37 



CHAPTER II. 



COLEOPTEEA (Beetles). 



Op all the families of Insects, with the exception of LepvJojitera, 

 none appear so common, or so easily distinguished Ijy the non- 

 entomologist, as the Coleoptera or Beetles. They are easily recog- 

 nised by their apparent absence of wings, though they are not wing- 

 less, as the true wings are covered by two hard horny wing-cases 

 known as elytra, which are spread out during flight. The mouth is 



^iigaa 



Fig. aS.—Tupical laroa: of beetles. (From photo by A. Flattt-rs.) 



formed for biting, hence they are mandibulate ; and the body, like 

 that of all other insects proper, is divided into three distinct portions 

 — viz., head, thorax, and abdomen. 



Beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through the 

 various stages of egg, larva, pupa, and imago or perfect insect. Fig. 

 38 represents typical larvas of beetles. 



The general student or collector of Coleoptera finds the forest a 

 very happy hunting-ground, inasmuch as every portion of it is rep- 



