I.] METAMORPHOSES OF INSECTS. 17 



are powerful, and their legs moderately strong. The 

 larvae of the Lamellicorn beetles (Figs. 1-6) cock- 

 chafers, stag-beetles, &c. feed on vegetable sub- 

 stances or on dead animal matter. They are long, 

 soft, fleshy grubs, with the abdomen somewhat curved, 

 and generally lie on their side. The larvae of the 

 Elateridae, known as wireworms, are long and slender, 

 with short legs. That of the glowworm (Lampyridae) 

 is not unlike the apterous female. The male glow- 

 worm, on the contrary, is very different. It has long, 

 thin, brown wing-cases, and often flies into rooms at 

 night, attracted by the light, which it probably mis- 

 takes for that of its mate. 



The metamorphoses of the Cantharidae are very 

 remarkable, and will be described subsequently. 

 The larvae are active and hexapod. The Phy- 

 tophaga (Crioceris, Galeruca, Haltica, Chrysomela, 

 &c.) are vegetable feeders, both as larvae and in 

 the perfect state. The larvae are furnished with 

 legs, and are not unlike the caterpillars of certain 

 Lepidoptera. 



The larva of Coccinella (the Ladybird) is some- 

 what depressed, of an elongated ovate form, with a 

 small head, and moderately strong legs. It feeds 

 on Aphides. 



Thus, then, we see that there are among the Cole- 

 optera many different forms of larvae. Macleay con- 

 sidered that there were five principal types. 



i. Carnivorous hexapod larvae, with an elongated, 

 more or less flattened body, six eyes on each side of 

 the head, and sharp falciform mandibles (Carabus, 

 Dyticus, &c). 



] C 



