73 STAG-BEETLES. 



*. 

 of hickory, if left undisturbed for a long time in warehouses, 



have been known to be entirely destroyed by insects of this 



character. 



D. LEAF-HORNS. 



{LaiiicUicornia). 



Leaf-horns contain only two families of beetles ; the first one 

 numbers but a few species of remarkable forms, the other a 

 very large number ; some of them are scavengers, others plant- 

 feeders. This second family is one of great extent, and many 

 large and showy insects belong to it. But, notwithstanding 

 their different forms and food habits, all resemble each other in 

 the possession of feelers which terminate in a knob composed 

 of three or more leaf-like blades, which, at the will of the insect, 

 can be folded up like the pages of a book. 



FAMILY LUCANIDAE. 



{Stag, or Pinchiug-beetles). 



S^ag-beetles are well named on account of certain species, 

 the males of which have immensely large mandibles, sometimes 

 branched like the antlers of a stag. Their chief characteristic, 

 however, is the form of their antenn?e. These are tooth-horned, 

 i. e., the tips of the feelers are furnished with several stiff pro- 

 jections on one side, like the teeth of a comb; the feelers are 

 also bent and elbowed in the middle. These projecting plates 

 composing the club can not be closed together as they can in the 

 next family. (Compare Fig. 9). 



The adult beetles feed upon the sap of bruised trees, and 

 they can secure this food by means of brushes located upon jaws 

 and lips. By knowing this food-habit many can be attracted by 

 purposely bruising such plants, as young oaks, and even wil- 

 lows. The eggs are large, globular, white objects, which are 

 deposited in the crevices of the bark near the roots. The larv?e 



