54 8 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



differs in having the eye-like spots less distinctly marked, 

 and is not as common. This is Alaus myops (A. my'ops). 



The family Throscid^: (Thros'ci-dae) includes a few 

 small species which resemble the Elaters and Buprestids in 

 having the prosternum prolonged behind into a process, 

 which is received in the mesosternum. They differ from 

 the Elaters in having the prothorax firmly joined to the 

 mesothorax, and the front coxal cavities closed behind by 

 the mesosternum instead of by the prosternum; and from 

 the Buprestids in having the ventral abdominal segments 

 all free. The adult beetles are found on flowers. 



Family BuPRESTIM; (Bu-pres'ti-dae). 

 The Metallic Wood-borers or Buprestids {Bu-pres f tids). 



The Buprestids resemble the click-beetles somewhat in 

 form, being rather long and narrow ; but they are easily 

 recognized by their metallic coloring. Their bodies are 

 hard and inflexible, and usually appear as if made of 

 bronze ; but some species exhibit the brightest of metallic 

 colors. The antennae are serrate; the first and second 

 abdominal segments are grown together on the ventral 

 side ; and these beetles do not have the power of springing 

 when placed on the back. 



The adults are found upon flowers and upon the bark of 

 trees, basking in the hot sunshine. Some of them fly very 

 rapidly, with a loud buzzing noise ; and, some drop to the 

 ground when disturbed, and feign death. 



Most of the larvae are borers, feeding beneath bark or 

 within solid wood. In such species the body is of a very 

 characteristic form, which is commonly designated as " flat- 

 headed.'' The flattened portion, however, is composed 

 largely of the segments immediately following the head. 

 The first thoracic segment is very wide and flat ; the next 

 two or three segments are also flattened, but are successively 

 smaller ; while the rest of the body is quite narrow and 

 cylindrical. These "flat-headed" larvae are legless, and 



