COLEOPTERA 95 



The larvae of beetles show considerable variety of form 

 and are known by a variety of names, such as grubs, borers, 

 wire-worms, glow worms, meal worms, and weevils. All 

 are true larvae, lacking wings externally until the pupal 

 stage is reached. 



Let us use the locust borer to illustrate the life history 

 of a beetle. This handsome longhorn is blackish in color 

 with yellowish crossbars on the wings. It is found rather 

 commonly on goldenrod flowers in autumn feeding on the 

 pollen. The female beetle lays her eggs on the bark of locust 

 trees. The larvae bore into the trunk of the tree and feed 

 there for nearly a year, and then transform within their 

 burrow, becoming pupae. A few weeks later the handsome 

 adult beetles emerge. 



LESSON 9 



Beetles 



WORK PROGRAM 



1. Collect water beetles and their larvae from a pond. 



2. Collect ground beetles and their larvae from under 

 stones, boards, etc. 



3. Collect flower- visiting beetles on goldenrods, asters, 

 etc. 



4. Collect leaf beetles and their larvae from the garden. 



5. Collect maybeetles, elaters, darkling beetles, etc., 

 at lights. 



