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| ...f the beetle’s surface is an important criterion for classification. The surface can be smooth, ridged, shiny, grooved or with cavities and bumps. Beetles are sometimes bizarrely shaped as a means of camouflage.
Another important distinguishing feature is the color of the beetle, which varies as greatly as the body shape. While most beetle species are dark or brownish in color, there are species whose surface has a luminous pattern or metallic sheen. | | |
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| Green lacewings | | ...lly, 70 of which are found in Europe. These include Chrysoperla carnea s.l and Chrysoperla mediterranea.
The wings of the green lacewing are between 6 and 65 mm in length. Most resident species in Europe have a greenish tint. A distinguishing feature is the markings on the head. The two pairs of wings are the same shape and are usually transparent and iridescent with green wing veins.
Larvae are elongated and have small bumps on the chest and abdomen segments, or are plump and have long ... | | |
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| The club-shaped ends to the antennae is a feature, common to all butterflies. The typical form of butterflies flying is so-called wobble flights through which the flight path for their predators (birds) is difficult to calculate. | | |
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| ...ase in other Eristalis species). These markings have yellowish-brown hair. In the females the markings on the 2nd abdominal segment are hard to make out because they are very indistinct. The brownish, feathery bristles on the antennae are a striking feature of the drone fly. The compound eyes are unusually large and touch in the males. The front legs of the drone fly are mostly reddish-yellow;the hind legs are on the whole much darker. | | |
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| Most Sternorrhyncha possess 2 pairs of wings (missing in some species), which are posited, when at rest, on the abdomen, forming a roof shape. The classification of different areas of the wings is a common feature of Sternorrhyncha, with the anal fields settles much of the rest of the wings. The front wings are thin. | | |
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| ...nae. The maxillary palpi like the antennae often have dark ends. On the wing covers (elytra) are 10 stripes of fine, puncture-like points. These stripes, which are lengthwise and become furrow shaped at the rear end, are the main distinguishing feature of the water scavenger beetle. Additional rows from irregular posited series of points appear in the space between the rows from regular posited points. The legs of the beetle are yellowish, yellow-brown or rust-colored. The tarsi appear reddish br... | | |
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| ...body is covered in gray hairs. They have black heads and black antennae Their eyes have a clearly visible edge on the inside. The antennae are situated near the eyes. The thorax is almost spherical and has a rough scattering of spots. An important feature is the Scutellum which backwards is shaped like a double peak. The wing covers of younger insects are lighter in colour (brownish-yellow), and darken over the course of time (reddish brown). They have a scattering of spots similar to that of the t... | | |
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| Thick-headed flies reach body lengths of 3-18 mm. Their bodies are different in shape and colour. A common and conspicuous feature is the large, bloated-looking head. There is often a translucent bubble on the forehead. Their probosces are short and strong. The sensors (antennae) can be short or long with two or three segments depending on the species and are attached to a ‘... | | |
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| The wing covers (elytra) also have a lace like surface. This structure, in addition to the structure of the antennae and the body shape, is an essential feature in the identification of the various species and gave rise to their common name in both English and German. Here, the number of strips and the mesh of the lattice plays an essential role. The wing membranes are difficult to discern beneath the ‘lace... | | |
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| ...th 2 numbers of similar dripped designs, The females have a poisonous sting at the end of their abdomens; the drones lack this sting but have, in its place, sex organs. The wings of the european hornet are reddish-orange in colour. A characteristic feature of this insect (apart from the body size) is the deep humming tone produced when flying. | | |
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