WIRE \VORMS. in 



it fits, in consequence of the distance between the base 

 of the elytra and the thorax. In this genus the tarsi 

 are bristly, the joints becoming gradually smaller, the 

 body is flattened, and the sides of the thorax are not 

 widened. The name Elater is Greek, and signifies 

 a ' striker ' or * hurler,' the name being given to the 

 insect in consequence of its power of hurling itself 

 into the air. 



The ground colour of the present species is black, 

 but it is covered with brown-black or red-brown down, 

 the thorax being rather convex, punctured, and 

 having a short and shallow furrow behind. The 

 elytra are of a more decided hue, being blood-red 

 (whence the specific name, sangnineus\ and are striated 

 and punctured. It is not a very common insect, but 

 may be found in woods. I have taken it in a copse 

 on the Wiltshire downs. 



The larvae of the Skipjack Beetles are popularly 

 known as Wire-worms, a title which has been applied 

 to them for two reasons first, because they are long 

 and narrow, seeming to be drawn out, as it were, like 

 wire ; and, secondly, because they are tough and hard- 

 skinned, so that a roller passing over them does them 

 no manner of harm, but only squeezes them into the 

 soil, as if they were so many pieces of wire. 



Some of these larvae commit terrible ravages 

 among the crops, feeding upon the roots, and so 

 remaining themselves hidden while their ravenous 

 jaws are destroying the very life of the plants. There 

 are few things which irritate an agriculturist more 

 than such a foe as this. He makes up his mind to 

 the caterpillar, the turnip-fly, the snail, and other 



