28 INJURIOUS AND USEFUL INSECTS 



the hind legs, and partly to the withdrawal of the terminal 

 segments into the interior of the body, the ventral plates being 

 more reduced than the dorsal. The terga and sterna are 

 connected by a narrow strip of flexible membrane. In the 

 membrane just mentioned, or in the upper part of the sterna, 

 lie the abdominal spiracles, of which there are seven pairs. 

 Much larger spiracles can be discovered in the thorax, one 

 (which properly belongs to the mesothorax) lying between the 

 prothorax and mesothorax, and a second (the metathoracic 

 spiracle) between the mesothorax and metathorax. 



The colouring of the cockchafer is largely due to a down 

 which can be rubbed off. When the down is removed, the 

 pale colours are lost, and the body assumes a nearly uniform 

 black, with rusty red here and there. 



The jaws, like those of beetles in general, are adapted to 

 biting. The mandibles are short, stout, and furnished at the 

 tip with four points, and with a grinding surface lower down. 

 The maxillas end in a number of prongs, of which four belong 

 to the outer lobe (galea) and one to the inner (lacinia) ; there 

 is a four-jointed maxillary palp. The labium is reduced to 

 a basal piece, which carries the three-jointed palp, and a 

 small transverse terminal piece. The mouth-parts should be 

 separated and mounted according to the directions given 

 on pp. 7, 12. 



The wings and legs should now be examined more particu- 

 larly. In the elytra or fore-wings note the articulation with 

 the side-piece of the mesothorax. The exposed surface is 

 downy, and marked by four raised Hnes as well as by a 

 number of punctures. In the membranous hind-wings we 

 remark the fewness and strength of the veins, and also the 

 provision for folding. The legs are strong, and consist of the 

 usual divisions — viz. (i) coxa (haunch), (2) trochanter, a small 

 joint at the end of the coxa, (3) femur (thigh), (4) tibia (shin), 

 armed with spines, which are particularly strong in the fore-leg, 

 and used by the female in digging, (5) tarsus (foot), of five 

 joints in each leg ; the last joint bears two strong, curved 

 claws. 



Though the cockchafer is a common insect in the southern 

 and midland counties of England, it is only inquiring persons 

 who are likely to make the acquaintance of the larva and pupa, 

 which are altogether subterranean. The larva feeds upon the 



