546 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



ruined at the outset. The appearance of these insects 

 when in the ground, as seen through the glass side of one 



of our root- 

 cage s, is 

 shown in 

 Fig. 657. 



There 

 is a vast 

 number of species of click- 

 beetles ; more than five hum 



Fig. 659.— Larva of Drasterius elegans : 



_ ■ , a, clypeus; 6, mandible ; c, maxilla ; d, 



Fig. 657 -A corn-plant growing in a root- , a yH ca ' udal segment . 



cage infested by wire-worms and click- » • 1 & 



beetles (from a specimen in the Cornell 



Insectary). The spotted beetle represented dred have been described 



near the base of the plant is Drasterius 



elegans: that near the top of the plant is from North America aloilC 



Agriotes ma?icus. 



It is quite difficult to sep- 

 arate the closely-allied species, as there is but little variation 

 in shape and color. The larvae also show comparatively 



