<<!<.] SKRRICORNIA. 81 



insect Professor Westwood (Classification i. p. 241) makes the following 

 \>- rvatious: " Tl - emit so strong a light during the night 



(that bring the period when they are in motion, reposing by day, when 

 tli-y are but seldom observed), that it is easy to read the smallest 

 writing l>y placing several under a glass, or by moving a single insect 

 along the lines. They are termed by the natives Cucnyos or Coyouyou, 

 and liy tho Spaniards Cucujo. When the insect is on the wing, two 

 additional luminous patches are observed beneath the elytra, the light 

 i shining cut from beneath the abdominal segments when stretched 

 out. It is said that they are attracted by the light of a flambeau, 

 which they follow like moths, a circumstance which also occurs in 

 glowworms." 



Th larva; of the Elatcridse are very well known in many instances, in fact far 

 too well, as they are identical with the well-known " wire-worms," which are such 

 a pest to the gardener and the farmer; they differ from those of the Buprestidae in 

 not having the prothoracic segment dilated, and in the presence of legs ; except in 

 the disposition of the scuta and the formation of the anal segment they bear a strong 

 family relation to one another, with the exception of those belonging to a few genera 

 such as Cnrdiophorus, which are very peculiar by reason of the broad membranous 

 between the abdominal segments. The following are the chief characteristics 

 of ili,- larvai its given by Chapuis and C mdeze (Catalogue des Larves des Coleopteres, 

 p. 140) : Head corneous, flat above and below, with the mouth not inferior ; 

 ocelli absent ; antennas very short, 3- jointed, inserted on the sides of the head near 

 tli.- mandibles : labrmn not visible; mandibles short, rather strong, simple or 

 dentate; maxillary palpi with the internal lobe only slightly developed, external 

 lobe 2 -join led, with a short 4-jointed palpns; thoracic and abdominal segments 

 1 1 >-,-] y resembling one another, the prothoracic segment being the longest; legs 

 short, contiguous, terminating in a simple claw or hook which takes the place of a 

 tar-in ; abdominal segments of the same breadth as the thoracic segments, nine in 

 number, the ninth segment variable, being sinuate or dentate at sides, and often split 

 np at apex into dentate processes ; the whole body both above and below is almost 

 entirely protected by corneous scuta; the colour is, as a rule, reddish-brown or 

 yellowi>h, some species however are blackish-brown or pnrpli.-h, and very rarely the 

 <-oluur is yellowish-white; the l;irva>, us a whole, much resemble those of the 

 Tfiiebrionida 1 , I nt may beknown'by their flatter head and the shape of the apical 

 abdominal segment. Seme of these larvae are very destructive to plants, and will be 

 noticed under their res|>octive genera ; others again are wood-feeders, and some, 

 Mich as Elater rhombeut, are positively affirmed to be carnivorous ; Chapuis ami 

 Candeze, in confirmation of the latter facts, allege that they have found an Elaterid 

 larva devouring the larva of a species of Diptera in a decaying mushroom. 



The British genera may l>o divided as follows ; it will, however, be 

 advisable fur any student of the genus to make himself acquainted with 

 the appearance of the genera by means of type specimens, if possible, as 

 many of them are closely related, and the generic differences are not 

 always very apparent from descriptions : 



I. An ten i ite short, entirely received in strong groove* 



beneath LACOX. Lap. 



II. Antennae longer, not or not entirely received in 



antennal grooves. 

 L Coxnl plates suddenly dilated inwards; eyes more 



or less tunk in thorax. 

 VOI* IV. O 



