HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS 



Fig. 35. A VfasD. Chlorlon atrat^jm 

 (Lepc) 



Dull velvety black. Wings dusky 

 with violet iridescent sheen. Length 

 16-24 mm. (from U.S. D. A. ) 



Wings of this type look like they 

 might be made of thin cellophane with 

 delicate stiffening veins. They are 

 often colored in whole or in part and 

 thus lose their transparency. Scales 

 in definite patterns usually cover 

 the wings of moths and butterflies. 



4a First pair of wings horny and meeting in a straight line 

 down the back (as in the beetles and earwigs) Figs. 36 and 

 87 to 146 5 



Fig. 36. A Beetle. Calosoma calidum Fab. 

 The Fiery Hunter. 



A beautiful and useful ground beetle. Dull 

 black with rows of bright copper colored 

 punctures on wing covers. Destroys cater- 

 pillars. Leng':h 21-25 mrn. 



The front wings of beetles are made of 

 chitin the same as the outer covering of the 

 body. They are held up in flight but likely 

 hinder more than they help. The second pair 

 of wings are thin and often much folded. 



Figure 36, 



4b 



Wings not as in 4a 6 



5a With a prominent pair of pinchers (a) at tip of abdomen. 



(Earwigs) Fig. 37 



Order X. DERMA PTERA 



Figure 37. 



Fig. 37. An Earwig. Labia minor L. The 

 Little Earwig. 



Reddish brown, clothed with fine yellowish 

 pubescence. Length 4-5 mm. 



This is likely the only species of earwig 

 native in Iowa. Other species are occasion- 

 ally introduced temporarily. Earwigs are much 

 more abundant in the south and on the Pacific 

 coast. They do some damage to plants. Ear- 

 wigs are likely to be mistaken for Rove 

 beetles but if one looks sharply for the post- 

 erior pinchers he need make no mistake. 



38 



