130 



INTRODUCTION. 



dilated and sometimes almost semicircular foliaceous elytra. The 

 species of the group including Eros and its allies are more like the 

 LampyriXjE, while Lygistopterus and Caloehromus tend towards the 

 Telephoning. Not much appears to be 

 known about the life-history of the 

 species ; the larva of Dictyoptera sanguinea 

 is flat and linear, narrowed in front and 

 behind, deep black above and whitish 

 with black spots beneath ; the last seg- 

 ment is chitinous, reddish in colour, and 

 terminates in two projecting bent horny 

 processes. 



Several of the forms allied to Dictyo- 

 ptera and Eros are mimicked very closely 

 by certain Longicorns. 



The Lampyrix.e are the most interest- 

 ing members of the family as they contain 

 the " glow-worms," which give off a more 

 or less bright light ; in most cases this phosphorescent light is 

 brightest in the females, and evidently serves as an attraction to 

 the males, but the males usually possess the power of giving light 

 to a greater or less degree, and in some cases are more brilliant than 

 the females. A great deal has been written by various authors as 



Fig. .37. 



Macrolycus bowringi. 



less bright light ; in 



Fig. 58. — Alebrus cxpansicornis. 



to the nature of the luminosity, but very little as yet is known 

 about it; it is apparently due to the oxidation of some fatty 

 substance formed or secreted within the body. 



In most cases there is but little difference in general appearance 

 between the female and the larva, whereas the males are perfect 



