92 COLEOPTERA. 



popular names, " Skip-jacks," " Click-beetles " and 

 " Snapping-bugs ; " also their scientific name, Elater. 



The larvae are well known under the name of Wire- 

 worms. They feed on the roots of various plants, and 

 are sometimes very noxious. 



Remedies. — Sow buckwheat or white mustard on the 

 infested field. The larvae may be trapped with pota- 

 toes. (4, XL, 519). 



MELOID/E. 



These beetles may be characterized as follows : Body 

 soft ; head broad, much bent forward, abruptly nar- 

 rowed posteriorly into a small neck ; prothorax nar- 

 rower than the elytra ; elytra soft and flexible ; legs 

 long and slender; claws of the tarsi usually divided. 



These insects are remarkable for secreting a vesica- 

 tory principle, used in medicine, and for the parasitic 

 habits and wonderful transformations of their larva:. 



Note carefully habits and metamorphoses of Meloe. 

 (i, 477 ; Newport in Linna^an Trans., XX., p. 297, and 

 XXL, p. 167; M. Fabre, " Memoire sur I'Hyperm^ta- 

 morphose et les moeurs de Meloides," Annales des 

 Sciences Naturelles, sen 4, vol. VIL, 1857, p. 299). 



Several species of Blister-Beetles, Lytta, are de- 

 structive to potato vines. 



Remedies. — Drive the beetles into a windrow of hay 

 or straw, and kill them by setting fire to it. Plant 

 early varieties. (3, L, 99; 2, 135 ; 5, L, 23). 



The Spanish-fly, Lytta vcsicatoria Linn., belongs to 

 this family. 



CUKCUI-loNU/^i (VVeevils, or Snout-Beetles). 

 The members of this family may be easily recog- 



