Read Great Hike; or, The Pride of the Khaki Troop Page 24

  THE COLEOPTERA.

  This is the order of insects which includes beetles, glowworms,lady-birds, weevils, cock-chafers, etc. Their chief characteristic isthe hard wing covers. The wings proper are below these. Most of thisorder have strong mandibles. The diet of beetles is much varied, butthey are all voracious.

  The little lady-birds, about whom the nursery rhyme sings, warning themto "fly away home," feed upon the scale insects.

  The glow-worm derives the first part of its name from its luminosity,and the second from its worm-like appearance. To this same family belonga number of other luminous beetles, the name "firefly" being usuallygiven.

  The weevil is a general name for plant-eating beetles, and they notinfrequently cause great destruction to vegetable matter. Certainweevils are interesting because of their habit of rolling up leaves inorder to construct a shelter for their young. The nut-weevil lays hereggs in the young nut while it is still soft and its grub bores its wayout in the fall. The cotton-boll weevil has caused great injury to thecotton crops in the Southern States. It pierces the leaves of the plantand lays its eggs. The young feed upon the plant. There are also cornweevils and rice weevils, and still others that attack peas and beans.

  The cock-chafers belong to a large group of dark-colored beetles knownas June bugs. They frequently enter light rooms at night, making a loudbuzzing noise. The insect comes out of the ground in the spring and isvery destructive to the foliage of fruit and other trees. Its grubs liveunder ground and feed on roots. The chief enemies of the grub are molesand birds; of the beetles, bats and birds.