COLEOPTERA. 



437 



triturate hard bodies ; they all feed either on flowers, on leaves, or on 

 stercoraceous matter. Their larvae resemble each other much, even 

 those of families very widely differing from each other in the perfect 

 state. They are large, whitish worms, with diaphanous skins, scaly 

 heads, furnished with toothed mandibles, living in the ground or in 

 rotten wood. The pupge are fat and stumpy, and they already show 

 the features of the perfect insect. They make a chamber in which to 

 undergo their changes. They remain generally three years in the 

 larva state. The duration of the pupa is very short, as also is that of 

 the perfect insect. The differences of the sexes are often very marked 

 on the exterior, by protuberances, horns, &c., which constitute the 

 distinctive ornament of the males. 



In the group of Scarabceides we shall have to speak, above all, of 



I 



Fig. 423.— Rose Beetle {Cetonia aurata). 



.the Cet07iiad(B, the Chafers, and the Scarahcei properly so called. 

 [The family Cetoiiiad(E is one of the most remarkable, on account ot 

 [the beauty of the insects which compose it and of the richness_ of 

 [their metallic lustre, some being of great splendour, and others havmg 

 [velvety tints. The larv^ live in wood in a state of decomposition ; 

 [the perfect insects frequent flowers, and like the sun. 



This family contains a great number of species, the type of which 

 ,_- the Rose Beetle {Ceto?iia aurata). of a beautiful green colour shot 

 [with gold, with transverse whitish lines. The rose beetle frequents 



roses especially, of which it eats the petals and the stamens. It is 

 |the Goldeji Meloloiitha of Aristotle, who tells us that this unfortunate 



insect shared with the cockchafer the privilege of amusing children, 

 ''"he Cetofiia flies by day and by night, making use of its inferior wmgs 



