INSECTA: COLEOPTERA 



259 



piece of furniture. The larval wood-eating stage is said to last 



for three years ; after the 



pupal stage a little dull 



brown beetle, about \ of an 



inch long, makes its way 



out of the wood. It has a 



queer rounded shape, and 



its head and legs can be 



tucked away below the 



body, so that it appears 



inanimate and is easily 



overlooked.^ 



Sub-order 4 : Lamellicomia. 



Field Beetles with Leaf- 

 like Tarsal Joints. 



The Cock- 

 chafer. 



One of the 



best known of 



the Lamelli- 

 corn Beetles is the Com- 

 mon Cockchafer (Melo- 

 lontha vulgaris), in which 

 the antennae are markedly 

 " lamellicorn," those of the 

 male having seven leaflets 

 whilst the female has only 

 six. These insects are very 

 common in the early sum- 

 mer, especially during the 

 month of May. They 

 rest during the heat of the 

 day amongst the leaves of 

 trees, and come out chiefly 



^ The " worm " can sometimes 

 be destroyed in worm-eaten fur- 

 niture by washing thoroughly 

 with benzine every day for a 

 week, but sometimes more drastic 

 measures are necessary, the in- 

 fected wood being exposed to benzine vapour or to a temperature of 80° C. 

 in a tightly closed case for some days, or hour.s if subjected also to heat. 



Fig. 194. — The Common Cockchafer 

 {Melolontha vulgaris). 



J, Male cockchafer ; L', young larva ; 

 L. older larva. 



