BEETLES. 11 



change takes place in many ways, which will be mentioned later, 

 when describing the different noxious insects. 



The pupa can no longer move about, but is helpless, and does 

 not take any food. In this condition it already shows all the ex- 

 ternal organs of the future beetle, but all of them are still enclosed 

 or encased in separate sheaths. Such a pupa is called an obtected 

 ptipa. While apparently quite inactive, wonderful changes are 

 being silently wrought, and all the stored-up food is being utilized 

 for this purpose. At last the pale, almost white pupa becomes 

 darker and darker, and the colors of the future beetle commence 

 to show themselves through the semi-transparent pupal skin, which 

 eventually ruptures, and a weak beetle with wings still small ap- 

 pears. The wings soon harden, the other members stretch them- 

 selves to their full length, and the adult can now enjoy life and 

 liberty. At first quite weak and pale, it soon becomes strong 

 enough to eat, court, mate, and die. 



As a general rule beetles remain in the egg-stage but for a 

 few days ; as larvae they eat and grow from a few weeks to several 

 years. The pupal stage also generally lasts but a short time; the 

 adults in most cases are short-lived, but others hibernate as per- 

 fect beetles. 



Beetles and their larvae feed upon all kinds of vegetable and 

 animal substances; some may eat parts of the rarest flowers, others 

 enjoy the rank-smelling carrion; some eat fruits of all kinds, and 

 even the most pungent spices do not escape their hungry jaws. 

 Still others are decided cannibals and eat other insects. Not- 

 withstanding their immense numbers, the order as a whole is not 

 very destructive, at least not in a state of nature. As a general 

 rule the wood-boring kinds prefer sickly or dying trees and thus 

 they act as scavengers, and by removing the dead material make 

 room for new growth. Many, if not most insects of this order, 

 feed upon plants that are of no use to man, and they even injure 

 or destroy weeds, hence can become our friends. But those kinds 

 that devote their attention to eating plants we grow for our own 

 use, or which destroy useful timber or manufactured goods, or 

 which invade our houses to eat material we wish to use our- 

 selves, all these are our enemies, and have to be treated as such. 

 Especially is the grower of fruit greatly troubled by such insects, 



