COLEOPTERA OR BEETLES. 



143 



The life-history of the Click-hcetles is roughly as follows. 

 The adult heetles appear from April to October, but the majority 

 are noticed in June : they may be found settled low down upon 

 grass, or taken in abundance by sweeping a net over clover. 

 They lay their eggs close upon the ground wherever there is 

 plenty of slielter, such as at the base of clover, grass, and weeds. 

 The eggs soon give rise to young wireworm, which are at first 

 white, but which gradually become shiny yellowish-brown, or 

 even dark-brown, in colour. Wireworm have an extremely 

 tough skin, and are provided with a very powerful mouth ; the 

 first three segments have each a pair of jointed legs, and there 



Fig. 62. — Striped Click-beetle (Agriotes lineaius). 

 a, Wireworm ; b, pupa ; c, imago. 



is also a ileshy swelling beneath the anal segment ; in addition 

 there will be noticed a few bristles scattered over the surface. 

 When full grown a wireworm may reach the length of an inch 

 to an inch and a quarter, depending upon the species. They 

 take at least three years to mature, and in many instances four 

 or even five, especially if food is scarce. They live entirely 

 underground, upon the roots of plants. During the winter they 

 cease feeding if the weather is severe ; but if the winter is open 

 they may continue feeding all the time. W^hen they are full 

 grown they burrow deep into the earth and pupate, this change' 

 apparently taking place in the autumn ; in the following spring 

 or early summer the adult beetle escapes from the ground. 



Nearly all plants are devoured by wireworm, with the excep- 

 tion of mustard, which they will not touch. Ilax is also said 



