COMMON BEETLES. 169 



Every one knows the Lady Bird, with its pretty 

 red wings and black spots. Its larva (plate B, 

 fig. 8) is a very singular creature, and destructive 

 withal, spearing and eating Aphides as ruthlessly as 

 Polyphemus impaled and devoured the captured 

 sailors. It has a curious history, but there is no 

 room for it here. 



On plate H, fig. 7, is represented one of the many 

 Skipjack-beetles, who afford such amusement to 

 juveniles by their sudden leaps into the air when laid 

 on their backs. This feat is performed by means of 

 a sudden blow of the head and thorax. Farmers, 

 however, are not all amused by it, for it is the parent 

 of the terrible " wire-worm," so deadly a foe to corn 

 and potatoes. 



Some insects prefer corn when placed in granaries, 

 and these are the Weevils, whose grubs populate sea- 

 biscuit, and run races across plates for wagers. Nuts 

 also fall victims to the weevil represented on plate 

 I, fig. 9, or rather to its grub, " Time out of mind 

 the fairies' coachmaker". 



There is a very common little green weevil shown 

 on plate C, fig. 7, which, although ordinary enough 

 to the unassisted eye, yet under the microscope 

 glows with jewels and gold. It is, in truth, the 

 British Diamond-beetle. An idea of its appearance 

 may be obtained from plate L, fig. 6, but to give the 

 real glory of the colouring is impossible. 



One of the little insects called Death-watches is 



