424 
INSECTA. 
the tarsi and palpi, announce that these Insects form the passage 
from this tribe to the second. * 
Or that of the Elaterides, which only differs essentially from the 
first in the posterior stylet of the prsesternum. which terminates in a 
laterally compressed point, frequently somewhat arcuated and uni- 
dentate, that sinks at the will of the animal into a cavity in the 
pectus, situated immediately above the origin of the second pair of 
legs ; and in the circumstance, that these Insects when placed on 
their back have the faculty of regaining their original position by 
bounding upwards. Most of them have mandibles emarginated or 
cleft at the end, palpi terminated by a triangular or securiform joint, 
much larger than those which precede it, and the joints of the tarsi 
entire. This tribe only comprises the genus 
Elater, Lin . 
The body is usually narrower and more elongated than that of the 
Buprestides, and the posterior angles of the thorax are prolonged 
into a sharp point, in the form of a spine. 
The common French name of these Insects is Scarahees a ressorf, 
and their Latin one, Notopeda, Elater. When placed on their back, 
finding it impossible to regain their natural position on account of the 
shortness of their legs, they bound perpendicular upwards until 
they fall on their feet. To execute this motion, they press the latter 
close to the body, lower their head and thorax, which has a free 
downward motion, then approximating this last to the postpectus, 
they forcibly press the point of the praesternum against the margin 
of the hole situated before the mesosternum, into which it sinks 
suddenly, as if by a spring. The thorax and its lateral points, the 
head and elytra, being violently propelled against the plane of posi- 
tion, particularly if it be solid and smooth, concur by their elasticity 
in causing the body to bound upwards. The sides of the praestennum 
are distinguished by a groove, where the antennae, which are pecti- 
nated or bearded in several males, are partly lodged. The females 
have a species of elongated ovipositor, with two lateral pieces 
pointed at the end, between which is the true oviduct. 
The Elaterides are found on flowers, plants, and even on the 
ground ; they lower their head in walking, and if any one approaches 
let themselves fall, pressing their legs against their body, 
De Geer has described the larva of a species (undidatus ) of this 
genus.. It is long, almost cylindrical, and provided with small 
antennae, palpi, and six feet ; it consists of twelve annuli, covered 
with a scaly skin, that of the posterior extremity forming a jdate with 
an elevated and angular margin, with two blunt points curved 
inwards ; underneath is a large fleshy and retractile mammilla, which 
performs the duty of a foot. It inhabits the debris of rotten wood, 
* Melasis baprestoides, Oliv., II, 30, 1, 1 ; — Melasis elateroides, Illig., differing, 
according to him, from the Elater baprestoides, Lin. 
