908 FAMILY XLTX.— LUCANID^E. 



Throughout the State; frequent. April 10-October 25. Occurs 

 in and about decaying beech, oak and other logs. 



V. Passalus Fabr. 1792. (Gr., "a post or peg.") 



Mentum deeply emarginate, the notch being filled by the large 

 horn-like ligulaj; antennae stout, not elbowed, but in repose so curved 

 as to appear so ; body distinctly pedunculate, the scutellum in front 

 of the base of elytra. One species occurs throughout the United 

 States. 



*1721 (5424). Passalus cornutus Fab., Syst. Eleut, II, 1801, 256. 



Elongate, somewhat flat- 

 tened, parallel, robust. Black, 

 shining. Head armed with a 

 short, bent hook. Thorax quad- 

 rate, angles rounded; disk 

 smooth, with a deep median 

 impressed line. Elytra deeply 

 striate, the strise finely punc- 

 tured. Length 32-36 mm. (Fig. 

 358.) 



This well-known spe- 

 cies, commonly known as 

 the "horn" or "bess-bee- 



Fig. 358. a, larva; b, pupa; c. beetle; d, hind leg of larva, showing tie," OCCUI'S abundantly 

 atrophied joints; e, same, enlarged. (After Riley.) throughout the State. It 



hibernates in its usual 

 abiding places, the juicy depths of half- decayed logs and stumps. 

 They are often utilized as horses by country children, the horn 

 furnishing an inviting projection to which may be fastened, by a 

 thread or cord, chips and pieces of bark to be dragged about by the 

 strong and never-lagging beast of burden. When tired of "play- 

 ing horse ' ' they can make of the insect an instrument of music ; 

 for, when held by the body, it emits a creaking, hissing noise, pro- 

 duced by rubbing the abdomen up and down against the inside of 

 the hard, horny wing covers. The larva is remarkable in having 

 only the four front legs of normal size, the hind pair being aborted. 

 January 11 -November 26. 



VI. Nicagus Lec. 1.861. (Gr., "to lead in victory.") 



The only member of this genus, usually placed among the Scara- 

 bseidse, has been recently transferred to the present family. It 

 differs widely in appearance from the other Lucanidse, more re- 

 sembling a nearly smooth Trox. The joints of the antenna!- club 



