The Beetle. 



93 



Later we shall add that it has one pair of anteonse, bat the chil- 

 dren may not see them on this beetle till the head ia earefnlly ex- 

 amined by itself. 



The grasshopper, the cricket, and the beetle, are all 

 called insects. In studying our new insect we will com- 

 pare it with the grasshopper. 



The body is shorter and broader than the grasshopper's. 

 It is corered with a horny crust, much harder than the 

 grasshopper's. This crust is its skeleton. 



The fore wings are like two hard shells covering the 

 back. They protectthe other wings, and are called wing- 

 covers. They meet in a straight line down the back, 

 and cover the hind wings completely. If we should cut 

 the beetle in two between the wing-covers, the two halves 

 would be just the same size. 

 There is a little shield be- 

 tween the wing-covers. 



The first ring of the thorax 

 is very large, the second and 

 third, thongh large, are not 

 seen on the back, with the ex- 

 ception of the little shield that 

 belongs to the second ring. 



The hind wings are 

 thin with very strong 

 veins and a joint near the 



middle so that they can be doubled up under the wing- 

 covers. 



The female uses the strong spines on the legs in digging her way 

 into the earth, where she lays her eggs. 



The broad and short abdomen is soft on the back be- 

 cause protected by the wing-covers. There is no egg- 

 layer. The breathing-holes are plainly seen on the sides 

 of the rings. 



mcf\i\. 



Fig. 4. 

 Mouth-Parts 

 of Beetle 



