144 
INSECTS. 
Buprestidce, and differ also in having the posterior angles of the pronotum sharply 
produced behind, and the prosternal process laterally compressed and slightly 
curved, with its point resting in a deep cavity in the mesosternum. Their antennae 
—consisting of eleven, or rarely twelve, joints 
—are usually serrate, though in many cases, 
especially in the males, they are either pectinate 
or flabellate. These beetles owe their name of 
skip-jacks to the power they have, when fallen 
on the back, of springing into the air and 
alighting on their legs again. The larvae 
some species eat into soft succulent roots and 
tubers, and in this way prove destructive to 
many of our cultivated plants. These pests are 
well-known to farmers under the name of wire- 
worms. The larva of Agriotes lineatus is one 
of the worst, being destructive not only in the 
fields but also in the kitchen-garden. It is of 
a pale yellowish brown colour, differing little 
in general appearance from the larvae of other 
species, and lives for probably four or five 
years, passing then into a pupa, which remains 
concealed in the ground for a few weeks before 
changing into the perfect insect. Amongst the 
exotic members of this family, the most remark¬ 
able are the fire-flies, found in the West Indies 
and America. There are several species of 
these beetles, all belonging to the genus 
Pyroplwrus, one of which, P. noctilucus, is 
illustrated on p. 146. They have a dark brown or reddish brown colour, obscured 
by a covering of short grey hairs, and may be easily recognised by the 
two slightly raised yellow spots placed near the 
hind angles of the prothorax. In the living 
insect these spots glow with a rich yellowish green 
light. A stronger but more diffused light of 
a reddish colour is given off from the abdomen 
when the beetles are flying. 
The remaining families of the section Penta- 
mera are included in the tribe Malacodermata. 
The beetles of this tribe are distinguished by 
having the elytra less solid and compact, and the 
body in general softer and more flexible than is 
usual in other groups. The Lycidce are deserving of notice, inasmuch as they 
form one of those groups of insects which are most frequently mimicked by species 
of other families. They have a characteristic appearance, owing to the small 
size of the head and prothorax, as compared with the greatly expanded elytra. 
To their unusual shapes these beetles generally add a conspicuous coloration; 
SUMMER-CHAFER (uat. Size). 
rhinoceros-beetle, male (cat. size). 
