100 
THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 
uous character is the two large eye-like spots ou the top ot the thorax, 
which are expressed by the specific name. The larva inhabits partially 
decayed wood, and is often found in the trunks of old apple trees, ihe 
jjjlater vubvicollis , Say, is a little more than half an inch long, black, 
with a light-red thorax, bordered and pointed behind with black. The 
Elater sanguinipennis , Say, is black, with light-red elytra ; three-tenths 
of an inch in length. The E. apicatus, Say, is similar, but larger, being 
nearly half an inch in length, and the elytra are tipt with black. 1 he 
E. mgricollis, Say, varies from less than half to three-quarters of an 
inch in length ; black, with whitish elytra. The E. linteus , Say , resem- 
bles the last, but is distinguished by having the suture and tip of the 
elytra black. E. scapularis , Say, is a little less than four-tenths of an 
inch long, greenish-black, with the base of the elytra and the hind 
points of the thorax, clay-yellow. The tarsal joints are lobed beneath. 
It is now included in the genus Atlious. The Limonius annus, Say, is 
also light-red ou the shoulders of the elytra, but the thorax is wholly 
black, the tarsi are simple, and the length is only a quarter of an inch. 
Several species of Corymbetes have the elytra brownish-yellow with 
transverse zig-zag black bands. G. hieroglyphicus, Say, half an inch 
long, has two bands ; and G. liamatus, rather smaller, has but one band 
near the tip. 
The Melanotus fissilis, Say, ( cinereus , Weber 1) and the M. communis , 
Sell., plain brown species, usually about half an inch in length, but 
subject to considerable variation in size, are amongst our most common 
beetles. The two species closely resemble each other, but the latter is 
a little smaller, and the thorax is proportionally longer and less convex. 
They are distinguished from other and somewhat similar blaters by 
their pectinate claws. They are sometimes found under the bark of 
dead trees, having probably recently emerged from the pupa state. 
But they are also found upon the leaves of trees, to which their pecti- 
nate claws enable them to adhere. We have repeatedly seen them at 
rest in the enclosure formed by the tying together of the leaves of the 
black walnut, by the larvae of the little moth, Phycita juglwndis, LeB. ; 
but for what purpose was not apparent. 
The Melanactes piceus, DeG., (Fig. 45) is a large glossy black species, 
an inch or more in length. It is not uncommon in the latitude ot south- 
ern Illinois, where it is sometimes jarred from peach trees upon the 
curculio-catcher. Mr. Eiley has found and figured its supposed larva, 
which is one of the most beautiful objects, aud often attracts the atten- 
tiou of the curious in the southern part of the State, by its luminosity; 
the ami m al glowing in the dark with a beautiful green light as repre- 
sented in the figure. 
