366 



CHARACTERS OF INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



of plume-like portions. Common British species are : the Common 

 Plume- Moth {Pterophorus pterodactylus) and the Twenty- Plume 

 Moth {Alucita polydactyla). 



Fig. 216. — Lady-Birds 

 I, Cluster of eggs; 2, egg (greatly magnified); 3, larva (mag- 

 nified); 4, actual length of same; s, 6, pupse; 7, 8, varieties of 

 Two-spotted Lady-Bird {Cocci?telia bipunctata); 9, Seven- 

 spotted Lady-Bird {C. sepiempunctata). 



Order 5. — BEETLES (Coleoptera) 



This is by far the largest order of insects, and includes forms 

 which are for the most part easily recognizable, though the name 

 of "beetle" is popularly but erroneously given to members of 



other groups, e.g. to the Cock- 

 roach. The wings of an aver- 

 age beetle are of very charac- 

 teristic appearance and nature, 

 as may be seen by examining 

 such a typical example as the 

 little Lady-Bird (Coccinella), 

 which is at once known by its 

 conspicuous colouring of black 

 spots on a red ground (fig. 

 216). At first sight such 

 an insect appears to have no 

 wings at all, but every child who has induced a lady-bird to "fly 

 away home ", by persuasive shoves added to an alarming story 

 of domestic calamity, knows better than that. The fore -wings 



are not, however, organs of 

 flight, but horny wing-covers 

 or elytra (see p. 345) stretch- 

 ing back over the abdomen, 

 and abutting against one 

 another in the middle line. 

 They protect the membran- 

 ous hind-wings (fig. 217), 

 which, when not in use, are 

 hidden beneath them, and 



Fig. 217.— Stages of Turnip Flea-Beetle [Haltica nemorum] are nOt Only folded lonffitU- 



1, Adult (enlarged), showing wing-covers and wings spread HinalKr dc in a Pr^oU^^o^V, 



out;2,3, natural size of same; 4, 5, eggs (enlarged); 6,7, bur- UllldUy, d,b m a ^^OCKrOaCn, 



rows of larvae (enlarged); 8, 9, larva (natural size and enlarged); but alsO tranSVPr'^elv ^ Vf=»r\7" 

 10, II, pupa (natural size and enlarged). ^ ^ •' ' J 



characteristic feature for 

 beetles. The head is large, and bears a pair of compound eyes, 

 and two antennae varying greatly in shape according to the 



