feeding habits in the field. On several occasions, however, larvae were 
taken while feeding on snails, which they had evidently killed a short time 
before being discovered. Numerous larvae were taken into the laboratory 
where they were placed under as nearly normal conditions as possible for 
the purpose of determining the nature of their food. On six different occa- 
sions a slug (Agriolimax campestris Binney) was placed with six larvae of 
Photuris pennsylvanica and in every case it had been eaten before morning. 
A slug (Agriolimagr agrestris lL.) and a snail (Succinea avery Say) were 
put with six larvae. The snail was eaten during the first night, but the 
slug was not killed and eaten until the third night. On two different occa- 
sions two small earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) were placed in a jar 
without earth, which contained eight larvae. One was killed and eaten the 
second night, and the other on the fifth night. On two occasions a very 
large specimen of Lumbricus terrestris was placed with twelve firefly larvae. 
In each case the earthworm was not eaten, though it remained with the 
firefly larvae for over a week, and they received no other food during that 
time. On two occasions a cutworm larva of each of the following species: 
(Paragrotis messoria Harris, Paragrotis tessellata Harris, and Peridroma 
margaritosa Haworth) were placed in jars with six larvae and in every 
instance they were eaten the first night. Finally, on four different nights, 
two second and two third stage squash-bug nymphs (Anasa tristis DeGeer ) 
were placed with six larvae, and in each instance they were eaten before 
morning. Some of the hard-bodied Arthropods which normally live on the 
ground, such as sowbugs (Oniscus asellus Paulmier), wireworm larvae 
(Agriotes mancus Say), ants (Formica sp.) and coleopterous beetles in- 
cluding the common ground beetles (Nebria Pallipes Say and Chlaenius 
pennsylvanicus Say) were placed with these larvae, but they were never 
eaten. 
These experiments lead one to conclude that the firefly larvae probably 
eat any soft bodied insect larva, Mollusk or Annelid, that they happen to 
find in their nocturnal wanderings. Slugs, snails, cutworm-laryae, and 
small earthworms are probably their chief foods. 
The laryae of many of the fireflles as well as certain other more or less 
widely separated groups of insects digest their food entirely or partially 
outside of their bodies. This is accomplished by the digestive juices being 
exuded through the mouth and hollow mandibles upon the food which is 
later eaten by the larva in a nearly completely digested condition. Such is 
true of the larva of Photurus pennsylvanica. When this larva first pierces 
its prey it immediately injects a substance by means of its mandibular 
‘anals into its body, which seems to paralize it. 
As was said before, the larva of Photurus Pennsylvanica lives for nearly 
two years before transforming to a pupa. During the cold winter months 
from about November first to March fifteenth it lies concealed underneath 
stones, logs or something similar. During the warm summer months it 
wanders about at night in search of food, while during the day it remains 
concealed, 
About the middle of May of the second year when the larva is approxi- 
