie United States, but many of these sjiccies are 

 diflieult to distinguisli without elabcjrate descriptions or flgures, and little is known of 

 their life history. Mditiiotiis coinnuoris is one of the most common s]iecies of snaj)- 

 ping beetles in the northeastern Ignited States; it is Ijrown, 

 ]iubescent, and about (1. 5 of an inch long. 



Alaus ocii/fitns, not only on account of lieing one of the largest 

 sjiecics of North American Elateridu.% 1)ut also on account of its 

 jiccadiar markings, has attv.acted the .attention of almost eveiy 

 beginner in entomology. Its length is a tiitle over one and a 

 lialf inelies, and its coloration lilack .and white. The two velvety 

 black s])Ots u])on tlie jirothorax, the white rings arouml these 

 sp(.its, and all the white (bits scattered over tliis insect are jiro- 

 iluceil liy scaphoid scales densely set upon the surface. The 

 larva' of ,1. oci//i/fiis live in decaying wood, often in that of 

 apple or pine, .and are much ln'oader ]iro[iortionally th.au sua|i- 

 ping-beetle larvae usually are. The length of the l.arva of this 

 species is 2S) inches; its width about 0.4 of an inch across the 

 middle of the body. The liead is brownish, the rest of the larva reddish yellow. 



The species of ChulcolepiiJius, another genus (if large snapping beetles closely 

 allied to Alans, are partly clothed with scales, as the generic name indicates. ('. 

 rubrlpeiutis, from southern California, is 1.5 inches long, the striate elytra reddish 

 brown, the black ]irotlKU'ax converted to bronze gre(.'n bv .a coating of microscopic 

 scales. 



Fig. 416. — .-1 tans 

 ocalatna. 



