BRITISH INSECTS 



ORDER V. COLEOPTERA, OR BEETLES 



The very large number of species included in this 

 important Order of Insects, the largest British Order 

 we have after the Hymenoptera and Diptera, has already 

 been alluded to, but it is necessary to emphasise it again 

 here as the possibility of dealing with more than a few 

 representatives of the principal families cannot be enter- 

 tained. The Sheath-Winged Insects, or Beetles, undergo 

 a complete metamorphosis. The front pair of wings 

 are called elytra, and these serve the purpose of pro- 

 tecting the hind ones, and are not of use for flight. 

 The flight appendages are folded beneath the elytra, 

 and, when at rest, they meet in a straight Hne along the 

 back, and do not cross one another. It is by reason of 

 the elytra hiding the soft hind wings that surprise is so 

 often expressed by the unobservant as to the possession 

 of " wings " by even the more familiar kinds of Beetles. 

 The Coleoptera are, as a rule, divided into twelve Sub- 

 Orders, each of course with certain characters by which 

 they are classified. These need not detain us here as 

 the chief points of interest are pointed out as we proceed. 



The Green Tiger Beetle {Cicindella campestris) , is the 

 first to occupy pride of place as representing the 

 CicindelidcE^ which are active, predaceous beetles whose 

 larvae make perpendicular shafts in dry soil, and lie 

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