30 



HOW INSECTS ARE CLASSIFIED 



Larvae and adults feed on decaying 

 Both larvae and adults predaceous. 



There are many families, in practically all of which are to be found 

 species of importance. A few of the typical families are the following : 



Carabidse, the ground beetles. Active insects both as larvae and as 

 adults, and usually predaceous. 



Silphidae, the carrion beetles, 

 animal matter. 



Coccinellidae, the lady beetles. 

 One of the most beneficial families. 



Elateridae, the click beetles. Parents of the wireworms. 



Buprestidae, the adults of the " flat-headed borers." 



Scarabffiidae. Large beetles, well illustrated in the " June bug." 

 The larvae of some feed on decaying animal or vegetable matter, while 

 others are highly injurious. 



Cerambycidae, the parents of the " round-headed borers." 



Chrysomelidse. Typical leaf eaters. Examples are the potato beetle, 

 asparagus beetle, and many others. 



Meloidae, the bUster beetles. 



Curculionidffi, the curcuhos. Snout beetles. The larvae legless 



grubs. 



Siphonaptera 



The Siphonaptera in- 

 clude the fleas. The order 

 is a small one, but is in- 

 teresting because of the 

 adaptations that it exhibits 

 for parasitic or predaceous 

 existence. 



Metamorphosis is com- 

 plete. From the egg 

 hatches a legless larva, slen- 

 der and wormlike, which 

 later transforms to a pupa, 

 and from this in turn 

 emerges the adult, ready to 

 Fig. 29. — Adult flea. Enlarged. Original. begin the life round again. 



