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Show 354 INSECTA. separated preserves its lu.m inoru s. p.r operty for some time, wheth b er it be submitted to the acuon o var1ous gases, e placed in vacuu m, or left exposed to the air. The phosphorescence depends on th softness of the matter, rathet· than on the life of the animal. Whe: apparently extinct it may be t•rprod uced by softening the matter with water. The Lampyl'ides emit a brilliant light whrn immersed in warm water, but in cold water it becomes extinguished: this fluid seems to be the only dissolving agent of the phosphoric matter(!), They are nocturnal Insects; the males, like Phalenre of the same sex, are frequently observed circling round the blaze of candles, &c., ft·om which we may conclude that this phosphoric light, which is chiefly given out by the females, is intended to attract the former to the latter: and if, as De Gecr asserts, the larvre and pupre of the species found in France are luminous, we arc only to conclude that the phosphoric matter is developed at the earliest period of their existence. It has been said that some males were destituteof this luminous property-but they still possess it though in a very small degree. As nearly all the Lampyrides of hot climates, males as well as females, arc provided with wings and are extremely nu. merous, they present to their inhabitants at night an interesting spec· tacle, a continued illumination, proceeding from the myriads of luminous points which like little wandering stars traverse the air in every dit·ection. According to M. Dufour-Ann. des Sc. Nat., III, p. 225-the alimentary caual of the female of the common European Lampyris, the splencliclula, is about twice the length of the body. The resophagus is extremely short and immediately dilated into an abbre· viated crop separated from the chylific ventricle by a valvular stran· gulation. The latter is very long, smooth, turgid and cylindrical for two thirds of its length, then intestiniform. The small intestine is very short and flexuous, presenting an enlargement (perhaps not constant) representing a ccecum, and termil)ated in an elongated rectum. Certain Brazilian species, in which the antennre of the males con· sist of more than eleven joints formed like the laminre of a feather, have been separated from the genus Lampyris of Linnreus. They constitute the AMYDETEs, Hoff., Germ.(2) ( 1) llesides the experiments detailed in the Ann. de Chimie, see the Ann. Gener. des Sc. Phys., of Messrs Bory de Saint-Vincent, Drapiez et Van. Mon1. VIII, P· 31, where will be found the researches of M. Grotthuss on the phosj1horescence of the Lampyria italica. (2} Lampyris plumicornis, Lat., Voy. de MM'. Humboldt and Donpl., Zoo!. XVI, 4;-.ll.mydetea apicalia, Germ., Insect. Spec. Nov., P· 67. COLEOPTERA. 355 Others, also peculiar to South Ame1·ica, whose antennre are c.omosed of but eleven joints, present particular characters which have epn titled them to ,t I1 e same genen.c dl' St.m ctl. on, un d er the name of PHENGODES, Hoff. The third joint of these organs, and the following ones, give off from the inner side, too long ciliated filaments, which appear to be articulated and convoluted round themselves. The elytra are suddenly uarrowcd into a point. The wings are extended throughout their entire length, and simply folded longitudinally. The maxillary palpi are very salient and almost filiform. The thorax is transversal. The tarsi are filiform, and theit· penultimate joint is very short and scarcely bilobate. The body is narrow and elongated, with the head exposed( 1 ). The other species now form the genus LAMPYRIS, properly SO called, Which, from the form of the antennre, the presence or absence of the elytra, wings, &c. is susceptible of several divisions. L. noctiluca, L.; Panz., Faun., Insect. Germ. XLI, 7. The male about four lines in length; blackish; antennre simple; thoraxsemicircular, receiving the entire head, with two t1·ansparent lunate spots; venter blaclq ultimate annuli pale-yellowish. 8. splenclidula, L.; Panz., lb., 8. Closely allied to the preceding, but somewhat larger; thorax yellowish, with a blackish disk and two transparent spots before; elytra blackish; under part of the body and legs · livid-yellowish; first annuli of the venter some times of this latter colour, and at others dusky. The female is destitute of elytra and wings; blackish above; circumference of the thorax and last ring yellowish; lateral angles of the second and third annuli flesh-colour; under part of the body yellowish, with the three last annuli of the colour of sulphur. These latter individuals are more particularly called glowworms, ot· vers luisants. They are found every where about the country, along the roads, in hedges, meadows, &c. in the months of June, July and August. They lay a great number of lemoncoloured eggs, which are large and spherical, in the ground or on plants, where they are fixed by means of a viscid matter with which they are covered. The larva bears a great resemblance to the female, but is black, with a reddish spot on the posterior angles of the annuli; its antennre and legs are shOJ·ter. Its gait is very slow, and it (1) Illig., Mag., VI, p. 342. |