6o 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



Photo by] [H. Bastin. 



A Mud-Dauber's Cell. 



At all points the beetle is protected by this armour, the 

 limbs and external organs being attached by hinge-like 

 joints that allow great freedom of movement without 

 providing weak places for the attacks of enemies. 



Taking a large species, such as the stag-beetle, for 

 the better elucidation of its external form, we find the 

 trunk exhibiting three clear divisions such as we know to 

 be characteristic of Insect structure ; but in this case we 

 have to be careful or we may be deceived by what we 

 see. As a matter of fact, the rearmost of the three 

 divisions of the upper side of a beetle does not coincide 

 with the hind-body, but includes also a large part of the 

 fore-body. The latter, as in all Insects, has to support 

 the legs and wings, and as the wings lie over the back 

 they necessarily hide a portion of the fore-body. 



Taking the apparent divisions from the upper aspect, 

 we see the broad head forms a complete casque, the eyes, 

 antennae, and mouth -parts effectually closing their 

 respective apertures. What appears in this view to be 

 the fore-body is only the first of the three recognised 

 divisions of that area ; the two other portions are to 



Afirstceuof the cluster usually made, be secn Only whcn thc four wings are extended for flight. 



the hnes"Tn the"" day show how the This first dlvision of thc forc-body ^ bears the first pair of 



structure has been built up piecemeal. .....> i. j.u J • .C 1 



and the smooth, regular mouth shows legs ; tfic sccond division - supports thc sccond pan' 01 legs 



how carefully the interior is ° . ^ . j j.-u j.u • J T • • "^ 



finished off. and the first pair of wmgs ; and the thn^d division •* carries 



the third pair of legs and the second pair 



of wings. The segments of the hind-body 



form broad overlapping plates covered 



above bv the wings. These plates of the 



hind-body are on the upper side soft, being 



protected by the wings covering them. It 



is along the margins of the upper side under 



cover of the first pair of wings that the 



spiracles, or breathing holes, are situate. 



The two pairs of wings differ in 

 character, for whilst the second pair are of 

 thin, semitransparent material, strengthened 

 by longitudinal ribs, or " nervures," and 

 adapted for flying, the first pair are thick 

 and horny, and from their shape unsuited 

 for flight. They have been adapted for 

 use as covers Vto the second pair, and in 

 flight are merely lifted up to give freedom 

 of movement to the effective i)air. When 

 thc beetle is not engaged in flight, tiie 



1 Protliorax. - .Mesothorax. ^ .Mctathorax. 



Photo l>v\ 



[E. Step, F.L.S. 



J5lakd-Nose Beetle. 



Ill thr hu-Rc family of weevils most of the species have the 

 head elongated, with the mouth-parts at the extremity. In 

 this e.\ample from South Africa the rostrum is decorated 

 with a beautiful curled beard. 



