INSECTA. 247 
Fig. 164.—Tue Lire-HIsToRY OF THE COMMON COCKCHAFER 
(Melolontha vulgaris). 
as 
‘ 
4 I 
f 
Na uh 
ae 
t 
; 
ik 
The underground larva is seen in the middle, the pupa to the left, and the male is 
emerging on the right. The female is flying, showing elytra and wings, 
A very typical and common beetle is the cockchafer 
which works havoc upon vegetable life throughout its career. 
The eggs are laid in the soil and the larvee feed upon the 
roots of grass or almost any herbaceous plant. After about 
four years of larval and pupal life, the beetle emerges in early 
summer and commences its depredations upon the leaves 
of trees. The larva of some click-beetles is called a 
“wire-worm” and does great harm to crops. The Colorado 
Fig. 165.—COLORADO BEETLES (Chrysomela decemlineata ). 
Ly 
NG 
= 
«t, Eggs on the under surface of the leaf; 4, c, d, various stages in the larva ; 
é, pupa—the upper is the ventral view, the lewer the dorsal. 
