OMALISUS. INSECTS. 267 



the males ; body narrow and elongated ; antennae approxi- 

 mated at the base. 



L. sanguined, Lat. Black, with the thorax and elytra of a blood- 

 red colour. 3 lines long. Inhabits Europe, on flowers. Larvae 

 found under the bark of the oak Lat. Hist. ix. pi. 75. fig, 6. 



L. latissimus, Lat. Body yellowish brown above ; elytra dilated 

 posteriorly in both sexes, with a marginal spot and the extremity 

 black. Larger than the preceding. Africa. Lat. Hist. ix. 89. 



Gen. OMALISUS, Geoff. Lat. Fab. 



Head discovered, but not prolonged ; antennae simple, approxi- 

 mated at the base ; with the second and third joints snorter 

 than the following ones ; labial palpi shorter than the maxil- 

 lary ones. 



O. suturalis, Fab. Black, with the interior part of the elytra, the 

 suture excepted, blood-red. 2^ lines long. Inhabits woods near 

 Paris Lat. Hist. ix. pi. 75, fig. 5. 



Gen. LAMPYRIS, Lin. 



Body oval, depressed ; thorax semicircular or square, conceal- 

 ing the head ; mouth very small ; last joint of the maxillary 

 palpi pointed ; eyes very large ; antennae approximated at 

 their base, filiform, pectinated, plumose or serrated in many 

 males ; posterior extremity of the abdomen phosphorescent ; 

 elytra coriaceous. 



Individuals of this genus have long attracted observation, from their emitting a 

 phosphorescent light; and they have acquired the name of glow-worms from the fe- 

 males, which are most generally met with, being deprived of wings, and shining during 

 the night. Some males seem not to possess the faculty of emitting this light, or but 

 feebly. The luminous portion of these insects is composed of yellow spots on the 

 under part of the last three segments of the abdomen. To discover the cause of 

 this whitish green or bluish phosphoric luminosity, many experiments have been 

 made. The result of these experiments by Foster, Carradori, and others, seem to 

 imply the existence of a phosphoric substance which affords the light, and which the 

 animal has the power of moderating or prolonging at will ; and even when the ab- 

 domen is cut or torn, the portions exhibit this light for some time. The phosphoric 

 matter, however, soon loses its power of emitting light, and is converted into a white 

 dry substance. Glow-worms are found in summer after sunset, in meadows, by 

 the sides of roads, and among bushes ; and in countries where they are common, the 

 males are seen in the calm evenings of summer flying and leaping about in the air, 

 which seems filled with sparks of living fire. During the day the females remain con- 

 cealed among the grass or leaves. They shine with more brilliancy than the males, 

 for the purpose, it has been supposed, of drawing the attention of the males in the 

 coupling season. 



L. noctiluca, Lin. The Glow-worm. Male four lines long, black- 

 ish brown, with the antennae simple ; thorax semicircular, cover- 

 ing the head, with two transparent lunated spots ; belly black, 

 with the last segments pale yellow. Europe. B. Shaw, vi. pi. 28. 



L. splendidula, Lin. Thorax yellowish, with the disc black and two 

 transparent spots before ; elytra blackish ; under part of the body 

 livid yellow. Larger than the preceding. Inhabits Western Eu- 

 rope Lat. Hist. ix. pi. 75, fig. 7, 8. 



