INTRODUCTION. 5 



tlic eggs, and afterwards the young. From the 

 eggs emerge the larvae, or grubs, which are elongated 

 creatures, with a distinct, though sometimes small, 

 horny head, bearing two very short antennae, com- 

 posed only of a few joints. They are either destitute 

 of eyes, or have only minute ocelli. The mouth 

 organs of larvae resemble those of the beetles, and 

 the body (including the head) is composed of thirteen 

 segments. As in the perfect insect, the number of 

 spiracles is nine. The larvae do not possess wings, 

 and many of them are legless ; most of them are, 

 however, provided w4th three pairs of legs — a pair on 

 the second, third, and fourth segments respectively — 

 which are the thoracic ses^ments. The lesjs of the 

 larvae are usually much smaller, and simpler, than 

 those of the perfect insects, and some have a single 

 proleg at the caudal extremity. On the dorsum there 

 are often small plates, or tubercles. The body is 

 soft and maggot-like in some, as in the Cicrculionidce, 

 or Weevils ; in others, there are flat, chitinous plates ; 

 whilst others again are wholly chitinous, like the 

 perfect insects. 



The larvae of the Melolonthini, or Cockchafers, are 

 short, curved creatures, of a yellowish-white colour. 



The time required for the full development of larvae 

 is very variable, but all moult several times during 

 their growth. Whilst the Chrysonielidce pass through 

 their metamorphoses in a few weeks, some beetles. 



