Sept., 1923 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
39 
AN INTERESTING INSECT LARVA. 
(By W. R. CoUed??e.) 
Beetles, from their structure, are of terrestrial ori- 
gin, but a few enterprising species have adapted them- 
selves to a subaqueous life. How perfectly they have 
succeeded whs evideueed in one of our club excursions 
up a inoujilain stream. We found attached to a piece of 
dead submerged wood a form wlucli puzzled us amateurs 
as to jts identity. Il measured 7 mrn. by 4^. It had the 
form of an oval shield. comi)Osed of twelve segments, 
liinged together, apparently of a calcareous nature. ft 
was bordered by -a closely set row of stiff bristles, and 
Interesting Insect Larva. 
Ventral aspect x 5. Dorsal aspect x 5. 
(Photo by W. R. Colledge.) 
bore a striking resemblance to the chiton, found on the 
rocks of our coast. But on forcing it from its resting 
place, it was found to be of an insectivorous nature. In 
the little cradle, attached by a tough skin a little below 
the free edges of the segments, there lay an iraraatuve 
form. At one end. head and antennae were tucked in, 
three pairs of legs protruded, and were neatly folded over 
the abdomen so as t'o add but little to its height ; the unal 
opening was surrounded by a bunch of long tracheal 
tubes. From the muscular development, it was evident 
that water was drawn in beneath the last segment, and 
then exuded through paired orifices seen on the dorsal 
part of the segments. 
The bordering bristles were closely set together, 
rested in sockets, and tapered gradually down to fine 
