543 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
differs in having the eye-like spots less distinctly marked, 
and is not as common. This is Alans myops (A. my'ops). 
The family THROSCID^E (Thros'ci-dae) includes a few 
small species which resemble the Elaters and Buprestids in 
having the prosternum prolonged behind into a process, 
which is received in the mesosternum. They differ from 
the Elaters in having the prothorax firmly joined to the 
mesothorax, and the front coxal cavities closed behind by 
the mesosternum instead of by the prosternum; and from 
the Buprestids in having the ventral abdominal segments 
all free. The adult beetles are found on flowers. 
Family BUPRESTIDS (Bu-pres'ti-dae). 
The Metallic Wood-borers or Buprestids ( Bu-pres'tids ). 
The Buprestids resemble the click-beetles somewhat in 
for/n, being rather long and narrow; but they are easily 
recognized by their metallic coloring. Their bodies are 
hard and inflexible, and usually appear as if made of 
bronze ; but some species exhibit the brightest of metallic 
colors. The antennae are serrate; the first and second 
abdominal segments are grown together on the ventral 
side; and these beetles do not have the power of springing 
when placed on the back. 
The adults are found upon flowers and upon the bark of 
trees, basking in the hot sunshine. Some of them fly very 
rapidly, with a loud buzzing noise; and some drop to the 
ground when disturbed, and feign death. 
Most of the larvae are borers, feeding beneath bark or 
within solid wood. In such species the body is of a very 
characteristic form, which is commonly designated as “flat¬ 
headed.” The flattened portion, however, is composed 
largely of the segments immediately following the head. 
The first thoracic segment is very wide and flat; the next 
two or three segments are also flattened, but are successively 
smaller; while the rest of the body is quite narrow and 
cylindrical. These “flat-headed” larvae are legless, and 
