146 THE TRIMERA. 



men, and there undergoes its change to a pupa. In 

 some cases the skin of the larva merely splits along 

 the back, to give room for the broader pupa, which is 

 then enclosed in its old integument as in a sort of 

 cradle, but in most instances the larva skin slides 

 back to the tail of the pupa, where it remains as a 

 sort of wrinkled protecting case. During its pupa 

 state, which, however, lasts but a short time (rarely 

 more than ten or twelve days), the insect remains 

 perfectly motionless ; but the pupae of some species, 

 when touched, raise themselves upon their tails, and 

 sometimes repeat this action several times. 



It must not be supposed, however, that all the 

 species of this tribe are carnivorous, for although the 

 majority confine themselves to the destruction of the 

 injurious Aphides and Cocci, some are themselves very 

 destructive to vegetation. One of our British species, 

 the Epilachna globosa, is said occasionally to inflict 

 considerable injury upon the crops of Lucerne, and 

 other leguminous plants on the Continent. This 

 circumstance, coupled with the resemblance of the 

 larvae, serves to show the close alliance between this 

 and the preceding tribe, which might otherwise appear 

 rather doubtful if we considered only the carnivorous 

 habits of most of the Trimerous Beetles. 



Cetonia aurata. 



