222 
Observations on the various Insects 
lowing joints being obtrigonate : this sex varies also greatly in 
colour, some specimens being entirely brown, others of an ochre- 
ous-chesnut, &c. 
As the Wireworms seem to be easily distinguished from each 
other by the apical segment of the abdomen, I have copied from 
Bouche* those which he has described, hoping it may tend to 
their being accurately identified with their respective click-beetles 
by some one who may be fortunate enough to rear them hereafter. 
Figure 41 he calls the Wire worm of Elater niger (vide fig. 35) ; 
42 IS Elater lineatus, 43 Elater fulvipes (vide fig. 33), and 44 
Elater Julvipennis. I must, however, observe, that 1 have some 
doubt of his figure of E. nir/er belonging to that species ; but the 
Wireworm of E. lineatus he has certainly mistaken, as will be 
seen by referring to our pi. I., fig. 9,f which represents the same 
portion of the Wireworm as fig. 42, pi. J. Bouche's figure of 
E. fulvipes approaches that which I believe to be the Wireworm 
of that insect ; and as his drawings are not accurate I fear, it is 
most probable they are identical. His Elater fulvipennis is most 
probably correctly named, as it lives in decayed timber, in which 
it changes to a beetle with yellowish or reddish elytra : his figure 
represents the underside with the anal foot contracted. I have 
found, at different times, the Wireworms of two allied species, 
namely, E. sanffuineus, Linn., and E. rufipennis, HofT., whose 
habits are similar and their figure very like Bouche's. 
At fig. 39 I have drawn a Wireworm, which I believe to be 
the larva of Elater fulvipes (fig. 33) : it is very shining, nearly as 
large as the figure, of a ferruginous colour, with a few long hairs 
distributed over the body, and a channel down the back ; the head 
is flattened, with four channels in front (fig. (/), and the tail is 
conical, concave above, with four channels at the base, rugose and 
transversely striated towards the tip, which is acuminated, forming 
a tooth, with two obscure tubercles on each side (fig. h) ; ihe jaws 
are black, the 6 pectoral legs small, and the anal foot distinct. 
This Wireworm cannot, I imagine, be injurious to the culti- 
vator, as it feeds in decaying trees, from whic h I have cut it out, 
together with the perfect insect. Bouche says it lives two years 
in soft willow wood, and becomes a pupa there in winter. 
Figure 40 I think may prove to be the Wireworm of E. murinus 
(fig. 32) or of Elater niger (fig. 35) . 1 1 does not, however, agree with 
* Naturs:eschichte der Tnsecten, pi. 8, fiffs. 31, 32, .33, and 34. 
t Whether this be tiie Wireworm of Elater rufictiuilis or of E. lineatus I 
cannot positively decide, lor they seem to be so exceedingly similar that it 
is impossible to detect the slightest difference between any of the speci- 
mens I have found at the roots of the turnips and corn crops, or amongst 
the multitude of examples which have been transmitted to me for my m- 
spection, yet I think tlie largest specimen must belong to E. ritficaudts. 
