34 



appearance of the two luminous patches there, which DeGeer has described, but which 

 do not actually exist.''' 



These elaters, we are told, are used by the natives of the tropic countries where- 

 they are found, as lamps, enabling them to perform their evening household duties by 

 their light, as well as for purposes of decoration. Brazilian ladies, at the present day^ 

 fasten them in their hair as ornaments. 



Many other luminous elaters are found all the way from the Southern States to- 

 Chili; but of their occurrence in the perfect state as far north as this, I have not been 

 able to find any record — though in the early numbers of our journal, the Entomologist, f 

 mention is made of the capture in Ontario of a luminous larv» supposed to belong to 

 the genus Melonactes. Unfortunately it was not reared to the imago, and the species to 

 which it belonged is therefore in doubt. 



Several other species of Coleoptera are thought to be luminous. Biqyrestis ocellatay 

 is described as emitting light from the ocelli in its elytra ; and one of the Longicorn 

 beetles [Dadoi/chus flavocinctus) allied to Saperda, is supposed to have phosphorescent 

 organs in the third and fourth segments of its abdomen, t 



Besides the Coleoptera, another insect order is said to contain luminous species. I 

 mean the order Hemiptera. To one of its families, Fulgoridce. Leach, belong two insects 

 that are stated to be in possession of luminous properties far exceeding those of the 

 insects before described. 



The best known of these insects, Fuh/ora lanternaria, was first described by Madame- 

 Merian in her work on the " Insects of Surinam." She states positively that she herself 

 saw numbers of these lantern-flies§ shining at night with great brilliancy, and that the 

 light proceeding from one of them was sufficient to easily read a newspaper by. 



The accuracy of this statement has been questioned by many writers. An experi- 

 enced Entomologist, who resided for a number of years in Surinam, denies that the 

 insect gives any light whatever, while some of the residents declare that it does,|l and. 

 others again that it does not. Kirby and Spence think that " these contradictory state- 

 ments may be reconciled by supposing that one of the sexes is luminous and the other 

 is not." U 



It is not unlikely that the luminosity may be merely occasional, perhaps being- 

 limited to particular seasons or the time of pairing. At any rate the subject requires 

 further investigation before a decisive verdict can be given either way. 



The other species is a native of China, and is called the candle-fly [Fidgora candel- 

 aria). Of its luminosity there is still greater doubt than of that of the A'Jierican species. 

 By some it is supposed to be the insect collected by a species of ^' ploceus or weaver bird, 

 to decorate its nest, to which they are attached by means of clay, whether for the pur- 

 pose of food or light remains to be proved." ** 



Other insects, besides those already enumerated, have been stated by various writers 

 to be luminous. Kirby and Spence mention the case of a country-man pursuing a "Jack 

 o' lantern," which being captured turned out to be a mole-cricket [Gryllotalpa vulgaris, 

 Lat/-.), ft and in another instance a farmer describes aluminous object which he knocked' 

 down as being exactly like a " Maggy long-legs " {Tijmla Oleracece).XX 



* Kirby and Spence — "Introduction to Eutomology," London Ed., p. 540. 



f Canadian Entmnologist, vol. 1, p. 2 (a full description is given). Also see Annual Report of Ento- 

 mological Society of Ontario for 187:^, p. 74. A luminous larvae is mentioned by Baron Osten Sacken as 

 being taken at West Point, N. Y. — described and figured Proceedings Entomological Society, Philadelphia, 

 18.52, p. rj;j, PI. 1, fig. 8. 



X Kirby and Spence — p. 542. 



§ F. lanternaria is called by the Dutch "scare-sleep," from the noise it makes towards evening. 

 It is also called " porte-lanterne," or "lantern-beai-er." 



_ II It affords " sufficient light for almost any purpose " — See " Narrative of a Five Years' Expedition 

 Against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam," Capt. J. G-. Stedman, vol. 2, p. 37. 



IT Kirby and Spence— p. 543. 



** "Nat. His. of Insects." New York : Harper Bros., 1840— p. 130. 



t+ Kirby and Spence — p. 544. X+ Ibid.—p. 546. 



