80 A BOOK OF INSECTS 



great development of the head and mandibles in the 

 males. The antennae are elbowed, and end in a pectinated 

 club. There are three British species, the best known 

 being the common stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus). The 

 sickle-shaped larva? are white, fleshy grubs, with hard 

 heads, powerful jaws, and feeble legs. They feed in 

 wood, and take several years to reach maturity. 



The family Scarabceidce includes several well-marked 

 groups, or sub-families, the most interesting being the 

 scarabs or dung-beetles, the chafers, and the rose-beetles. 

 It comprises the most gigantic of all beetles, the Goliath 

 beetles of Africa, and the Hercules beetle (Dynastes 

 hercules) of South America. All these insects are allied 

 to the stag-beetles, and have antennae which end in clubs 

 formed of flattened comb-like plates. Their larvae also 

 resemble those of the preceding family. 



The Buprestidce are abundant in tropical countries, 

 especially in Australia and Madagascar, but we have only 

 a few small species in Britain. Many of the exotic forms 

 are remarkable for the extraordinary brilliance of their 

 colouring. Most of the larvae are long, flattened grubs 

 which feed under bark or in wood. 



The "click beetles" {Elateiidce) are remarkable for 

 the manner in which, when placed on their backs, they are 

 able to leap high into the air. Their larvae are the familiar 

 " wireworms." The family is represented in all parts of 

 the world. Some of the large tropical species emit light 

 from paired spots on each side of the thorax, and are the 

 " fire-flies " of the countries which they inhabit. 



The family Lampyridce includes the familiar " soldier- 

 and-sailor" beetles {T'elephorm), the glow-worms Lam- 

 pyris), and the well-known fire-flies (Luciola) of Southern 

 Europe. The larvae vary greatly in form, many having a 

 most bizarre appearance. Most of them are carnivorous, 



