BEETLES 



the grub, chrysalis, and adult beetle. The eggs are 

 laid in crevices in the bark of trees, in punctures made 

 by the insect, on twigs, in the ground, in balls of 

 dung, in seeds, grain and various other foodstuffs, 

 animal skins, and dry flesh. 



The grubs of beetles differ from the caterpillars 

 of moths and butterflies, and are usually white or 

 coppery white. As soon as the grubs hatch from the 

 eggs they begin their career of destructiveness. Some 

 kinds bore into wood and feed on it. Great numbers 

 of species pass their lives underground, feeding on root 

 crops and the roots of all manner of plant and tree 

 growth. 



One of the weevils lays its eggs in mealies, mealie 

 meal, and other grain. These eggs hatch into tiny, 

 yellowish-white grubs or maggots, which feed on the 

 grain and meal. When the grub is full grown it, 

 like the caterpillar, changes into a chrysalis, and in 

 due time emerges from its case a fully-developed adult 

 beetle. 



Unlike butterflies and moths, adult beetles, with 

 the exception of the comparatively few predaceous 

 species, feed greedily on vegetation. For instance, 

 the Colorado or potato beetle is a much dreaded pest. 

 If not kept strictly in check, it increases so rapidly that 

 it eats off the potatoes to the last plant. 



The damage done to man directly and indirectly 

 by beetles and their larvae is colossal. The grubs of 

 some of the wood-boring beetles live, in the grub 

 condition, in trees for several years before finally 

 changing into beetles. During all this period they 



