20 HOW TO TEACH BEETLES, BUGS, AND LOCUSTS. 
a lady-beetle. These eggs hatch and gnaw their 
way into the abdomen of the beetle. Here they 
feed until they are full grown. Then they burrow 
out and spin their tiny cocoons. The beetle seldom 
lives long after this, and the parasite soon comes 
forth, spreads its wings and flies off in search of 
some other lady-beetle on which to lay its eggs. 
This parasite looks not unlike a tiny hornet, and 
belongs to the same family of insects. 
THE SNAP-BEETLE OR CLICK-BEETLE. 
This curious and interesting beetle is quite com¬ 
mon. It is the largest of snap-beetles or click- 
beetles. It is of a dull gray color 
and has two velvety-black oval spots 
on the thorax. These give this 
beetle a hideous look. The head is 
very small and scarcely visible under 
the thorax. The antennae are long 
and jointed, being very different 
from those of the beetles previously 
studied. 
The name “ click-beetle ” is due 
to its peculiar behavior when placed on its back. 
It gives a quick movement of the thorax accom¬ 
panied by a sharp clicking sound and throws itself 
upward, usually coming down right side up. Click- 
beetles are not all like this one. Most species 
are black or dark brown in color. Some have con- 
soicuous ridges running down the wing-covers. 
Fig. io. —Snap- 
beetle or Eyed 
Elater. 
