THE SPRING-BEETLES. 
55 
sides with short spines ; the true legs were six, a pair to 
each of the first three rings ; and Avere tipped AA’ith a single 
claw. Soon after this grub Avas found, it cast its skin and 
became a pupa, and in due time the latter AA'as transformed 
to a beetle. 
Elater (^Pyrophorus) noctilucus, the night-shining Elater, 
is the celebrated cucuio or fire-beetle of the West Indies, 
from AAdience it is frequently brought aliA^e to this country. 
It resembles the preceding insect someA\diat in form, and is 
an inch or more in length. It giA^es out a strong light from 
tAA^o transparent eye-like spots On the thorax, and from the 
segments of its body beneath. It eats the pulpy substance 
of the sugar-cane, and its grab is said to be A'ery injurious 
to this plant, by devouring its roots. 
- The next tAA’o common Elaters, together AAuth several other 
species, are distinguished by their claAvs, AAdiich resemble lit¬ 
tle combs, being furnished Avith a roAV of fine teeth along the 
under-side. The thorax is short and rounded before, and 
the body tapers behind. They are found under tlie bark of 
trees, AAdiere they pass the Avinter, haAung completed their 
transformations in the preAuous autumn. Their 
A Fig. 28. 
grubs liA^e in Avood. The first of these beetles is 
the ash-colored Elater, Elater QMelanotus^ cine- 
reus of Weber (Fig, 28). It is about six tenths 
of an inch long, and is dark broAAm, but coAwed 
Avith short gray hairs, Avhich giAX it an ashen 
hue; the thorax is conA^ex, and the Aving-coA^ers 
are marked AAnth lines of punctures, resembling stitches. It 
is found on fences, the trunks of trees, and in paths, in 
April and May. 
Elater (^Melanotus) communis of Schbnherr, is, as its name 
implies, an exceedingly common and abundant species. It 
closely resembles the preceding, but is smaller, seldom ex¬ 
ceeding half an inch in length; it is also rather lighter 
colored ; the thorax is proportionally a little longer, not so 
conA’ex, and has a slender longitudinal furroAv in the middle. 
