THE BEETLES 



3109 



p. 31 10. They have a dark brown or reddish-brown color, obscured by a covering of 



short gray hairs, and may be easily recognized by the two slightly-raised yellow 



spots placed near the hind angles of the pro- 

 thorax. In the living insect these spots glow 



with a rich yellowish -green light. A stronger 



but more diffused light of a reddish color is 



given off from the abdomen when the beetles 



are flying. 



The remaining families of the section Pen- 



tamera are included in the tribe Malacodermata. 



The beetles of this tribe are distinguished by 



having the elytra less solid and compact, and 



the body in general softer and more flexible 



than is usual in other groups. The Lycidcz are 



deserving of notice, inasmuch as they form one 



of those groups of insects which are most fre- Ceratorrhina smithi, male. 



quently mimicked by species of other families. 

 They have a characteristic appearance, owing to the 

 small size of the head and prothorax, as compared 

 with the greatly expanded elytra. To their unusual 

 shapes these beetles generally add a conspicuous 

 coloration; tawny yellow and red, varied in many 

 cases with black spots and bands, being the predomi- 

 nant colors throughout the family. They are 

 found on the flowers and leaves of trees, and are 

 sometimes seen in great abundance; and it is said 

 that they secrete a nauseous liquid, which gives 

 them immunity from the attacks of in sectivorous 

 Chalcophora mariana and larva, animals. 



The Lampyridce are remarkable on account of 



(Natural size.) 



the luminous properties possessed by nearly all the species. In these insects the 



head is small and, being 

 retracted under the pro- 

 notiim, generally invisible 

 from above; the eyes are 

 large, especially in the 

 males, the mandibles 

 small but sharply pointed, 

 and the antennae come off 

 close together from the 

 front of the head. The 



*j ./y L_ * 

 phosphorescent Organs Agnates Kneatus and its larva the well-known wireworm. (Both much 



are Situated in the abdo- enlarged, but the larva shown also natural size.) 



men, their position being shown in most of the species by pale yellowish or whitish 

 areas on the ventral surface of certain of the segments. These beetles are found 



