the form is the same, but in the back, near the base, are two conspic- 

 uous punctures ; others have this segment simply conical and pointed, 

 ending in a single sharp spine. Others have the tip flattened and 

 rough, with its edge showing three or five tooth-like points or angu- 

 lar projections. These four different forms have the segment much 

 longer than wide, and the worms to which they belong are slender 

 and cylindrical, being very narrow in proportion to their length. 

 Each is roundly notched at the end ; some simple, with smooth mar- 

 gins and the sides of the notch prolonged into sharp spines, which 

 are usually curved upward. Others have the back of the segment 

 flattened and rough — the lateral margins elevated, with three or more 

 teeth on each side. 



"While these differences indicate specific, and^ probably generic char- 

 ters, in the perfect insects, and probably some difference in larval 

 habits, yet, practically, they are of but little value, as all the species 

 which reside in the ground have the same general manner of life, as 

 far as known. 



The time and place when and where the female deposits her eggs 

 has not, as far as I am aware, been observed ; but they are doubtless 

 deposited in the ground, at the roots of grass and other plants; the 

 known habits of the larvae and the attenuated and tapering abdomen 

 of the perfect insect would indicate that such is the case. Dr. Fitch 

 informs us that he once observed a female Elater (Luchus brevicomis) 

 at the root of a recently-set cabbage plant, where she sunk herself 

 down into the earth the whole length of her body, her swollen abdo- 

 men showing she was on the point of depositing her eggs. Hav.ing 

 captured and confined this female, she deposited 126 eggs, which were 

 of a, broad oval form, very small, measuring only three-hundredths of 

 an inch in length, smooth, glossy, and of an opaque whitish color. 



The length of time these worms require to complete theii> growth 

 has never been ascertained, at least it is a matter yet in controversy 

 between entomologists. Bjerkander, a Swedish naturalist, in his ac- 

 count of the wire-worms, published nearly one hundred years ago, 

 asserted that they are five years coming to the perfect state. This 

 has been accepted by most entomologists until recentl}'. Dr. Fitch, 

 in the article referred to, and from which I have drawn so largely, 

 says that he is of the opinion that as a general rule these worms are 

 only two years growing to maturity. This opinion he bases upon 

 two facts: First, that the worms received were of two sizes only, the 

 smaller ones about half the size of the larger, indicating but two 

 broods, the one two years old, the other but one, whereas if they re- 

 main in the larva state five years there ought to have been more than 

 two sizes. Second, where explicit statements are given of crops des- 

 troyed by wire-worms, this destruction always occurs the first and 

 second year after the ground has been broken up from grass. Since 

 this opinion was expressed Mr. Pettit, of Canada, has succeeded in 

 rearing, an elater (Agriotes mancus) to the perfect state, not from the egg, 

 but from a stage sufficiently early to satisfy him that its larval state 

 does not exceed three years. His acount of his observations are so in- 

 teresting and important that I insert them here from the Canadian 

 Entomologist, (vol. iv.) 



"In the fall of the year 1870, so unusual an amount of damage was 

 inflicted upon the wheat crops in this vicinity by this wire-worm that 



