104 Beetles [CH. 
wireworms vary in size according to the species of 
beetle from which they are derived. Some may reach 
a length of 1 inch and others only inch. The body is 
cylindrical and divided up into segments. In the course 
of their growth the skin is shed several times in the same 
way as that of the caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly. 
Their colour varies somewhat: after a moult they are 
usually pale yellow, but later on they become a rich 
golden yellow. The surface always has a shining 
appearance, and the skin is very tough. 
The head carries a pair of powerful jaws which 
enable it to feed on all kinds of roots. Each of the 
three segments behind the head possesses a pair of 
jointed legs which readily distinguishes it from other 
so-called wireworms (see Fig. 30). The last segment of 
the body also has a downward projection which is used 
in walking. When fully fed the wireworm goes deep 
down into the earth and makes an egg-shaped space in 
which it changes into a pupa. This change usually 
takes place in spring and from the pupa the beetle 
soon hatches out and makes its way to the surface. 
The beetles may often be found on grass land or clover 
leys during the summer. There are several species all of 
a dull brown or greyish colour, rather long and narrow, 
having short legs and serrated feelers (see Fig. 30(C). 
When placed on their backs they spring into the air 
with a clicking noise and fall on their feet. They are 
enabled to do this by means of a projection on the 
segment carrying the first pair of legs which fits into 
a depression on that bearing the second pair. This 
structure enables us to recognize the beetles fairly 
easily. They also make a clicking noise if held 
between the finger and thumb. The beetles are not 
