HYMENOPTERA. 



465 



and especially a black one, which are constant attendants upon 

 aphides, and feed upon the sugar which they excrete. Wherever ants 

 run over a plant, there aphides or cocci exist. The 

 Black Ant (fig. 1030) is so easily seen, and so 

 readily guides us to a knowledge of the existence of 

 aphides, that in familiar language I always call it my " aphis pointer," 

 and no gardener should ever neglect the warning of the busy little 

 black ant. 



FIG. 1030. Black Ant, 

 nat. s : ze and magnified. 



BEETLES, OR COLEOPTERA. 



In the division of insects, the second great class are the Coleoptera, 

 or Beetles, some of which are useful, whilst others are highly detri- 

 mental and destructive to vegetation. Coleopterous insects have two 

 thick horny coverings to the two filmy wings, which are folded. The 

 larvae of beetles are grubs having six tiny legs, of which a meal- 

 worm or wire-worm may serve as an example ; these come from eggs, 

 hatch to larvae, which change to pupae, and they in their turn are 

 transformed into the perfect creature. 



The largest beetle we have in England is the Stag Beetle (Lucamis 

 cervus]. It is common in my garden. Once, when some were wanted 

 for a comparative anatomist, a 

 reward of twopence a head was 

 offered for them, but they were 

 delivered in such quantities that 

 it was very soon found neces- 

 sary to withdraw the reward. 

 The larvae feed on wood in a 

 state of incipient decay, and 

 certainly they may be regarded 

 as more ornamental than useful 

 as they fly across the garden 

 in a summer's evening. 



One of the most destructive insects to a garden, both in the larval 

 and perfect state, is the Cockchafer (Qfclohmtha vnlgaris, fig. 1031). In 



ir H 



FIG. 1031. Cockchafer : a, eggs ; b, c, d, larvae ; 

 e, perfect beetle. 



