INSECTS. BEETLES. 319 



first consumes the interior ; when the larva assails 



birds, it is generally the feet that it devours first ; 



and in plants, the stem or ligneous part. The 



larva is a small white maggot, the body of which 



is wrinkled, consisting of several segments covered 



with fine hairs ; its jaws are strong and horny, 



and of a dark brown. The pupa is white, but so 



transparent, that every part of the perfect insect 



may be seen through it. The beetle itself is of a ^S- 150. 



reddish-brown colour, and covered with fine hairs. *" '"^L^fild'^ *"' 



The Badbn-heetle {Dermestes lardarius) is one whose 

 ravages are very extensive. The larva of this insect is particularly 

 partial to the skin of any animal that falls in 

 its way ; and consequently it destroys stufied 

 animals and birds in collections of natural 

 history, whenever it can gain access to them. 

 It attacks hams and bacon for their skin; 

 but as it is very gluttonous, it extends its 

 ravages to the flesh. The larva is long and 

 slender ; its body, being nearly round, con- ^S- 151- Dermeites lardarius. 

 sists of thirteen segments, blackish-brown in > P P > *8 • 



the middle, and white at the edge. The whole body is furnished with 

 bristle-shaped reddish-brown hairs. The beetle is black at the head and 

 tail, with an ash-grey band across the back, having three black spots on 

 each wing-case. Sometimes this band takes a yellowish tinge ; and the 

 whole beetle is furnished here and there with tufts of ash-grey or yellow- 

 ish-grey hairs. The beetle is most destructive in spring. Their larvae 

 are very seldom seen, as they conceal themselves in the bodies they 

 attack ; and their presence can only be guessed by finding occasionally 

 their cast-ofi" skins, as they change their skins several times while in 

 their larva state. Whenever, therefore, little rolls of black skin are 

 found near where ham or bacon is kept, or in cases containing 

 objects of natural history, it is probable this beetle has attacked 

 them. The small scales covering many species of Dermestes, as well 

 as their hairs, are very beautiful microscopic objects. 



The Eeteroptera, or Bugs, form two principal groups, distinguished 

 by their structure and habits, — ^the Hydrocores, or Water-hugs, and 

 the Geocores, or Land-biogg. The latter never possess wings : the 

 disagreeable Bed-bug (Cimex lectularius) and its allies belong to 

 this group. The former are at once recognisable by the small size 

 of their antennae, which are composed of three or four short joints. 



