136 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Beetles—continued. 
thorax (II. A. and II. B.)—it is found divided into three 
rings, called respectively, i. the prothorax, ii. the meso- 
thorax, and iii. the metathorax. In each case the dorsal 
surface is distinguished as the -notum ‘and the ventral as 
the -sternum. 
Of the pronotum (II. i. A.) (which is without appendages), 
a is the anterior, b the posterior, and m the lateral margin. 
c is the medial line, d is the apex, f the base, n the anterior, 
and o the posterior angles, while p is the disc. 
Beneath the pronotum is found the prosternum 
(II. i. B.), carrying the fore or anterior pair of legs, 
each of which, like the other four, have the following 
divisions: a, the coxa; b, a very small joint, the 
trochanter ; c, the femur; d, the tibia; e, the tarsus, with 
five joints (in this insect), the last terminating in a pair of 
ungues, or hooks, the use of which is very apparent if a 
Stag Beetle be held in the hand. 
In Il. ii. A. is seen the mesonotum; this carrics 
the two elytra, hardened shell-like appendages, which are 
modified representatives of the fore-wings of other 
insects. On them are the apex, a; base, b; lateral 
margin, d; and disc, f. When the elytra are closed, the 
line along which they meet is called the suture, e; anda 
little triangular shield, the scutellum, c, is seen on the 
middle line at the anterior extremity of the suture. 
The mesosternum (II. ii. B.) bears the mid pair of 
legs, whose divisions are the same as those of the fore 
pair. 
Il. iii, A. represents. the metanotum carrying the 
membranous wings which, when the insect is at rest, 
are folded away very carefully beneath the elytra, so as 
to be out of danger. Beneath the metanotum is the 
metasternum, II. iii. B., bearing the hind pair of legs, 
whose parts are again the same as those of the fore- 
legs. 
III. A. shows the dorsal surface of the abdomen, and 
Ill. B. the ventral, both being divided into a number of 
segments. The greater part of the dorsal surface in 
most Beetles is shielded by the elytra, and is therefore 
softer than the ventral surface, which has no protection. 
Many attempts have been made, with more or less 
success, to classify the Beetles. Still, the fact remains that, 
even in the present state of knowledge, there are a vast 
number of forms which cannot well be brought together 
by any hard-and-fast system of classification, and these 
haye been styled Polymorpha. It would serve no good 
purpose to minutely classify this vast Order. All that the 
gardener needs to know are the leading characteristics 
of the families containing either friends or foes, or both. 
To separate the one from the other is not by any means an 
easy matter, but unless he is able to discriminate some- 
what, he may be destroying, unwittingly, some of his 
greatest friends. A 
Below are the leading characteristics of the families 
of Beetles most interesting to gardeners and farmers, 
arranged alphabetically. 
Bruchidez are small Beetles, several species of which 
are destructive to the seeds of leguminous plants. The 
head is produced in front, but not prolonged into a beak, 
and is partly hidden beneath the pronotum. The feet 
appear as if but four-jointed, but a fifth really exists. To 
this family belong the well-known Pea Weevil (Bruchus 
pisi), as well as the Bean Pests (B. rufimanus and 
B. fabe), referred to under Bruchus. 
Carabide, or Ground Beetles. These are closely 
related to the Cicindelidwz, chiefly differing from them in 
the face being narrower, and in the absence of a hinged 
hook to the first maxilla, and in the eyes being less 
prominent. By far the majority of them are useful in 
gardens, and as some few are amongst the commonest of 
Beetles their good qualities should not be overlooked. 
Fig. 161 represents Carabus nemoralis, which may be found 
Beetles—continued. 
Fic. 161. GRounD BEETLE (Carabus nemoralis), 
(Twice natural size.) 
almost everywhere in town or in country. As the common 
name suggests they are largely terrestrial in their habits. 
Frequently they are incapable of flight, the elytra being 
soldered. Although not so predaceous as the Tiger Beetles, 
they will attack both living and dead insects; while the 
larvw® are also similarly useful and very active. In form 
the larve are elongate, possess very powerful calliper-like 
jaws, and the hind part of the body bears two peculiar 
processes and a mid-tube. In the 
genera Harpalus, Pterostichus, Za- 
brus, Amara (“‘Sunshiners”), and 
Calathus, are to be found individuals 
which occasionally forsake their usual 
carnivorous dietary for a vegetarian 
one. Harpalus ruficornis, Pterostichus 
madidus (Fig. 162), and Calathus 
cisteloides, all prey upon Strawberries ; 
while Zabrus gibbus and several Amara 
are at least in part plant feeders, the 
former being destructive to corn. 
Cerambycide, or Longhorn 
Beetles, are very closely allied to 
the Chrysomelidz. The species are, 
as a rule, elegant insects, of oblong 
form, and with usually long serrate or 
pectinate antenne. The tarsi are 
five-jointed, though the fourth segment 
is with difficulty differentiated from : 
the fifth. One of the most elegant Fic. 162. PTEROsTICHUS 
representatives found in gardens is SSDS 
the sweet-smelling Musk Beetle 
(Aromia moschata) (Fig. 79), whose larve do much damage 
to Willows. The Longhorns generally are wood rather 
than garden-inhabiting Beetles. The grubs are soft, white, 
and fleshy, usually with short legs, small head, and 
powerful jaws. Some of these Beetles are capable of 
making a stridulating noise, the Musk Beetle among the 
number. 
Chrysomelidz, or Leaf Beetles. These are usually 
bright or metallic as to colour, and oval or convex as to 
form, but great variability in this latter respect is shown in 
