. Marvels of insect life [microform] : a popular account of structure and habit. Insects; Insectes. Beetles: thdr Structure and Habits. 6l horny pair,' or winK-covcrs. are closed ilimn tiKhtlv n\cr the folilnl HiKlit-\vinf;s, their edges meet with marvellous accuracy alotif; the middle line of the bcKly. ami their outer edges as accurately fit the marginal bonier of the bcKly. The majority of beetles live in the earth, in the water, in deca\ed wockI, and so forth, whiri', but for this arrangement of the parts, the lower wings would be liable to considerable damage. As it is, neith r soil nor m
. Marvels of insect life [microform] : a popular account of structure and habit. Insects; Insectes. Beetles: thdr Structure and Habits. 6l horny pair,' or winK-covcrs. are closed ilimn tiKhtlv n\cr the folilnl HiKlit-\vinf;s, their edges meet with marvellous accuracy alotif; the middle line of the bcKly. ami their outer edges as accurately fit the marginal bonier of the bcKly. The majority of beetles live in the earth, in the water, in deca\ed wockI, and so forth, whiri', but for this arrangement of the parts, the lower wings would be liable to considerable damage. As it is, neith r soil nor moisture can find entrance. There arc numerous de- partures from this typical per- fection of fitting of the wing- covers. In the oil-beetles the shape of these is such that it is impossible for their edges ever to meet, and they are too short to cover the body. In the great family of long-bodied rove-beetles,2 though their edges meet, they are so ex- ceedingly short that the wings have to be folded up under them something after the manner of the same organs in earwigs. In the case of the ground-beetles' the Hight- wings are undeveloped, and the wing-covers have their edges united so that they cannot be separated. This is an instance of atrophy due to their life being spent almost entirely underground. Beetles cNhibit true meta- morphosis, with an entire change of appearance and structure between the larval and the perfect stages. The larva of beetles are, as a rule, soft, fleshy grubs, but there is a great amount of difference m the character of their coverings accordin;,' to the life they lead. Some â "'i- legless and inactive, like maggots ; others have si.\ well-developed legs, and are viry active ; some of the grubs of water-beetles have in addition external gills. Of llie vast majority of beetles, however, it may be said that at present we know nothing 'Elytra. * ⢠c.\LLii'EK Beetle. Tht (on-pana i,t ihis birtli- are shown t»
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1915
