186 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Insects continued. 



for biting, with all the parts well developed ; the body is 

 usually incased in a hard crust; the front wings are 

 modified to form hard coverings (elytra) extending over the 

 hinder part of the body, and serving to protect the hind 



FIG. 295. ROSE-CHAFER, with Hind Wings extended. 



wings, which remain membranous for flight (see Fig. 295). 

 The metamorphosis is complete, i.e., the larva is very 



FIG. 297. COLORADO BEETLE. 



unlike the adult Insect (see Figs. 296 and 297), and the 

 pupa is helpless. At times, the larvae of Beetles are 

 hurtful (e.g., those of the Click Beetle and of the 

 Colorado Beetle); but the mature Insects are more often 

 to be dreaded. See also Cockchafers, Ladybirds, and 

 Turnip Ply. 



Several kinds of Beetles are useful to gardeners, since 

 they feed on hurtful Insects, either as larvse, or in the 

 perfect state. Of these useful forms we may mention 



FIG. 298. COMMON GROUND BEETLE. 



the following: The Ground Beetles (see Fig. 298) feed 

 mostly on Insects, though some of them are partly vege- 

 tarians, and Harpalus ruficornis has been found eating 

 Strawberries in large numbers. The Tiger Beetles, and 

 the Devil's Coach Horses or Rove Beetles (see Fig. 299), 

 feed largely upon decaying matter; but many kinds are 

 of much assistance by destroying noxious insects. The 

 Glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca), in the larval state, 



Insects continued. 



feeds on snails, mostly of the genus Helix, following 

 them into their shells to devour them. It removes the 

 slime encountered in this mode of life, by means of a 

 kind of brush specially suited to its needs. The larvae 



FIG. 299. DEVIL'S COACH HORSE. 



of the Ladybirds are very useful because of the number 

 of Green Flies eaten by them. The modes in which 

 Beetles inflict injury on garden and field produce, are 

 very various. Frequently, the roots are attacked, and 

 much injured, or entirely destroyed, usually by larva, 



Fio. 300. GRUB OP COCKCHAFER. 



e.g., of the Cockchafer (see Fig. 300). The stems are 

 injured, chiefly by those kinds (Bark Beetles) that bore 

 between the bark and the wood, separating the bark, 

 which soon dies. A few make galls, on roots or stems, 

 e.g., Cabbage Weevil, or in seed vessels. Others attack 

 the leaves, either while larvae (Lily Beetle), or as Beetles 

 (Turnip Fly) ; while others live as larvae in the . seed 

 vessels, eating out the contents of the seeds, and thus 

 rendering the crops a failure while in the soil, or after 

 they have been harvested, e.g., Bean Beetle. 



Orthoptera. In this order are included Insects with 

 months fitted for biting, wings net- veined, front wings like 

 parchment in thickness, long and narrow, serving to pro- 

 tect the large membranous hind wings ; metamorphosis 

 incomplete, the larvae resembling the parents except in 



FIG. 301. HOUSE CRICKET. 



size, and in having no trace of wings. This order in- 

 cludes Locusts, Crickets (see Fig. 301), Grasshoppers (see 



FIG. 302, QUEEN GKASSUOVPER, 



