102 BEETLES. 



The Weevils and their allies, and the Turnip Flea 

 Beetles and their allies, are what next require especial 

 attention ; but a few observations on the other main 

 divisions are necessary so as to give a connected idea 

 of the arrangement of this great order of Beetles to 

 those who may wish to carry the study further. 



We have in the preceding Chapter noticed the kinds 

 that most concern us in the first of the four large 

 divisions, namely, those known by having five joints 

 to each foot (Pentamera) . 



The next division is knoivn by having Jive joints to the 

 feet of the tivo front pairs of legs, and four only to the 

 feet of the hinder pair {Heteromera) . This includes 

 Beetles of very various shapes and colours. Amongst 

 these are the Tenehrio molitor, the parent of the Meal- 

 worm (for reference to figure see list of illustrations) ;. 

 the slow-moving black "Cellar" or Churchyard Beetle 

 (B^a^js), with their wing-cases soldered together ; the 

 beautiful and active red Cardinal Beetles {Pyrochroa), 

 and the bright green Blister Beetle, formerly Cantharis, 

 now Lytta versicatoria. 



TJie third division of the order of Beetles, that of the 

 Tetramera or Pseudo-tetramera, ichich have apparently 

 four joints to their feet (see 8, Fig. 86), is very impor- 

 tant agriculturally. It includes the Weevils ; the 

 Long-horned Beetles, which mainly frequent timber ; 

 and the Turnip Flea Beetles. 



Of this division the Fihynehnphora, or Weevils, is the 

 first in order. Weevils may generally be known by 

 the head having a proboscis, or snout. This is some- 

 times short and broad ; sometimes curved and narrow, 

 and nearly as long as the whole body; and on the side 

 of this snout the horns are placed. These are com- 

 monly what is called " elbowed"; that is, the lowest 

 joint is long, and the others are joined to it at an 

 angle. Many of our crop Weevils are small, some 

 only about the twelfth of an inch long, few as long as 

 a common Wasp. They are usually very hard, and 

 much rounded at the sides ; and though some are 



