COLEOPTEKA OR BEETLES. 



145 



The Lamellioornia ok Cockchafers. 



The Eose (fig. 63) and Stag Beetles also belong here. The 

 Cockchafers are called Melolonthids, and 

 have a peculiar form of antenna. The 

 common Cockchafer (Melolontha vtdgaris), 

 fig. 64, a large beetle about an inch long, 

 with brown elytra, having fi.ve ridges run- 

 ning down them, and pointed abdomen 

 with black and white alternately down the 

 sides, is often very destructive in both 

 adult and larval stages. The antennse 

 have seven curious leaf-like lameUse in the 

 male (e) and six (p) in the female. The 

 larvsB (o) are large, white, soft grubs, often 

 over two inches in length, with the end of 

 the body swollen into a large sac, and with 

 a large, brown, horny head, and six almost ^.^''^^ioSm')™'* '"' 

 useless legs in front. They live for two 

 years, feeding on the roots of plants and young trees, and 



Fig. 63.— Rose Beetle 



3> c 



Fig. 64. — Cockchafer (MdolOTitha vulgaris). 



A, Imago ; b, pupa ; c, larva ; d, tail of 5 5 ". antenna of <5 ; r, antenna of 9 • (a 

 and c slightly reduced.) 



pupate deep in the earth in a well-formed ceU in the third 



K 



