ELATERIDiE. 
333 
larvae elsewhere are cylindrical and elongated, the segments smooth 
and fitting closely to one another, the whole head and body forming a 
smooth flexible cylinder. There are three pairs of legs, and the hind 
end terminates in hooks and chitinised processes which probably give 
the larva leverage on the soil or other medium in which it lives and 
facilitates rapid locomotion. 
On the analogy of known European 
forms there can be no doubt that these 
brown shiny larvae are those of Elateridce 
but the difficulty is to rear them. It is 
uncertain whether they feed on roots or 
other vegetable matter or whether they 
are predaceous on other insects and so on 
those which really injure the roots of 
plants (e.g., Melolonthidce). They are 
associated with damage to roots but may 
not cause it, and we are not aware of any 
instances of damage to roots by Elaterids 
in India. In the known species, the 
development is slow and several years 
are occupied in the metamorphosis. 
Nothing is known as to their enemies, 
none are known to be pests in India, and 
there are as yet no data as to their hibernation or seasonal occurrence, 
save the very general observation that, like most insects, they are 
found most abundantly in the rainy season. 
oculatus. 
{After Chapuis.) 
The family is so large and complex that the preliminary difficulty 
of identifying or even separating the distinct species is at present 
insuperable. Practically all the known Indian species were described by 
Candeze, whose works must be consulted. Schwarz has listed the 
Elateridce, as apart from the Eucnemidce, etc., in Genera Insectorum 
(1906), enumerating 503 species as occurring in India and Burmah 
alone. This cannot be more than a part of the actual species and new 
species are found in quantity. 
Of the 28 sub-families, 21 are represented by Indian forms. The 
light-emitting Pyrophorini are confined to the new world and do not 
