COLEOPTERA. 



587 



the abdomen there are usually a series of separate ganglia (2 to 7). 

 The latter may, however, fuse together to form a long mass or be 

 drawn into the thoracic ganglia. 



The long coiled alimentary canal dilates in the carnivorous beetles 

 to form a gizzard, which is followed by a shaggy chylific ventricle. 

 The number of Malpighian tubes is, as in Lepidoptera, confined to 

 four or six. 



The males and females are easily distinguished by the form and 

 size of the antennae, the structure of the tarsal joints, and by special 

 relations of size, form and colour. In the female the numerous egg- 

 tubes unite in very various arrangements, and a bursa copulatrix is 

 often present. The males possess a large horny penis, which, when 

 at rest, is retracted into the abdomen and is 

 protruded by means of a powerful muscular 

 apparatus. 



Almost all the larva? have mouth parts 

 adapted for biting, rarely suctorial pincers. 

 They feed under the most different conditions, 

 as a rule concealed and removed from the 

 light, and usually in the same way as the 

 perfect insect. They are either grub-like and 

 apodal, but with a distinctly developed head 

 (Curculionidce), or they possess, in addition to 

 the three pairs of legs on the thorax, also 

 stumps on the last abdominal segments. 



Many larva?, as those of the Cicindelce, have 

 a peculiar apparatus for capturing their prey 



, FIG. -is.,. ,7, Melue nola- 



(fig. 484). In place of the facetted eyes, which i!. b, s;iari* humeraii* 

 have not yet appeared, ocelli are present in 



varying number and position. Some beetle larvae, like the larvae of 

 the Dlptera and Hymenoptera, live as parasites and feed inside bees 

 nests on the eggs and honey (Jfeloe, Sitaris) (fig. 485). The pupte 

 of beetles, which are either suspended and attached to objects or lie 

 on the earth or in holes, have their limbs freely projecting. 



Fossil Coleoptera are found in coal formations and are specially 

 numerous in amber. 



Tribe 1. Cryptotetramera = Pseudotrimera. The tarsuses are com- 

 posed of four joints, of which one joint is rudimentary. Latrt-ille 

 considered them to be three- jointed. 



Fam. Coccinellids (Lady Birds). Cocci tuili, septcmpunctata L. The larvce 

 feed on Aphides. Cliilocoriix liqnistulatus L. 



