14 THE ORDERS OF INSECTS. 



a green beetle about an inch long, which is found on the trunks 

 of willow-trees, and emits a peculiar but agreeable odour. The 

 larvae of the Cerambyddce feed for the most part on the wood of 

 trees. 



The Chrysomelida, or Golden-apple Beetles, are generally of 

 a bright green or coppery colour, and are found, often gregari- 

 ously, on the plants on which they feed. The Bloody-nose 

 Beetle (Timarcha Lcevigata), which is the largest British species, 

 measures about half an inch in length, and is black, instead of 

 green. It is of a roundish form, and very sluggish, and when 

 touched it emits a reddish fluid ; whence its popular name. 

 The Halticida are smaller beetles, which possess the power of 

 leaping. The destructive Turnip Fly (Haltica Nemorum], which 

 is of a bronzy colour, with a yellowish stripe on each of the 

 elytra, is the best known of this family. 



The CoccinettidtB) or Lady Birds, have only three joints to the 



Seven-spot Lady Bird (Coccinella Septempunctata), magnified. 



tarsi. They are generally red or yellow, spotted with black ; 

 and are very useful insects, as their larvae fee4 on plant-lice. 

 The Trichopterygida, the smallest known beetles, which are 

 found among vegetable refuse, and are scarcely visible to the 

 naked eye, are placed here by some entomologists. 



The Orthoptera, or Straight- winged Insects, resemble the 

 Coleoptera in the fore wings being much narrower and of a much 

 thicker texture than the hind wings, which are the real organs 

 of flight. The wing-cases are not horny, as in Coleoptera, but 

 more resemble parchment. The metamorphoses of Orthoptera 

 are imperfect, that is, the larva, pupa, and perfect insect re- 

 semble each other, except that the larva is destitute of wings, 

 which are rudimentary in the pupa. The pupa is active, and 

 there is therefore no lengthened cessation of feeding or move* 

 ment in the life of these insects. 



The Orthoptera are rather poorly represented in cold coun- 



